FROM THE PRESIDENT'S KITCHEN TABLE

Dear Readers,

When I was a teenager, I recall a pop song called Little Things Mean a Lot. recorded by Wanda Jackson. It described small gestures of love that nurture a relationship. Love and friendship thrive on little things: listening, being there during tough times, a single rose for no special occasion, a phone call just to say hello. Little things are a constant reminder of faithfulness and affection.

Jesus emphasized the importance of little things as well. Those who are faithful in small things, he said, could be trusted with greater. Those who were unfaithful in small things, would lose what little they had. Do you think he really meant it? Does he care about children telling small lies to their parents or disobeying them in small things? Does it matter when we disobey Holy Mother Church in small matters? I’m asking because it seems to me that many priests give us an example that says, “No!”

While on vacation recently, my husband and I attended daily Mass at a small parish in central Virginia, the diocese of Richmond. Because Richmond has such a bad reputation, I generally look at churches ahead of time. I was pleased to find one with an orthodox website, weekly adoration, a sensible parish statement that put Christ first, and daily Mass except Monday. And it was only twenty minutes from the campground.

We went to Mass on St. Matthew’s feast day and I was delighted to hear the priest recite the Roman canon, the one that links us so closely to the martyrs of the early Church. He gave a short, pithy homily. But then there were the “little things.” Father didn’t wear a chasuble, just an alb and stole. He didn’t genuflect before Christ on the altar after consecrating the bread and wine. (He was awfully young to have knee problems.) He left the sanctuary for his homily and at the sign of peace when he bobbed back and forth across the aisle shaking hands. After Communion he left the sanctuary a third time for the music area nearby where he picked up a guitar and proceeded to lead a Communion song (I can’t call it a hymn) from the ‘80s. Banal and virtually unsingable, it reminded me of the Veggie Tales children’s show when they pause for “Silly songs with Larry.” Trying to keep a straight face, I pondered whether the priest was a frustrated singing cucumber.

After Mass, Father greeted parishioners outside. I resisted the urge to express my concern for the poverty of his parish, since they apparently couldn’t afford a red chasuble; I get tired of being a scold. So I praised him for saying the Roman Canon instead.

Sadly this priest is not an exception. When my husband and I travel, we see priests ignore the rubrics, even essentials like the Sunday creed. They change the words of the liturgy and throw in “stuff and nonsense.” It makes me understand why so many Catholics prefer the Tridentine Mass. It’s much harder to mess with.

Do these little acts of disobedience really matter in a world gone mad, where millions of babies are routinely murdered by abortion and abortifacient birth control, where same sex lust is accepted and even considered a virtue, where people are losing their homes and their jobs? Is being concerned about little things straining at a gnat? I confess, I’m not sure, but scripture treats “little things” seriously. Is the priest who spurns his chasuble like the wedding guest who came improperly dressed? Does his action encourage others to treat the sacred liturgy more casually than they should? When he ignores the rubrics is he like the servant who ignores the master’s instructions if he’s absent? And what does his disobedience to Holy Mother Church in little things teach his people?

A ship’s navigator who makes a small error in his calculations can miss his destination by hundreds of miles and take all his passengers with him. Pray for priests. As Jesus said to Peter, Satan wants to “sift them like wheat.” The surest way for them and for us is obedience in small things. Then the Lord will trust us with greater.

Speaking of small things brings to mind our bank balance. The newsletter costs about $800 a quarter for printing and postage. We have $300 left in the till. If you haven’t given in awhile (check mailing label for exp. date) now would be the time if you want to see the newsletter continue. Thanks to all our loyal contributors!

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