T
TimothyH
Guest
To the parishoners in the pews, any given Mass might appear to have been the Last Supper itself - as flawlessly executed as an olympic figure skating routine, the bride of Christ herself worshiping the Bridegroom in “Spirit and truth.”
Oh, the things you don’t see…
I am a Master of Ceremonies. It is my job to make sure that everything is in place before Mass, that everyone knows their roles during Mass, to ensure that things flow smoothly during Mass and to take the blame after Mass for anything that went wrong. Sometimes it’s comical, and sometimes I am the biggest comedian.
Today an extra altar server showed up. We welcome this, especially on solemnities like today when there is “Full incense.” This kid however, was zoned out from the start, yawning and not paying attention to my instruction before Mass. The priest for this Mass has everyone greet each other before Mass starts. Father turned to greet the servers (behind him) and when he got to this server, the kid’s mind is on another planet. Father reaches out, lifts the kid’s chin and says, “Hey, pay attention!”. No one in the pews heard or saw.
The servers were young and no one knew how to handle the thurible. I had to serve as MC and thurifer. Everything was great up to when we prepared the incense for the Gospel. Father put the incense in, blessed it and I handed the thurible to Father. Father looked at the thurbile, looked at me and says, “I’m not supposed to have it.” Duh! I’m supposed to walk to the ambo with it. I motion the boat bearer to go back to his seat, take the thurible, walk to the ambo and nobody but the priest and I noticed the whole exchange.
Things move alone nicely as we start the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The servers moved to the sides of the sanctuary as we chanted, “Sanctus… Sanctus…” and I knelt with the servers. I had totally forgotten that I was the thurifer. I had to stand back up, get the thurible and then walk (quickly, but not too quickly to look undignified and irreverent) to the front of the sanctuary, hoping that I would get there in time to kneel before Father started the Preface. Amidst the chanting and clunking of kneelers in the pews, I don’t think a single person noticed my blunder.
**Editorial Comment: **I had to smile for happiness at the consecration. I like lots of incense. I like to smell like incense when I get home. The thurible was roasting hot - I could barely handle the top as Father put incense in it and he shoveled a good amount in before incensing the altar. It was smoking like a cold-war era coal fired power plant as I gave it 3x tripple swings and I could hear people coughing and sneezing all the way in the back of the Church as I rocked it back and forth amongst billowing clouds through the conclusion of the full Roman Canon. I apologize to all who don’t like so much incense and God will have to forgive me but that’s heaven on earth as far as I’m concerned.
The Our Father is chanted in our parish and the EMHC’s come forward at the sign of peace. They lined up to receive and I counted one less than we are supposed to have. I lined up with them ready to fill in and discreetly whispered to the ministry leader, “We are one short” to which she whispered back, “No we are not.” I said “We only have seven” to which she whispers back, “The priest also distributes.” Duh! I forgot that the priest distributes too.
I stayed with the EMHC’s so as not to draw attention and knelt after receiving.
We processed out and after taking care of a chore or two, I am stopped by two people who say, “That Mass was good!” and “You guys all did such a wonderful job.” Father even thanked me and said that the Mass was perfect. True to melancholic/perfectionist form, I reminded him that I had handed him the incense before the Gospel and he laughed saying, “Yeah, I almost went to incense the altar with it, ha ha ha ha ha.”
Day’s like these humble me.
-Tim-
Oh, the things you don’t see…
I am a Master of Ceremonies. It is my job to make sure that everything is in place before Mass, that everyone knows their roles during Mass, to ensure that things flow smoothly during Mass and to take the blame after Mass for anything that went wrong. Sometimes it’s comical, and sometimes I am the biggest comedian.
Today an extra altar server showed up. We welcome this, especially on solemnities like today when there is “Full incense.” This kid however, was zoned out from the start, yawning and not paying attention to my instruction before Mass. The priest for this Mass has everyone greet each other before Mass starts. Father turned to greet the servers (behind him) and when he got to this server, the kid’s mind is on another planet. Father reaches out, lifts the kid’s chin and says, “Hey, pay attention!”. No one in the pews heard or saw.
The servers were young and no one knew how to handle the thurible. I had to serve as MC and thurifer. Everything was great up to when we prepared the incense for the Gospel. Father put the incense in, blessed it and I handed the thurible to Father. Father looked at the thurbile, looked at me and says, “I’m not supposed to have it.” Duh! I’m supposed to walk to the ambo with it. I motion the boat bearer to go back to his seat, take the thurible, walk to the ambo and nobody but the priest and I noticed the whole exchange.
Things move alone nicely as we start the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The servers moved to the sides of the sanctuary as we chanted, “Sanctus… Sanctus…” and I knelt with the servers. I had totally forgotten that I was the thurifer. I had to stand back up, get the thurible and then walk (quickly, but not too quickly to look undignified and irreverent) to the front of the sanctuary, hoping that I would get there in time to kneel before Father started the Preface. Amidst the chanting and clunking of kneelers in the pews, I don’t think a single person noticed my blunder.
**Editorial Comment: **I had to smile for happiness at the consecration. I like lots of incense. I like to smell like incense when I get home. The thurible was roasting hot - I could barely handle the top as Father put incense in it and he shoveled a good amount in before incensing the altar. It was smoking like a cold-war era coal fired power plant as I gave it 3x tripple swings and I could hear people coughing and sneezing all the way in the back of the Church as I rocked it back and forth amongst billowing clouds through the conclusion of the full Roman Canon. I apologize to all who don’t like so much incense and God will have to forgive me but that’s heaven on earth as far as I’m concerned.
The Our Father is chanted in our parish and the EMHC’s come forward at the sign of peace. They lined up to receive and I counted one less than we are supposed to have. I lined up with them ready to fill in and discreetly whispered to the ministry leader, “We are one short” to which she whispered back, “No we are not.” I said “We only have seven” to which she whispers back, “The priest also distributes.” Duh! I forgot that the priest distributes too.
I stayed with the EMHC’s so as not to draw attention and knelt after receiving.We processed out and after taking care of a chore or two, I am stopped by two people who say, “That Mass was good!” and “You guys all did such a wonderful job.” Father even thanked me and said that the Mass was perfect. True to melancholic/perfectionist form, I reminded him that I had handed him the incense before the Gospel and he laughed saying, “Yeah, I almost went to incense the altar with it, ha ha ha ha ha.”
Day’s like these humble me.
-Tim-
