Saturday, December 25, 2010

After Midnight Mass

It takes me awhile to settle down after Midnight Mass--my favorite Mass of the year.

The choir was awesome again this year. And--thanks to the presence of our parish's seminarian, which meant he could explain things to the other servers--I was able to sit and enjoy the music before Mass. How wonderful! The folks who decorated both churches did a splendid job as usual.

I wore my biretta for Mass--I wear it once a year at Mass, for Midnight Mass--and that always generates some interest. Midnight Mass of course is an excellent opportunity for lots of chanting and incense; almost the entire Mass was chanted, including the Gospel and the Roman Canon--as well as the Christmas proclamation, which I chanted at the beginning of Mass.

After Mass, folks stayed and visited; which is always a good sign, don't you think? Eventually, we locked up church--I left the Christmas lights on so church will be a bit more cheerful in the morning. Then back home.

On Christmas Eve, I always put on all the lights in the rectory; so after Midnight Mass, I came back and turned them off. I had a snack, and looked at the tree for a bit. Now I'm about to head to bed.

Merry Christmas!

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Merry Christmas father!

Sean said...

Fr Martin,

This is a little off topic. I've been reading a bit at your blog. Back on Nov21, 2005 you list your greatest influences. How did Ayn Rand and Reagan make that list? They stick out like sore thumbs.

Just wondering,

Sean

Fr Martin Fox said...

Sean:

Yes, a little off topic!

Reagan influenced me because he was a powerful leader for our nation at a key moment in time. He spoke for individual freedom, limited government and he provided critical leadership for the free world in the struggle against totalitarianism--and defeated it.

Rand influenced me insofar as she--despite her obvious flaws--showed socialism and collectivism and statism for the shabby, bankrupt and anti-human reality that it is. Her own philosophy has obvious problems; but she is great at showing what's wrong with the statism and the envious thinking that often goes with it. Her critiques could not be more timely as our government seems determined to use Atlas Shrugged as its playbook.

I'm curious why you think they "stick out like sore thumbs"?

Anonymous said...

Dear Father, A blessed Christmas to you and your fellow parishioners. May God bless you during the New Year and always.

Warmest regards,
Patricia Gonzalez

ignorant redneck said...

Father--I put a poll on my blog asking about the Christmas proclamation. i was wondering--Did you use it/

Fr Martin Fox said...

Ignorant Redneck:

Yes; actually, I chanted it at the beginning of Midnight Mass. I'd rather have a deacon or a cantor sing it (because I am not sure it's edifying for the priest to sing everything).

Sean said...

Fr. Martin,

Obvious flaws and problems indeed. Like a broken clock, Ms Rand is occasionally right about something like Communism being wrong, but she should hardly be consulted for any advice on how to live one's life or how best to organize ourselves as a society. Hitler and Stalin were probably correct about a few things too, but no sensible person spends time seeking out lessons from these guys. Ayn Rand belongs with them in anti-humane thought if not deed.


I don't see how Ms Rand can have anything to say to a serious Catholic or Christian. Her message is anti-Christian to the core. Her message is the Anti-Gospel.

Jesus died for us and asked us to live for each other. Ayn Rand sneers and snarls at such ideas,
dismissing them as asinine. She instructs the strong and the "rational" to live for themselves alone. Rand makes selfishness and self-worship a sacrament in her twisted cult. For her the poor, the weak, the needy, the downtrodden were worthless parasites and moochers. Hitler had similar thoughts -- scum, vermin, useless eaters, life unworthy of life. Ideas truly have consequences.

You can't serve both God and Mammon. Neither can you honor the Gospel and the Anti-gospel. If you live love and selflessness you cannot embrace hate and selfishness.

That is why it struck me as odd to see Ayn Rand on your list of admired people. Reagan to a much lesser extent, but still...

Sean said...

Father,

Could you send me your email?

Sean