It doesn’t always happen, but sometimes one traditional Catholic priest or another appears at our Michaelmas Dance, our Eastertide Dance, or a simple Waltzing Party.
He doesn’t dance. Instead he accepts a glass of wine, or eats a pice of cake, or nibbles a biscuit. Sometimes he has an errand to run, a newcomer to meet, or a message to impart. Other times he is happy to spend an entire fifteen minutes chatting with the older generation.
The sudden appearance of a cleric at our revels always brings with it a current of excitement that zaps around the room. Since dance assemblies have often been–usually mildly, sometimes very—controversial in Christian circles, some feel the blessing of priestly approval while others fear a scene. I recall a pugnacious altar server marching up to his ghostly father and demanding, “What are YOU doing here?” I believe the reverend gentleman had merely brought me some papers.
Anyway, in Edinburgh there is great cordiality between the church and the hall, and I am happy to link them even closer in the TLM community by advertising an FSSP event that falls on the same day as the Michaelmas Dance. Here is the blurb:
If you’re inclined to make a whole day of your trip to Edinburgh/into town, you might like to take advantage of the event which, by happy coincidence, the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter is organizing earlier on the same day. Details here: https://fsspscotland.org/#intro
As it happens, the venue for “Sacred Time” is only a nine minute walk (a four minute drive) from the Dean Hall. There is also ample place to store ballgowns and dinner jackets. (Of course, kilts may be worn anywhere in Edinburgh for any event.)
However, you may be wondering how you are going to put in the 4 hours after Benediction and before the Dance. Unless you have a car and can drive anywhere in Edinburgh, I recommend supper in Stockbridge (10 minutes’ walk from the Hall) or near Haymarket Station (22 minutes). Either way, you could first pop into Modern One or Modern Two (last entry 4:45) on Belford Road and challenge yourself to find something beautiful among the horrors before it shuts at 5:00. Alternatively. you could browse the curious shops of Stockbridge until they close.
Of course, if you live nearby, you can just scoot home.