Prayer of the Faithful

I mentioned that Mom and Dad started their anniversary celebration by going to a parish Mass. Actually, they went to a neighboring parish, since their own parish was having a celebration that would have been unduly long. The parish we went to was unexceptional in every way--except for the level of fervor. The music, proclamation, preaching: nothing striking there. Just an older suburban parish with its modest store of local talent. But the assembly answered the various greetings in one booming voice and sang the Kyrie, Gloria, Lamb of God in a powerful unison. I think a good part of that is due to the pastor's wholehearted and unpretentious fervor. His own booming voice with its sincere country accent just cut through the impediments of formalism and routine to waken hearts to a genuine response. It was a real experience of what liturgy is: the "work of the people."