We know Easter is near; for some, it’s already here.
The “joy” of Easter means very little without Holy Week.
This week is the heart of our faith—
If we want to penetrate our Faith better,
I encourage you to set aside time,
and participate in this week.
Many of us have seen the film, “The Passion of the Christ.”
It is a vivid, powerful movie—but it is still only a movie.
A few years ago, that film, the “Passion of the Christ,”
played on hundreds of movie screens across the country.
But the true Passion of Christ has been “playing”
on this altar and every altar throughout the world, for 2,000 years!
This is the real thing!
This week, I invite you to Holy Thursday Mass,
the beginning of the Mass;
I invite you to keep watch through the night,
through the three hours our Lord was on the Cross,
to worship at the Cross on Good Friday.
I invite you to participate in the Easter Vigil.
Yes, I know it’s late—9 pm—and it will go long.
But it is the Mass of all Masses;
it is the central act of worship of our Catholic Faith.
I hope to see you there.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
Another week goes by...
Sorry, this'll have to be brief.
Lots going on, including hours of confessions (which are more tiring than you may realize), planning for Holy Week (have to call lots of folks -- to serve, to have their feet washed, to assist in other ways), plus tending to normal parish business.
In a few minutes, will head over for Stations, then have Mass later for Cursillistas; in between, I hope to stop at Fish Fry. Am waiting for a load of laundry to dry -- ran out of clean black shirts, haven't done laundry for awhile.
Lots going on, including hours of confessions (which are more tiring than you may realize), planning for Holy Week (have to call lots of folks -- to serve, to have their feet washed, to assist in other ways), plus tending to normal parish business.
In a few minutes, will head over for Stations, then have Mass later for Cursillistas; in between, I hope to stop at Fish Fry. Am waiting for a load of laundry to dry -- ran out of clean black shirts, haven't done laundry for awhile.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Well, did you enjoy the Feast of Annunciation?
Today is supposed to be my day off. Ha ha!
The great privilege of a day off is being able to sleep late; only this morning, the chaplain at the Catholic high school called to remind me about confessions this afternoon. I had to stop in the office to sign a check, then visit with the school children at lunch, because to celebrate la festa, I had the principal provide ice cream for the schoolchildren; so I wanted to have some with them, and explain why we were having ice cream ("because Mary said yes!"). I should explain the additional reason for the ice cream is that this is the patronal feast for one of my parishes.
At 7 pm, we had a "solemn, high Mass" for the feast day. Lots of incense and chanting. After that, I stopped by the RCIA group, answered a few questions about the first confessions for the candidates for full communion, then headed home for dinner around 9 pm.
The great privilege of a day off is being able to sleep late; only this morning, the chaplain at the Catholic high school called to remind me about confessions this afternoon. I had to stop in the office to sign a check, then visit with the school children at lunch, because to celebrate la festa, I had the principal provide ice cream for the schoolchildren; so I wanted to have some with them, and explain why we were having ice cream ("because Mary said yes!"). I should explain the additional reason for the ice cream is that this is the patronal feast for one of my parishes.
At 7 pm, we had a "solemn, high Mass" for the feast day. Lots of incense and chanting. After that, I stopped by the RCIA group, answered a few questions about the first confessions for the candidates for full communion, then headed home for dinner around 9 pm.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
"Lazarus, Come Out!" (3rd Scrutiny)
When Jesus tells Martha,
“everyone who lives and believes in me will never die,”
He isn’t talking about whether we experience death,
But about the power it has over us.
Do we fear death?
When my father who died two years ago at 97,
He had planned his funeral years in advance.
He wasn’t afraid.
But sometimes I visit people, they’re very sick,
it’s obvious death isn’t far away—
But no one will talk about it!
That only makes even more frightening.
Talk about this with your family, before it’s too late.
And if you want my help? Let me know.
Death can frighten us;
but there is a power, and a peace we can have,
in the face of death, and it comes from Jesus Christ!
Look at the cross: everyone faces it.
No one escapes death.
But when we see Jesus on the cross—
We know we do not have to be alone.
When Jesus is at the center of our lives,
Why should we be afraid of death?
You heard it say, “Jesus wept.”
The Greek text is a lot stronger:
It says—this’ll surprise you:
He “snorted”—like a horse!
The idea is that he wasn’t just “sad”—but frustrated,
Frustrated that Mary and Martha were so focused
on the power of death,
that they didn’t realize His power.
Lazarus remained in the tomb four days.
