Cardinal Rodriguez INVITED us to briefly sit down with him-thank
you Jesus. (Yes when I went up to the cardinal, I kissed his hand-not his ring.
For those that aren’t fluent with Catholicism, let’s just say one shouldn’t be
in those moments and miss an etiquette protocol of that magnitude.)
We chatted, in Español, about Abel’s name (not Cain), the
boy in Lubbock, the local parishes, some of his history, this being his third
trip to the diocese here, and the Pope. He even showed us a photo on his cell
phone that he took of the Pope holding up a Chivas jersey-definitely not
anything our previous generations could imagine seeing. (It was like a pleasant
dream that you wake up and just think cool.)
Before mass, he spoke words that just resonate “…be
brilliant in love…is in the heart of evangelization…” I was in awe (his eminence) and just grateful
for the favor of having met him and that we had a photo with him.
Mass procession was led by a few priests wearing surplices as
they would serve at the altar (no altar boys or girls today), then deacons,
priests, monsignors, and the bishop all wearing color coordinated chasubles….vestment.
Then, the Cardinal followed holding his Crosier (so pretty), his scarlet color
chasuble, the mitre on his head, as he walked by and the choir sang softly with
the harp sound just adding that deep feeling to all our silent excitement as we
stood and watched. He made it to the altar and took off his mitre and ensured
his scarlet zucchetto remained on his head.
NO PHOTOS during mass were allowed but during the homily,
his eminence said things like Es de bien
nacido ser bien agradecido/ to be grateful is to be well-born when he spoke
of his elementary years in school. The Eucharist was given by all priests, a
sight I had never seen before.
WOW, it’s not every day a cardinal gives a mass here……….and
I was there. I serve the One but it sure is pretty cool to see the familial
rituals.
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