On Sunday, November 17th, His Excellency Bishop Perry confirmed several adults at the Shrine of Christ the King. On a day when the wind of Chicago was particularly strong, the newly confirmed had a tangible idea of the strength of the Spirit they received in Confirmation.

Before celebrating a Pontifical Mass at the Faldstool, Bishop Perry confirmed the class of adults who completed their formation during the year 2012-2013. Two of them had the grace of coming back into the Church, finding the Faith of their baptism, through the ministry of the Shrine. A third adult, also previously baptized, is a recent convert.

The day was quite memorable for both spiritual and material reasons: spiritual because His Excellency graced us with his visit, conferred the sacrament of Confirmation, and offered a beautiful Pontifical Mass with Renaissance Chorale Music; material because as a violent storm raged outside, we were all either in the calm of the Liturgy or the warmth of the reception. (The Priory's finished basement, where the reception took place, is also a fallout shelter, how Providential!)

The day's events concluded with a lovely Baroque Concert. Abbé Colin Brown, clerical Oblate of the Institute serving at the Shrine, also performed magnificently with the Amadeus Consort. It was truly a day a grace and heavenly Liturgy, of joy and fraternal charity, of inspiration and edifying music.

Photos courtesy of Paige Arseneau.