Adoration in Austin… in the Capitol in the Capital

A reader sent me this.

For Corpus Christi, in Austin, the state capital of Texas, there was a Eucharistic Procession from the Cathedral to the Capitol.  (You who have English as a second language, or who were born after about 1970 and went to public schools, note well that “o” and “a”.)

Can you imaging Adoration and Benediction in the rotunda of your state capitol?

HERE

It is pretty hard to imagine this in my native place, Minnesota.  And here, in Madison, WI?  HAH!

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34 Comments

  1. teechrlady says:

    God bless Texas–quite literally.

    We were there. So awesome!

  2. catholiccomelately says:

    God is awesome! How blessed
    are we that we can, anywhere, ADORE Him in public!

  3. acardnal says:

    The principal principle in good writing is good word choice.

  4. lsclerkin says:

    Madison, Wis.
    Madison!!

  5. KateD says:

    Adoration is always beautiful and absolutely necessary at this particular location after the bizarre antics of pro-abortionists there last year. GOD BLESS TEXANS!

  6. TheDude05 says:

    Hopefully it really offsets the womyn chanting hail Satan during the debate on abortion there.

  7. Elizabeth D says:

    The Cathedral Parish, usually with the Bishop, does have a Corpus Christi procession to the Wisconsin state capitol steps every year. And we set the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament on an altar and we adore Him. I didn’t take pictures this year but here are the pictures from last year http://www.laetificatmadison.com/2013/06/corpus-christi-procession-with-bishop-morlino/ I wonder if it occurred to anyone to do so inside. It’s not that difficult to imagine (the constant presence of “recall Walker” protesters etc is less than it used to be, though they’re probably still around to some extent) but I like it fine on the steps. In Austin it is excessively hot this time of year, making it obvious why they would prefer to do this inside the building! Also, the TX capitol rotunda is supposed to be the twin of the one of the US Capitol Building, it is really lovely, what a sight these pictures are. I have been in there when I lived in TX.

  8. Cafea Fruor says:

    If this was adoration in the Texas state capitol, does that mean they used an Austin-sorium instead of a monstrance? Just wonderin’. ;-)

  9. Giuseppe says:

    If the rotunda were turned into a mosque every Friday afternoon for Muslim Jumu’ah service, would there be as many cheers? Or has it already happened?

  10. Austin Catholics says:

    The organizers were saying (before the event) they believed this was the fist procession to a state capitol in the US.

  11. Legisperitus says:

    Giuseppe:

    Not sure of the point of your post. Obviously Catholics would not cheer for false worship. But it’s comparing apples to eggs because this is true worship offered to the true God, which is always dignum et justum, semper et ubique, and something to be celebrated in itself.

  12. Diane says:

    Just absolutely awesome. Wish I had been there!

  13. cpttom says:

    In New York? Never. Especially with King Coumo, the “good” Catholic that he is.

  14. MarkG says:

    The Texas State Capitol still has a chapel, one of the last ones remaining in a state capitol.
    Texas, despite a small Catholic population for most of its history (until recent immigration), had a lot of traditional processions around the state, probably due to Spanish early influence.
    Sadly, many of them were stopped in the 1980s.
    The Austin Corpus Christi procession was just recently restored.
    There are a lot of processions for Our Lady of Guadalupe in December.
    The City of Corpus Christi used to have a big “blessing of the fleet” with tons of priests in cassocks and surplices and the bishop in cope, miter, gloves, etc. But it was scaled back years ago to black roman collar suits.
    Dallas used to have a big procession for the Sacred Heart (Patron of the Diocese and namesake of the Cathedral) but it was ended in the 1980s.
    Bishops need to restore these processions around the state of Texas and where they have been scaled back, return them to their previous grandeur.

  15. NBW says:

    Adoration and Benediction in our Illinois state capitol?? The building would fall down! Not to mention the politicians that would scurry away like frightened rats.

  16. seattle_cdn says:

    Oh…hullo, ACLU

  17. jflare says:

    Sadly, I cannot eagerly recommend attempting this in Nebraska. I think the idea is great; under present circumstances though, I’m not convinced of the wisdom of such an effort. I think back to the Minnesota capitol last year (I think) where an atheist group insisted they just HAD to set up another display that declared how much they hated the Christmas tree in the capitol.

    I think it quite likely that such attitudes will be displayed again, ultimately to the point of making a mockery of any serious presentation of the faith.
    I guess it could be done, but those involved would need to understand that they incur suffer the risk of harassment for their trouble.

  18. Nicholas says:

    Dear Texas,

    Enjoy your your procession.

    Sincerely,

    CA

    P.S. I went to public school after 1970, but had a few great teachers.

  19. benedetta says:

    Quite beautiful!

  20. Mike says:

    @Nicholas: If ‘CA’ stands for California, it is consoling to consider that there was a wonderful Marian procession in Sacramento just this May. One hopes that a Eucharistic procession in 2015 is on area Catholics’ event planning roadmap (as it appears to be, albeit on a smaller scale, in my parish on the other coast!).

  21. thymos says:

    “Let the United States secede from Texas!”

  22. I believe Texas has a Republican governor with both houses of its legislature dominated by Republicans. Good things happen, even in the public square, where good people vote intelligently.

  23. JustaSinner says:

    In MADison, the people in the top tiers would be throwing unquestionably nasty things from the top rotunda, all while beating drums and screaming obscenities.

