- Blessed Lawyer Mary? Women trying to decide between a career or motherhood need look no further for advice than the Mother of God. Although Mary’s appearances are few in the gospels, her critical role as mother is unmistakable. Jesus himself, having known and loved her as his own mother for 33 years, continues her motherhood over all the Church at the crucifixion. Some might say, “She didn’t have a choice but to be a mother in that male-dominated culture that kept her down (which would mean Jesus continued her ‘oppression’).” But ponder for a moment if she had a different role. Somehow it doesn’t seem very impressive, or comforting to think of the Blessed Lawyer Mary, or St. Mary – the Professor of God, or even Mary the Middle Manager. Thank you Mary for choosing motherhood with your fiat. Your children need you.
- Participation Failure. Ever notice how the Novus Ordo mass requires participation, but the congregation often falls short in fulfilling their mandated duties? For example, have you been to a mass where the Gloria is being said (not sung) and it falters mid-way through because people don’t know it except according to the tune? Or when the Creed is being recited and there is a long pause for the Incarnation (like at the Easter Vigil), but people don’t know how to start it again since it’s not being rambled off? Or in small masses where the faithful are asked to sing songs they don’t know and the halting attempt or off-tune result is hardly a fitting worship of the Divine? Or even in large masses where the choir can’t sing or a single cantor is uncomfortably off tune? You can say, “Oh well, they at least are trying.” But it’s better that they didn’t. Quiet would be a more fitting offering. Relying on the laity to “perform” in the N.O. show is like asking for audience participating at a dinner theatre. You never know what you’re going to get. At the Tridentine Latin Mass, there is no such risk. It’s beautiful and prayerful (even at the silent low mass) from beginning to end.
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