Just before starting Mass for the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (a.k.a. New Year’s Day), I gave the altar server in charge of incense a quick refresher course on how to swing the thurible correctly to produce the desired number of “clicks”: three times for the Blessed Sacrament; two for the Book of the Gospels, Pascal candle and clergy and one for the congregation. Without missing a beat, the acolyte said, “So the clicks are part of the aesthetic?” I was stunned—and impressed—not just by such an astute observation coming from a high school student, but from a girl no less. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that a girl made the comment, but in certain quarters even now having female altar...
