Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Today is a great Marian feast and an obligation day. The young father at my main parish looked splendid in his gold vestments (he had on the fiddleback!) and gave an oustanding homily. It was so good people lined up to thank him after the Mass and the old women kissed him. He had that bemused look on his face that little boys sometimes get when their old aunts smother them with kisses.

The Cathedral was magnificently decorated. The creche was surrounded by live trees, poinsettias and straw. The staute of Baby Jesus looked like He was about six months old instead of a new born but I figure that the artist who carved it knew that newborn babes usually look terrible and that babies are at their cutest once they hit five or six months and plump out. I heard that the creche at St. Patrick's in DC has 250 pieces to it. They must have duplicated the whole of Bethlehem. I'm going to try to go and see it on Monday.

Meanwhile in the Arlington Diocese where my back up parish is, Bishop Loverde and his boys continue to disappoint.

Lord, have mercy.
Chirst have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.