King's Corner: Dominoes and Biscuits
King's Corner column for April 18, 2025
Easter is one of the most significant celebrations in the Christian Church, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a time of great joy and hope around the world, as all are invited to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus for the salvation of humanity. It is a time of deep spiritual reflection and joyful celebration, as believers come together to commemorate the central event of their faith.
And the Catholic tradition includes decorating Easter eggs to symbolize new life and rebirth, echoing the theme of resurrection that’s central to Easter. Painted eggs are exchanged as gifts and used to decorate homes and churches.
In the rich tradition of the Latin Mass, altar boys play a crucial role in helping uphold the reverent and solemn atmosphere of the liturgy. From assisting the priest with sacred rituals to ensuring that everything runs smoothly, there are a number of duties and responsibilities that an altar boy must uphold. These tasks are essential to the flow and reverence of the traditional Mass, and require focus, dedication, and attention to detail.
Which is why it mystified me that they chose my dad in his primary school years, “Bobbie” King, to serve with the priest, Father Stone, at the altar.
Bobbie’s mom was determined that he be a good Catholic boy. Bobbie didn’t mind putting on the black smock, but didn’t like the puffy crocheted white top that went with it. He faithfully learned how to setup the altar before Mass with all of the necessary items, including lighting candles, arranging the missal, and preparing the cruets and chalice.
The primary role of a Latin Mass altar boy is to assist the priest during the celebration of the Mass. This includes handing the priest the various items he needs, such as the cruets, the paten, and the chalice. Altar boys are also responsible for responding to the prayers and responses throughout the Mass. This includes making the sign of the cross, saying “Amen,” and responding to the priest’s prayers as required.
To teach Bobbie, Father Stone had him repeat key phrases during one Easter Mass, which in those days was still said in Latin. There is an ancient salutation and blessing that Father Stone used at several points: “Dominus vobiscum” which in English it means “The Lord be with you.” Bobbie was to repeat it in Latin, then let the congregation respond with “Et cum spíritu tuo,” meaning "And with your spirit."
Father Stone used “Dominus vobiscum” in several key moments during the ceremony, and each time a distraction arose at full volume that almost broke his concentration.
Right after the service Father Stone caught up with Bobbie in a room just off the sanctuary area and asked him, “What were you saying during the service?”
“I was just repeating what you said, as you asked, at the same volume you were using to speak. Was I too loud?” said Bobbie.
“What exactly were you saying? Can you say it again?”
“Sure. You kept saying Dominoes and Biscuits and I repeated it.”
The Father shook his head and laughed, then said “We’ll work on your Latin next week. In the meantime, have a blessed Easter.”
There are many things we get wrong about God, or don’t quite understand, but God still hears us. Often we don’t understand Easter beyond the colored eggs. But Proverbs touches the heart of it: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” and a few sentences later “Do not be wise in your own eyes”.
The great paradox here is that wise people are extremely aware of their own foolishness. Fools think they’re wise. Or to put it another way, when you say “I’ve been a fool” you’re heading down the road toward wisdom.
Wisdom is to be in touch with reality. Being wise is to be absolutely in touch with reality. And the one reality you need to know to be in touch with the rest of reality is Who You Are. You have to be intimately aware of all your limitations, all your weaknesses, all your flaws, all your areas of foolishness. If you don’t, you’re going to make stupid choices all the time.
The only way you’re ever going to know yourself is to know God’s love. If you don’t have that absolute inner poise, that incredible unassailable calm on the inside, that comes from knowing in your heart of hearts that God absolutely loves you, you’re not going to see your flaws. You won’t admit to yourself who you are. You’ll repress it. You’ll make excuses. You’ll do everything to avoid seeing who you really are, and then you can’t see the rest of reality.
You won’t be able to admit who you are unless its non-traumatic, and that will only happen if you know how much God loves you. If I don’t know how much he loves me, I don’t know who I am.
And that’s the message of Easter, that God loves you so much he made the ultimate sacrifice for you, so you can know him, and truly know yourself.
As Bobbie meant to say, “The Lord be with you”.
