I meant to start this thread last week, but I forgot. So…what is Lent like in your parish Masses? How are the RCIA rites being handled? Music? Preaching?

Scrutinies? Didn’t seem them this week, but last week prayed with the probably 12 or so catechumens/candidates – about half catechuments, surprisingly.

Today, we attended Mass at the traditionally German parish (not that there’s anything particularly German about it now, except for the inscriptions on the Stations, but that’s what it was…) . I was taken aback when we first walked in because I heard…chant. Really excellent chant.

Turns out it was a recording, being played over the loudspeakers before Mass began. Now…if we can just take it a step or two further.

(And actually, during Lent, this church does the Kyrie, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei chanted.)

Rose vestments (and remember, as we’ve talked about before, if your priest didn’t wear rose vestments, that could be a matter of finances, and if it really bothers you, inquire…and give some money so they can buy them if need be,), and the usual 6-minute homily that manages to be far more substantive than most 20-minute homilies, pulling out the salient points of rejoicing in each Scripture reading, and pointing out that the Prodigal son is not a nice moralistic story – it reveals the truth about God’s love and mercy, which is never closed off to us.

Children were good – it’s getting better and better, slowly but surely. Now that Michael is starting to get into coloring and drawing, he’s far less likely to start shouting his never pithy observations in the middle of Mass.

Michael the Toddler, that is.