On January 7, Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich performed the Chinese Lion-awakening Ritual before presiding a Eucharist at the Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, Illinois.
The ritual is necessary to “bless” a new lion dance costume and consists in offering food and incense to the sky idol. Two candles are lit so that the idol can see the offering.
The “blessing” involves dotting paint onto the lion’s eyes, nose, mouth, ears and body. Cupich executed this part. He made the following invocation, ….
