For some years now, there is a special Mass celebrated every year on December 8, a moment to pray for the protection of life, especially for those who are unborn. This year, the Holy Father asked all Bishops throughout the world to join him at the beginning of Advent in praying for the unborn, so our local Ordinary (that's the official title for the Diocesan Bishop) decided to organize a series of Masses, all of which would be celebrated at (roughly) the same time.
Last night was the night, so at 7:00 pm local time, Mass began in the Pro-Cathedral in North Bay and in the Church of St. Jerome in Sault Ste. Marie. For some reason, the decision was made that the Mass in Sudbury (which took place here) would begin 30 minutes later.
Parishioners from all parishes across the region were invited. A composite choir made up of voices from various parts of the region was also present, and a good number of the priests from the city came to celebrate this first-ever Mass for nascent life held in the city.
Yes the liturgy was beautiful, but more than this, the importance of this moment is found in the words spoken between the human heart and the divine. We heard the words spoken with human voices. We heard the music created by human hands, but we don't have ears to hear the celestial choir (yet) nor can we interpret the collective conversation that takes place between the human soul and the ever-present, ever-loving Creator.
No comments:
Post a Comment