My luck has got to run out sometime! Yesterday, after donning my new Chuck Taylors (classic kicks for a liturgical classic), my mother and I were again able to avoid the New Mass, for the third week in a row. I feel both like one of the "regulars", those who never have to go to a vernacular Mass, and like a fugitive from the Novus Ordo popo back at St. Mary of the Assumption parish. I wonder what Fr. Hamilton thinks became of me?
As Mom was too in need of rest to go in the morning, we attended the Traditional Roman Rite (I miss being able to call it Tridentine) offered monthly in Our Lady of Guadeloupe parish in Holyoke at 2:00 PM. Actually, the Catholic Observer wrote a junky article on the Mass there. My, it was excellent! Although the old white parishioners (the Hispanics were outside at the annual parish festival, apparently having gone to the earlier Spanish Mass) were very rusty, near forgetting to kneal during the Credo and the Last Gospel, Fr. Lessard was perceptibly perfect in his mechanics.
His sermon was an oration against which all others must be weighed. Starting out with introducing the Principle of Non-Contradiction, he went on to insult cafeteria Catholics, specifically those who reject No Salvation Outside the Church or the Real Presence, go to Mass only on Christmas and Easter, or support abortion rights. My, his fury was so eloquent. At one point I held my heart in admiration. He even went after those who live off government handouts and refuse to contribute to society. I wish John Kerry had been there.

After Mass, I tried to light a few votive candles the conversions of some friends, but I had extreme difficulty. We then proceeded to the parish party, where a few people heartily greeted me. I am apparently the most recent of several kids who showed up at the Latin Mass. As such, they were happy to see me, and we then got to talk about my college plans, and about some issues with the local liberal press. They also reminisced about the days of Rep. Silvio O. Conte, the last Massachusetts Republican Congressman. We later entered a 50-50 lottery, and I remarked, "What could be better than gambling in the name of Holy Mother Church?" We lost. Soon after, we returned home.
My next project is to get one of those nifty It's Better in Latin bumper stickers.