On Monday I went to visit Fr Tim in Blackfen and to attend his Private Mass in the Extraordinary Form. Mac picked me up from the station and I followed her into the church. I knelt down to prepare for Mass then sat down to wait patiently for Mass to begin. About 15 minutes before, however, Fr Finigan came out of the sacristy to prepare the altar, spotted me and walked over. I said, 'Morning Father.' And he replied, 'My server hasn't turned up, can you serve?' I have never served a Classical Rite Mass before, I told him so and he replied, 'Don't worry take a server's card on with you.' I pointed out that I was wearing trainers. 'That's alright, that's better than having no server.' So I followed him into the sacristy thinking, 'Please don't have a cassock that fits me ...' but no such luck - a parish prepared for every situation! So on I went bearing my server's card and wearing my grey Nike trainers. Apart from missing out an 'Amen' because I was too busy reading the rubrics for my next job and tripping over my cassock at Communion it went really well I think - at least, Fr Tim didn't say anything to the contrary. It was funny though, as Father was saying Mass every now and then he would turn to me and whisper 'Kneel' or 'move the Missal'.
I would like to thank Fr Tim, again, for giving me this opportunity and hope it will not be the last before I am ordained!
And of course I am available to step in whenever a server does not turn up for Mass!!
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5 comments:
OC, it was great to see you. Now, if you really want to get to grips with the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, you'll have to come along for Sept 14th! Start practicing those responses (and polish the shoes!)
;-)
"Been there and done that" as they say. It's a wonderful experience to be called to assist because you feel that it was the Lord's Will that brought it all together! I remember my first time being called to assist a priest. It wasn't Mass but Benediction. I was sitting in the back pews when a man came up to me and asked if I could help the priest. I said I never did that before. He said "The priest would show me what to do." While I was holding the edge of his cope, I thought to myself, "I would love to do this forever." Well, guess what, a few years later I was ordained to serve and assist priests for the rest of my life as a deacon. "God bestowest His grace on the humble."
Blessings
Deacon John
Sounds like a very good happening. :)
I was very glad you were there - you managed fine with the responses and the serving. Sometimes being thrown in the deep end saves a lot of hassle :-)
Fidlelis servus et (I hope, as a Southwark priest) prudens!
Well done, dude!
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