Deacon at Easter Vigil – UPDATED

August 10, 2013August 10, 2013 / formafidei / Leave a comment

Deacon at Easter Vigil

This is the feast day of Saint Lawrence, deacon. Deacons are another one of the many treasures that I found happily when I came into the Catholic Church. In this photo, Deacon Mahefky stands by during the Easter Vigil of 2012. The only light here is from the light of the new fire that has been lit. Soon the Easter Candle will be lit from the fire and the Deacon will bring it into the Church, singing “Lumen Christi!”

Saint Lawrence was known for his fearlessness and good humor in the face of Roman persecution. Here are some resources to read more about this wonderful deacon. Happy feast day to all of you deacons!

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/kathyschiffer/2013/08/turn-me-over-im-done-on-this-side/

Some beautiful stained glass photographed by Dominican Paul Lew, and an interesting homily of his for the day: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/7751958534/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/2624273034/

http://lawrenceop.tumblr.com/post/29122860886/homily-for-st-lawrence-of-rome-2-cor-9-6-10-ps

UPDATE: See this post at Vultus Christi, with wonderful paintings of Saint Lawrence by Blessed Fra Angelico.

Corpus Christi Procession 2013

June 3, 2013 / formafidei / Leave a comment

Why yes, we did indeed process through Richmond, Virginia’s Museum District. Top, the beginning of the procession. Off-camera to the left, several trombone players played Adoro Te Devote, which worked very well – we could all hear them and keep the singing together. We had music sheets with the melody (in modern notation) and the Latin words. Bottom picture – some of the people in the procession. Some passers-by didn’t know what to make of it. Some did and smiled. One man bowed his head as the Monstrance was carried past him. The procession went around the city block, then back inside for a period of adoration, the Divine Praises, etc.

CorpusChristi2013

(These are still frames from iPhone video).

Support the Archbishop

April 27, 2013August 12, 2013 / formafidei / Leave a comment

…of Brussels, who was ambushed by a bunch of protestors, and prayed during it. The pictures are truly cringe-inducing. Here’s a good summary of the story, from Kathy Schiffer at Patheos, with some photos.

The folks at Catholic Vote have an open letter in support of the Archbishop. Here’s the link, http://www.catholicvote.org/cv-petition/ . I signed.

UPDATE: the excellent Diane at Te-Deum just posted on this also: http://te-deum.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-holy-spirit-is-coming-to-rest-on.html

Torch So Precious

March 31, 2013 / formafidei / Leave a comment

Paschal candle, 2013

One of the most wonderful things there is: at the Easter Vigil the priest puts these grains of incense into the new Paschal candle, saying:

By his holy
and glorious wounds,
may Christ the Lord
guard us
and protect us. Amen.

Or, in Latin:

Per sua sancta vulnera
gloriosa
custodiat
et conservet nos
Christus Dominus. Amen.

Happy Easter to all, especially to all new Catholics this day!

Easter Vigil 2013

March 30, 2013March 31, 2013 / formafidei / Leave a comment


Left, Fr. Gresko chants the Exsultet. Right, Fr. Kauffmann and Deacon MaHefky look on.

At the right, a catechumen who is about to be received into the church this night, and his sponsor, stand serene as the MC arranges the rest of the catechumens and candidates, at Saint Benedict Catholic Church.

LUMEN CHRISTI!