Two Masses

The last two Sundays I was in St. Louis and took the opportunity to attend mass at two different churches. A week ago, I went by myself to All Souls, the parish of my childhood neighborhood. Yesterday, Luke and I went to the Basilica of St. Louis, King, familiarly known as the Old Cathedral. The two masses were both wonderful and the churches were quite different in design but both very beautiful.

All Souls was built in 1950 but seems much older. It is light and bright inside, with beautiful stained glass windows, arches, columns and a simple altar. I felt quite at ease with the sparse crowd at the 10:30 mass. The music, led by a single cantor accompanied by an organ, was very nice. Simple, classical, beautiful. The two priests who presided over mass were older yet lively and serious. Mass seemed a bit more traditional than where we normally attend. The highlight of the mass, for me, was at the very end of the communion service. A sixty-something woman came hurrying down the center aisle a few seconds after the last person in live received the Eucharist. She tried to get the priests' attention but they didn't see her and turned to walk back up toward the altar. Not to be deterred, she broke into a full run and reached the first step before they got to the altar. They both turned and returned to serve the Eucharist to her. At first, I simple admired her gumption for not giving up as I am afraid I would have rather than make a spectacle of myself. Then, I was deeply moved as I realized how important it was to her to receive Him. She gave up her dignity as she ran down the aisle after the priests. Oh, that I so desperately wanted to be close to Christ that I literally ran after Him!

Old Cathedral is the oldest cathedral west of the Mississippi. Founded in 1764, the current church building was constructed in 1834. The church is stone, with huge arched windows (not stained glass) and beautiful huge columns. There are Corinthian columns on either side of the altar, topped with silver leaves. Silver chandeliers and other fixtures complete the simple yet elegant church. Above the altar hangs a large copy of Valasquez' famed "The Crucifixion". It was incredible.

Music for the mass was performed by a small choir and accompanied by the huge pipe organ. The accoustics were incredible and the music divine. The church was nearly full. It tends to draw tourists and a few local parishioners. The church sits only a few hundred feet from the Gateway Arch.

I cannot begin to describe the depth of feeling as I knelt in this historic place, listened to the ancient liturgy, and felt the peace of the living Christ deep in my soul.

I can't believe I grew up in a city so rich in this Catholic tradition and never even knew what I was missing.

Blessings,