Extraordinary Day

The day after the First Solemn Mass of our new diocesan priest (the second Solemn High Mass to be celebrated in our county in roughly half a century), I am thoroughly exhausted. The Mass was heaven on earth- as the Extraordinary Form is commonly described. Anything but ordinary. In fact, the Mass was so incredibly beautiful, so majestic, that fortunately we planned an elegant reception fitting for such a grand occasion.

Despite the bodily aches from an intense week of greenery-cutting, bucket-lugging, ladder-hauling and floor-mopping, the glory of the day transforms the pain into rejoicing. We have another Latin Mass priest in our diocese- Deo gratias!

I will follow this up with a series of posts but here are the beginnings. All of these flowers were very generously donated by our local flower farm: 130 yellow tulips, 72 lilies, and dozens of yellow and purple irises. The greenery was cut at various locations.

Some of the greenery: heather, hebe, acacia and camellia.

The donation along with some acacia tree cuttings.

Next, read Extra-ordinary Day Prep here.

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Roses for Our Lady: Altar Flowers for the Nativity of the BVM

Altar flowers for the Traditional Latin Mass Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Roses, Queen Anne's lace, green poms and crocosmia greens.

Hydrangeas, Roses & Holly: Altar Flowers for Christmas

Unfortunately, this is the best picture I could get of the arrangements for the Latin Mass on Christmas Day. However, it may serve as inspiration for what can be done in the most unlikely of spaces. The architecture of the church is typical postmodern, with no vestiges of the past. The crucifix was added and the tabernacle put in its rightful place only within the last d ecade. Who would have thought that the Latin Mass would be making its debut here in our isolated, rural community when there are a handful of beautiful, century-old churches perfectly designed for the purpose not far away! The proliferation of fake poinsettias already present in the church set me in motion to find other examples of possibilities for the traditional altar. My search led me to the liturgy guy's post Does this 1944 Christmas Eve Mass Look Anything Like Yours? I was inspired by the Solemn High Mass featured in the movie Christmas Holiday and later horrified a

First Solemn Mass Reception Flowers

The entry table arrangement. Read the first of this series of posts Extra-ordinary Day . The arrangments near the prie dieu used for the first blessings by the priest. Next read the Epilogue to an Extra-ordinary Day Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Borges Photography

Introibo- with Flowers

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