I guess I could have seen it coming: It was a relatively simple request—could I pinch-hit for the regular guy, and get things set up for daily Mass this morning?

Ah, but the devil is in the details…and it’s been about 43 years since I last officially handled such duties, as an eighth-grade sacristan, for the parish where I grew up.

Which is to say, I know the gig—at least in general terms. But I also know that it’s easy to overlook some of the particulars.

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