Starting Lent

The crowd was standing room only to hear the ever-popular, handsome, young Monsignor Filardi say Mass and preach at today's noon Ash Wednesday service at St. Stephen Martyr. The eye candy level at church was "highly distracting." Where did all the gorgeous men taller than me come from? Wow! And—and—and, we were privileged to have the Crazy Lady amongst us! Remember last year for Ash Wednesday when I went to hear Cardinal McCarrick say Mass at St. Matthew's Cathedral, and there was this crazy African lady there? Well, she showed up today at St. Stephen's (I wonder if the cathedral people banned her?), and made her way up to the very front pew where she scooted everybody down so she could sit on the center aisle end, much to the consternation and mortification of the white dowagers already there. Crazy Lady still carried around her "crown" on the pillow, and had a bunch of candles she set around the area where she was sitting. And, as before, she loudly said all the congregational responses in her own way at her own tempo. It's always nice to have comic relief at these long and sober services.

Even though it was a jammed packed church, there was no choir or organ/keyboard music today. The choirmaster and another chorister cantored the service a capella, sometimes attempting some two-part harmony with varying degrees of success. They tried to lead the Gregorian chant "Have mercy on me Lord" as an opening hymn, but gave up after only one verse. There was no offertory hymn or anthem. While today's service was essentially a low Mass, they did lead a few of the congregational bits from Proulx's A Community Mass. During the imposition of ashes and during communion, they chanted psalms.

Monsignor's homily was blessedly brief and addressed Lenten discipline and private meditations.

The couple sitting beside me had scooted down into my seat, so I left immediately after communion.

Since this is a fast day, I've not yet had to worry about what I'm "giving up" for Lent.