Tag Archives: spiritual communion

Sunday Mass: August 16, 2026 | The Letter Killeth

The letter killeth — a flask of oil and a wineskin set down on an empty stony road

Opening Address Bloom’s Sunday Mass, and today it opens on four words that indict a great deal of religion: the letter killeth. We offer this Mass in the Independent Catholic tradition—not affiliated with or recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, but standing in the same Roman Rite, held by a pastor for whom this tradition […]

Sunday Mass: July 26, 2026 | The Things That Are to Thy Peace

The things that are to thy peace — a distant hillside city at dusk seen through an archway

Opening Address Bloom’s Sunday Mass, offered today in the Independent Catholic tradition — not affiliated with or recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, but standing in the same apostolic lineage, the same Roman Rite, the same devotion, held by a pastor for whom this tradition has always been home. Beloved, grace and peace to you […]

Sunday Mass July 19, 2026 | Children of This World, Wiser Than Children of the Light

Children of this world wiser than children of light — an old ledger book by candlelight

Opening Address Bloom’s Sunday Mass, offered today in the Independent Catholic tradition — not affiliated with or recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, but standing in the same apostolic lineage, the same Roman Rite, the same devotion, held by a pastor for whom this tradition has always been home. Beloved, grace and peace to you […]

Sunday Mass: December 7, 2025 | Receive One Another

Receive one another — a heavy wooden door standing open from a bare stone room onto a bright dusty road running downhill in flat noon light, a rough stool beside the doorway

Opening Address Bloom’s Sunday Mass, and this morning the Church asks you to receive one another, which is a smaller instruction than it sounds and a harder one to get out of. This is the Second Sunday of Advent, first class, and the vestments are violet for a second week. We offer this Mass in […]

Sunday Mass: November 30, 2025 | Put On the Armour of Light

Put on the armour of light — a coat and a folded jacket hanging on wooden pegs in a bare hallway, boots beneath, the front door ajar onto pale morning light

Opening Address Bloom’s Sunday Mass, and the Church’s instruction for the first morning of a new year is to put on the armour of light. Not to take stock, not to strip down, not to begin again from nothing—to get dressed. This is the First Sunday of Advent, the vestments are violet, and a new […]

Sunday Mass: November 23, 2025 | My Words Shall Not Pass

My words shall not pass — a plain wooden signpost at an empty crossroads on a wide plain, half the sky clear and half under an advancing rain front

Opening Address Bloom’s Sunday Mass, and this is the last one of the Church’s year. Next Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent and the vestments go violet, so this morning closes the long green season—and the Church closes it by reading you twenty-one verses about the end of everything and then handing you, in […]

Sunday Mass: November 16, 2025 | Thoughts of Peace

Thoughts of peace — a dusty road running out through an open town gate at midday between low stone walls

Opening Address Bloom’s Sunday Mass, and the Church opens this one by telling you what God is thinking about you: I think thoughts of peace, and not of affliction. We offer this Mass in the Independent Catholic tradition—not affiliated with or recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, but standing in the same Roman Rite, held […]

Sunday Mass: November 9, 2025 | Could Not for the Crowd

Could not for the crowd — a sunlit stone street seen from high in the branches of a spreading sycamore tree

Opening Address Bloom’s Sunday Mass, and today the Gospel says plainly why one man could not see Christ: he could not for the crowd. We offer this Mass in the Independent Catholic tradition—not affiliated with or recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, but standing in the same Roman Rite, held by a pastor for whom […]

Sunday Mass: November 2, 2025 | Have Patience With Me

Have patience with me — a torn paper note lying open on a long wooden counting table beside closed ledger books

Opening Address Bloom’s Sunday Mass, and today it opens on four words that the Gospel puts in two different mouths: have patience with me. We offer this Mass in the Independent Catholic tradition—not affiliated with or recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, but standing in the same Roman Rite, held by a pastor for whom […]