And you thought they wanted us washing vessels

At the direction of Pope Benedict XVI, extraordinary ministers of holy Communion will no longer be permitted to assist in the purification of the sacred vessels at Masses in the United States. [...]The U.S. bishops had asked the Vatican to extend an indult -- or church permission -- in effect since 2002 allowing extraordinary ministers of holy Communion to help cleanse the Communion cups and plates when there were not enough priests or deacons to do so. (CNS via ClosedCafeteria)

No word on whether it's still okay for the little old ladies of your parish to launder the linens. That might just bring them too close to the holy elements of the Eucharist, you know? I find it ironic that "washing vessels" is one of the examples outraged laity sometimes use for what they do when they're excluded from real parish responsibility. I'm also amused that the indult was extended in 2002; as a high-school sacristan, I was definitely purifying vessels (in a sacred, prayerful way, I like to think) as early as '96. Just the latest evidence of my own transgressive status . . .

I think we should see other people.

So I'm guest-blogging! Check me out at BustedHalo's Spiritual Smackdown (I know, I know.) I'll be posting every other weekday for the month of November, up against a conservative blogger. Leave me some comments over there, especially any ideas you'd like to see the two of us take on!  

In class last night a student mentioned "Eucharistic ministers" and then corrected it to "extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist." Seems like a small thing, but that really burns my toast. God forbid we imply that it's right and normal for laypeople to have ministry that has to do with the Eucharist . . .  

Jesus on the Radio

A friend and I are leading a prayer service at the Call to Action conference in Milwaukee this November. We're going to explore the spirituality of contemporary songs--pop, rock, hip-hop and some quality '80s. Got any suggestions for recent songs that move you, make you contemplate, or fill you with divine joy?

 

Songs don't have to be explicitly religious, but they can be. As a corollary request, we're trying to come up with tracks that don't sound like contemporary or traditional Catholic music. So extra points for cuts with more than one vocal and without heavy acoustic guitar : )

 

To get you thinking, here's a great column about the kind of psalmody you find on iTunes. I love, love, love so many of his picks. Never have I agreed so heartily with so much Rocco Palmo had to say.

 

Politician loses interest groups to effective proposal

"You're either for reducing the number [of abortions], or you're not:" Slate on Rep. Tim Ryan's anti-abortion bill, which dares to promote--gasp!--birth control.