Not for Crabby Catholics :D

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IrishAm

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I am a fairly new poster and enjoy the discussions and debates I read on CAF. However, there does seem to be an awful lot of time spent on what is wrong with the Church, what is wrong with the world, what is wrong with this person or that person or “them” (whomever “they” may be).

So, like Pollyanna, I’m offering some “happy thoughts.”

When I went to Mass this morning, I found a convenient parking place.
The bells joyfully welcomed me to gather in community.
The young mother next to me had a child on each side of her as she wordlessly walked them through the Mass with an age appropriate book.
The baby in front of me was all smiles.
Father’s vestments were really lovely (new priest, he has some GORGEOUS vestments).
The choir did a good job.
The altar boys looked like they had just gotten hair cuts (back to school tomorrow, I speculated).
No cell phones went off.
Father’s homily was relavent.
Our Pastor is safely back from his vacation.
The ancient usher said, as he always does, “Have a good week, Red!”

Christ was truly present in the community of His faithful.

There is so much for which to be joyful . . . . What makes you happy?
 
The pianist played a beautiful postlude (after Mass)–Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (Beethoven’s 9th). The arrangement was quite contemporary and I knelt and praised God all the way through it. There was a lot of chatting and laughter and fellowship, but I didn’t mind a bit–to me it sounded like the fellowship that we will have in heaven.

I love it when the musicians play postludes, because it makes it so pleasant to kneel and enjoy being in His Presence and in the presence of His people after Mass.
 
What made me happy at Mass last evening:

The visiting priest from India here requesting donations was funny, kind and reverent.

Our parish priest was in the Narthex as usual with a smile on his face and his hand for us to shake, always a nice response to each of us.

A recently baptized convert asked me after Mass to help him learn some of the Churches prayers and asked my advice on prayer books.

I saw several families with young children who were attentive to Mass and no throwing of cheerios.

Several young 20 something fellas set next to me and knew all of the hymns…by heart:)

I looked around at our church and was thankful…and I was able to be in the presence of my Lord…

What a great thread…sometimes we have to stop and count our blessings…

:heart:Blyss
 
IrishAm said:
I am a fairly new poster and enjoy the discussions and debates I read on CAF. However, there does seem to be an awful lot of time spent on what is wrong with the Church, what is wrong with the world, what is wrong with this person or that person or “them” (whomever “they” may be).

So, like Pollyanna, I’m offering some “happy thoughts.”

When I went to Mass this morning, I found a convenient parking place.
The bells joyfully welcomed me to gather in community.
The young mother next to me had a child on each side of her as she wordlessly walked them through the Mass with an age appropriate book.
The baby in front of me was all smiles.
Father’s vestments were really lovely (new priest, he has some GORGEOUS vestments).
The choir did a good job.
The altar boys looked like they had just gotten hair cuts (back to school tomorrow, I speculated).
No cell phones went off.
Father’s homily was relavent.
Our Pastor is safely back from his vacation.
The ancient usher said, as he always does, “Have a good week, Red!”

Christ was truly present in the community of His faithful.

There is so much for which to be joyful . . . . What makes you happy?
Click to expand...
:clapping:

I’d like to add a few
  1. I am blessed to have a parish nearby that offers confession on Sundays and near-hourly masses from 7am to 8pm, so I was able to cleanse my soul right before Mass and then receive Our Lord with a thankful heart. AND at a time that suited me perfectly!!!
  2. Final hymn was a stirring rendition of Amazing Grace, so no lack of people singing. The other hymns were good old standards as well.
  3. Lovely and inspiring talk (and in its proper place after communion rather than during the homily) about a group that runs homeless shelters in the area - I may even volunteer there!
  4. One of our priests has also safely returned from vacation. Mind you another is about to head off - one of my favourites. Hope he has an enjoyable and much-needed break.
 
At the indult Latin Mass today:

The usual beautiful silence before Mass, even with many families who bring small children.

The Rosary before Mass.

I was hit with a few drops of actual holy water when the priest went around for Asperges!

We have the sung High Mass, and it was nice today that I noticed more people, especially one man near me, singing along in Latin with the choir throughout the Mass, and giving the spoken responses. I especially appreciated that the one man has a nice clear pronunciation, such that I might be able to learn the words from him and others like him. Such devotion by those who sing and give responses is heartening and most welcome because I’ve studied Latin in high school but tend to prefer not to follow along with a missal. (Am thinking I should study the missal at home.)

High quality sermon as usual, in English of course. Today’s was on St. Augustine and St. Monica.

Some of the altar boys have recently begun processing in carrying specially lit candles in beautiful glass containers shortly before Consecration, which they keep until the end of Mass.

So many people in attendance that two priests were distributing Communion.

~~ the phoenix
 
I was visiting my sister’s parish out-of-state, and everyone made me feel welcome, not like a stranger.

I sat between my 8-year-old niece and 13-year-old nephew, and they were actually *singing *the hymns!

The pastor allowed me to bring Holy Communion back to my mom and dad, who had just been discharged from hospital and nursing home (respectively) this week. Even though I do this regularly for others in my home town, it was very special doing it for my parents.

