Mass in St. Louis, MO

[agapewolf]

I am female, but I know who you were sitting next to.

Also, by the way, Bishop Hermann has a few of those portfolios.

 

[benedictgal]

I am female, but I know who you were sitting next to.

Also, by the way, Bishop Hermann has a few of those portfolios.

Were you also at the conference?

 

[benedictgal]

The Mass at the New Cathedral Basilica was most impressive. It was interesting to see the choir take part in the opening procession, as well as to hear the handbell group.

It was also quite wonderful to hear the introit and the other pieces that one rarely gets to experience. My colleague and I sat in the front, about the third pew.

There was something piercingly beautiful about the introit that gave me a lump in my throat. The choir and the organ were magnicent, as were the handbells. Even though I don’t particularly like responsorial Glorias, the Gloria used was beautiful. My only caveat concerned the Lamb of God. I could have lived without the invocation to the Bread of Life and just kept the Lamb of God (oh well). The rest of the music was simply astounding.

It was a lot to take in because of the setting. The mosaics are beautiful and the sanctuary is simply breathtaking. It was truly a sacred space that really drove home the point that we are in a grand and glorious company of witnesses, seen and unseen, and that the angels are joining us (along with the Church Triumphant and the Church Suffering) in offering a pleasing sacrifice to God.

 

[daeve]

The Mass at the New Cathedral Basilica was most impressive. It was interesting to see the choir take part in the opening procession, as well as to hear the handbell group.

It was also quite wonderful to hear the introit and the other pieces that one rarely gets to experience. My colleague and I sat in the front, about the third pew.

There was something piercingly beautiful about the introit that gave me a lump in my throat. The choir and the organ were magnicent, as were the handbells. Even though I don’t particularly like responsorial Glorias, the Gloria used was beautiful. My only caveat concerned the Lamb of God. I could have lived without the invocation to the Bread of Life and just kept the Lamb of God (oh well). The rest of the music was simply astounding.

It was a lot to take in because of the setting. The mosaics are beautiful and the sanctuary is simply breathtaking. It was truly a sacred space that really drove home the point that we are in a grand and glorious company of witnesses, seen and unseen, and that the angels are joining us (along with the Church Triumphant and the Church Suffering) in offering a pleasing sacrifice to God.

I’m always struck by the massive size of the New Cathdral. You feel almost engulfed in it. I was a Confirmation sponser a few years ago and the service was held there. The parishes have the option of having their own Confirmation or being part of the giant Confirmation at the Cathedral. There were hundreds of people there, and we still didn’t fill even half the place.