Sometimes we wait and we grieve;
And we wonder, “When will the Lord come?
What’s he waiting for?”
He can come and abolish death forever,
whenever he wants. And one day, he will.
We’d like it to be today.
We’d like that very much.
But that means no more chances
for people to recognize Jesus,
to turn to him for salvation.
They’d be out of luck—too late!
So, yes, Jesus waits. And we wait.
But we don’t have to wait to know him—
Not one minute, not one second.
Right now, right now! you and I can know Jesus
the Source of Life.
I said a moment ago death
comes faster than we expect.
Why wait to know Jesus?
I don’t mean, know his Name—
I mean to know Him.
Why wait?
Invite him into your life; receive His life into yours.
Let him call you out of the tomb of your fears,
Let him untie the sins the bind us hand and foot.
Why wait?
He’s calling you: from the tomb; from darkness, from sin:
“Lazarus, come out!”
“everyone who lives and believes in me will never die,”
He isn’t talking about whether we experience death,
But about the power it has over us.
Do we fear death?
When my father who died two years ago at 97,
He had planned his funeral years in advance.
He wasn’t afraid.
But sometimes I visit people, they’re very sick,
it’s obvious death isn’t far away—
But no one will talk about it!
That only makes even more frightening.
Talk about this with your family, before it’s too late.
And if you want my help? Let me know.
Death can frighten us;
but there is a power, and a peace we can have,
in the face of death, and it comes from Jesus Christ!
Look at the cross: everyone faces it.
No one escapes death.
But when we see Jesus on the cross—
We know we do not have to be alone.
When Jesus is at the center of our lives,
Why should we be afraid of death?
You heard it say, “Jesus wept.”
The Greek text is a lot stronger:
It says—this’ll surprise you:
He “snorted”—like a horse!
The idea is that he wasn’t just “sad”—but frustrated,
Frustrated that Mary and Martha were so focused
on the power of death,
that they didn’t realize His power.
Lazarus remained in the tomb four days.
Sometimes we wait and we grieve;
And we wonder, “When will the Lord come?
What’s he waiting for?”
He can come and abolish death forever,
whenever he wants. And one day, he will.
We’d like it to be today.
We’d like that very much.
But that means no more chances
for people to recognize Jesus,
to turn to him for salvation.
They’d be out of luck—too late!
So, yes, Jesus waits. And we wait.
But we don’t have to wait to know him—
Not one minute, not one second.
Right now, right now! you and I can know Jesus
the Source of Life.
I said a moment ago death
comes faster than we expect.
Why wait to know Jesus?
I don’t mean, know his Name—
I mean to know Him.
Why wait?
Invite him into your life; receive His life into yours.
Let him call you out of the tomb of your fears,
Let him untie the sins the bind us hand and foot.
Why wait?
He’s calling you: from the tomb; from darkness, from sin:
“Lazarus, come out!”
The Mass forms His People in Christ's Righteousness (Sunday homily)
In the first reading, God says,
“I put water in the desert for my chosen people to drink…”
We seek this Water, above all, at Sunday Mass together.
We come together as His People.
Sunday Mass is the non-negotiable center
of being a Catholic.
That’s why I encourage bringing the whole family.
I don’t understand why we have Catholic families
sending their children to a Catholic school,
but not bringing their children to Mass on Sunday!
Isaiah gave his prophecy so that God’s People
wouldn’t get too comfortable in Babylon.
Centuries before, when they came out of Egypt,
several times they looked back, and said,
“we liked it better back there, in slavery!”
There are always plenty of Babylons and Egypts
to draw us away from being part of God’s People.
Sunday Mass helps keep us on track.
Notice the reading talked about God forming his people.
As much as we want Mass to be pleasing,
it’s far more important that it be life-giving.
And we are not the best judges of that!
God gave his People Manna in the desert—
do you know why they called it “Manna”?
The word means, “what is this?”—
they didn’t know what it was!
They didn’t always like it—yet it was what they needed.
Now, about the Mass.
It’s true that there has been
a lot of upheaval in recent years.
All that is confusing for everyone, including priests!
But notice, what the Church has gone through,
is what society at large has gone through?
Somewhere along the line, someone, like Isaiah,
has to call us back to our identity, as God’s People.
So, as far as the Mass goes, our bishops and pope
have, in recent years, given us more direction.
So, about 10 days ago, Pope Benedict issued a letter
on the Eucharist and the Mass.
If you didn’t see much about it,
that’s because the Media wanted a political angle,
and they missed the boat!
