Thursday, August 14, 2014

Assumption Day at Assumption Grotto

Click the pic to enlarge


Tomorrow is the big day.  It is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Assumption Grotto goes all out making it a day of prayer.  There was a beautiful article in, "The Michigan Catholic".

The poster above, made by a parishioner, shows Archbishop Vigneron on 2009, singing to the Blessed Virgin Mary after the candlelight procession.  He celebrated the Mass that year - his first as Archbishop of Detroit. Just so no one misunderstands, His Excellency will not be with us this year, to the best of my knowledge.

Unlike past years, I will not be taking photos this year.  My camera broke on Friday.  Aside from that, I was feeling like it was time to just bring myself.  I've never had a chance simply to devote myself entirely to prayer and worship on this solemnity.  So, tomorrow, I will do just that.

The highlight of the day is the big 7:00 PM Mass and candlelight procession. Dress warm!

There is a spaghetti dinner which ends at 5:30.  It's a good idea to get there before then.  Parking can be a challenge.  Don't get there at 6:30 and expect a parking spot.  There is shuttle service going all day to and from St. Veronica's which is just about 2 miles away, in Eastpointe.  See map here.

Most Masses will be down by the grotto.  There are wheel chairs to assist those who cannot walk that far.  

The evening Mass will be in the Extraordinary Form.  I believe Fr. Perrone is the celebrant and if it is like past years, it will be a Solemn High Mass, with choir and a small orchestra. Usually, the Noon is also in EF.  I'm not sure about the 9:30 a.m. Mass.  The 6:30 a.m. Mass is the usually in English and has no music.

You will find more concise schedules posted around the parish.

A note about anointing advertised in the poster.  The Sacrament of Anointing is not indiscriminately given.  The priests usually explain who may be anointed.  As with any Sacrament, souls must be predisposed for it.   Therefore, private, Sacramental Confession is available in the parish church before hand (the anointing takes place down by the grotto).

Someone once asked me about this kind of communal anointing. From the catechism:

1517 Like all the sacraments the Anointing of the Sick is a liturgical and communal celebration,132 whether it takes place in the family home, a hospital or church, for a single sick person or a whole group of sick persons. It is very fitting to celebrate it within the Eucharist, the memorial of the Lord's Passover. If circumstances suggest it, the celebration of the sacrament can be preceded by the sacrament of Penance and followed by the sacrament of the Eucharist. As the sacrament of Christ's Passover the Eucharist should always be the last sacrament of the earthly journey, the "viaticum" for "passing over" to eternal life.
I've seen the priests sometimes have a brief discussion beforehand with someone who seeks it and is not in advanced age or visibly ill.  It is not like what I recall when, after Mass, a priest went up and down the aisles anointing anyone and everyone who stepped forward.  If in doubt, ask a priest in advance. Here is a video of the anointing some years ago, and the Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament that followed.







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