ECCLESIASTICAL CHANGE

*photo of high Mass in the Roman Pantheon

Latin’s gone

Peace is too

Singing and shouting

From every pew.

And then

Altar’s turned ‘round too

Priest

Is too

like in olden days

Commentator’s yelling

“Page 22.”

Communion rail’s vanished

Stand up straight

Knelling suddenly

Went out of date.

Processions are forming

In every aisle;

Salvation’s organized

Single file.

Rosary’s out

Psalms are in;

Hardly ever hear

A word against sin.

Listen to the lector

Hear how he reads

Please stop rattling

Those rosary beads.

Padre’s looking puzzled

Doesn’t know his part.

Used to know the whole deal

In Latin by heart.

I hope all the changes

Are just about done;

And that they don’t drop bingo

Before I’ve won.

twt circa 1964

Author’s Note: Written ages ago after Pope John 23 open up to English made modern changes. Shirley and I asked one late night in Rome to be allowed past the crowded barriers to attend catholic high mass in the oldest building in Rome the pantheon formerly a Roman pagan temple. The guard said sure come right through. We proceeded to attend high mass and communion that night. It was special; it was special!