My New Nephew, Easter Baby Braxton! (And My Day Today)

I finally got to hold my new baby nephew today. 

He laughed, slept, pooed, and cooed while Uncle Dennis held him and tried to burp him.  What a joy! 

And look at that hair!

Tove Ann holding Baby Braxton

 

 

Baby's first "Sunday best" clothes

Welcome, Baby Braxton!  We love you!

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Here was my day before seeing my little Easter nephew:

I assisted as deacon at the 8am Mass.  We had no choir today, so I sang some parts that I could. 

Then, I attended the 10am Mass with my family.  My eldest son served as an altar boy.  I had to take two of my daughters out for a while during Mass. 

After Mass, I spoke with someone about how to call Catholics who think they can be Freemasons-and-Catholics at the same to conversion.  Freemasonry has satanic roots, and the family tree is cursed to the 3rd generation.  Freemasonry needs to be renounced.  One cannot be simultaneously a Freemason and Catholic in good standing-- you cannot serve God and mammon. 

[A Freemason one day approached the saintly Padre Pio.  The priest said to the Freemason, "What is the purpose of Freemasonry?"  The Freemason replied, "...to destroy the Church on the political front."  Then, Padre Pio put his arm around the Freemason and said, "Let me talk to you about the Parable of the Prodigal Son."  The Freemason eventually renounced the satanic Freemasons and returned to the Catholic Church.]

I spoke to a handful of people this morning about filing annulments to put their marriages in good standing with the Church. 

'Had an informal get-together with some families with kids at a park.  It was a welcome respite.

Here are some photos and a video:

 

(my godson, Little Brother Francis, and his mom, Maureen)

I forgot to take a picture of me and my Confirmation goddaughter, Lauren.  I wish I had.

This was a last minute, informal gathering. 

Hopefully, these kids will see this when they get older and remember their Catholic roots.

We sang "Happy Birthday" to Baby Pia Merced, who was miscarried in 2015.  It would have been her birthday today.  I blogged about it previously HERE.  We made sure singing was okay with the Lorica's.  Here's the video:

Then, we headed over to Rachel's to see Baby Braxton.  (Pictures above.)

As I think of it, we were a married family ministering to married families.... and also being enriched by them.

Now, it's late into the night.  I quickly slapped a few pictures together for this blog.  But I gotta go. 

I hope you enjoyed the blog!

My S.T.L. Thesis on the Social Ethics of War & Peace (2017)

Gerald W. Schlabach

My S.T.L. thesis, based on Prof. Schlabach's work, can be found here: https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.bing.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1007&context=jst_dissertations

Thank you, Fr. William R. O'Neill, S.J., Ph.D., and Deacon Jeff Burns, Ph.D., for sitting on my committee.

I am indebted to Prof. Gerald W. Schlabach for his work here: http://www.geraldschlabach.net/

My First Time Chanting the Exultet (Easter Proclamation)

It was difficult at the beginning.  But when the people sang "And with your spirit," I felt a surge of strength.

In the darkness of the night, I saw before me a huge sea of people.

I was able to see them only because they were illuminated by the Light of Christ (Paschal Candle).

* * *

So imagine this:

Just a few minutes before all this at sunset, the Holy Fire was blessed.  The Paschal Candle was lit from it.

The packed church was darkened.  God's People lit their candles from the Paschal Candle.

I then incensed the Epistles and the Paschal Candle. 





Then, standing from the ambo (pulpit), I looked out and was awed at the sight.  It was quite a sight.

In a way, I was distracted.  During practice, I had planned on not looking at the people.  But how could I not look at them... and ponder?

So when I started the Exultet (Easter Proclamation), I stood before a profound mystery.  Yes, I thought of these mysteries as I stood at the ambo.

But I had a "job" to do.  I couldn't just stand there and not move the Sacred Liturgy forward.  It is the deacon's task to chant the Easter Proclamation.  This lasts about 10 minutes. 

And chant it, I tried, with not just words but heart.




So now, returning to the people's "And with your spirit," before this I was quite different.  The cantor (Rex Manalansan) who helped me practice the Exultet noticed this, too.

Humanly speaking, of course, the first time is the hardest.  And that's how I'm going to look at this from the natural level.

But beyond this, I unite this moment with that of Christ Crucified and Risen.  It is the only way it all makes sense.  I would not have given my life to Him all these decades had He not risen from the dead.

The Easter mystery, proclaimed in the Exultet, is a powerful mystery!  I feel blessed and privileged, and naturally I feel relieved.

Christ is risen!  Alleluia!

Solemn Intercessions of Good Friday (Still Learning)

I only started practicing for the Solemn Intercessions on the morning of Good Friday (just in case I had to do them). 

I didn't know that I was going to go to the 12pm Good Friday services until I found out earlier that morning with some deacons changing the schedule.

By comparison with how I did them in 2016, I followed more of the Gregorian chant notes (instead of a basic tone) for 2017.  It is definitely progress from 2015 where I only used a basic tone.

I accidentally skipped 2 petitions when the pages stuck together.  Mea culpa.

For someone who is not a professional singer, I'm hoping this passes muster until I get more face time in front of a live congregation over time.  I ask the Lord and His congregation to pardon my faults.  The Sacred Liturgy should be as solemn as possible.

My wife reminded me of something from diaconate formation: Always be ready if asked.  I should regularly practice these throughout the year perhaps, and not just during Lent. 

If you are reading this and are not a professional singer and are asked to chant for Masses, keep in mind that you have to start somewhere.  Use basic tone (which the rubrics allow, I believe), until you can hit the right notes.

Of course, formal training is good.  This was the training video I used.  I didn't hit the same high notes, but this was my guide this year.  Thank you to those who put this together!

And that's how I have to look at it and accept the times I did not get the notes right.  I need to think over the long haul and work towards making the Solemn Intercessions such that it moves people closer to God with the Church's mind on sacred worship.