There are several ways to
get people to pray for you after you’ve died, and even to get priests to pray
for you at Mass. One of the best, I
learned back in the day when I was serving as secretary to Cardinal McCarrick. In the Cardinal’s chapel, where I would
frequently offer a private Mass, was a chalice with an inscription around the
base, asking prayers for a man who had been killed in the battle of Jutland in
World War I. His name was therefore
directly before my eyes when I would elevate the chalice for the
consecration. The other priest
secretaries agreed with me that it was a most effective way to get prayers for
him, since we all complied with the request at our Masses – we almost couldn’t
help doing so!
I had this in mind when
Margie Perez contacted me about making a memorial donation to the parish in
memory of her mother, a longtime parishioner here. She wanted to give something lasting and
beautiful to the church her mom loved that would enhance it, and our worship
here. I was delighted to have the chance
to let her know some things that we needed or could use, and what was available
that would be suitable. The gift she
chose recently arrived.
Margie donated a new
monstrance for our use in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It is crafted in France in the 1950’s, so the
style fits our church. Made of sterling
silver, gilt, it has hand-crafted enamels of the four evangelists surrounding
the lunette that holds the consecrated host.
This fine antique sacred vessel needed some restoration and repair, and
was re-gilded. An inscription was places
around five sides of the octagonal base, that reads: In loving memory-Please pray for-Evelyn E. Routt-Given by her
daughter-Margie Routt Perez. “Evelyn
E. Routt” is centered where the priest will see it as he approaches the
monstrance to raise it in benediction.
You will see the
monstrance doing its work at Adoration, which because of the holiday this
weekend, we moved to next Sunday evening, December 2 – as always, from six to
ten. This monstrance is a beautiful
example of the device specifically designed to hold up the host, which is the
body of Christ, and show Him to the worshipping faithful. It is as if to prolong that moment in the
Mass when, just after consecrating what had been bread, the priest raises aloft
the incarnate Son of God for all to see.
No priest’s arms are strong enough to hold that posture for long enough,
so beautiful vessels are made to give us the opportunity to behold and adore.
When the monstrance is on
the altar, it will rest on a pedestal specifically made for the purpose, that
has an appropriate name: a throne. What better to accommodate Christ the King?
So when you kneel before
the Lord revealed on our altar, offer a prayer for Evelyn Routt, and her family. Please, in your charity, keep in your prayers
all who have made votive offerings to make our church a suitable place for
prayer and worship of the King who reigns from the Cross. our church has many beautiful elements for
which to thank them, and we should do so by praying for them. It is the least we can do, if we hope for
someone, someday, to pray for us.
Monsignor Smith
