Brooklyn Bound

Returning to St. Michael Friary in a little while. It's time to get back to where I belong.

I'm feeling a little unwell this morning. Some bug has gotten into my stomach and intestines. I was nauseated during the night and have had a bout of diarrhea since yesterday afternoon. It's probably food sickness, though not from Thanksgiving leftovers. I think it was the omelet I ate -- must have been undercooked. Oh well -- I'm still glad my parents took me and the family out to breakfast after church.

Prayers for my nephew Jesse, who is also feeling ill. He has had a fever since Friday evening and is still run down.

I've been reading some theological essays sent to me by one of the brothers from Good Shepherd Parish in upper Manhattan. One essay in particular on Franciscan evangelical poverty is causing various arisings in thought. It is a blessing to have brothers who are keen to support my intellectual development so as to deepen my identity as a Capuchin friar.

Finally, prayers for the Catholic Church in the United States and all the English speaking countries where the Revised Roman Missal became operative in the liturgy this weekend. There were a few missteps and mild confusion at the liturgy I attended in my hometown parish. The pastor devoted his entire homily to explaining the changes in the missal, which to me was a shame. This is the time the people of God should be hearing how the joyful mysteries of God-become-human, God made immanent, compel us to renewed conversion.

It is of course, too soon to hope for a reform of the revision, and it is uncharitable to demand a reform of the missal at the outset of implementation. Let us find out how the faithful will pray with the new missal before we conclude that we can or cannot pray with the missal. And let us continue to pray for the clergy who must implement the liturgical changes with their bishops. If there is to be a reform, it will have to begin with the priests. Their voice matters the most here. The faithful have several new prayers to learn, true, but the priests have hundreds of new prayers. They also must teach the faithful how to pray the Mass. Their protest, should they be compelled by the Spirit to protest, will need to be couched in concerns as pastoral as they are liturgical. They will need to demonstrate to the bishops that their sheep are lost and confused. They, on behalf of the faithful, must prove that the letter of the liturgy is stifling its spirit.

All right -- time to pray for hope and healing. Happy Advent to all my sisters and brothers in Christ, and to all people of good will, I wish you peace and all goodness.