Flowers for the Immaculate Conception (Chrism Mass, edition)

The Chrism Mass is always a joy for this priest.

There’s the renewal of priestly promises:

The Omnipotent Judge, Christ Jesus, will examine His priests immediately after the death of each one about the declaration of resolution “I am” to each of the questions of the Bishop above. The only reason for renewal and for being resolved, repeatedly, year after year, is because we priests are just like everyone else: weak and in need of prayer. We might not want to face these questions, this interrogation, so it’s helpful, necessary to have this assistance with such an examination of conscience. Priests are attacked by Satan’s minions more intensely because they are responsible in a most extraordinary way in assisting the bishop with the cura animarum, the care of souls, that is, in assisting the bishop in getting souls to Christ Jesus and to heaven.

And that brings us to the laity:

The vast majority of priests attended, perhaps more than any other year to date. Outside of the Mass, it’s an opportunity for the priests to catch up with friends they might not have seen since the Chrism Mass the previous year and, in this case, years because of the Covid plandemic. We have so many exceptionally great priests in this diocese, so this is a real consolation. I took the opportunity to go to Confession, and I heard the Confessions of many others. Jesus is good.

There’s also a great meal that’s put on for the priests in the upper room, if you will, at the family life center of the Cathedral parish. The conversation was the best with priests and seminarians about the Rosary and miracles of grace and seeing Christ Jesus work through the priests when the priests let Jesus be manifested through themselves. I look forward to this year by year.

Also – and this is wonderful year by year – the parochial school students make placemats for the priests. Each different, each from the imagination of the children. Here’s the one at my place:

• Across the top: Sacred Heart, Tabernacle, Easter eggs[!], Calvary, the Good Shepherd, Noah’s ark, Rosary.
• To left and right: A cross to carry and the burning bush of the Great “I Am”.
• At the bottom: The symbol of the covenant with Noah, Holy Mass, Calvary crosses.
• Center: A note about the 50th anniversary of Charlotte Diocese.
• Around the Center: The green… what do you see? Two doors… That’s a proper Confessional. This is the most profound movement of soul that I’ve seen to date depicted in art by a young child. The currents are running deep in this soul. Wow. I love this. This is why priests are priests, called by Jesus, to feed and take care of Jesus’ Little Flock. Go to Confession!

Jesus’ dearest Immaculate Mother intercedes for all this to happen every Holy Week. But flowers for her? Where are they? Glad you asked. Situated immediately behind the Lenten clad grotto of our Lady pictured above, there are heaps of these flowers for our Lady: