Here’s a great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year. First, enjoy the following chapter, which fits nicely for St. Patrick’s Day, as a sneak peek of the forthcoming book Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel by Ray Keating. Second, pre-order signed editions of Under the Golden Dome.
Chapter 32
Before the “Faith and Freedom” conference officially kicked off after lunch on Wednesday, participants were invited to attend a morning Mass in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Father Ron McDermott was the celebrant.
Stephen and Jennifer attended, with Father Tom Stone. But Grant found himself distracted prior to the start of the Mass.
Part of it was the beauty of the cathedral. There was so much to consider, particularly given the ornate Gothic Revival style. There was the baptismal font at the entrance and the magnificent pipe organ above it. The ceiling featured angels on a blue sky with stars, and a gold area above the sanctuary depicting Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, along with various prophets. In the distance behind the altar used during Mass stood the elaborate original altar with a tabernacle tower that Stephen found out had been inspired by Revelation 21:9 – seven angels with seven bowls, and the vision of the New Jerusalem. There was much more, such as the plethora of stained glass, and it was all a great deal to drink in.
In this case, he resisted applying an evaluative eye to see what might or might not sit right with various particulars of Lutheran theology. He decided that he was a guest in a Roman Catholic cathedral, and he would appreciate it as a guest.
But another part of Stephen did show up in the basilica.
Jennifer and Stephen had arrived early and wound up sitting toward the back of the nave on the right side looking forward. Normally, the pastor in Grant meant that when he was attending a service, he’d sit toward the front. However, the CIA operative in him – what he recently started referring to as the “Old Stephen” in his mind – wanted to sit in a position where he could see everything going on and everyone in attendance. Old Stephen won out after his early morning meeting with Paige and Charlie.
Stephen then witnessed an eclectic stream of people from his past, as well as some he had only met recently, arriving. They included Frederico Escalante, the former president of Creencia. Paige Caldwell, Charlie Driessen, and Chase Axelrod arrived separately, and spread themselves among the pews.
The odd trio of Pastor Malcolm Lawrence, Father Donald Roner, and Woodrow Stein came in as well, somewhat to Grant’s surprise.
What the heck is Malcolm Lawrence doing at a Catholic Mass?
Kathy Flaherty arrived with a man about her age, and three teenage girls.
Everyone has red hair. Husband and daughters, I assume.
Stephen also spotted assorted fellow conference speakers whom he knew only by reputation and their photos.
There’s a lot going on before this Mass.
As luck would have it, Jennifer and he happened to be sitting near a stained glass window featuring St. Patrick.
Kind of fitting at the home of the Fighting Irish. Geez, he even has a green halo.
Taking note of Patrick being clean shaven, Grant wasn’t sure if he’d even seen the patron saint of Ireland portrayed that way before. However, Patrick standing on and gripping a snake was not unusual, along with a few three-leaf clovers on the ground. But most striking for Grant was that the lower part of the window – or the medallion – showed St. Patrick baptizing an Irish nobleman.
After all, the point of celebrating St. Patrick is that he spread the Christian faith in Ireland.
Grant had read St. Patrick’s Confession, and he thought about how it opened, “I am Patrick – a sinner – the most unsophisticated and unworthy among all the faithful of God.”
That helped Grant get focused in a more appropriate direction, as did the start of the organ music. The congregation rose to their feet as the opening processional moved down the center aisle, with Ron in the final spot.
Finally, all worldly distractions were swept away for Stephen as all in attendance, including the University of Notre Dame Liturgical Choir, began singing one of his favorite hymns – “O God Beyond All Praising.”
O God beyond all praising,
We worship you today
And sing the love amazing
That songs cannot repay;
For we can only wonder
At every gift you send,
At blessings without number
And mercies without end:
We lift our hearts before you
And wait upon your word,
We honor and adore you,
Our great and mighty Lord…
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