Cathopalian Mass

 

I meant to blog about this yesterday: when we got home, we watched the Lions-Commanders game. I was really hoping the Lions would win, but they totally choked. I was surprised today by how many Packer fans on social media were celebrating this, like they couldn't stand a division rival doing well. Personally, I think since the Packers have seven championships and the Lions have never even been in the Super Bowl, it would have been great to see them get there, and maybe win. So I guess now I'll cheer for the Commanders, who have had a crazy season. Who could forget their Hail Mary pass to beat the Bears? Or that insane game against the Cowboys where the two teams scored 31 points between them in the last three minutes? At least they changed their highly offensive name, so if they make it to the Super Bowl, it would be poetic justice if they beat the Chiefs, who have yet to change theirs. And while you can argue that "chief" is a generic term for a leader, the fans who wear Native American headdresses obviously don't think that.

Today Travalon and I had a very relaxed morning, because we didn't have to go to Mass. We went with Cecil Markovitch and the Single B-Boy to an Anglican Rite Catholic Mass at 2:30 in the afternoon at the Basilica of St. Josephat. I love that it's such a beautiful church.

And I love that it's named after a Polish saint who was himself named after the Buddha, who somehow got into the liturgical calendar. (Look it up if you don't believe me. Josephat is a corruption of Bodhisattva.) But most of all I loved the liturgy, which had things I remembered from my Cathopalian childhood. It was very high church, and for the communion piece, the wonderful choir sang Byrd. The only way it could have been better is if they'd sung Tallis. At the offertory they sang Viadana, who is of course Italian, not English, but still wonderful. Even the music they used for the ordinary seemed vaguely familiar. They do this quarterly, so I put my name on the email list to be notified. Travalon didn't even mind that much that the Mass was longer than what we're used to. 

Afterwards I bought a rosary at the gift shop (I know, you're stunned), and then there was a reception downstairs with crackers and cheese and homemade treats, so I did indulge. The thumbprint cookie was delectable! If they'd only had boughten treats, then I would not have been tempted at all. We drove home, but I was already going to be very late for band practice, so I just skipped to join the others for dinner at Fabiola's. They said there was a half-hour wait so we went next door to Leopold's, and the bartender made me a pandan ice cream drink that was even tastier than the original one I had about this time last year. Suddenly our table was ready, so we just brought our drinks over. (Travalon loves their Earl Gray hot toddy, and the other two are negroni fans.) The Italian food at Fabiola's is so good, and the ambiance is wonderful, with the low lighting and soft music. I just love that place!

Last night as we were coming home, we went to Delafield to see some Christmas lights that are still up.

(Oddly, the church was still decorated today for Christmas, as you can kind of see in the lower left of the photo at the top of this post, although we are back in Ordinary Time.) 

Then we stopped at Lapham Peak for a bathroom and steps, and I saw these planets in a line.

And some more, and I'm not sure what the odd stripes are. Were there actually Northern Lights going on? Are those weird clouds? Or just some strange photographic effect?

There is supposed to be some alignment on Tuesday, when all the planets will be in a row in the night sky, so it must already be starting. I have heard no astrological chatter about this at all on social media, only astronomical chatter. Then again, I'm subscribed to an astronomy site but no astrology sites. I have also seen photos of a comet, but they all seem to be from Australia, so is it only visible down there? Nobody local has posted a photo of it. I do love me a good comet!

Famous Hat