Letters

Social get-together

Richard Congram

Contents - Mar 2012 - Buy a copy now Homily: Benedict XVI: the Annunciation and Mary's virginity - Pope Benedict XVI Year of Grace: can Australian Catholicism recover its unity? - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World The global financial crisis and the West's fertility decline - Babette Francis Extraordinary life of new Czech Cardinal, Dominik Duka - Peter Westmore Campion College's Summer Program on Christian leadership - Br Barry Coldrey Fulton Sheen Cause: progress report - Msgr Stanley Deptula The Immaculate Conception and the development of doctrine - Bishop Peter J. Elliott John Henry Newman on the Immaculate Conception - John Henry Newman Missions: Bringing hope to Nigeria's abandoned children - Madonna Brosnan Letters: Abortion silence - Frank Mobbs Letters: Social get-together - Richard Congram Letters: Atheism - John Gallagher Letters: Gay peril - Robert Bom Letters: Defending marriage - Mark Szymczak Books: Streams of Grace, by Bishop Julian Porteous - Fr Ken Barker MGL (reviewer) Books: The Spiritual Legacy of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, by Rev. Charles P. Connor - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT, by Thomas Howard - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: MISSA CANTATA: A Chant Mass for the Assembly, Accompaniments by Geoffrey Cox - Christopher Trikilis (reviewer) Books: Order books from www.freedompublishing.com.au Reflection: The wonder of the Incarnation: Pope Benedict's Nazareth homily - Pope Benedict XVI

The Christmas Vigil Mass I attended in Sydney was a resounding success in at least one sense of the word. Throughout the celebration the very rafters echoed raucous chatter and loud applause after every carol, especially vocal solos performed in front of the altar.

The first carol, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer", set the tone. Even during Communion the racket continued, and any hope of quiet prayer in thanksgiving for the birth of Our Lord and the Blessed Sacrament was dashed by lusty handclapping after an instrumental solo.

But never mind, it was good to see so many once-a-year massgoers present, though it meant seating was in short supply. Some elderly women had to stand, but a lot of teenagers and young men found a seat. Still, they responded with gusto when offering the sign of peace and goodwill to all.

As I left the church amid the ongoing bonhommie I wondered if I'd taken part in a Mass of thanksgiving or a social get-together and concert. I almost wept: not just because people diminish Him who is at the literal crux of the Mass, but also because they know not what they do - and no one sets them straight.

RICHARD CONGRAM
Carindale, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 25 No 2 (March 2012), p. 15