In which I Consider the Nature of Stones Thrown in Glass Houses

It is the habit of the seminary to assign a single deacon to assist with all of the liturgical functions for a single day. For instance, a person assigned to a Wednesday would typically expose the Blessed Sacrament for adoration at 6:00 AM, repose the Blessed Sacrament at 8:00 AM, lead Lauds at 8:15 AM, assist at the altar for 11:35 Mass, and then lead Vespers at 5:00 PM. For the majority of my classmates, this week and next will afford us our first opportunities to serve here at the seminary. Because we are nervous, these days can be exhausting. And there is plenty to be nervous about.

The uninformed person might believe seminarians to be the sort of people who look past the liturgical mistakes of their peers, especially since this is a learning institution. Hardly! Rather, they are like circling wolves, looking for the first sign of weakness. A forgotten word here, a misplaced genuflection there, and they pounce. They take delight in ribbing their comrades for the rest of the day (sometimes for the rest of the year). Thus, it takes nerves of steel to enter the sanctuary for the first time.

In reality, it is all just joking in good fun, and it helps us to learn and to improve. What is more, I tend to think that a joke is easier to swallow than plain old-fashioned criticism. This fact does nothing to alleviate one's anxiety, though.

As yet, none of us has finished our day unscathed. One of us failed to begin the prayers of the faithful at the proper time. Another of us invited the assembly to share the sign of peace in an unconventional way. Yesterday, at Lauds, for my part, I sang the wrong melody for the opening song (there is no musical notation in the book). We were forced to stop half way through the first verse and start again according to a different melody. Such an interruption would have been necessary anyway. The melody I had begun was an octave to high for men to sing at 7:00 AM. I'm also told that I was too loud in my proclamation of the Gospel.

The teasing began at breakfast, and continued through lunch, and reached its climax as two of my classmates and I took a quiet walk after dinner where we revisited some amusing foibles from years gone by as well. I took it all in stride. There are several days before I am deacon du jour again, and I am watching for the tiniest mistake. People who live in glass houses should definitely not throw stones.