Baby Steps

There were a few encouraging signs at Mass yesterday. For instance, everyone continued kneeling after Father sat, and for quite a while longer than usual. Then, during the announcements, we found out that they will be offering a 7:00 a.m Mass on Wednesday, in addition to the usual 7:00 p.m. one.

Of course it would seem that for the steps forward we have taken, we take as many back (or at least, one problematic area doesn't change). The Lamb of God went something like "Jesus, Lamb of God who takes away the sinis of the world, have mercy on us. Jesus, Prince of Peace who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Jesus, Tree of Life who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us...." and so on, repeated several times too many.
And then there's the most disappointing - or at least, most aesthetically displeasing - change (actually, a reversion to old ways): Father has ceased wearing the brocade vestments, in favor of polyester tableclothes adorned with gold rickrack. It was suggested that someone made them and gave them to him as a Christmas present, and that he's wearing them under a sort of polite obligation. I'm inclined to believe that, as it was he who decided on the brocade ones in the first place. Luckily, Lent is coming up, so unless he received a set in every color (God forbid), we'll soon be seeing brocade again.

I suppose steps forward, though overshadowed by steps back, are better than nothing at all.