Debbie Boone

So I'm watching the re-broadcast. I just couldn't get enough of those sweet, sweet tunes the first time around. The Latino song during communion was the same melody as "You Light Up My Life", made famous by none other than Debbie Boone. Then there is the constant bell tinkling. I kept waiting for Tinkerbell to dash across the screen like a firefly. See, I missed these treasures the first time around. To those that planned this event/Mass, you didn't "win". I speak English, I am American and we are not the world. Sorry. You just made the AMChurch look like we are in desperate need of a complete overhaul or that a schism may be somewhere in the future. Other than the elements of the Mass and the Holy Father's presence, I wouldn't have assumed that was anything Catholic.
I made my mother watch it. I said "You have to just to say you watched it". I just called her house and there was no answer. I hope she didn't have an epileptic seizure listening to the shaka-zulu funk. That's all I need on my conscience.

Painful.

Watching the Papal Mass. This is just painful. Why does it feel like an Oompa band playing the Responsorial Psalm? It's just not pretty, klunker notes. There is also a big section in the stands of women in tie-dye sashes. Uhg. What the heck are they doing? At one point, when the cantor did a jazzed up version of the Kyrie, I thought I saw the Holy Father roll his eyes. Just briefly. Add to that, only women, and those who are minorities, are doing all the readings. This happened last night as well. Yeah, maybe I'm nit-picking but I just get heebies. I much prefer a man, doesn't matter the ethnicity, to do the readings. My opinion, I know it's "allowed" and whatever so don't lecture me on that.
All this jazzy music is totally inappropriate for a Papal Mass. But....maybe it needs be. Maybe it needs to be obvious and klunky for change to take place. This doesn't make me feel any less about the Holy Father's visit, maybe it means more. We need help. The world needs help. Yuck, stop with the hand bells already. I need some Excedrin.
(Update: He just said "many of the baptized faithful choose to act contrary to the truth of the Gospel." Make what you want of that. Media will probably say "make love not war". Sigh. Regardless, strong message and firm in truth and logic.)

Prayer intentions for the Holy Father

Washington DC, Apr 2, 2008 / 04:54 pm (CNA).- With less than two weeks left to go before Pope Benedict arrives in the United States, the rector of the National Shrine, Msgr. Walter Rossi, is offering people the opportunity to participate in evening prayer with the Pope by sending him their prayer intentions.

During his visit to Washington D.C., Pope Benedict XVI will tour the Great Upper Church and celebrate a private Evening Prayer with the United States’ bishops on Wednesday, April 16, at 5:30 p.m. (EST).

The event is closed to the public, but Msgr. Rossi is offering people the chance to have their prayer intentions to be remembered at the Solemn Vespers by the Holy Father.

Submit your Prayer Intentions to be included in the Papal Evening Prayer

H/T to Vincenzo for this link and information.