2003 ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
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Contents © 2003
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
December 2003

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MISSION SAN DIEGO DE ALCALÁ

The Mission Basilica of San Diego de Alcala, California's first church, is a treasure for San Diego Catholics. I have frequented the 5:30 p.m. weekday Mass but have never attended a Sunday liturgy. That changed November 2nd when I chose the noon Mass in order to hear the Mission choir.

Two observations: entering at the main door and standing at the rear of the box-like nave, you see in the art and architecture the traditional vision of the Church as the Ark of salvation. This vision formed the basis of Blessed Junipero Serra's preaching to the native Californians: "O ye Gentiles, come to the holy Church!" Second is the unique smell of the church. The scent of beeswax candles, residual incense, and a faint touch of must produce a sanctified aroma.

The Mass of All Souls was offered this day. The celebrant, Father John Gorman, lives in retirement at nearby Nazareth House. During the entrance procession we sang the first two verses of Martin Luther's "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." This was an odd selection, since Lutherans on this Sunday sing this hymn as they celebrate their Festival of the Reformation. A crucifer vested in an alb with gold cincture led the way, holding the golden processional cross in white-gloved hands. Behind him came two acolytes bearing golden candlesticks. An altar girl followed with palms joined in prayerful posture. A gentleman in a brown suit, who would serve as lector, carried the Gospel book.

Father Gorman came up in a white gothic chasuble embroidered with a gold Y-cross. After the Sign of the Cross, he announced a twofold intention for this Mass: For all the faithful departed and for our Holy Father, the Pope. Father said solemnly that we are a sinful people in need of mercy. A cantor intoned the Kyrie, which we sang in responses. The choir rendered the Gloria in full harmony with the congregation joining in the refrain.

The first lesson, from the twenty-fifth chapter of Isaiah, foretells that on this mountain the Lord will spread the feast of victory over death for all people. A cantoress then led the response, Psalm 23, with the refrain, "The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want." The second reading, from the sixth chapter of Romans, recalled our baptism into union with Christ in his death and resurrection. After a stirring Alleluia from the choir, Father Gorman proclaimed the Gospel, John 6: 37-40, in which Jesus declares Himself the One who has come to do the Father's will, granting eternal life to all who come to Him.

Father Gorman commenced his sermon with a story about a priest giving a test to catechism students on the first day of class. "'Can you recite, in order, the Ten Commandments?' Silence. 'The precepts of the Church?' Silence. 'How about the corporal and spiritual works of mercy?' At that point a student asked in exasperation, "Are you making this stuff up?'"

Father noted that Catholics in the past were required to know these things and more. He then leveled us with, "And how many of you remember that among the spiritual works of mercy is, "To pray for the living and the dead?" He reminded us that those who are in Purgatory have great need of our prayers, especially of the Mass. He continued with a biblical and theological apologetic for the reality of Purgatory, and the efficacy of prayer for the poor souls. He also spoke of Hell, and how to escape it. Drawing on the recent experience of the fires, he compared the lost soul to one who refused to buy insurance on his home before the fire, and then lost everything he had to the blazes. He concluded by encouraging us to apply ourselves to the Church's means of grace in order to build beautiful and holy lives.

During the Eucharistic Prayer, the choir sang the Sanctus in a contrapuntal arrangement: while one section of the choir ended each section with "Hosanna in the highest," the other section came in right after with "in excelsis." At the moment of consecration, Father bent low over the altar. After each consecration, he elevated the Host and Chalice high overhead for adoration.

As the choir and congregation sang the Agnus Dei, five extraordinary ministers, four women and one man, went up to the sanctuary but remained on the left side of the altar. They did not pass the chalice among themselves but took Communion in both species from Father Gorman.

After the communion of the people, Father recited the ablution prayer: "What has passed our lips as food, O Lord, may we possess in purity of heart, that what is given to us in time be our healing for eternity."

As Father Gorman and the servers recessed, the choir shook the rafters with "For All The Saints."

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