Introibo- with Flowers

Altar flowers for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. Alstroemeria, roses and anenomes with escalonia and asparagus greens.

For the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost I couldn't resist these lovely blue-green hydrangeas from  the garden where I have free access to greens and flowers.  This variety of late-blooming hydrangea goes from sky blue to a pale chartreuse. After picking up some equally irresistible AND inexpensive lilies from Costco (Sigh! so much for  my resolution to only support local business!), I stopped the car at an empty lot and clipped several bunches of Queen Anne's Lace with my sweet five-year-old helper at my side. As our good curé says "more lace, more grace!" I secured the arrangements with wet floral oasis and included crocosmia and ivy for greenery.  Here they are on the altar.  Ad Jesum per Mariam! In anticipation of the feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, see this beautiful post on Fleur de Marie-Jacqueline's blog:  Our Lady's Sorrows and the Iris . 

Pulling thread on a lavabo towel With the Traditional Latin Mass pared-down to twice a month due to our resident priest's departure, I have been doing less altar flowers.  However, this has afforded me more time to learn something new!  This is the first of a series of posts I will write on the subject of church linens. Anyone who knows me knows that when I start a project the enthusiasm takes over.  Speaking of enthusiasm,  Ronald Knox wrote "Enthusiasms: A Chapter in the History of Religions" detailing various religions from the 17th and 18th centuries and their eccentric personalities.  Although I have never read the book, my octogenarian father- a bibliophile and a wonderful storyteller- has related to me much of its contents with his usual dry humor.   A memorable "enthusiast" was Aimee Semple McPherson, the foundress of the Foursquare Church.  In my Protestant Foursquare days, I never heard the tale of Sister Aimee.  After mysteriously disap