Contrariwise

It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged like I really used to. This blog was once all about me. Now, I’m not advocating a self-centered, narcissistic style of blogging. I believe that all writing betrays the heart of soul of its writer, even just a little. Responding to profound interviews on BustedHalo doesn’t really help you see me.

I’ll try recounting the last week. On Saturday, I woke up fairly early. In the afternoon, I went over to the CSC to meet up with the Daughters for our first and only Shrine & Dine of the semester. I used to say that Shrine & Dines were my favorite thing about CDA. That’s not quite true anymore, but I’ll get to that later. It was the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Since campus is about 15 minutes from the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, there could not have been a better place to observe the feast. Unfortunately, Danielle’s car, in which I was riding, was running late for 3 p.m. Mass despite our early CSC gathering time. We all made it, though.

The 3 p.m. Mass was celebrated in honor of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) and their female branch, the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará. We love the Servants of the Lord. They wear blue veils, take siestas, and speak lots of Spanish since their order was founded in Argentina. One of our students from UMD, Olivia, is actually entering in January, praise God. Through her connections, we found out that IVE priests would be receiving their cassocks and some Servants would be receiving their names and habits and others renewing their vows. We jumped at the chance to attend.

It was one of the loveliest, most edifying, most reverent Masses I’ve ever attended. We sang multiple verses of many hymns, and there was incense. I love incense. Two priests received their cassocks after the Liturgy of the Word. Ten young women received the white veil for their habits and religious names. The Servants all take names of Mary, so they included Sr. Mary Mother of the Eucharist, Sr. Mary Crown of Martyrs, and Sr. María Corona de los Santos (Crown of Saints). We practically swooned after each name was called. Two sisters I met when we visited their novice house, Sr. Maria Lumen Christi and Sr. Maria of the Angelus (whose baptismal name is Angela Marie) renewed their vows. Finally, Sr. María del Santo Niño (of the Holy Child) made perpetual vows. We were privileged to witness her divine wedding. Danielle had evening plans, so we didn’t manage the dining part of Shrine & Dine, but that was the best two and a half hours I could have possibly spent that day.
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Andrew sent me a link to an article describing the world’s smallest Advent calendar. I’m busy (dying under the stress of) studying for my Spanish composition final on Monday morning, so I won’t even get started on the significance of Advent in secular society, but I must say that’s pretty cool. It’s even nifty for a non-science geek like myself. I don’t know why microscopic bacteria would need to keep track of the days until Christmas, but if one ever wants to, now it can.