Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Masses

They all knew their lines. They all knew their parts.

Stand up. Bow Head. "Lord hear our prayers!" Sing (Know the words. Know the tune) Sit down. Cross Yourself. Stand up. Shakes hands. Sing. Sit down. Stand Up. Cross Yourself. "Lord hear our prayers!" Sit down. Stand up. Bow Head. Silence. Say the Lords Prayer. Sit down. Stand up. Sing. Eat Christ. Drink Christ. Sit down. Stand up. "Lord hear our prayers!" Sit down. Repeat.

It is rare for me to appear in such a performance so absolutely unrehearsed.

I want to Catholic Mass today (even though I'm not Catholic, nor a church going man). I didn't know the first of January was a Holy Day of Obligation (Isn't everyday a day of obligation when you're Catholic?). "Ponder. Treasure the gifts of God," the Priest told the meagre congregation who gathered at St Thomas Moore Chapel early this bitter cold Tuesday morning (Should I treasure the biting cold of a prairie winter - at least it brings beautiful hoar frost). Ponder. Treasure. No matter the context, these are words of wisdom appropos to the first day of a new year.

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