When I woke up this morning, I felt different. Then a bright light shone through the ceiling and a voice boomed:
Canon 1252 All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their sixtieth year. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance.
Today is the beginning of my sixtieth year! Hence I am not any longer strictly bound to fast! I will anyway, but, there it is. Happy Birthday to me from the 1983 Code of Canon Law.
After the experience of the voice, I made my way to church where concelebration was going on, each priest at his altar saying Mass.
I saw in the sacristy a vestment with the arms of the FSSP today: nicely done, too. We need more vestments with arms, especially personal coats of arms.
This, however, is the one I got. An older one to be sure. About my same age, as a matter of fact.
This one’s a lot older.
I have an idea about that.
We must find someone who does embroidery well. Priests – who have arms – should then have their arms drawn up and made for their vestments. Hmmm.
This is interesting. Three priests with Scandinavian blood, three former Protestants, three dedicated to the traditional Roman Rite.
I took them for breakfast at a nearby bar and very much enjoyed this old sign.
The morning brought splendid Pontifical Mass at the faldstool. I’ll find a link to better photos than I could have shot.
Then lunch. This was a surprise! I had no idea it would be like this: spaghetti all’astice with friends old and new.
Back to the parish for vespers, Exposition, the Litany of the Sacred Heart, Act of Consecration and Benediction.
Finally, having met with a new tailor I have sought some supper in the quiet of my digs, thus bringing this birthday in Rome to a close.
Please say a prayer for me.
Tomorrow afternoon I will say Mass for my benefactors.
