Ship of Fools: Church of Our Lady, St John's Wood, London
The Mystery Worshipper
Shipmate
Ship of Fools: Church of Our Lady, St John's Wood, London
All done decently and reverently – but where were the communion ministers?
Read the full Mystery Worshipper report here
Comments
Two priests are mentioned in the Report - perhaps one of them acted as server and Eucharistic minister, in addition to the celebrant?
As for the boy, yes, it’s certainly better not to be up walking during prayers, but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. I have to admit that I’m more bothered by describing rather normal and innocuous behavior of a child as a hellish distraction.
The Sunday after Easter is often called Low Sunday in the C of E, on account of low numbers - although this service was not exactly sparsely attended.
They might have been disappointed, then, at the reported lack of emphasis on Divine Mercy Sunday (a new one on me!).
The Mass proceeds, with a fair-sized congregation present, and at some point it dawns on the priest that he is going to be flying solo when it comes to Communion.
He therefore appeals for help - *Is there a Eucharistic Minister in the house?* - and is answered by a visiting priest, in civvies, but wearing his clerical collar.
A stole is produced from somewhere, for the priest-turned-EM to wear, hence the visible presence of two priests, noted by the Reporter, at the end of the service.
Oh, for Low ( Quasimodo) Sunday!
O well - I expect your version is more accurate than my whimsical one!
As regards the call of nature, the poor child might already have tried to wait for some time, until desperation took over. I rather doubt that Our Lord (and his Blessed Mother) would have been worried about the exit during the Eucharistic Prayer...
As for Low Sunday, isn't it called that because the pomp and circumstance of the Triduum are over and we are now back in the regular grind, which, even in the spikiest of parishes, would seem "low" compared to what had just happened the week before. I know that when I was singing in choir, we were grateful to have the Sunday after Easter off, being still exhausted from having sung Jesus to the grave and back again.
And how is that possibly anyone’s business, much less call to make, other than the boy’s and his parents’?
As to reverting to the usual grind, well, maybe - but Eastertide continues until Pentecost, with lots of Alleluias, the Easter hymns not already sung on Easter Day, and (in spikier Places), the singing of Regina Coeli (Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven) with great gusto...
IOW, still not quite back to the usual menu - *Green Sunday Sag* comes later, after Trinity Sunday.
Apologies for prolonging the tangent, BTW, but Miss Amanda is right inasmuch that many Quires And Places Where They Sing do indeed give the singers a well-deserved week or two off!
I’ll stop now, Miss Amanda. I promise.
1. When I lived in London, Easter attendance was often poor as everyone went Away. (Palm Sunday was much better).
2. IME, attendance on Low Sunday is directly related to whether children have already returned to school or not.
I seem to recall Jesus having some rather scathing words about people objecting to children daring to be children.
At least the gospel acclamation and the eucharistic acclamations are supposed to be sung at every single Mass. especially on Sundays.
Yeah I read them at a dedication on Sunday where children were watching at close quarters, playing instruments and praying for two little girls. I think that God was really smiling!
Stop discussing how children are regarded elsewhere or I'll close this thread!
@Amanda B Reckondwyth
Lead Editor, Mystery Worship
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