Thanks, IrishAm, for the positive thread.
 
I’ll add a few:
  1. Our priest gave a killer homily today. He talked about how no one goes to confession anymore but how everyone seems to take communion. He challenged people to see if they could remember how to recite the Act of Contrition. He spoke of Catholic couples wanting to marry in the Church but when he asks if they attend Mass regularly the response isn’t what he wants to hear. He questioned why a couple would want the Sacrament of Marriage when they don’t even do the basics, like going to Mass. He brought into focus that this isn’t a free ride. We have to examine ourselves and our actions and that we have a responsibility to do what is right.
  2. I took the baby and he was as good as gold;
  3. The priest announced that our parish finally has a Director of Music Ministry and we are going to hear the old organ playing as of next week. What cracked me up is when he said that this was going to happen “even at the 7:30 a.m. Mass so get ready.” Our 7:30 Mass (which I usually attend) is so quiet that this will startle more than a few people. 😃
 
We had a wonderful homily by a priest from Africa who visits our pastor for several weeks every summer. He wove it around the story of a Pan African Marathon where the last man in had been injured, but insisted on finishing. The man from Tanzania said his country had sent him not to just start the race, but to finish it. Father Fred tied this into our race to heaven. We must never give up and must cross the finish line. Just being in the race isn’t enough.

The first year seminarian from our parish and home for break, assisted with the servers at the Mass wearing a real cassock and surplice. It brought back memories of my own altar boy days when that was the standard attire.

After Mass our new Director of Faith Formation introduced himself and asked people to step out as teachers in the Faith Formation program, now not only for kids and teens, but adults as well. Having an organized program for adults is new.

Interestingly enough there are starting to be a few people who remain in their pew at communion time. Of course no one knows why, but I think it is a good sign. 🙂 👍
 
DH got a call to go to work as soon as we pulled in the parking lot, but my mother-in-law was in the car in front of us, so he was able to go to work and we had a ride home.

The assigned altar servers didn’t show up, so Father was glad to see my boys and waited for them while they got dressed.

It was quiet before Mass - as always.

Father gave a good homily about how sometimes we are wearing too many “things” - anger, hurt, pride being critical or judgmental - to fit through the “narrow door”.

The music was lovely. The Mass was reverent.

There were only 2 EMHC’s (instead of 3), but things still went smoothly.

After the final blessing, but before he dismissed us, Fr. announced that education is something near and dear to his heart, and that he wants to institute a Bible Study in the parish. This is something I want to participate in.

I still miss our old pastor who was reassigned, but I think we have a gem here, as well.

The collection from last week was above $3K.
 
Our organist is superb! And we are going to get a real professional singer to join the choir next week. Father had his usual funny but profound homily. I had some extra money this month for the collection. Now if only I could get my silence before Mass…but I thank God for the good things.
 
Ah, the good things.

Found out after Mass that more than two of our members are expecting in March - I know one of them, the others I know by sight, one is expecting #3, another is expecting #7.

We got an experienced teacher to take our 7th-8th Grade combined class.

The homily was good as always.

All the children behaved in age appropriate ways.

Brenda V.
 
What a refreshing thread. Much needed. Thank you!

I attend a Mass where there are no kneelers but over 75% of the parish spontaneously knelt on the hard floor after Communion last Sunday (not the usual practice).
 
Forum history repeating…

Do a search on “mass no-no’s” and you will see there was a thread started with people complaining about everything – it deteriorated fairly quickly and was locked.

During the activity of that thread, a “counter” thread was started there too called “mass yes-yes’s” to counter the negativity.

I guess the complaining is just part of human nature.🤷
 
I’ll put my two cents in :twocents:

The choir I sing in came back from our summer hiatus yesterday - and wow! It was heavenly! The violins we have just makes it so much more special.

We had a jovial visiting priest with a thick Irish accent - what a joy to hear! He absolutely loved the music!

Spoke with my friend after Mass. He’s in the seminary getting ready for his first semester of class. Happy to hear the our bishop is looking for priest who can say the extraordinary rite!

My husband came to Mass (he’s Anglican and he’s working on his faith).

The awe I felt during the consecration yesterday - I thought to myself “This is why we are all here!”
 
Cat said:
The pianist played a beautiful postlude (after Mass)–Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (Beethoven’s 9th). The arrangement was quite contemporary and I knelt and praised God all the way through it. There was a lot of chatting and laughter and fellowship, but I didn’t mind a bit–to me it sounded like the fellowship that we will have in heaven.

I love it when the musicians play postludes, because it makes it so pleasant to kneel and enjoy being in His Presence and in the presence of His people after Mass.
Click to expand...
Pianist? Innovators! The music is supposed to be acapella gregorian Chant! 😉
 
What a great thread!
Now to add the good from my parish this morning:

A couple who appear to still be very much in love renewed their vows to one another for this their 40th wedding anniversary.

A baby cooed and laughed throughout the Mass today, and nobody complained about the “noise”.
 
My kids introduced discussion of the Gospel and homily at dinner tonight! Wow. It wasn’t even a particularly good homily.

Very happy:extrahappy:
 
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