Back from D.C.

I'm back!

I had a great time in Washington D.C. I'll post some pictures later this week.

The trip didn't start off so well. The cats would not cooperate into getting into the one carrier we have (my dad can show some scratch marks to prove it). When we get one cat in and try getting the second cat in, the first one would escape. We'd try getting the second cat in and then the first one, the second one would escape. We ended up taking two trips to the vets and picked up a second carrier before getting the cats.

In D.C., we visited the National Archives, the National Zoo, the Library of Congress, the National Cathedral and the Basilica Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. On Sunday, we went to the new Air and Space Museum located near Dulles Airport.

I think I got spoiled by the church I went to Mass this past Sunday. It was as traditional a Mass as one can get without it being a Latin Mass. The altar boys wore cassocks with suplices; the celebrant prayed the Eucharistic Prayer I; we sang the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei (sp?) in Latin; at Communion, two other priests and a deacon came to help distribute communion and the three altar boys used patens (sp?) as well.

Latin Mass

I just got back from the Mass. Here are my impressions:

1). Kneeling, kneeling, and when you get tired of kneeling, some more kneeling. There's a lot more kneeling in the Extraordinary Form than in the Ordinary Form. Since I wasn't used to that much kneeling, my knees began to get a little sore.

2) It was a Low Mass, so there was no music. No Haugen or Haas. ;)

3) I liked the reverence. The priest and the altar servers were very reverent. The altar servers had more to do in this Mass than they usually have to do in the Ordinary Form.

4) I was actually able to follow what was going on. I had a 1962 Missal with me, so I was able to follow on. The only thing was that it didn't indicate when to stand, sit, or kneel like the missalettes the others who attended this Mass had.

5) There were more people there than I expected. This is a good sign for future celebrations of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form.

Overall, I enjoyed it. I would like to attend a High Mass or a Solemn High Mass if given the opportunity.

Why, why, why???

This Saturday the co-cathedral will be host to an ordination as Bishop Ricard ordains a new priest. I had requested a closing shift at work so I could attend.

But of course, the managers at work just had to schedule a 2-2.5 hour meeting that morning, which means I won't be able to attend the ordination. Grrr...

Well, at least I should be able to attend the Latin Mass we're having the following day. Assuming, that my request for a closing shift that day is granted...

Will of the people, indeed

California's top court legalizes gay marriage.

First, let me say this. I do not and cannot condone any violence against gays and lesbians just because they're gays and lesbians. People have the right to live without fear of being subject to violence regardless of race, religion, gender, etc.

That being said, this is a blow to the natural family. A family consists of a husband and a wife, with (hopefully) at least one child. Whether some marriages end in divorce or annullment is irrelevant to the issue at hand. Not all marriages last, unfortunately, and not all families are perfect. But a marriage between a husband and wife is how God intended it.

It's one thing for non-Christians to support gay and lesbian unions (although not all do). However, Christians, Protestant, Catholic or Orthodox, cannot and should not support these unions. They run contrary to what God intended. That's not to say we can't treat gays and lesbians with respect and kindness. We can love the sinner but hate the sin.

Another thing is how easily a simple majority of justices (or one judge) can undo the will of the people. I'm not merely talking about this issue but any other issue. The rationale is that judicial review is to protect the rights of the minorities. While that is important, the minority cannot be allowed to dictate to the majority. That's a dictatorship, or oligarchy, not democratic. We have seen throughout history where this logic about protecting the minority was contradictory. Does anybody think that the Dred Scot or Plessy decisions were made to protect the minority? No. They continued slavery or legalized segregation. So, such court decisions can easily hurt the minority that judicial review is claimed to protect.

Keep this country in prayer.

New deacon

Starting this summer, the deacon at my parish should have some help. Three new transitional deacons were ordained last month, and one of them, at least what I heard, will be assigned to my parish. Good thing since the other parishes in Tallahassee all have two deacons.

Grrrrrrr

Maybe I should just stop trying to host a blog at all.

First, today, I was blocked from this blog (and other blogger.com/blogspot blogs) because allegedly there was an automated searcher bot from my computer or network. Access was restored shortly afterwards.

I decided to start another blog somewhere else as backup. I had three to four posts there, and guess what? When I got home from work, I can't login, saying I don't have sufficient authorization to access it and it says that my blog doesn't exist.

Is keeping a blog worth it?

Opinions, please.

Christian leaders questioning Senate investigation

Christian leaders questioning Senate investigation.

Now, on the one hand, I don’t like the Prosperity Gospel. It is a heresy and should be condemned.

That being said, I don’t think it’s the Senate’s business to investigate those who hold to this. It sets a very dangerous precedence in this country.