Christmas poem

I like this one from Henry Vaughn

"So stick up ivy and the bays,
And then restore the heathen ways.
Green will remind you of the spring,
Though this great day denies the thing.
And mortifies the earth and all
But your wild revels, and loose hall.
Could you wear flowers, and roses strow
Blushing upon your breasts’ warm snow,
That very dress your lightness will
Rebuke, and wither at the ill.
The brightness of this day we owe
Not unto music, masque, nor show:
Nor gallant furniture, nor plate;
But to the manger’s mean estate.
His life while here, as well as birth,
Was but a check to pomp and mirth;
And all man’s greatness you may see
Condemned by His humility.
Then leave your open house and noise,
To welcome Him with holy joys,
And the poor shepherd’s watchfulness:
Whom light and hymns from heaven did bless.
What you abound with, cast abroad
To those that want, and ease your load.
Who empties thus, will bring more in;
But riot is both loss and sin.
Dress finely what comes not in sight,
And then you keep your Christmas right.
"

One of Life's Imponderables - Dogs vs. Tinsel

Why do they like to eat it? You'd think after the first 5 or 6 times they'd catch on that it makes them sick. Do they listen? NO. I've yet to know of a dog who didn't sample it. Or maybe the tinsel on our trees was particularly attractive? OR maybe it was just because we'd touched it and they KNEW the master/mistress's hand. Whatever. Took me forever to figure out why they grab the newspaper and run off with it.

Christmas Vigil, St. John the Evangelist, San Diego

Last night I attended a 10p.m. Vigil Mass at a nearby parish, St. John the Evangelist in the University Heights Neighborhood of San Diego.

Fr. Dillard (who could give Fr. John Boyle a run for his money in a dunking contest) said the Mass. It was perfect in every respect. Besides the priest, they had 4 servers 2 male, 2 female, of older years. 4 EMs, and 2 lectors, a cantor, and a choir and every action and movement by*every single person* was carried out with grace and symetry and reverence, in their comings and going etc. There was a nice gospel procession, and Father used a little bit of Latin just before the Memorial acclaimation and before the final blessing. Father used EP IV and also did the gospel from the center of the nave. He also used incense every place you could use incense. If every Novus Ordo Mass was done like this, no one would complain. So if you're visiting San Diego, and want to be SURE to go to a Mass Almighty God does not show up at under duress, I'd highly recommend a visit here.

A blessed Christmas to you all. [ Keep your fingers crossed for me that the 5:15 Mass at my own parish is said by someone who knows how to do a valid AND licet Mass, and by one who doesn't add a lot of junk that doesn't belong.]

Christmas and the Passage of Time

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One of the things I've noticed that becomes more precious as the years pass is time itself. I'm 51 now, and I started going to this parish in Old Town in San Diego when I was 16, and started assisting in various ways since I was 18. I taught CCD for about 7 years, in college I had the opportunity to serve Mass virtually every day for 3 years running, either a morning Mass or afternoon Mass, back in the day when we had two daily Masses and two priests in residence.

(The Sainted Fr. S. and myself after Mass - Christmas 2007)

I've assisted most 5:15 Sunday Masses since college in one way or another, for about the last 32-33 years. I've also taught a number of youngsters how to serve Mass. I've grown older, along with the priest, who has been here as 5:15 Sunday "supply" for about as long as I have been here. The Sainted Fr. S. and I have aged together. I can well remember when he regularly played handball (he's a retired university professor too) and his mother used to visit for about a month to six weeks every year. Father will be 80 next October, I know that certainly the bulk of my years assisting Father are more behind me than in front of me.

Usually people are either thinking about what they're going to do in the days, weeks, months ahead ... or what they're doing, but sometimes you can catch yourself appreciating the "right now." Tonight at Mass was one of those times, all the more special because there are relatively few of them left. We're in a tourist area, and many churches don't have an afternoon/evening Christmas day Mass. Fr. has always especially liked doing an evening Christmas Mass and I've liked assisting at it - it's a gift to us. With a lot of people "on travel" I was a little busier than usual. Both servers in different parts of the country with family, ditto the head usher and the usual cantor. But we had a favorite cantor of mine fill in, and our ever dependable organist was on hand. I came a tick earlier than usual, arriving about 4:45 -- 1/2 hour ahead.

We're very fortunate to be able to leave the church open in the daytime. We figure we get enough in and out traffic not to have to worry much about vandals, as there's almost always someone in there for "a little visit to the Blessed Sacrament" or some tourists, respectfully looking around or sitting for a bit.

I wanted to line up my ushers early, so I drafted one fellow, visiting from Ohio to be "head usher" tonight. I figured anyone showing up earlier than I do to sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament was a safe bet. He was visiting his daughter in nursing school out here. It's my treat every Sunday to select people to bring up the gifts. Quite often I ask families or couples, but on this particular day (as I not also infrequently do) I selected two single people who came in and were seated alone, who were fairly close to the little table set in the aisle. Being single myself, I've often noticed how often the single people almost NEVER seem to get picked for this in most parishes. They are often delighted to be asked, and it's a pleasure to bring a little bit of joy like that to someone not expecting it. I did "triple duty" tonight server/lector/EM. It's not often I do all three at the same Mass, but it was a real treat for me -- especially as I don't know how much longer Fr. S. and I will be a "team." Everything went fine - it's a pleasure to assist Fr. S. -- a Novus Ordo Mass always reverently done, Father tending not to miss so much as a comma, always ever careful to do the Mass "just so" with the same gestures, intonation -- always focused on being the "vessel" in the sense of God acting through him to confect the sacrament rather than a "it's all about me" kind of guy.

After Mass we were both given some special treats by a women who comes to every 5:15 Sunday Mass, as long as she is not out of town for a conference. We both well remember her mother, who died 3 years ago. Quite elderly she'd often sit in the back, with her walker, her family having managed to negotiate our front step. In my mind's eye, I can still see her mother sitting in the back - and my parent's too, and Father's mother - all gone now. We remain. But for how much longer? I suppose someone will eventually take our places as all must die. I hope whomever inherits the jobs loves it as much as we do now.

And now, for that bowl of mushroom soup I've been saving, along with some favorite carols as this day winds to a close.
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Merry Christmas to All

Special good wishes to all for a blessed year to follow.
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