The Chrism Mass children

All the placemats at the meal for the priests and seminarians after the Chrism Mass were created by the children of the parish school. This is a yearly consolation. They are as different one to another as are the kids themselves. I’m always eager to see what the placemat will be where I sit. I was very happy to see that Jesus’ good mom was accompanied by a Star of David. There are many hearts – Sacred Heart, Immaculate Heart, and the hearts of those who are martyrs for the faith with all their churches throughout the world.

Here’s are those words in the middle with slightly greater context:

• “All your sons shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. In justice shall you be established, far from the fear of oppression, where destruction cannot come near you. Should there be any attack, it shall not be of my making; whoever attacks you shall fall before you.” (Isaiah 54:13-15)

Mind you, that’s not at all to say that we will not join Jesus on the Cross, that we will not join Mary on Calvary. We will have great peace in heaven from the Prince of the Most Profound Peace.

You’ll also notice a number of three-leafed clovers in the placemat. Not only did we just have Saint Patrick’s Day, who used the clover as a way to teach about the Most Holy Trinity, but also the Cathedral Parish is named after Saint Patrick.

Hmmm… I didn’t eat the non-Keto carrot cake. The rector of the Cathedral sat the Bishop at our table. The table banter was good. Seated in front of me below is the Vicar Forane of my vicariate. There were two other priests and a seminarian, the latter of whom I had a great chat about the vocation to which our Lord calls us priests, that is, to get out of His way so that He shines forth as the High Priest for His little flock even through us.

In the end, all the priests of the diocese were invited for the Chrism Mass. Last year there were only a representative number. But I think we’re all quite sick of the politics of Covid-19.

As it is, I had been contacted by the Bishop’s secretary, making sure I would be at the Chrism Mass, since there were requests to the end that I pick up the sacred oils blessed and consecrated at that Holy Mass for a number of other priests who were not going to be in attendance. I did that. Now comes the delivery part, which is less easy. That will be an adventure.

Lots of friends were greeted. I had a great chat with the Vicar General afterward, and got lots of really sharp canon law advice on the Traditional Latin Mass, as it is called, that is, on the rubrical-sacramental law of 1917 still being in effect for that liturgy, even while the adjunct personal law regarding that liturgy now comes from the 1983 code. Thus:

• Holy Communion can only be given on the tongue in the Traditional Latin Mass, since that is the rubrical-sacramental law of the 1917 Code of Canon Law.
• The much lengthier fasting the priest was required to accomplish under the 1917 law is abrogated unto the law promulgated in 1983, as this is instead adjunct law regarding merely the very person of the priest himself.

Many readers have been praying for me, perhaps especially recently. I thank you. The sense of a profound peace and calm that I was in yesterday – and still today – immediately brought to mind those praying for me. That peace is all their “fault” so to speak. Thank you for that. It did me good. All in all, a great day on so many levels.