I must admit, I am jealous. I am currently in a small village in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany on business. This is a particularly Catholic part of Germany and so I have seen some things which make me jealous. I am attending a conference in a hotel that was a castle built in the 1700s. In the lobby is a beautiful large crucifix and a nice painting of Madonna and Child. The hotel also has a beautiful chapel from what I hear but, as it has been locked whenever I check it, I have not yet been able to see it.
What I have has the opportunity to see is the Church right across the street from the hotel. This is a very small town but the church is quite large. I went to mass there the morning before last and was stuck with pangs of jealousy.
They have quite a beautiful church here in this small town. It has suffered some damage from the last decades with the removal of the communion rails and the replacement of the stained glass windows with some really awful windows some time in the 70’s. But as you can see, the beautiful high altar remains in tact.
Why am I jealous? Take a look at would be my home parish. (I don’t go there because I am not sure the mass there is even valid, but that is another post.) This place was a former chicken coop. I am not making that up. But that is not the worst of it. Look at our altar.
December 13, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Is that a wig on the priest on the right?
I wish “I” had hair like that!
December 13, 2007 at 7:43 pm
does this mean you are on Long Island? That’s the Hope House priest.
December 13, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Where did these guys get their vestments?
Is this really what Jesus had in mind at the last supper?
Take truth and beauty out of the liturgy and what do you have left? That’s right, a “catholic” candle party.
December 13, 2007 at 11:51 pm
Not only are there no precious metal challices, but is that a beer stein beside the wine-glass?
Have they no shame?
December 15, 2007 at 1:14 am
I was there once, during the Christmas season, and asked where Jesus was. The devout ladies praying before Mass, said, ‘over there’ indicating the Nativity Scene. I clarified that I wanted the Body Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ,and they showed me the tabernacle hidden in the panel behind the priests in the picture. Sigh.
I don’t think jealousy is a sin in your case. Keep coming to St. John’s, at least the reredos is close to that of the photo of Germany. I hear the Tabernacle is returning to the altar soon.
December 15, 2007 at 1:14 am
I was there once, during the Christmas season, and asked where Jesus was. The devout ladies praying before Mass, said, ‘over there’ indicating the Nativity Scene. I clarified that I wanted the Body Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ,and they showed me the tabernacle hidden in the panel behind the priests in the picture. Sigh.
I don’t think jealousy is a sin in your case. Keep coming to St. John’s, at least the reredos is close to that of the photo of Germany. I hear the Tabernacle is returning to the altar soon.
December 16, 2007 at 12:35 am
That’s quite the “do” alright.
For a second I thought maybe the picture was taken in St. Louis.
But then I noticed that this person was just slightly more bearded than Fathers/Mothers Hudson and McGrath.
Red Dog
December 17, 2007 at 2:03 am
I have no doubt that there is an aging guitarist just out of sight, plunking out the same old Jesuit whines from the 1960s.
— Mack in Texas