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I grew up in a strongly Catholic family. I had two older sisters and a younger one. My earliest memories are of going to the church down the street. It was a huge stone building, with many statues and paintings and decorations.
When I was about eight or nine, a lady who usually sat next to us in church said I had a wonderful voice after hearing me singing very loudly along with the congregation. It was a song I liked very much and I enjoyed singing to it, so one day I really let go and put my lungs into it. We were on our way out after the long service, which I mostly found boring, except for the songs. She stopped us just outside the door and told my and my family that I sounded like an angel, and that I should try out for the choir.
Well, after a few days of practicing with my mom, who played piano and was teaching me to as well, we went to the church on Thursday night and I sang as mom played, and the priest in charge of the youth choir listened.
"That was astounding!" Father Smith said, smiling so widely at me that I felt almost ashamed of myself. "You have such a beautiful voice, Mason!"
He talked to us about the days the choir met to practice, and the fact that I would have to arrive at the church early for every mass and assembly. It would take a lot of time, but it seemed like such a good way to spend time. So I said I was interested.
Father Smith asked if I could stay a while and talk about it some more. Of course I would. When a priest asks you to do something, it's about the same as a police officer demanding you do something. Or your parents. Any request by a priest was solid orders.
So I stayed as my proud mother left. Her smile at me was amazing.
Father Jones put his arm over my shoulders and steered me toward the pews. We sat near the front.
"Mason, you want to be in the choir. Yes?"
"Yes, Father."
He smiled down at me, and rested his hand on my shoulder.
"It is an important thing to do, singing for the glory of God. It is important that you are not only pious and pure in intent and in your soul, but pure in body and spirit as well."
"I understand, Father."
"Yes, you are a bright boy, and I am sure you understand the usual practices to keep your body clean. But now you are in the choir, and singing for the glory of God and the congregation. Now it is important for you to be especially clean. You see, there is a cleansing ceremony you should undergo, to clean your body as well as clean as your soul. It is like a baptism, but far more involved and complicated. It is necessary to stand among the Chancell. You understand how important the Chancell is, yes?"
"Yes, Father!"
It was a special place, indeed. It was separated from the Nave and Crossing by lattices and railings. Only the choir was allowed in the area. The priests and nuns were of course, but they were especially consecrated. The members of the church were only allowed through the Crossing during weddings or funerals, and even then weren't allowed into the Chancell sides where the choir sat and stood, or where the organ and organist sat on the opposite side of the Crossing.
"Before you can join the rest of the choir in the Chancell, you must be specially consecrated. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Father!"
"Good. There are a couple of special requirements and preparations we both must perform, and then we meet here, pray, and then go to the baptismal font in the residency where we will consecrate you."
"Yes, Father."
"Good. Now, this is important. You must not brag or show excessive pride in such a thing. God does not like such things, you understand?"
"Yes, Father."
"This is an act of humility. One between me, you, and God. You mustn't tell anyone about it, as it is a private function of the church, and nothing to be spread around or talked about. It is much like the confession, you understand?"
"Yes, Father."
"Good." He patted my shoulder, smiled at me, and leaned down to kiss the crown of my head.
His hand slid down from my shoulder to my back. He rubbed my back softly as he told me the next things.
"Firstly, let's plan this for Monday night. You will not be able to join the choir in the Chancell until after your consecration, so this weekend you will remain with the congregation during mass, and practice with the choir every day. But after your consecration, you will join the choir during masses."
"Yes, Father."
"Now, I want you to refrain from eating on Sunday and Monday. A two day fast is a sign of your willingness to suffer a little deprivation for Christ, The Father, and The Holy Spirit."
"Yes, Father. I'll not eat anything after Saturday night."
"Good. I will give you a few pills to take Sunday just before mass. Take them just before you leave for mass with a glass of water. One is a vitamin, another is a dose of fish oils, and the third is herbs that are part of the purification process. They may upset your stomach, but in the old days, it was required to eat a lot of different fish and plants, and they would often make you feel ill. But now we can use modern medicine to make it far less unpleasant. Then, attend mass as usual, and remember not to eat. I will speak to your parents tonight and let them know you will be fasting for two days, and that you can stay home from school on Monday."
"Thank you, Father."
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