Amy Welborn returns to the Monday custom of “What did you hear” at Mass on Sunday?” She also asks whether your priest work pink vestments. While it was Laetare Sunday, pink is optional. Our priest wore purple, but I think it’s because our parish doesn’t own any pink ones. I was little surprised to hear a Latin hymn, although it was performed by the choir before Mass and it was the “Pie Jesu,” which is a requiem. While that would normally not necessarily be out of place on a Sunday in Lent—although who exactly are you asking Christ to give eternal rest to?—it’s especially unfortunate on Laetare Sunday.
However, the homily was superb. Fr. Murphy pulled out the crucifix that normally hangs above the altar in our chapel and explained the Genesis reading in which the Moses is told to lift up the bronze serpent so that all who looked on it would be healed. In the same way, all who turn to the cross can receive healing that gives you eternal life. He preached to us that the way of the Christian is not easy, that it is a cross we bear. Additionally, there are many who would attack us or our beliefs. He spoke of how people say that we can’t expect teens to be chaste and then blasted them for selling our children—and the Holy Spirit!—short. He mentioned that some people say that priests can’t expected to be celibate, that it’s not natural. He responded that in Christ all things are possible: “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” (Eph 2:8) I kept waiting him to quote St. Paul, “I preach Christ crucified.” I think he was going to be but got sidetracked.
It really was awesome to see Fr. Murphy preaching while holding high the cross. I imagine it is not unlike what the Cure of Ars might have done back in the day.
Technorati Tags: Lent, liturgical-music, Mass
