“It’s Bigger on the Inside”

It’s such a shame that many churches don’t even have a high altar and even some that have one don’t have the veil over the tabernacle. It’s such a simple and yet profound reminder that when we celebrate the Mass we are truly out of all time. At the moment of the Agnus Dei, we are transported through time to the crucifixion itself, our Lord is pierced anew for our offenses, and the veil of the Sanctum Sanctorum is split from top to bottom once again.

The account of Josephus describes the entrance to the Temple of Jerusalem in Jesus’ time as being adorned with golden grapevines and there was a table with 12 loaves next to the inner veil leading to the Holy of Holies. The veil itself depicted the heavens and the earth and so not only are we united to the crucifixion with the parting of the veil during Mass, but also to the creation of the universe when God divided the firmament, and also to the end of the world when Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats. What an incredible miracle!

Along similar lines, on the Feast of the Visitation, we are also called to contemplate that the building of a church is literally a womb. Every day (save Good Friday) Christ is not only slain for our sins, but is also reborn in the consecration of the Eucharist. How joyous for the people of God that every day is the Nativity and the Passion all rolled into one! We go through the motions of no bells, no organ, no marking of time during the celebration of the Holy Triduum, but even in Ordinary Time, every Mass is a miraculous journey beyond the temporal realm into the eternal.

Even so, we hear stories about priests who–even today–are removing the veil from altars in the name of the often misguided “spirit of Vatican II.” It’s so sad that anyone would want to dismantle such a beautiful part of the liturgy and, indeed, of our faith. Can we go to heaven if we go to a parish without a high altar and a veil over the tabernacle? Probably yes. But does it deprive us of not just a reminder, but indeed to some degree also the reality of what is taking place? Absolutely. If people really understood what was taking place, perhaps they might approach the Mass with a little more reverence.

PS. Steven: You may be the pope of basic cable, but I’m the papist of awesome blogging. When are you going to have me on the show?

Face it: you wish your morning walk to breakfast was this awesome.

Maribeth Lynch, 51, a publisher from the Milwaukee suburb of Elm Grove, said she was “distraught” over the changes and would refuse to “learn the damn prayers.”

“It’s ridiculous. I’ve been a Catholic for 50 years, and why would they make such stupid changes? They’re word changes. They’re semantics,” she said. The priest “spent 40 minutes today on the changes instead of on the important stuff, like changing water into wine.”

How shocking to discover that a resident of a liberal Milwaukee environ who proudly proclaims her five decades of Catholic membership, drops the word d*mn casually, and complains about priestly attention to important details … also clearly failed Sunday school.

That is, unless priests suddenly have a new miraculous talent and no one updated me.

I think this little story is a nice reminder that the false “spirit” of Vatican II is on its way out. May it be replaced with a renewed spirit that, ya know, pays attention to the “important stuff” … like what is actually happening on the altar.

“And a little child shall lead them…”

Photo: Reuters

Budget cuts had led to the unfortunate appearance of vegetation in awkward places.

“Sure,” the pope thought, “I could fly. Or, I could get a free upgrade to the train’s business class!”

Photo: Reuters

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Photo source (it’s real): Reuters

“Hold onto your Zucchetto, because we’re going to Disneyland!”

Photo: AP

Sorry to say this bishop, but even under two hats we can all tell you’re nodding off