{"id":3750,"date":"2012-06-04T12:29:29","date_gmt":"2012-06-04T19:29:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/?p=3750"},"modified":"2016-02-23T11:48:20","modified_gmt":"2016-02-23T19:48:20","slug":"glorious","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/glorious\/","title":{"rendered":"Glorious!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>
\nL<\/span>ast weekend, we threw a surprise birthday party for Francine.<\/p>\n

She’s very clever, so we had to take some care in making sure she woudn’t find out. We figured the only way we could throw a surprise birthday party for Francine’s big 50 was to hold it seven weeks early and in another state.<\/p>\n

To get her to the appointed place, Francine’s best friend (and my co-conspirator) Mel proposed a road trip. So for a week, the ladies drove all over: camping in a tipi in Montana, confronting road-blocking bison at Yellowstone, hanging out with horses at a ranch in Idaho.<\/p>\n

In the end, Mel got her to the hotel in Portland on the right day at the correct time (more or less), and the surprise was complete. There were screams, wavy hands, and tears as the tiara and birthday sash were bestowed.<\/p>\n

Surrounded by family and friends, some of whom had come quite a distance, Francine was absolutely delighted. It was a glorious celebration, and it lasted deep into the night.<\/p>\n

Needless to say, we were not particularly able to get to Mass on Sunday morning, even though I’d researched a number of places and had a string of possible times. Fortunately, we had a Plan B.<\/p>\n

We went out for breakfast, and we did get to spend some time with Francine’s various out-of-state friends. And of course we made our pilgrimage to Powell’s Book Store.<\/p>\n

We arrived back in Tacoma on Sunday afternoon. <\/p>\n

Now, about Plan B: recently, the Church of the North American Martyrs<\/a> in Seattle had established a mission in Tacoma at SS. Peter and Paul<\/a> parish. The Mass was at 7:00 PM.<\/p>\n

So that’s where we went.<\/p>\n

It was only the second Extraordinary Form<\/a> Mass that I’ve attended. It was a low Mass (Missa lecta<\/a>)<\/i>, which means (basically) that it was stripped of most of the bells and whistles you’d get in sung Mass (Missa Cantata<\/a>)<\/i> or in a high Mass (Missa Solemnis<\/a>)<\/em>. <\/p>\n

Having said that, there was a lovely choir who sang the various parts of the Mass and two nervous (but obviously well-trained) servers to assist.<\/p>\n

And, of course, the Mass was entirely in Latin. Well, that’s not quite<\/i> true. The Kyrie<\/i> is in Greek, and the celebrant re-read the readings in English and preached in English. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Mass was celebrated by our one-time interim pastor, Rev. Kenneth Baker, S.J.<\/a> It was interesting to see that he trundled through the Latin in exactly the same way he does in English. His sermon, delivered largely from memory, was terrific as usual.<\/p>\n

At first, I tried to follow the Latin prayers in my old Saint Joseph’s Missal. After a bit, I realized that I was so unused to this Liturgy that I was becoming frantic in trying to keep up or, in some cases, figure out where we were. I was forgetting to actually pray<\/i> the Mass. <\/p>\n

