ROAMIN'
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2003 ROAMIN' CATHOLIC
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Contents © 2002
by Jim Holman.
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PRECIOUS BLOOD, LOS ANGELES

The Trinity and Light Bulbs

Precious Blood Church, at 435 S. Occidental Boulevard in Los Angeles, is one of the archdiocese's architectural gems and, as yet, little wrecked inside. It is a fusion-style basilica with gothic features, such as a rose window. Although the gate to the sanctuary is gone, the altar rail remains intact, as does the high altar (albeit unclothed), complete with the tabernacle in the center. But it is the mosaics in the sanctuary which are especially notable. The ceiling portrays, in mosaic, the Trinity, with angels below and, at last, a mosaic crucifix overhanging the altar, with blood depicted pouring out of Our Lord's side down to the tabernacle.

When I attended the 12:30 p.m. Mass on Trinity Sunday, June 15, it had been a good quarter century since last I set foot in the place. After Boy Scout Troop 363, Hollywood, had folded, I had transferred to 810, headquartered at Precious Blood; it was then led by the late, legendary scoutmaster, Leo Martin. Leo had guided hundreds of minority boys through the scouting program; under him, I earned my Eagle.

Before this Mass, the keyboard, guitar, and drum ensemble rehearsed in the Lady Chapel as the primarily Filipino and Latino congregation (with a sprinkling of elderly Anglos) took their places. Despite the instruments used, most of the hymns employed were unknown to me but were not overly annoying. The church was festooned with gold, purple, and white diaphanous ribbons.

The procession consisted of a man in white polo shirt carrying an incense brazier holder, a crucifer, an altar boy, an altar girl, a female holding the Gospel book, and the celebrant, parish administrator Father Paul Brogan. After the man with the incense laid down his burden in front of the altar, the other members of the sanctuary party took their places, the blond and cherub-faced priest in the center. In an Irish tenor brogue with heavy sibilants, Father Brogan asked us to introduce ourselves to those around us. That ritual completed, he crossed himself and began the Mass.

The penitential rite included some spontaneous tropes by Father in which he asked God on our behalf to forgive us for not entering into relationships and for spurning some people because they are different. The Gloria was sung in English, after which a lector in a suit and a lectoress in matching skirt and jacket mounted the pulpit to read or chant Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40; Psalm 33; and Romans 8:14-17.

Father Brogan read the Gospel, Matthew 28:16-20, from the pulpit and then stepped down in front of the sanctuary, walking back and forth to emphasize his points. He began by pointing out that several of the side altars have candles. "You won't see that in most churches anymore," he added. "Insurance companies won't let most parishes have them! But candles lend an atmosphere. They are comforting, and they set the tone for any gatherings you might have -- especially scented ones. Now, you might give a candle as a gift. But you wouldn't give a light bulb! No, you wouldn't hear about some one giving a friend a box of 100-watt bulbs! But you'd give a candle, wouldn't you? Sure you would!

"But candles don't give out as bright a light as light bulbs, do they?" continued Father Brogan. "No, they don't. But they don't have the indescribable something that candlelight has. It is a special relationship. And that is what the persons of the Trinity have! Now, you'll notice that we have these ribbons all around! Well, they are representing the Trinity! Gold is for the Father and purple for the Son, and white for the Holy Spirit. But, you know, many people don't have fathers, and so calling God father is not an effective way of representing God to them. And many don't have male offspring, so the Son doesn't make much sense to them. And the Spirit? Well, what's a spirit, anyway?

"Perhaps a more effective way to view the Trinity," Father Brogan suggested, "is as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. These are not static terms, like Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Rather, they speak of a God who is active, and they bring us into the relationship of the Trinity. After all, we all have to create ourselves, whenever we make changes in our lives. And we redeem ourselves when we have fallen into things we should not or do not want to do. And we can sanctify ourselves through prayer and the Sacraments. So we are linked with the work of the Trinity in our lives. We might say this new way of talk about it is more helpful in our lives."

His sermon done, Father returned to the sanctuary, where the preparation of the altar was underway. The offertory procession and the Second Eucharistic Prayer were conducted inoffensively. The Our Father was recited in unison and then the Agnus Dei chanted in Latin. A regiment of extraordinary eucharistic ministers descended upon the sanctuary. With their chalices or patens, they departed for their communion stations (several of which were in the center of the nave).

When all finished receiving (done back to front) -- most on the hand, some on the tongue -- Father introduced a parishioner who is involved with prison ministry. She told us of her group's work in women's prison and the suffering there. Then she asked for magazines to be dropped at the rectory. Father Brogan then gave the blessing and recessed out. After the traditional applause, the congregants stepped out.

From what I could see, there were no coffee or doughnuts.

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