Our pope is calling us to a fundamental rethinking
about the Mass, to recognize what it truly is.
He didn’t re-write everything;
rather, he is calling us to remember some things
we may have forgotten;
such as our own, Catholic Tradition.
In the weeks ahead, I’ll have some evening discussions
when we can study what the pope said.
In the second reading, St. Paul said,
“I consider everything as a loss
because of the supreme good
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
To be a Christian is no longer
to claim our own righteousness—
that goes in the garbage!
Rather, we come as beggars to be transformed
by the righteousness of Christ!
Without that mindset, we cannot understand the Mass—
because we can’t understand the Christian Faith!
What happens at the climax of the Mass
is the heart of our Faith, as we’ll proclaim in a moment:
“Dying, you destroyed our death;
Rising, you restored our life: Lord Jesus, come in glory!”
So, at Mass, we join ourselves to His Offering.
When the bread and wine come forward,
put yourself on the plate and in the cup, to be changed.
The transubstantiation on the altar
happens in an instant;
the change in us takes our whole lives long.
That’s our share of the Cross.
In the Gospel, what the Lord did was shocking.
The woman committed a grave sin.
The pharisees’ actions were detestable;
and Our Lord—as if with a wave of his hand—
wipes it all away.
It isn’t just the Pharisees who say, “It isn’t that simple!”
We say the same. And that is true.
It seems so easy because he will die for this woman—
and her partner—and the pharisees!—and for us!
And the “price” you and I pay is to embrace his Cross!
Instead of dying—eternally—for our own sins,
we embrace His death in our lives.
We accept that in baptism.
We renew it in confession.
By the way: remember our Penance Service this week!
This is what confronts us when we come to Mass.
Christ renews his Sacrifice—
once on the Cross, now on this altar—
and we are confronted as the woman,
and the pharisees were:
Will we claim our own righteousness?
Or, accept his? That means we let him
make us part of him, which means we die with him?
The Mass confronts us with this mystery,
and that’s why we need it every week!
And the Eucharist, his Body and Blood, is shown to us…
If we come forward and say “Amen!”…
this “package deal” is what we say “yes” to.
To be His People, and no longer our own.
“I put water in the desert for my chosen people to drink…”
We seek this Water, above all, at Sunday Mass together.
We come together as His People.
Sunday Mass is the non-negotiable center
of being a Catholic.
That’s why I encourage bringing the whole family.
I don’t understand why we have Catholic families
sending their children to a Catholic school,
but not bringing their children to Mass on Sunday!
Isaiah gave his prophecy so that God’s People
wouldn’t get too comfortable in Babylon.
Centuries before, when they came out of Egypt,
several times they looked back, and said,
“we liked it better back there, in slavery!”
There are always plenty of Babylons and Egypts
to draw us away from being part of God’s People.
Sunday Mass helps keep us on track.
Notice the reading talked about God forming his people.
As much as we want Mass to be pleasing,
it’s far more important that it be life-giving.
And we are not the best judges of that!
God gave his People Manna in the desert—
do you know why they called it “Manna”?
The word means, “what is this?”—
they didn’t know what it was!
They didn’t always like it—yet it was what they needed.
Now, about the Mass.
It’s true that there has been
a lot of upheaval in recent years.
All that is confusing for everyone, including priests!
But notice, what the Church has gone through,
is what society at large has gone through?
Somewhere along the line, someone, like Isaiah,
has to call us back to our identity, as God’s People.
So, as far as the Mass goes, our bishops and pope
have, in recent years, given us more direction.
So, about 10 days ago, Pope Benedict issued a letter
on the Eucharist and the Mass.
If you didn’t see much about it,
that’s because the Media wanted a political angle,
and they missed the boat!
Our pope is calling us to a fundamental rethinking
about the Mass, to recognize what it truly is.
He didn’t re-write everything;
rather, he is calling us to remember some things
we may have forgotten;
such as our own, Catholic Tradition.
In the weeks ahead, I’ll have some evening discussions
when we can study what the pope said.
In the second reading, St. Paul said,
“I consider everything as a loss
because of the supreme good
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
To be a Christian is no longer
to claim our own righteousness—
that goes in the garbage!
Rather, we come as beggars to be transformed
by the righteousness of Christ!
Without that mindset, we cannot understand the Mass—
because we can’t understand the Christian Faith!
What happens at the climax of the Mass
is the heart of our Faith, as we’ll proclaim in a moment:
“Dying, you destroyed our death;
Rising, you restored our life: Lord Jesus, come in glory!”
