Editor’s Note:  I have given Mr. JPM’s fine post a new surtitle, in order to make it more clear.  What follows is a remarkable account of meeting the Pope, serving as his vimp, and then receiving a lecture on the importance of serving the liturgy from Msgr. Marini.  And, on the joys of spending the proceeds from a papal commission on a new handgun.  Enjoy!)

 

Although the above post title may seem a tad unorthodox, and may possibly raise the eyebrows of FIB’s author, I assure you all that it is both meet and just.  Why?  Heh, well, that was seriously the only thing racing through my brain all day Tuesday and Wednesday.  

Mr. WAC has requested that I put up a little post on my experience serving Solemn Vespers for the Holy Father.  I actually was half-way through one a few moments ago, but I did something stupid and lost it, so let’s just say I got annoyed, and here I am starting over.

The general order of things is that all Altar servers had to be at the Basilica NLT 1500h and proceed to vest.  Once vested, we were to remain in the Crypt sacristy in a state of readiness for Monsignor Guido Marini, Master of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.  A while later, Monsignor Marini enters, accompanied by two other Monsignori, and started checking to make sure everything was ready for the Holy Father, including the BNSIC’s servers.

By this time, all of the US bishops were seated, so we were led through our functions with all of them present.  Once we had our assignments and had gone over the movements of the liturgy, we went back to the sacristy to await the Holy Father’s arrival.  A small TV was placed in the sacristy so we could monitor the pope’s progress, from the USCCB up 4th St NE, onto the CUA campus and Basilica grounds, up the East portal and so on.  Once the Holy Father made his way to the Upper Sacristy we formed a large semicircle in which to greet him, following Fr. Holcomb’s prior instructions, grouped by associations: from the Archdiocese of Washington,  Msgr. Barry and Fr. Mark Knestout (brothers) and the archbishop’s secretary, from the BNSIC, our dear priests Fr. Holcomb, Fr. Weston, and Fr. Lebrun, OMI, a bunch of people from the USCCS, and then the BNSIC’s deacons, a deacon from the TC and Br. Pius, OP, from the DHS, both to be ordained to the presbyterate pretty darn soon, and, of course, the servers.

I can’t say whether or not people were expectingthe Holy Father to greet us one by one, but I can say with certainty that we had a plan A and a plan B, consisting of left-knee genuflection and damn-near profound bowing, respectively.  And so, the elevator opened, out steps Monsignor Rossi and the Monsignori from the Holy See, and all of a sudden we see this kindly-looking old man arrayed in various vesture of brilliant white, his countenance one telling of such deep-seated joy in Christ and love of His Church, such that not even the most gifted artist could capture it.  He started making his way greeting each of us, with Monsignor Rossi introducing us.  By the time it was perfectly clear that the only way the Holy Father could get to the guy after me was to stop at me, Monsignor Rossi introduces me (more or less): JP Mikolajczyk, he designed the altar for the Mass tomorrow.  HOLY SMOKES!!! WOW!!!  WOW!!!  His Holiness in reply, Ah, zhank you.

 

There’s really no tactful way to say “you’re welcome” to that, so my existing smile was appropriate, I hope.

 

WOW!!!

 

I certainly was not expecting that detail from Monsignor Rossi,  but sweet wandering Moses, he just up and said it.  Props, Monsignor.

 

After the Holy Father greeted us, he proceeded to vest and we got in our places.  Vespers, itself, was a very beautiful liturgy.  So many times I’ve served Mass in the crypt, usually you’re seated to the left or right of the celebrant.  This time?  Just behind the Vicar of Christ.  Several times I’ve had vimp duty.  This time?  Keeping an eye on the ferula (that’s right, not a crozier) used by Pope John XXIII of Blessed Memory.  How many times I’ve joined the Dominicans or Marians for Vespers, this time praying those familiar psalms and canticles with the Vicar of Christ physically present with us.

 

After the recessional the servers stood off to the left after the prosit, and waited for the Holy Father to exit and make his address to the bishops.  As he passed us, hands candled or folded, he simply turned to us and said, zhank you!

 

What a wonderful man to shepherd Christ’s flock and safeguard the deposit of faith from those who would destroy it.

 

After the Holy Father left, we all headed up to the Great Upper Church to watch his address.  On the way up, we still had cassocks on, including those of us who aren’t seminarians, and I felt as if hundreds of years of prayer and politeness were getting the better of me, because there were a bunch of cops and firearms lining the stairway, and all I could think to myself was in the voice of a cloistered nun let out for a little bit (you all know what I’m talking about), oh.  oh my.  look at these weapons.  oh dear.  oh my, as I hopped up the stairs.  This coming from the guy who used his half of the design competition winnings on a Glock 17, adding to an existing Ruger.

 

 

One final thing I’d like to mention happened before the Vespers.  It’s something that I hope I remember for a long time.  After the rehearsal and before he had to attend to other checklists, Monsignor Marini gave us a short spiritual conference which Monsignor Anglophone translated for us.  He spoke to us about what it means to serve at the Altar of God.  Obviously this centered on serving for the Holy Father.  He told us he understands we were a little nervous, and that it’s okay.  It is important for us to know our functions in the liturgical movements and to execute them well, but he exhorted us to above all, pray.  Monsignor told us to always remember that whenever we are serving, we are first and foremost engaging in the Church’s worship of God.  Our specific roles in the liturgical movements can and do help the faithful who are present in fostering  a reverent, solemn, prayerful atmosphere in which to praise God, and the best way we can do that, is to pray — pray with the Holy Father today, pray with the bishops and priests we serve for throughout the year.  

 

Ultimately, the most effective altar server is the one who prays.

 

 

In the words of Ronnie Reagan, a good time was had by all.  It was both unreal, and yet very, very real.  You can’t believe that you’re a few feet behind the Vicar of Christ, but yet it actually is happening.  Incredible.

 

 

An amazing blessing.  A tremendous gift.