  24. KateD says:

    Mike and Nicholas regarding Eucharistic processions in California….You know, Junipero Serra, whose feast day we celebrate today, and his good friars established California as a Holy place for God mission by mission – 21 in all. He walked from Monterey to the College at San Fernando in Mexico, he re-established the Sierra Gorda, Mexico missions and successfully turned them all over to the new Christian communities there within 8 years. He walked all over Mexico preaching the Word, miracles abounded. He accepted the position as the president of the Baja California Missions when the Jesuits……left…….and then almost immediately set out for Alta California to establish what is now the state of California, leaving the Baja Missions to the care of the Dominicans. He walked all over California establishing the missions which extend from San Diego to San Francisco de Solano in Sonoma. We all know what has happened to the state spiritually since that time. Wouldn’t it be great to re-claim California for Christ by processing with the Eucharist along the El Camino Real? I think it could be done…I’ve heard the missions are supposed to be 1 days walk apart…..anyone know more about the walk?

  25. pj_houston says:

    You’ll notice on the ground floor of the Capitol, it still says: “Republic of Texas”. Ah, the good old days.

  26. majuscule says:

    KateD–

    That is a wonderful idea!

    We learned in school that the missions are supposed to be a day’s journey apart…but I think at a reverent processional speed it would take much longer.

    Check out this mission website: http://www.missionscalifornia.com/ate/distance-miles-between-each-missions.html

    There are 21 missions extending over a distance of about 650 miles, or roughly thirty miles apart. There is a wide range however as the main criteria was that each mission be about a day’s journey (by horse / wagon) and the terrain varied a lot.

    (I just checked out a couple here in central California and they are 45 to 55 miles apart.)

    What a great pilgrimage this would be!

  27. Salvelinus says:

    I was there….. And there were secular progressive types complaining. I’m seriously awaiting the ACLU to make a stink, but Reverend Father Laforet will just give them the smack-down.
    FYI: He offers the TLM Sunday’s at the Cathedral at 3:30PM for anyone interested.
    Also, down the road in New Braunfels / Canyon Lake, the Mission of Divine Mercy (San Antonio Archdiocese) Father Moses of Jesus Pillari offers the TLM daily (Except Mondays) at 6AM and Sundays at 8AM.
    Okay, enough with the Texas Extraordinary Form mass advertisements, but thought I’d give anyone around the straight dope on where to assist at an Extraordinary Form mass.

    Back to the procession……
    Some onlookers reflexibly pulled back and others actually jumped in line as Our Lord was escorted through the streets to the Capital.

    It was awesome, and seeing strangers jump in line really gave me hope about things!
    Watching others pull back and give dirty looks was troubling and made me wonder if there was something oppressive/possessive going on with their souls?
    I feel bad for not going to talk with them and ask them what was troubling them.
    All in all, it was a great time – Very hot! – But still a great, very Catholic experience!

    Deo gratias!

  28. dhaunsperger says:

    Another report from one of the participants (the leader of the schola cantorum):
    http://www.suscipedomine.com/forum/index.php?topic=7516.0

  29. Uxixu says:

    I had just visited the Sacramento Capitol rotunda and thought how wonderful it would be for a procession from the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament to the Capitol…

  30. majuscule says:

    Uxixu– the Great Marian Procession in Sacramento last May was right in that area. There are experienced people in Sacramento! Indeed, a Eucharistic Procession would be wonderful!

  31. Skeinster says:

    Salvelinus-
    In North Texas, don’t forget Mater Dei, Irving, a FSSP parish serving Dallas and environs. In addition, our priests celebrate a Sunday evening Mass in Forth Worth at St. Mary’s downtown.

    I grew up in Austin and most of my family still lives there. I was flabbergasted, but delighted, to see those photos. Due to Austin…

  32. @Henry Edwards, Texas is a great state in which we live!

    In the community we live in, which is not very large, when we go to the polls to vote we rarely see anyone going to the booths to vote Dem; the Republican line is out the door. Once when we went to vote no one was in the Dem line and the Rep line was backed up. A lady that had been standing with her husband in the Rep line ran over to the Dem machines and said really loud, ” Heck, no one is in this line so I am just going to vote here; it is easier and faster and it doesn’t matter anyway.” You should have seen the looks on the faces of those who heard her. Talk about an uninformed voter!

  33. Uxixu says:

    majuscule – I think that’s an annual event. I’ve watched the Solemn High Mass from a couple years ago after the procession which was professionally filmed and is on Youtube. A shame they don’t have a regularly scheduled Latin Mass there. While I loved the high altar at St Stephen’s, the Cathedral is much more majestic otherwise.

  34. Salvelinus says:

    Skeinster.
    Thanks for the heads-up on the FSSP up in Irving (Mater Dei). You folks are lucky to have them up there. Most people don’t think extraordinary form of the mass or Gregorian chant when they think of Texas. Hopefully, folks like us can change that!

    If your ever in the Austin area, be sure to check out the Mission of Divine Mercy down I35 in Canyon Lake. It’s a monastic community that offers mass. Not a “parish” per se, although you can sign up you and your family as regular “parishioners”.

    It’s truly a diamond in the rough for those living in the Austin/north San Antonio area.
    MDM also has it’s own Una Voce chapter (www.unavocecanyonlake.org)

    In addition to the daily TLM offerings, the Novus Ordo is done in Latin. Of course, both are done facing East, communion rail and everything.
    Everything can be found on their website (Google search mission of divine mercy)

    Also, there are programs such as Traditional baptisms and confirmations.
    MDMs charism is Tradition and deep reverence, all in a beautiful Texas Hill country setting.
    It’s under the archdiocese of San Antonio, but the proximity to austin allows anyone to check it out.

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