Rome 24/10 – Day 13 & 14: A day of marvels

Busy post today, as I catch up. A combination of factors yesterday kept me from posting the usual.

Today over Rome received first sunshine at 7:20. It will diminish at 18:32. The Ave Maria rings at 18:45.

Yesterday, 13 Oct, the 287th day of the civil calendar and 21st Sunday after Pentecost, had lots going on.

Anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima.
Anniversary of the Message of Akita Japan.
Anniversary of Leo XIII’s vision.
Perhaps the Anniversary of the Crucifixion of St. Peter.
243rd Birthday of the United States Navy

Today is the Feast of St. Calixtus whose tomb is across the river from me at Santa Maria in Trastevere.

Yesterday I had two powerful encounters with the supernatural.

I attended the Sunday Solemn Mass at The Parish™.   The altar was simple, with portapalme and no relics.   The ceremonies were effectively flawless, smooth, comfortable.  Nothing was rushed.  No hesitations or doubts or ooopses.

The “moment” came at the Consecration.

From my viewpoint, on the side in choir, there was a moment of harmony which exemplified the perfection of the Roman Rite.

The Subdeacon knelt at the lowest step.  The Deacon knelt at the Celebrant’s right to elevate the edge of the vestment slightly.  The Celebrant’s arms were raised, first with the Host, then the Chalice, above the Corporal.  There was a perfect line from the Subdeacon’s paten, through Deacon’s arm and the edge of the chasuble upward through the back of the vestment continuing in the priest’s upraised arms through the Host and Chalice to the figure of the Crucified Savior on the altar Cross.   If that weren’t enough, Guido Reni’s Trinity was then also directly in line, in my opinion the most beautiful of all the altar pieces of Rome.  I know from having celebrated Mass at the main altar that when you raise the Host and Chalice, you see “through” the altar Crucifix to Christ’s Body on the Cross in the painting, his face above the Host and Chalice, his torso framing them.

It was a perfect moment when everything came together, goodness, truth, beauty, the Church’s teachings and faith expressed in the liturgical rite, the movement and sudden fleeting stillness that crystalized the coalesced image of them all.

It was overwhelming.

I’ve seen and celebrated a great many Solemn Masses in my 30+ years as a priest (though not recently… thanks, you dear dear dear bishops for your moral integrity and fortitude in the face of opposition), but this was something special.  Perhaps it was also special because it was fueled by my interior hunger.

Hence, I’ll take a moment here to thank my dear Roman Donors who put me in that choir stall at the moment.

The second supernatural encounter had a rather difference impact.

Saying Mass privately in the evening, as I often do here on Sunday, there was outside in the street a “musician” of such appalling skills that I was dubious that I could maintain my concentration.   I determined two things, firstly, to ask Jesus the High Priest to send Holy Angels to silence the fellow and, next, that I would say all the prayers with a full voice to drown out in my head the ghastly cacophony in competition for my mind.

I started Mass and, shortly after, whattsits outside stopped “singing” (if that’s what it was) and the guitar was quieter and quieter.   I proceeded to the necessary end.

Mass accomplished, I went out to meet friends (at Cafe Taba at the Campo de’ Fiori if you have to know).  As I passed by the guy who had been playing, silent in that moment, I heard him say to my back:  “Al demonio non piace… the demon doesn’t like that” or “the demon doesn’t like you”.

I immediately enjoyed with extra enjoyment a gin and tonic and a cigar with friends.

Lord thank you for that day.  Lord thank you for this day.

This is another cool thing that happened.

Starship rocket booster caught by tower pic.twitter.com/aOQmSkt6YE

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 13, 2024

Now for some Rome stuff.

Incensation of the altar during the Mass I mentioned above.

Soon to be eaten flat fish for a 50th wedding anniversary supper.

Nice people! Great service!

In churchy news… another summit meeting with “trans” took place. Scandal, anyone?

Not only that, something odd came out of the Roman “vicariate” office (which runs the Roman diocese). An edict came forth stating that, from now on, with the appointment of the new diocesan Cardinal Vicar General, his name must now be added to the Eucharist Prayer of Mass after Francis’. That isn’t too weird, since the Novus Ordo permits, according to the determinations of bishops conferences (I think), that names of auxiliaries etc. can be mentioned along with the name of the local diocesan bishop. Remember that in Rome the local diocesan bishop is the Pope. Hence, when saying, for example, the Roman Canon, you just pass over the bit about “our bishop” as redundant. But! Not now in Roma! Now the Cardinal Vicar’s name is to be said. But! But! Not his actual name is to be said, Baldassare (In Latin Baldássar) but rather simply “Baldo”, which is not quite a diminutive, I think, like “Bob” is for “Robert”, but just a shortening… but not even. So, we were trying to figure out the Latin for “Baldo”. We came up with “Baldolus”.  I dunno.  I’m glad for the silent Canon.

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In chessy news… HERE

White to move and mate in 3.