Tuesday, August 15, 2006

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, New Delhi

 

Took this picture last year. Forgot to take my camera to Mass this morning. The roads were deserted, everyone staying in for the holiday (apart from the thousands who showed up at the Red Fort, despite all the terror threats, to hear the Prime Minister). The Cathedral is gorgeous. The 11:30 am English liturgy was thinly attended. Just a few notes on the Mass (and no, I'm not going to do indulge in my usual lament about liturgy in India) ... the second reading is changed to Gal. 5:1, 13-18 ("For freedom Christ has set you free ... "), to go along with the Independence Day theme. The lectors were well prepared, the homily a disquisition on the true meaning of freedom, with the illustration of Jesus as prophet who challenged the established order and reinterpreted God's law, with comparisons with Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I won't say anything about the music, except to ask, how on earth is "We shall overcome" considered to be a Psalm?

It's the twelfth anniversary of my baptism. I mark August 15 with tremendous gratitude, and amazement. So, perhaps it was fitting that the opening song was one of my favorites. :-) And the recessional, a pretty little Marian hymn that I've never come across in the US. "Be with us Mary along the way, guide every step we take. Lead us to Jesus your loving son, come with us Mary come!"

Domine, labia mea aperies, et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam

O Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. Posted by Picasa

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gashwin,

Happy anniversary!

Hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,

Dogwood

Anonymous said...

can't wait to see you soon!!!

St. Elizabeth of Cayce said...

Thought of you during Mass this evening, remembering it was the anniversary of your conversion.

Hope all goes well in India tomorrow (it's "I-day", right?) and that peace reigns in a world of increasing uncertainty.

St. Elizabeth of Cayce said...

OK, so I'm a day late. (Just finished reading the posts below this one.)

Hope all went well.

Fr. Gaurav Shroff said...

Thanks y'all! :)