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As many of you know, I normally attend the 11am mass on Sunday. Tomorrow, however, is our parish picnic and I will be working it for most of the day so I attended the 4:30 mass tonight, for the first time.

As I walked down the aisle, I was stunned to see a magnificent gold crucifix on a pedestal, next to the oversized, bigger than life, Risen Christ. It was placed on a white draped pedestal with a candle burning at its base. I instantly broke into tears of joy!! Could it be that the pastor had FINALLY read the GIRM?! Then I opened to the Readings and noticed Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.

In all fairness and tribute to Fr. Burke, he did a masterful job with this mass. The altar was decorated in a classical manner, the choir sang traditional songs of the cross, his sermon was totally focused on living our lives by the cross ... I actually felt like I was in a Catholic Church. An absolutely beautiful Catholic Mass service. (Tomorrow, I will have to pique his conscience and try to convince him to keep that magnificent crucifix up there next to the Tabernacle.

Please take a moment to add an appropriate prayer or hymn to this thread. God Bless you all!

Thank God! Little things to some but everything to us.

A little sign that you should stay in your parish maybe? It's great that you are going to tell him how much you loved what he did.

Smiled all the way through that post because I know how overjoyed you must have been!

I've been going back and forth about attending the Tridentine tomorrow because of this feast.... I think you made up my mind that I will. Sadly, nothing out of the ordinary will take place at my home parish tomorrow.

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ's side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever
Amen

Now keep in mind I'm coming from a slightly different background:

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

-Isaac Watts