By Liz Sweeney
GEORGETOWN—“Bringing treasures old and new” for the “praise of His glory” is at the very heart of the mission of the Sacred Heart Jesus Guild, and so many treasures, old and new, were brought forth for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Thursday, December 8.
For the first time in over 50 years, a Solemn High Mass was celebrated at the Georgetown Oratory. Father Michael Clark, rector of the Guild. was the celebrant, with Father Peter Lenox as Deacon and Mike Falbo as Sub Deacon. Dr. Steve Quatela served as Master of Ceremonies.
The celebrant and ministers wore for the first time the “Manchester Set,” a white festal set of vestments generously donated by an anonymous donor.
In his Sermon, Father Clark professed that the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady was not a logical necessity, but it is was a gift from God, fitting, appropriate and beautiful, given out of his great love for us. Father Clark spoke of the connection between wisdom, the first born of all creation, and Our Lady, the Seat of Wisdom.
“Wisdom is the first response to a God who speaks,” he said. “It is the reception of the Word. In this way, Our Lady is the personification of wisdom…. What was created but unembodied, the idea of a response to the word, in Mary takes on a personality, a life of flesh. And in so doing, that response to the word can take part in the Word’s work of saving the world.”
The transcendent chant for the Mass was prayerfully provided by the Oratory’s Organist, Heitor Caballero and his Schola. At the end of Mass, the Rector accompanied by those assisting at Mass and the Schola, led a candlelit procession to Our Lady’s Grotto where Father Clark consecrated the Guild and the Oratory to the Immaculate Conception.
He prayed in part, “Cover abundantly with Thy maternal protection all the works and missions entrusted to the Guild, and mayest Thou forever impede the devil from reigning, in any manner, in this Guild, which desires to be entirely Thine for the greater glory of God, and the exaltation of Our Mother, the Holy Catholic Church, and for the conversion of sinners.”
Following the Consecration, the procession continued to a beautiful, majestic evergreen tree on the Great Lawn.
As Father Clark blessed the tree, he prayed in part, “Deign, we beseech thee to bless and sanctify + this tree: that gazing upon the beauty of the light shining in the darkness, many souls may be drawn to the manger-bed of thy Altar in this House of Bread, and accept the light of life-enkindling faith.”
As Holy Water was sprinkled on the tree, the tree lit up in a beautiful array of many colors as all attending expressed the breath-taking moment with an audible and adorable “ah”.
The Schola led all in the beautiful singing of carols including a waltzing Cornish traditional carol, “Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day.”
The evening concluded with old, young and the very young gathered around the tree savoring hot chocolate, mulled cider, mince pies and the wonderful opportunity to share the joy of the season as a family in faith, surrounded by the protection of Our Lady and witnessing the beauty of the light in the darkness of a full moon and a colorful Christmas tree, ever ancient and ever new.
