Originally from March 20, 2013:
Every time I go into a Catholic Church, I feel it. The incense, the glittery stuff, the music. The senses get hit. I have to admit, I really like it. Tonight, there was this really interesting ceremony called the Chrism Mass at the crypt in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. It's in "Little Vatican City" where my school is. The last time I went to a church, St. Gabriel's, on a Wednesday, it was Adoration. Since I'm not intimately familiar with the Church, I have no idea what happens when or what's going on. I love the Latin (shout out to 8th grade Latin teacher, Mr. Olson at Charlotte Latin School). Tonight they had all these priests and they promised their service for the next year, and the archbishop blessed 3 samovar-cans of oil. There was a large contingent of navy people, and the program said it was the Archdiocese for the Military Services. I even went up to get the blessing without the wine and wafer. Then I found the grotto for Our Lady of Lebanon (shout out to ancestors). My hair smells like frankincense and myrrh.
