Solemnity of Mary Mother of God

Go to Mass today! Oh, and, Happy New Year too!

The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

The twenty-fifth day of December.

In the five thousand one hundred and ninety-ninth year of the creation of the world from the time when God in the beginning created the heavens and the earth;

the two thousand nine hundred and fifty-seventh year after the flood;

the two thousand and fifteenth year from the birth of Abraham;

the one thousand five hundred and tenth year from Moses and the going forth of the people of Israel from Egypt;

the one thousand and thirty-second year from David's being anointed king;

in the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel;

in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad;

the seven hundred and fifty-second year from the foundation of the city of Rome;

the forty second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus;

the whole world being at peace,

in the sixth age of the world,

Jesus Christ the eternal God and Son of the eternal Father, desiring to sanctify the world by his most merciful coming, being conceived by the Holy Spirit, and nine months having passed since his conception, was born in Bethlehem of Judea of the Virgin Mary, being made flesh.

The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.

If you don't 'like' any of the presents you received this year. Remember, THIS, the Incarnation, is the TRUE gift and the BEST gift you/we will ever receive. Don't reject it and send it back.

Merry Christmas, Sinner!

Terry's Christmas card arrived today and said just that! ROFL! Thanks, Ter, it gave me the laugh I needed. Advent has been drier for me this year than any Lent.Satan is attacking and I've given in on a few occasions. I went to Confession again today. I feel like maybe I should just camp out in the Confessional. I'm waiting for Father to say "You, AGAIN?!" But, better that than the Lord asking "Who are you again?"

I think LarryD's Christmas card was confiscated by the Postal Service again this year - something about it requiring black plastic wrapping.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

The First Week

Gentle Reader: (all 5 of you!). Sorry, I've been scarce, but that's life, ya know?

How's the first week of the improved translation going? I'm glad you asked! lol Ok, you didn't, but it's my blog so I'm going to tell you anyway!

I'm too young to remember the changes to the Mass in the late 60's - early 70's so I'm counting this as a first. Well, not really if I count my first experience with the Novus Ordo in Latin or the 1962 (EF) Mass in Latin - that was a learning curve as well. If I did that, I can "do" this. Really. If you know the Latin, the changes make more "sense"

But, I don't like having my face in a Missal for the entire Mass. A priest during a weekly Mass advised us all, before the Mass, not to be too proud to use the Missal. He's right. It is pride. I not only want to look holier than everyone else, I don't want to look as dumb as everybody else. Now I happily bury my face in a Missal or a cheat sheet right along with everybody else.

My biggest struggle is to rememember to bring my copy of the improved Missal translation or remember to pick one up at the door before I sit down or grab one at the pew before I move way in to the middle. I'm sitting there and the Mass starts and, oh, yeah...I don't have "this one" memorized.

I have a tendency to lapse into the "old" version of the Creed in certain sections and then I'm off the cadence and oops. And, yes, this is while I'm reading it. Apparently, I have a gift for seeing words that are not really there!

I tend to treat the "And with your spirit" as a contest between me and Father! I'm ready for it Father! Bring it! And then he throws it in the greeting of peace before he starts his Homily and I shout out the old response. Or, my personal favorite blended and die off response "And ALSO...(cringe)...mumble...spirit!"

Some days I wish we'd just do the Latin. But, the improved translation (is it really NEW?) is a huge improvement. At my parish, Father has prepared us for months and he took the opportunity the Archbishop afforded us of learning the Gloria early so when we hear it again at Christmas we are ready. I think my parish is actually handling the improved English translation very well.

I think the media is trying to create drama and controversy where there isn't any. The faithful Catholics who are at Mass every Sunday, who attend daily Mass, who are engaged in the life of the parish; in other words the backbone of the Church, are handling it just fine.

We will all learn it together. Thanks Be to God.

Feast of St. Catherine of Alexandria!

Avoid the Black Friday insanity! Forget the debates over opening times at the stores! Join me at Mass today! Drag out that farewell to the Roman Missal, 2nd edition!

St. Catherine of Alexandria, my confirmation saint and patroness of this blog, pray for us!

Give Thanks!