tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4598228705498900088.post7854415857920700273..comments2024-03-12T07:54:08.013+00:00Comments on Offerimus Tibi Domine: We few, we happy few, we band of brothersFr Simon Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05375804232895565241noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4598228705498900088.post-8991970058102507232010-12-31T12:41:37.312+00:002010-12-31T12:41:37.312+00:00To those who say that the Mass isn't everythin...To those who say that the Mass isn't everything (granted): it is the source of everything and the summit of everything.RJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13871618901190898384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4598228705498900088.post-53281456043865165732010-12-30T15:56:09.200+00:002010-12-30T15:56:09.200+00:00I had to laugh when receiving Communion instructio...I had to laugh when receiving Communion instructions prior to the televised "Midnight" Mass at Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral:-<br /><br />Presumably jealous at the spontaneous round of applause offered to the (thankfully bemused) Choir master for issuing his expert pre-Mass instructions about antiphonal proceedings (is 2011 the year when we finally see lay-readers receiving applause for faultless performances?), another usher (actually he may even have been a BBC official) took to the lectern.<br /><br />Paraphrasing (but near as verbatim as it gets): "A word also about Communion. There is a tight broadcasting schedule. So if the distribution of Communion overruns then the ushers will have to curtail it. However if you find that you have not been able to receive Communion during the general distribution then you are welcome to remain in the Blessed Sacrament chapel after Mass (i.e. at 1.20am in -11 degrees) for continued distribution."<br /><br />One was tempted to stand up and suggest: 1) if you quickly reminded everyone that they need to be in a state of grace to receive Communion then that should cut the queues down quite considerably; 2) if you dispense with the unnecessary distribution of Precious Blood then that should also speed matters noticeably; 3) also, you could either quit with hideously elongated Sign of Peace (and anyway, isn't swine flu on the rise again?) or at least instruct people only to shake hands with those on their immediate right and left then that, too, should save another two minutes.<br /><br />* One upside to the Beeb's broadcast: at least it meant we didn't have to suffer the infamous "Santa Mitre" with red felt, white cotton edgings and dangling gold baubles at the rear this year.<br /><br />.GWAMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01840883223560338540noreply@blogger.com