Update: Via Open Book today at Castle Gandolfo.
I am convinced that if we passed out blessed balloons on Ascension Thursday that Mass attendance would be equal to the non-Holy Day of Obligation Ash Wednesday. Or possibly even Holy Water balloons as a new method of aspersion.
The priest would recite:
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sama’ria and to the end of the earth." And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,[and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
And then we could all release our balloons on cue.
11 comments
Always wondered what it actually looked like. Rising into the sky? Dimensional change directly away from whatever angle you were looking at? Fade to cloud? Now I know. (I assume this is modeled from the apostles’ photographs….)
If anything it’s going to make people think. Somethimes I wonder……
I dunno. The “Jesus” in the Ascension float looks like a combination of Dogma’s “The Buddy Christ” and Peter Pan.
Ah, but you’d have to be in a diocese where the Ascension was actually CELEBRATED on Thursday. Not here in our diocese, they moved it to Sunday so that more people can participate (read – since Catholics are too lazy to go to mass on Thursday, we’d better move things to Sunday).
Now that you mention it, there are way more people in church when they’re giving out freebies….
May 5, 2005
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Shut up, Jeff!! Don’t go giving anybody any ideas about balloons at Mass!!!
Sorry, been there, done that…..Missoula Montana some time back had the kids let the balloons all go just before the beginning of mass. I laughed, I cried, it’s a part of me……right along with the piped in sounds of chirping birds. Amazing.
I believe the Archdiocese of L.A. is looking to hire a liturgist of your skill!
I agree with Margaret! Years ago, I heard our parish would occasionally have balloon bouquets on the altar at Mass. Apparently, it made things look more “friendly.”
if you think that’s strange, here’s something completely different (c), although a bit off topic.
check out the logo for this methodist church
http://www.asburymemorial.org/
vivat jesu