I went to Mass yesterday, Sunday, for the first time since — Holy Week, at least. I haven’t been keeping track.
Getting to Sunday Mass is a very important part of being Catholic, but so is being a good neighbor and using my brain.
The whole household has been distinctly not well for months, part of the time I simply wasn’t up to hauling myself to church, and learning that we were experiencing COVID-19 was a complication.
We were in quarantine for part of that time — and I figured that not infecting my neighbors was important.
Anyway, yesterday I was in comparatively better shape and had gotten past the ‘don’t make other people sick’ milestones. So I went to Mass: and could hardly have picked a better Sunday to do so.
Yesterday was the day we renewed our baptismal vows. That Sunday is among my top favorite Masses of the liturgical year.
“Do you renounce Satan, and all his works and empty promises?
“Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?
“Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered death and was buried, rose again from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father?
“Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who today through the Sacrament of Confirmation is given to you in a special way just as he was given to the Apostles on the day of Pentecost?
“Do you believe in the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
“This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(From “The Renewal of Baptismal Promises” Order of Confirmation,
English translation © 2013, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Liturgy Office, England & Wales (www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/Confirmation/OC-Renewal.pdf (May 26, 2017))
These aren’t quite the words we use, here in central Minnesota; and this particular question-response is called “Order of Confirmation”. But the ideas are essentially the same. The text is what they used in England and Wales.
Finally getting back to Mass was great: and the first one in how-long being this Mass made it a very special treat.
I’ve talked about that before, and what’s been happening in this household:
- “But on the Whole, I’m Doing Okay“
(April 9, 2024) - “COVID-19: It’s Back“
(April 2, 2024) - “Family Health Issues: Cancer, a Smile, Tubes, and Waiting“
(February 12, 2024) - “More Family Health Issues, or, NOW What?!“
(February 7, 2024) - “Enjoying Our Annual Renewal of Baptismal Vows“
(May 2, 2021)
