The Mass today had the beautiful "Rorate, Caeli." Here is the "Rorate, Caeli" chant I love. The words are from the Prophet Isaiah who, I have come to think of him as a poet. The "Rorate, Caeli," besides being part of the Mass today, is part of the "Rorate Mass" which is a thousand-year-old ceremony traditionally taking place very early in the morning, by candlelight.
What about Candle-Lite Candles?
I guess you could use them at a Rorate Mass. I often light Candle Lite candles from CVS when I pray the Rosary and I have heard no complaints from above.
We held a "Rorate Mass" yesterday at St. Ann's but due to a series of complications I was not there. Here is a clip of a Rorate Mass in Berlin. Wow, it looks stunning. I was a loser, not being there Saturday! Well, it was not exactly my choice.
Plus, I made up for it today. After Mass at St. Anthony's this morning I took pictures of the Italian Nativity scene. One of them is up above, at the top of this post.
Here is a picture of our church. The Nativity scene -- it is called Presepio in Italian -- is behind the podium. You can see the little girl approaching it.
Here is a closeup that shows the Three Kings arriving on camels.
Our priest, Padre Secondo, made the buildings in the background and he made this little temple with three columns. Blow up the picture at the top and you will be able to see it. He got the columns from a wedding cake!
Most impressively of all he made the donkey himself, out of plaster. He turned the donkey so I could get a good shot of him. Unfortunately I was out of focus. I should not have turned off the flash. But you can get an idea all the same. Look at this donkey. Isn't he charming?
I said, "Padre, I did not know you were so talented!"
Later I thought enviously about how I am not that talented. All I can do is write this book about Leonard Pennario. I cannot make plaster figurines of donkeys.
Then I realized I had violated one of the 10 Commandments, the one about not coveting your neighbor's ass. Thou shalt not covet his ox, nor his ass, nor anything else that belongeth unto him, do I have that straight?
Well, I am due for another confession!
2 comments:
"We held" should read "Saint Ann's held." St. Anthony's did not hold it, "Una Voce Buffalo" did not hold it. St. Ann's held it. No one else.
I am sorry, St. Ann's, for phrasing it as I did. Be it hereby known, St. Ann's held the Rorate Mass! And thank you, St. Ann's, for keeping up with my scribblings.
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