The Mass, despite all the unexpected pre-Mass adventures, started on time at one o'clock.

Our Mass, conducted by the rector, Stanisław Górecki (good name) was somewhat Spartan in that we elected not to have the traditional organ accompanyment during the prayers and recitations, so there was a spontaneous element to the Mass as no one really wanted to be the one who started belting out the "Amen" and such.

Dave reading Ecc

Other than that, the Mass was pretty much according to the patter of Masses for the last, I guess, few hundred years: two readings, some hymns, some prayers, a sermon, communion, and a benediction.

There was an anxious moment for me as we neared the giving of the communion. I had earlier been told that, as a non-Christian, my vows would be a little different than Kinga's as a Catholic. The Catholic wedding vow, after promising to be faithful, loving, and so on until death, ends with something like, "So help me God and all the Saints." Since I don't believe in these beings, it doesn't make sense for me to be asking for their help, and so in perfoming mixed marriages, the priest usuallyleaves that out for the non-believing partner.

In my case, though, the priest had me say that.

Kinga takes communion

Suddenly I was worried that he might have forgotten and later might offer me communion. "What will I do?" I thought. "I can't possibly take it — doing so would offend too many people here. Yet how can I not make a scene?" Forutnately, the priest remembered. But that led to further confusion as the altar boy stood beside me in confusion, waiting to hold the little golden paddle (for lack of a better word — not trying to be offensive to Catholics here, I just don't know what that device is called) under my chin as the priest puts the waffer on my tongue. The boy stood there, confused, anxious, looking at me, looking at the priest, looking at Kinga, looking back at the priest. Finally I whispered, "Go on — I'm not taking communion," and he left, hesitantly.

After kneeling at the main altar (which, apparently, everyone was supposed to do, but didn't), Kinga and I left arm in arm.

Msza podobno była piękna. Tak słyszeliśmy od gości, bo my widzieliśmy tylko kolejne wpadki — z Biblią na początku, ksiądz proboszcz