ad Deum, qui lætíficat iuventútem meam.
That was then…
This is now…
With a few wet moments in between.
It started out kinda slow…
And the river got higher,
And higher and higher,
until it was a regular flood.
I don’t know why I was so fascinated with it. But I definitely was.
To make a long story short, it’s prime crawfish territory now.
Etouffe anyone?
The Archbishop of New Orleans, Archbishop Aymond, said the Mass today on the Feast of Corpus Christi, before leading a Eucharistic Procession through the neighborhood to the Church of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.
It took place at the Shrine of Our lady of Prompt Succor, on State Street. It was very well attended, despite my photos into the side chapel. (I was playing the organ, and obviously could not be photographing everything in site.)
Here’s one of the beautiful chalices which were used for the special occasion of Corpus Christi.
And Fr. Nile was one of the emcees. Hey Fr. Nile! He’s leaving for studies in Rome on Thursday for further studies in Liturgy. Ciao! Arrividerci!
The Chapel (actually it’s an Oratorio…) (well, actually it’s the National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor…),has a very large Reliquary. I used to find it creepy and bizarre, now I just.. accept it.
One of the Prayers led by the Archbishop.
I love the side altars in this Shrine / Oratorio.
The other side of the Chapel/Shrine/Oratorio is a beautiful view… (the Chapel has an extension which goes off at a 90 degree angle, very unusual.)
Hence inspiring Trish here to meditation on the glorious mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ. (I am sure that’s what she was meditating upon after planning and performing music all weekend long for various Masses, Weddings and Corpus Christi celebrations.)
It’s a beautiful place, and it was a beautiful Mass.
I’ve been helping out from time to time by playing the organ at a Church downtown when I’m able and when they’re in need.
Buried amidst the windows in the loft, as is the case in most Church lofts, are windows that no one ever sees, but which tell some type of story which begs for more answers.
Like this window, picturing a Church engulfed in flames.
It’s not the kind of window you really want to put on the fourth floor, when this is the only way down.
Of course there are also the lengthy galleries, which occasion much walking to and fro between sets of stairs. That’s the cantor way over there, who’s walking upstairs to talk over music before I walk down stairs to discuss improvements to my cardio vascular health.
It’s a beautiful place, with small gardens here and there.
Later that night, this is hardly a great picture. But my shadow in the left, it’s looking like a tall version of Jabba the Hut with a camera. That also occasions discussions of my cardio-vascular health.
Monday ~~~ an awesome day for reflection to begin the week.
It’s definitely springtime in New Orleans. For the next three months at least. And I so do not have the time to do it justice… here are some photos in my learning phase… springtime in New Orleans, Japanese Magnolias, from my camera…. I pray my photos are better in time. If you don’t have a few years… Well, check back when you do. And I pray that you do, long before then!
,
It’s one thing to get into photography, and I’ve been ‘into it’ for about 2 months now, so obviously I’m a complete expert. But it’s quite another thing to get into Photoshop.
So, I took the plunge with a free trial and a book on the matter and, Behold!
Before…
…and After!
They look exactly the same! Except for the fact that the ‘before’ looks better.
I remember when I got into music and naively decided to make my living as a musician because I loved to play, and wanted to work toward some goals there. I did in time. But it took hours, and hours a day. Day after day. Month after month. Year after year. And even in Seminary I was playing for 4 – 6 Masses per weekend, several at the Seminary during the week, plus rehearsals, concerts, weddings, a few dance classes and recording sessions… Bar Mitzvahs, club openings and raves (not really on the last ones.) And then suddenly it all ended at Ordination. I had a new life, and was now a Priest, not a Musician.
But that’s another story, which I’ve been meaning to write.
Point being, I guess I had best practice the virtue of patience, and keep plugging away little by little. Day after day.
It’s back to the drawing board.