While packing for the family reunion (Geralyn and myself, 6 children, 3 spouses, and 10 grandchildren) I often return to this album. It takes me back to the days of prayer meetings when Geralyn and I would gather with friends and sing our gratitude to the God who blesses us, helps us on the pathway of crosses, and will in His Mercy carry us homeward...(with Mary leading our worship (cf: 7:35 point)! Worthy art Thou, O God!
Whenever we have this album playing in the background, Geralyn and I will laugh and share a memory before we were engaged (both in our 20s). It happened about 6 months prior. The prayer meeting had started and the music ministry was leading everyone in a worship song. Geralyn arrived late and happened to find a seat in the row right behind me without my knowing it. I can't remembered what prompted me to look behind me, but when I turned around and saw her right there, I gave Geralyn a big hug. Though she said nothing out loud, Geralyn thought to herself, "Wow, Terry O'Loughlin actually stops in the middle of a praise song to give me a hug!" Being a guy, it actually "scared" me to think I had given a public display of my affection.
Thank you Terry, I will listen to this tomorrow doing the housework. I don;t think I have listened to anything quite like this before. A real life Patriarche and Matriarche. Buried in Blessings! You remind me of Scott Hahn's family. I don't want to sound too Protestant but I used to like listening to the Gaither Folk.
How important the years in the Charismatic Renewal were for me! Whether the daily Scripture reading throughout the Life in the Spirit Seminars, or singing "Scripture put to music" hymns like those in post #1, or pertinent Scriptures being read during prayer meetings (my now deceased friend, Ann Holland, was so gifted at that); love for the Bible enthralled my mind and heart! Jesus spoke to me in my depths and my love for Him grew by leaps and bounds! Let us drink deeply of the Lord's promises! And to think that God has led me to a place to preach the Scriptures, my humbled heart, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, bursts with joy! Romans 8:31 Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
I have met you and I know your humility Terry, it is so apparent. It constantly surprises me. I am afraid though I very much honour the Charismatic Movement and respect the fact that the Church has given it its place, for me it only gave me a red face. I am afraid it rather passes me by. I love nothing better than a very empty Church in front of a Tabernacle. I do appreciate the fact that the Charismatic Movement has raised the alarm about what is going on the Church at the moment. The sheepdog had barked and barked loudly in warning. What else can you ask? It is and has been a very great gift to the Church.
Well, it has been over 13 years since I've been in anyway involved, but yes, it was a gift to me also! Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
My Spiritual Director to my very great surprise was very much involved in it and encouraged me to join. It surprised me because he was so kinda old school. But anyway my first meeting, I recall was in the Mansion of a lady (and it really was a mansion) who was very wealthy indeed. Also very,very holy indeed. I happened to meet her years later and we got talking and and we got so involved in it I drove her many miles past her home without noticing. She noticed but she did not stop talking either. She let the both of us just keep on driving. I think she was a saint. Sometimes you meet someone and you just KNOW. I just think if someone like this was A Charismatic well then great. I'm all for it.
I think it must be a cultural thing. We Irish are almost suspicious of flamboyance in most things. Its in our collective DNA to be that way. The introduction of the internet into our lives softened this outlook somewhat. But still, a reverent mass. A lone singer. Or a choir on a Sunday that doesn't detract too much from what's happening on the altar is the norm. Saying that, I absolutely adore priests who preach the blood-and-thunder, in-yer-face homilys (tho they are few and far between). Maybe we Irish are programmed to accept that from the priest (as long as he doesn't expect us, in the congregation, to get involved too much!): 'he preaches, we listen', type of thing, that's the general 'safe and comfortable' expectation.. But, for our American friends reading this, when I think of a weekday mass, which I love to attend: it takes place at 10am. It is sparsely attended (but there are so many, many 10am masses across the diocese, across the whole country. Each one pretty much the same as the next. Its cold. The wind and rain batter you on the way in and on the way home. The average age of those in attendance is 50plus. But they are all so very, very reverent. Its all just so very holy and Irish. Clapping and singing and harmonies are completely and totally alien. God I'm sorry for rambling....
jackzokay, The Holy Mass is in a class by itself. If we could see our guardian angels who are present: when we enter into the offertory and Eucharistic prayer, they are in adoration, like the seraphs of Isaiah 6: 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” But when the Lord touches me on the tongue with His Sacred Host, yes, by all means I need to be in awe, in a reverent praise of silence! Still, I am called also to proclaim in word and action: an invitation to speak of Jesus to others , Come and see! The Sacred Host is the Lord! May we allow Him to give us the boldness to announce: Here is the Living Savior! Proclaim Him as the One Who saves, restores and fills our hearts with joy!
It's funny a read a survey a few months ago and most people very much prefer Mass during the week, to Mass on Sundays. They also prefer to attend the Mass Times when there are fewer people. I thought I was a bit of an odd ball for thinking like this, but no, it is quite common. On Sundays I go to 8am Traditional Mass I head straight for the choir loft where only me and the organist. Heaven. One of the problems with the Novus Ordo is that it encourages exchanges within the congregation. I hate this and find it distracting. If I wanted to interact with a lot of strangers I would head to the pub. I go to Church for a head to head with God, not people. I don't dislike people, but everything has its time and place. Also I find as I get older I don't talk as much. When I do talk it tends to have purpose and meaning and be short and succinct. James 3 1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt [1] water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
