The opera is now over! After a very successful second performance (in which I did dance the ballet perfectly... about time...), the lights went out on Die Fledermaus. The set was taken down, costumes were packed away and props were returned to the proper storage closet... at least until February! It seems a local theatre has asked our company to do two encore performances at the beginning of next year! Exciting!
In other news, yesterday was the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother. August 15th traditionally marks the return of the choir after our summer break, and I must say that we made a very triumphant return for Our Lady's feast day. We sang Palestrina's Missa Ave Maria, as well as his Ave Maria motet. Just absolutely glorious music...
I was exceptionally pleased, because this year marks my return to the Soprano section, after many years of singing Alto. I learned a good deal while being an inside voice, but it felt so much better to be singing where my voice naturally lies. It was the first time in a long time that I wasn't vocally fatigued by the time Mass was over. *contented sigh*
More importantly, a very good friend of our family came to Mass yesterday with his children. This is a very big deal, because although my 'Uncle' has always been a Traditionalist and Catholic, when all of the confusion happened in the late 80's - early 90's, he went with the SSPV (Society of Saint Pius the Fifth). For many, many years he and my Dad would have debates over the validity of the New Mass, the ambiguity of Vatican II, and more disturbingly, the validity of the current Pontiff. (For those who aren't familiar with the SSPV, they are sede vecantists, which means that they believe the 'seat is vacant' or that the current Pope isn't the Pope at all.)
We always remained on good terms with him, although Dad was always trying to help him realise that what he believed wasn't the truth. Mom and I always clung to the fact that Uncle and his family said the Rosary. We were sure that as long as they still said their Aves every day, they couldn't help but to find the right road again. So, I'm sure you can imagine our surprise and utter joy when Uncle called to find out when our Mass times were- just in time for the Feast of the Assumption, too!!!
It took about 20 years to happen, but Uncle has finally realised that the SSPV's position isn't true to the Church at all, despite their claims of being the 'true' Catholics. For me, it is a very strong testimony to the power of the Rosary.
All things can be accomplished with the help of the Blessed Mother, for what good son can refuse the requests of his mother, especially when she is the Most Perfect Mother and He is the Most Perfect Son?
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, ora pro nobis!
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