Dear one and all, as much as you might have hoped I'd hung up the keyboard, I am still here to share my blithering with you about things of God. I want to start by saying that I am overjoyed to report that yesterday the usual boring priest came back, and Oh! how happy I was to see him. He celebrated Mass, not an opera with him as star.
I've been reflecting on my reaction to the Preciousness of the other day, and wondering why it bothered me so much, especially when you take into account there is nothing I love quite so much as a Solemnity at Gethsemani Abbey! My conclusion is the edicts form the early Cistercian Fathers that gold vestments, excessive ritual, etc. had no place in Cistercian Liturgy.
The vestment the priest wore the other day must have been something he brought with him, or had been made for him, because it was everything that the Cistercian Rite rejects. I have to admit I feel better knowing that my visceral reaction had more to do with my spirituality than with the Roman Rite. Trust me, when they get solemn out at the Abbey they put out enough incense to cause weather patterns in the church, but they are never prissy about it! They wear the right color, but no embroidery. And for heaven sake, no gold thread!
It's occurred to me just now that one is the spirit of contemplation, while the other is in the spirit of perfectionism. I leave it to you, my thousands of readers, to decide which is which.
May God lead us altogether to everlasting life.
My First Stop Each Morning
3 comments:
Steve the past couple of posts have been quite critical (with a degree of bitterness), is that where your heart is? I don't believe that is the type of person you truly are. Forgive me if I offend, I to am a sinner but also hope to raise the issue as a brother in Christ Jesus.
May God have mercy on us all.
Why are all of these messages about you? Hmmm? - Joe
To Anonymous, probably because it is my blog.
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