“But Father, is God really interested in Rubik’s?”

Andrew -The Tie- says...

At the age of eight, having served the Ordinary Form of Mass for about a year, I discovered in the Missalette (which we used back then...) the italicized words, “...may choose one of the alternatives”.  Feeling somewhat pleased at what I thought I’d recognised I turned and whispered to the MC beside me, “That’s us!  He might get us to do it! After all, we’re the alter natives: (natives of the altar.)” 

When ‘the collar’ first came to our parish and talked about things we can and cannot do in the liturgy, I was bewildered:  having only before heard the word ‘rubric’ in Fairytales I wondered what the Mass had to do with Wizards, Toadstools and Fairies...

A little-known term, when most people hear the word ‘rubric’ they may also wonder,  “Why is Father so interested in a multi-coloured puzzle-cube?” What I have come to see is that Rubrics are a gift from the Church which ensure that, though our lives will never be perfect this end of the grave we can still offer to God Liturgy that is –hopefully–  in accord with the mind of His Church in Heaven and on earth..

You may think this little tale may give you some insight as to what is likely to follow in this blog’s posts. Well, we are interested in all things Catholic and its place in the world.

Father Dickson -The Collar- responds...

Well, I am not a person with a great wit –nor do I claim to be of great education or insights- so I cannot follow that humour! But yes, I am convinced that rubrics provide for stability within the Church; a kind of safety net allowing Catholics to attend Mass anywhere without being distracted from their worship of God by the idiosyncrasies of the celebrant and his community. Our sincere faithfulness to the rubrics allows us to give God at least one area of our life and ministry free from that self-orientation we call sin...

I will however, take the hint and try to end on a note matching the tie...

Two areas of the English language where translation of the Novus Ordo can be amusing...

‘Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You’ can sound like ‘Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives in drains with You..’

I do remember a large, misspelled note on the sacristy cupboard saying “Alter boys...please hang your vestments neatly”.  Perhaps even then the progressives were looking for something more than just male and female in the human race...