So I put the Missal down.<\/p>\n

And it was glorious<\/i>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last weekend, we threw a surprise birthday party for Francine. She’s very clever, so we had to take some care in making sure she woudn’t find out. We figured the only way we could throw a surprise birthday party for Francine’s big 50 was to hold it seven weeks early and in another state. To get her to the appointed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9,8,10,26,3,33,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-family","category-francine-my-love","category-fun","category-latin","category-moments-in-time","category-rev-kenneth-baker","category-sacred-liturgy"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/s1aGBK-glorious","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":109655,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/happy-birthday-francine\/","url_meta":{"origin":3750,"position":0},"title":"Happy Birthday, Francine","author":"Thom","date":"21 July 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Francine's 63rd birthday. Last year, when she turned 62, having been born in 1962, she proclaimed that it was going to be her year. She called it her \"golden year\". Maybe it was. This is the year that she was swept up in the arms of Jesus. I have no\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Francine my love"","block_context":{"text":"Francine my love","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/francine-my-love\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/36475810_10155614137330382_2866939563987697664_n.jpg?fit=1080%2C1076&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/36475810_10155614137330382_2866939563987697664_n.jpg?fit=1080%2C1076&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/36475810_10155614137330382_2866939563987697664_n.jpg?fit=1080%2C1076&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/36475810_10155614137330382_2866939563987697664_n.jpg?fit=1080%2C1076&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/36475810_10155614137330382_2866939563987697664_n.jpg?fit=1080%2C1076&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":83970,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/one-year-ago-a-bus-a-bridge-and-lavender-fields\/","url_meta":{"origin":3750,"position":1},"title":"One Year Ago: a Bus, a Bridge, and Lavender Fields","author":"Thom","date":"20 April 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"(from my journal) Astorga 20 April Breakfasted in the Benedictine hotel with Francine. We walked to the bus station \u2013 maybe 1.5 km \u2013 and caught the 9:30 bus to Hospital de \u00d3rbigo. Walked across town to Puente de \u00d3rbigo and walked across (and back across) the astonishing medieval bridge\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Camino"","block_context":{"text":"Camino","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/camino\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Saint Benedict, Pray for Us!","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/camino\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/9036259521_e22c7a6bb0_b.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/camino\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/9036259521_e22c7a6bb0_b.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/camino\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/9036259521_e22c7a6bb0_b.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/camino\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/9036259521_e22c7a6bb0_b.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":109620,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/francines-final-camino\/","url_meta":{"origin":3750,"position":2},"title":"Francine’s Final Camino","author":"Thom","date":"21 June 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Francine passed to God at just after midnight on June 21. On behalf of our family, I ask for your continued prayers. Requiem \u00e6ternam dona eis, Domine,et lux perpetua luceat eis. Grant her eternal rest, O Lord,and may everlasting light shine upon her. Our family thanks all those who supported\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Francine my love"","block_context":{"text":"Francine my love","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/francine-my-love\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/obit-photo.jpg?fit=874%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/obit-photo.jpg?fit=874%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/obit-photo.jpg?fit=874%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/obit-photo.jpg?fit=874%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":110225,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/a-dull-melancholy-roar\/","url_meta":{"origin":3750,"position":3},"title":"A Dull, Melancholy Roar","author":"Thom","date":"25 January 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"today, Francine and I were married at Saint Patrick Church in Tacoma. The celebrant was our good friend (and my former coworker and chess opponent) Rev. Bryan Dolejsi. Afterwards, we had a reception at the Holy Rosary school auditorium. Both the wedding and reception had a roaring 20s theme. Francine\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Francine my love"","block_context":{"text":"Francine my love","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/francine-my-love\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Roaring.jpg?fit=600%2C404&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Roaring.jpg?fit=600%2C404&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Roaring.jpg?fit=600%2C404&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":109833,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/planning-the-via-lemovicensis-or-well-never-have-paris\/","url_meta":{"origin":3750,"position":4},"title":"Planning the Via Lemovicensis, or, We’ll Never Have Paris","author":"Thom","date":"29 September 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I plan to walk a long Camino for Francine. Some background is probably in order. At the annual Gathering of Pilgrims back in 2022, Francine attended a talk on one of the four main Camino routes in France: the Voie de V\u00e9zelay, also known as the Via Lemovicensis. She was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Camino"","block_context":{"text":"Camino","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/camino\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/vezelay.png?fit=837%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/vezelay.png?fit=837%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/vezelay.png?fit=837%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/vezelay.png?fit=837%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":109625,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/francines-funeral\/","url_meta":{"origin":3750,"position":5},"title":"Francine’s Funeral","author":"Thom","date":"26 June 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Francine's funeral arrangements are in place. Vespers for the Dead Vespers from the Office of the Dead will be sung for Francine on Thursday, 10 July, 2025 at 6:30 pm Pacific Time at Saint Patrick Church in Tacoma. The principal celebrant will be our friend, the Rev. Jacob Maurer. Music\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "community"","block_context":{"text":"community","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Francine-2024.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Francine-2024.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Francine-2024.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Francine-2024.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3750"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3750\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86849,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3750\/revisions\/86849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}