Holy Smoke!
We attended a Solemn High Mass at St. Margaret Mary in Oakland. Monsignor Wach, Prior General of the Institute of Christ the King and Monsignor Schmitz, the U.S. Provincial for the Institute journeyed here from the recent ordinations in Saint Louis. Since Monsignor Wach and Monsignor Schmitz traveled overseas to visit our church, the kids and I figured we could make the trek, too, despite feeling a little under the weather. We were well rewarded with the beauty and abundant graces of the celebration. At one point, so much incensing had happened that Alex cocked his head, squinted at the altar, and proclaimed, 'I can't see! It's all gray!"
Both kids also commented on the extraordinary beauty of fading sunlight flowing through the stained glass windows and filtering in colored beams through the rising incense. In addition to the myriad graces present at the old Mass, it is also always a feast for the senses.