Lux. Pax. Veritas.

Light. Peace. Truth. I'm Dj. I'm 36, American, Christian, Episcopalian, Aspirant to Priesthood, Organist, Broadcaster, Astounded by the Beauty of God's Creation, Lover and Wine and Food, Gay, and all around awesome sauce. Let's talk :-).

[cometojoseph]

[momentsbeforemass]

Shameless love

Earlier this year, I went to a parish in St. Louis that specializes in the Extraordinary Form. To see how they did a High Mass in Latin. It was the full deal. Gregorian chant. Smells and bells. And a platoon of altar boys. 

When I told a friend about it, I got a 5-minute rant about how they were stuck in 1583. That they needed to get with the times. To him, the fact that they weren’t excommunicated was one of the biggest mistakes of Benedict XVI’s papacy.

I was stunned by the reaction.

It came from a deeply spiritual man. A guy known for living the faith. A regular communicant. At a parish proudly stuck in 1983.

But if I’d asked the people at Latin Mass about his parish, I probably would have heard their version of his rant. 

Which got me thinking about what they had in common.

The One who shamelessly died for all of our sins.

He is so shameless in His love for us that if it takes 1583 (or 1983) to reach us, He’ll go there.

He loves us that much.

[queerbugbear]

person: may the 4th be with you

me: and also with you

person: what

me: we lift them up to the lord

person: …

me: it is right to give our thanks and praise

[luxpaxveritas]

St. Gabriel's Chapel in the Woods, Leesburg, VA. Easter 2017.

[luxpaxveritas]

You guys...major Epiphany this Epiphanytide (hehe)...my church has a patronus window.

[luxpaxveritas]

Overheard in the office of a large church recently...

VOLUNTEER When's the office Christmas party? EMPLOYEE Christmas party? We're not having one. VOLUNTEER We always have one EMPLOYEE ALWAYS!? You've just started here last November! VOLUNTEER well we had one last year. EMPLOYEE I can't. (Walks away in a cloud of sass)

[luxpaxveritas]

A different view of the architecture than I'm used to. I should sit in a different seat more often! (at Grace Episcopal Church, Brunswick MD)

[luxpaxveritas]

Episconinja | Eee-pisk-uh-nin-juh | n. One who surprisingly discloses their denominational affiliation with the Episcopal Church in the United States of America upon meeting another Episcopalian. "Hey! I'm an Episcopalian too!" "You Episconinja, you!" #WordsTheRectorMakesUp #sermon #Episcopal #Episcopalian #NotesFromTheOrganist

[luxpaxveritas]

Ok, so getting up early doesn't always suck. 😊 #sunrise #sky #morning #Frederick #FrederickMD (at Frederick, Maryland)

[dadcrone]

COME BE A CHRISTIAN

stay up late having faith-shattering doubts

stay up late having a prayer cry fest

stay up late arguing with God 

stay up late because you’re just so completely captivated by the mysteries of the faith that you can’t sleep

come be a christian

never get a good night’s sleep again

[luxpaxveritas]

This is so stupid true for me right now! lol

[luxpaxveritas]

So, my first preaching assignment is coming up in July. HS dropped by with some inspiration this evening, my favorite being this gem: "Jesus tells ADD stories"...as I proceeded to write 4 pages of random notes that eventually came together. Apparently Jesus inspires in ADHD form as well. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. 😁

[luxpaxveritas]

Thank you, Apple Watch, for documenting one of the most terrifying moments of my adult life via heart rate monitor...The third line from the bottom on the left side is the moment I saw a bat face to face in the sacristy of the church and ran out of the room and down the stairs screaming "BATBATBATBATBAT...". LOL (at Grace Episcopal Church, Brunswick MD)

[luxpaxveritas]

I went to church with my family tonight and the pastor said something that I think every Christian should hear

Pastor: Now, according to a few passages in the bible, homosexuality is a sin.

Couple of older males in the audience: Amen!

Pastor: Now, wait, I'm not finished.

Pastor: You know what else the bible defines as a sin? Divorce.

-uncomfortable silence-

Pastor: There are countless passages that talk about how divorce is wrong, and that there are consequences to getting a divorce, such as the wife should be stoned.

Pastor: Yet, I witnessed a divorce just this morning. And I gotta tell you, it was heartbreaking, but I definitely didn't attempt to throw rocks at the wife, even though she was the one who filed for divorce.

Pastor: We choose to overlook the consequences of divorce because time has proven that they're inhumane and cruel.

Pastor: The bible doesn't say anything about the consequences of a homosexual lifestyle. Yet, we seem to be spearheading a campaign to ruin the lives of people we don't even know.

-the pastor shifts a few notes around-

Pastor: The bible states to love thy neighbor. That's it. There are no other rules or restrictions to that passage.

Pastor: So, we as a church family have to support equality with a smile on our face. THAT is the true Christian way.

[luxpaxveritas]

CUA Women's Chorus (at St. Vincent DePaul Chapel At CUA)

[luxpaxveritas]

This is Mr. Howard. I just met this wonderful guy at the Basilica. He's a security guard here (at the Catholic shrine)...attends a Baptist Church, and he asked if my BCP was a Missal (the Roman Catholic service book). I told him it was the same thing, only Anglican, to which he responded "Oh you're Episcopalian!", and then drummed up some wonderful conversation of how we "all worship one God, just under different umbrellas," "Heaven is home, but I am content living and working in time for many more years so the Lord has plenty of time to 'prepare that nice place for me'," and thoughts on all of the words and wisdom he has to share and knowing when to share and when not (to which he says he prays constantly "Lord, hold my tongue.". Haha The world needs more people like Mr. Howard. #MadeMyWeek (at Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception)

[luxpaxveritas]

I may or may not have burned a trace amount of incense after choir rehearsal. Maybe. Can't recall. 😁

[luxpaxveritas]

Stuck in Holy Week

Quick background....I started writing this on Thursday 3/31. I definitely got my Easter in this past Sunday, still in the octave. :-) Alleluia, Christ is Risen! ------ Today the 102 degree fever I've had since Easter Sunday broke. And little by little life has begun to trickle back in. The weird part, however, is that I am realizing that somehow, I'm stuck in Holy Week. The dark of the triduum has come and gone, obliterated by the light that is Easter, but the Holy Spirit has something here that is very important for me to experience, and so has preserved this place that I may rest in it for a moment. It is weird and beautiful at once. I'd say the flu began to set in probably Maundy Thursday. I stayed through the night, but watched not even one entire hour with Jesus. From there it was about resting and autopiloting to Sunday. And so my spirit stayed here while the resurrection parade moved on.