The Feast of St. Stephen

Just found out that St. Stephen is the patron saint of stone masons (makes sense since he so fervently prayed for forgiveness for those who stoned him to death) so I am saying a special prayer to him for our upcoming work on the north wall. I served at low mass tonight since the regular acolyte was away on vacation. It is always wonderful to serve in the Lady Chapel when the Gloria in Excelsis lace superfrontal is on, which I just had time to get on before Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. We also got the little silver cruets out of the safe so we used those and luckily had just enough wine for those present (7). It was a wonderful way to spend the night after Christmas which otherwise was quite dark, damp and cold.

I was thurifer on Christmas Eve and managed to smoke the place up perhaps too well since half the congregation disappeared before Communion. We started out with 111 and ended up with only 46 communions, which seemed rather odd. It was glorious nonetheless, although I was in a bit of a bad mood beforehand being tired and a bit exasperated with the small number of people who showed up to do an enormous amount of work. A very few of us labored many hours on Sunday and Monday polishing, cleaning and decorating while others were content to sit back and enjoy the show. The Good Ship Ignatius was indeed very short on crew this year but the crew that showed up got the job done somehow. The place looked fabulous in spite of what visiting critics may opine about the slightly changed ceremony.

After a small reception with eggnog and goodies and then very little sleep after too much caffeine, I got up on Christmas Day and helped with the Solemn Mass which we accomplished with just an MC, who also functioned as thurifer and acolyte, and myself as Subdeacon. I also rang the tower bell with my right hand while holding the paten under the humeral veil with my left. I had not been subdeacon for over a year and many things have changed recently, but I got through it with just one stumble going up the altar steps (my alb was too long and I stepped on the hem, dropping my maniple in the process). I had never worn a maniple before so it was a new experience trying to keep that thing on. I know now why Dr Norris hated them.

After a long nap I went back over on Christmas night to a delicious feast in the undercroft cooked by St. James Marshall for all those who had no other place to go. Laurie and the gang went to Denver so I missed being with them for that wonderful white Christmas they had there, but it was a special night of fellowship with my fellow Ignatians.

Holy Stephen, pray for St. Ignatius as we prepare for the final phase of our capital campaign, the cleaning and repointing of the masonry of the north wall. Amen.