Another Homily I HAVE to Share!

That's two in a row from Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers!

Mass is Mass

About 20 years ago, I was spending the day in the city, walking around, shopping, going to the library (and avoiding the crowds as well as I could; being jostled is not good for me. Not, of course, that it is good for anyone. But I digress.)
I went to evening Mass in one of the many Catholic churches in New York City; I forget the name
of the parish. That is probably just as well!
The readings were mumbled, and I do mean mumbled.
The singing was waaaaaaaaaay off-key.
The homily was more of a ho-humily.
But these are, after all, not the most important elements of the Mass; they
do not even make up the Mass.
The priest, for all his shortcomings as a homilist (and it's really not fair to judge on the
strength, or weakness, of one sermon,) offered the Eucharistic Prayer beautifully.
THAT is what makes the Mass; the Eucharistic Prayer. The Consecration. Otherwise, what
we have is a Communion Service.
As we walked out after Mass, a woman turned to me and grumbled, "That Mass stunk, didn't it?"
"No," I answered softly. "Mass never stinks."

Great Homily by Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers

Before Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers was halfway through this homily, I knew that
I had to share it on this blog!

Differing Viewpoints

This is a clip from Walt Disney's version of "Pollyanna."



For once, my viewpoint is different from Pollyanna's. I thank God that there are ONLY six days from one Sunday to the next!

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Join me and other Catholic bloggers at Sunday Snippets. Thanks to RAnn for hosting!

Semper Gaudete!: John Paul Stelten (Fr. Anthony Mary's father) RIP

Semper Gaudete!: Fr. Frank Can't Attend Abby Johnson's Confirmation!

Semper Gaudete!: Two Collections

Semper Gaudete!: "Christmas Can Can"

Semper Gaudete!: The Windsor Hotel, 1960s

Semper Gaudete!: Incident in a Restaurant

Semper Gaudete!: 'Tis The Season????

Semper Gaudete!: Books Read in the Past Week

Semper Gaudete!: Books I Plan To Read Next Week

Books I Plan To Read Next Week

"The Love Of Our Lord Jesus Reduced To Practice"#
by St. Alphonse de Liguori
[religious non-fiction, Catholic, spirituality]
{free Google e-book}
(carried over from last week)

"The Gates of Heaven
A Beginner's Guide to Jewish Prayer"#
by David M. Schaps
[religious nonfiction, Jewish]
{carried over from last week}

"Just Plain Maggie"
by Lorraine Beim
[children's fiction, summer camp story]
{Open Library Loan}

"Party Line"#
by Louise Baker
[nonfiction]
{Open Library Loan}

"The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Caught"
by Neta Jackson
[Religious fiction, series, Protestant, multi-denominational and non-denominational]

"Candy Stripers"
by Lee Wyndham
[children's fiction]
{Open Library Loan}

'Tis The Season????

Doesn't it seem as if the secular Christmas season, (or should I say "HOLIDAY season?") begins earlier and earlier every year? If the trend keeps up, we could
very well be hearing Christmas music on Mother's Day. Make that Groundhog Day!