Gulf Pine Catholic

10 Gulf Pine Catholic • October 11, 2024 I attended Mass in Jasper, Georgia, just outside Atlanta, recently. It was the first time I attended Mass in almost twenty years. Since then, many things have changed, especially with the advent of Covid and its im- plications. The last time I attended my niece attended with me. I don’t remember a whole lot from that attending, except for just one thing. She turned to me and asked, “How long are we going to be here?” I an- swered her simply, “Not too much longer! They will be finished soon.” She was relieved at my response. I found attending this Saturday evening Mass in Jasper interesting. The Vietnamese pastor announced before Mass that the Mass would be celebrated by one of the auxiliary bishops of the archdiocese -- a Vietnamese bishop. Shortly afterwards, the strains of the organ began to vibrate as a reminder that Mass was about to begin. From my vantage point at the rear of the church, I gazed around the church to get an idea of the pro- file, especially the age of the worshippers. Dispersed around the church were mostly older couples with a sprinkling of one or two families. Suddenly, I caught the glimpse of a robust young altar server, dressed in a black cassock and white surplice passing down the aisle. He was followed by a permanent deacon, fully vested; followed by a white hatted figure that seemed to bob up and down. The hat was more obvi- ous than the rest of his miniature body frame. A cantor, clad in a full length robe, began to bel- low out the opening song in unison with the organist as the majority of the congregation remained silent. The auxiliary bishop began with the usual greeting including how privileged he was to be able to cel- ebrate the liturgy with the folks at that particular Mass. A reader stepped forward from the side, clad in a black flowing robe that resembled that of a col- lege professor and began to read the scriptures, being scrupulously careful to pronounce and enunciate each syllable. The Responsorial Psalm was led by the cantor. The deacon stepped forward to read the gospel, while chanting the opening and ending greet- ing. Now, it was the turn of the bishop. He must have felt a bit like Zaccheus in the gospel, being small of stature, as he indicated that if he stood behind the lectern, people may not be able to see him so he de- cided to preach in front of the altar. I remembered that many times, when priests con- celebrated with their bishop, invariably, they would time the bishop’s homily by default. In this case, the auxiliary bishop spoke for sixteen minutes. The Prayers of the Faithful followed. Basical- ly, they were generic but topical and timely. At the end of each prayer request, the response prayer was chanted. A couple brought the offertory gifts to the altar during the song. Eucharistic Prayer number three was used with the usual chanting at the appropriate places. At communion time, the bishop and deacon par- ticipated. No cups were offered as an option. What I found interesting about approaching the Communion altar was that the bishop and deacon stood behind kneelers. As Communicants approached, most knelt and received on the tongue while, on either side of the bishop and deacon, two gentlemen, dressed in flowing gowns, pushed a paten in front of each chin. Very few received in the hand and declined to kneel. Following Mass, ushers -- men -- dressed in full business attire, handed out bulletins. Of course, I took one for viewing and evaluating. The cover educated me on its schedules and services. It con- tained the daily and weekly Mass schedule including a later Saturday evening Spanish Mass; Sacrament of Reconciliation times, Eucharistic Adoration, and office hours. It also included organizations such as St. Vincent DePaul, Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Hispanic liaison, Men’s Club, Women on the Vine, Respect Life Ministry, St. Monica’s Altar Guild, Grief Support Group, and American Heritage Girls Troop. Interesting also is that most priests when visiting another parish usually rate the parish by its weekend collection. I noted that last Sunday’s collection was just over $12,000, half of which was through online giving. Following Mass, I went out to eat with my host couple. There, I was able to get their perspective on the pastor and parish. They were able to enlighten me with their input and evaluation. As I reflected on my experience of attending Mass, I realized that all of us, priests, should, from time to time, if allowed, attend a weekend Mass rather than celebrate one. It would give all of us a different perspective from the pew where the peo- ple we celebrate with and for can enlighten us on how sometimes we bore; sometimes, we encourage; sometimes, we challenge; sometimes we inspire; and sometimes, even surprise ourselves; all because we took the time for a view from the pew. Father Michael Tracey is retired and lives in Ireland. He can be contacted by email at mtracey1@ bellsouth.net . His website is www.michaeltracey.net A view from the pew Across the Pond Father Tracey October is a wonderful month to celebrate our Bless- ed Mother. October 7 marks the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and October 13 is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, two amazing celebrations that bring the Mother of God into focus as the triumphant Queen of Heaven and Earth. It was on October 7, 1571, when forces assembled by Pope Pius V, set sail from Messina, Sicily, in 200 warships to meet a fleet of 300 from the Ottoman Navy. It was a desperate battle only undertaken to stem the tide of invasions of Catholic countries by the Ottoman Empire, and the rosary was employed as a last resort to overcome the seemingly insurmountable odds. Chris- tians throughout Europe gathered in their churches to implore Mary’s intercession on behalf of soldiers risk- ing their lives to defend them -- and soldiers aboard those ships prayed the rosary as they headed into battle. It was the Battle of Lepanto, and the outcome is the stuff of legend as only thirteen of the 300 Ottoman ships survived, handing a decisive victory to those brave soldiers and glory throughout Europe to our Blessed Mother, whose intercession the people unanimously credited for the victory. One can only imagine the over- whelming relief the people of those countries of Christian Europe must have felt, when a time of immense fear over invasion and subjugation was put to rest and peace finally secured. It should hardly surprise Christians after 2,000 years to learn of such stories of Mary’s in- tercession. It’s been her role to care for us ever since Jesus, during His crucifixion, said to Mary and to John the apostle, “Woman, behold, your son!” and “Behold, your mother!” These are the words upon which so much of our theology about Mary is based, and how fitting it is that we should place such weight upon those words spo- ken from the cross. Catholics throughout the centuries with their backs to the wall have needed only those last words to know that Mary has been given to each and every one of us as our mother to watch over us and protect us in our hour of need. Fast forward from that dramatic scene in 1571 to October 13, 1917, in Fatima, Portugal, where tens of thousands of people witnessed the Miracle of the Sun. World War I was raging in Europe, and Portugal had fallen under the spell of an atheistic regime. Portu- guese soldiers were dying on the battlefield, people were starving at home, and persecutions had beset the Church, with public expression of religion banned, and priests, monks, and nuns targeted for attacks and some- times even murdered by anti-Christian groups. It was into this climate that Mary came to three shepherd children in a series of apparitions that culmi- nated in the miracle that cut through a rainy October day with the sun dancing in the sky and instantaneous- ly drying people’s clothing and the ground they stood upon, piercing hearts hardened by struggle and despair. SEE LIGHT ONE CANDLE, PAGE 14 Celebrating the Blessed Mother Light One Candle Fr. Dougherty