The Holy Anaconda, Migrations,a nd other 'liturgical' mishaps . . .

Going to Mass is not the straight forward, spiritual experience you would expect. Although there were distractions back in the olden days, they certainly seem more prevalent now. When they say it is the ‘Mass of the People’, I have to agree as God seems to get lost in the shuffle. I have been trying to approach Mass with my blinders on but sometimes the interesting moments within the church, clamor for attention.

I have observed that people prefer to sit in their own pews. At daily Masses, this is even more possible as there are fewer people. Everyone has their own seat and seem to be careful to leave lots of space between them and the next person. These preferences or inhibitions are forgotten, however, once the Our Father is recited. Everyone starts stretching and angling to find a hand to hold. One watches in amazement as people reach across vacant pews to reach others, some are twisted in order to accommodate this rite and others are even facing the side or almost the back of the church just to insure they are able to hold hands. Being in the midst of the tangle doesn’t show up the magnitude of this Holy Anaconda. Seeing this phenomenon from the back of the church brings to mind some archaic ritual. The Holy See has stated that this gesture during Mass “is not in the rubrics.” (Notitiae 11 [1975] 226, DOL 1502 n. R29)

Since holding hands during the Our Father is not in the rubrics, no one can be required to do so during the Our Father. If you are not on your toes, you can end up being pummeled and pushed from your prayers by a ardent hand-holder. So, do you give in to the moment or pray that God gives you an extra grace for coping in spite of it all?

Once the terrors of the Holy Anaconda are past, you still can’t breathe easy. The Migration begins! Personally, I think a gesture of kindness towards our fellow worshipers is wonderful. Offering your hand in friendship before you offer yourself up to God’s grace and forgiveness on the altar is a good prelude. Unfortunately, people who talked together coming into Mass, who will probably see each other after Mass and who may be breakfasting with each other after Mass, want to offer the Sign of Peace as far and wide as possible. Pews empty, as people scatter to find the friends they had conversed with barely thirty minutes before. Ranks break and God resides in lonely splendor on the altar. You can say that we are seeing God in each other. I think we should concentrate more on that outside of Mass. Some people migrate so far from their home pew, they are rambling back halfway through the Lamb of God. That doesn’t stop them from greeting people as they return, ignoring the Lamb of God.

Extraordinary Ministers are supposed to be a help when there is absolutely no ordained person present or available for whatever logical reason. In spite of Vatican instructions, we are overrun with Extraordinary Ministers. When they do serve, they are supposed to present an air of dignity and piety as befits their part in the liturgy. I balked at receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday from a Extraordinary Minister, wearing slacks, sweatshirt and a giggling smile. Somehow the words she was reciting, “thou are dust and unto dust thou shall return” lost something when she grinned throughout her duty and even laughed and joked with people she knew.

And, finally, I find it difficult to train my children to show respect in church when grown ups saunter into Mass and plunk into a pew without a genuflection or a prayer before Mass. Again, the people performing the important jobs during Mass, such as lectors, are leading others astray when they lead them away from God’s presence. A perfunctory head bow isn’t quite the same as a genuflection. “No one who enters a church should fail to adore the Blessed Sacrament either by visiting the Blessed Sacrament chapel or at least by genuflecting. Similarly, those who pass before the Blessed Sacrament genuflect, except when they are walking in procession. [CB 71].

Deep sigh . . .

"You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence."
-- Charles Austin Beard

Dying bananas meet their eternity . . .

In other words, we got more bananas than we could eat and the rapidly browning fruit has now found it's way into banana nut cranberry bread which is baking in the oven even as I type here.

I was wondering if having banana bread broke our Lenten sacrifice to not have sweets but justified it with 1.) It's called bread, right? 2.) Waste not, want not! 3.) If we eat it for a quick breakfast, it can't be called dessert.

Haven't made banana bread in a long time so enjoyed making two loaves of it today AND saving those aging bananas! I always buy fresh cranberries in the Fall and freeze them so I have some on hand to throw into breads, cakes, and smoothies. To me, banana bread is a bit sweet and the tang of the cranberries seems to compromise that in a good way.

Wouldn't this thought improve the world?

“Believe that others are better than you in the depths of their soul, although outwardly you may appear better than they.” ~St. Augustine

Pay day shopping and mom rules!

When it comes down to the line, those last few days before payday, we learn to manage, cope and be farsighted. Supplies are down, appetites unchanging (always hungry!), and you tentatively start working on your grocery list. You hope your anticipation will match the funds left over from the paycheck to cover groceries. Things start squeaking as belts start figuratively tightening but you know all will be well if everyone remembers this: Be circumspect.

These are your first words to your spouse as you head out for the payday replenishment of the cupboards, refrigerator and other miscellaneous needs of your home. You know you will return triumphantly within the next few hours with all the comforts of life that your money can afford. All you ask is that everyone be . . . well, circumspect while you are gone. Your husband wonders at your choice of words, the children could care less and you smile knowingly as you pull out of the driveway.

As you drive to the supermarket, you mull over the word, circumspect. You know life will go much easier for them at home if they keep this word in mind. Circumspect . . . cautious . . . levelheaded . . . prudent . . .reserved . . . vigilant. All words related to circumspect. All words that will help the family make it through the time you are away from home. After all, no matter what their immediate needs, shopping has become an art form. You need to juggle your grocery list, your coupons and whatever club card required by the store to obtain their weekly bargains. You know life may be rough while you are away.

Two hours later, you pull into the driveway. You find your husband and children lined up in the front yard, waiting for you. You realize your return is not any too soon. The first words out of your husband’s mouth are, “Did you know there were only two paper towels, three sheets of bathroom tissue and four Kleenex in this house?” You smile wisely, pat him on the face and hand him the bag of desired paper products. “So tell me,” he mutters, “Were you circumspect?” “Didn’t have to be,” you reply, “There’s a fully-stocked restroom at the market!”

Sweet benefit of summer . . .

We have a peach tree in our backyard that goes to great extents to overproduce a crop of peaches most years. Last year, we ate, baked, and gave away dozens of peaches. I even had to resort to freezing bags of sliced peaches. Although I do have two or three bags of the frozen peaches left, I am looking forward to having sun-warmed ones later in the summer. Right now, the tree is filling with beautiful pink blossoms and the bees are doing a lot of happy humming.

A favorite way we like our peaches for dessert is baked into a crispy. A peach crispy is sort of like a loosely-made pie with half the trouble of actually making a pie! Thought I'd share my version.

Peach Crispy

5-6 medium to large peaches, skinned, pitted and sliced
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Juice and grated rind of one lemon

Crisp:
1 stick butter or margarine
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup brown sugar, packed
½ cup chopped nuts, your choice

Combine sugar and flour and mix into sliced peaches. Add lemon juice, rind and place in greased 9x9 or 11x9-inch baking dish.

Combine the ingredients for the Crisp using a food processor of by hand. Crumble mixture over the peaches. Bake in preheated, 350 degree oven for approximately 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Goes well with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Starting off the morning . . . and I have to agree with them all!

"My definition of an expert in any field is a person who knows enough about what's really going on to be scared."
-- P. J. Plauger

"Television is the first truly democratic culture - the first culture available to everybody and entirely governed by what the people want. The most terrifying thing is what people do want."
-- Clive Barnes

"I have long been of the opinion that if work were such a splendid thing the rich would have kept more of it for themselves."
-- Bruce Grocott

"The best way to keep children home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant--and let the air out of the tires."
-- Dorothy Parker