So, at Mass, we join ourselves to His Offering.
When the bread and wine come forward,
put yourself on the plate and in the cup, to be changed.
The transubstantiation on the altar
happens in an instant;
the change in us takes our whole lives long.
That’s our share of the Cross.
In the Gospel, what the Lord did was shocking.
The woman committed a grave sin.
The pharisees’ actions were detestable;
and Our Lord—as if with a wave of his hand—
wipes it all away.
It isn’t just the Pharisees who say, “It isn’t that simple!”
We say the same. And that is true.
It seems so easy because he will die for this woman—
and her partner—and the pharisees!—and for us!
And the “price” you and I pay is to embrace his Cross!
Instead of dying—eternally—for our own sins,
we embrace His death in our lives.
We accept that in baptism.
We renew it in confession.
By the way: remember our Penance Service this week!
This is what confronts us when we come to Mass.
Christ renews his Sacrifice—
once on the Cross, now on this altar—
and we are confronted as the woman,
and the pharisees were:
Will we claim our own righteousness?
Or, accept his? That means we let him
make us part of him, which means we die with him?
The Mass confronts us with this mystery,
and that’s why we need it every week!
And the Eucharist, his Body and Blood, is shown to us…
If we come forward and say “Amen!”…
this “package deal” is what we say “yes” to.
To be His People, and no longer our own.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Who else is using Latin and chant in the Mass?
Since my arrival in Piqua, one of the things I've asked parishioners to do is to include a bit of Latin in Mass; we've used the Latin Agnus Dei and Sanctus, and had an occasional hymn or other prayer in Latin. In conversations with the handful of parishioners who have expressed comments on this, I get the idea that they perceive this to be something very unusual; I suspect some may be saying, "but no one else is doing this."
In fact, quite a few parishes around the country are doing this sort of thing, and a lot more in this vein. For those who care to, they can visit these sites here, and here, for recent posts, where people from around the country and elsewhere report happenings in their parishes. And I know of several parishes in this Archdiocese that are doing as much, or more, and I am confident others, of which I am unaware, are doing likewise.
Still, I got curious--just how many parishes are there, dabbling in this? Rather than wait for someone else to solicit the information, that's what I'm doing with this post...
If you know of a parish (i.e., it's either your parish, or you go there regularly) that is using any Latin on a regular basis, or using any Gregorian chant, please post here. (I'd ask that this not be a place for folks to post opinions pro and con.) I ask that you identify the parish by name, city and diocese. If you can provide a link to a webpage or something else with more information, even better!
Oh, just to be clear--nothing against the classic, "Tridentine" Roman rite, but I'm not talking about that, either; that has to be in Latin. I mean celebrations of parish Masses (i.e., not private/special occasion Masses) according to the current, Vatican II rite of the Mass, And if that is being done with any--or even, all--in Latin, by all means, include that.
I'm going to keep updating the "when posted" date, so this stays toward the top. I'm hoping folks will link this on their pages, since the only value this has as a collection of information is if lots and lots of people come here and give their reports.
Update and reminder: Again, I am simply looking for celebrations of the current, Vatican II (so-called "Novus Ordo") Mass, with any amount of Latin and chant included. Nothing against the Tridentine or other rites, but my purpose is to find out how widespread is the inclusion of Latin in the current rite of the Mass...
And thanks for the many reports received, and the links that brought you here! Keep it coming!
Update, Thursday early am: this was originally posted Tuesday evening, but I'm moving it forward so it stays at the top of the page...
In fact, quite a few parishes around the country are doing this sort of thing, and a lot more in this vein. For those who care to, they can visit these sites here, and here, for recent posts, where people from around the country and elsewhere report happenings in their parishes. And I know of several parishes in this Archdiocese that are doing as much, or more, and I am confident others, of which I am unaware, are doing likewise.
Still, I got curious--just how many parishes are there, dabbling in this? Rather than wait for someone else to solicit the information, that's what I'm doing with this post...
If you know of a parish (i.e., it's either your parish, or you go there regularly) that is using any Latin on a regular basis, or using any Gregorian chant, please post here. (I'd ask that this not be a place for folks to post opinions pro and con.) I ask that you identify the parish by name, city and diocese. If you can provide a link to a webpage or something else with more information, even better!
Oh, just to be clear--nothing against the classic, "Tridentine" Roman rite, but I'm not talking about that, either; that has to be in Latin. I mean celebrations of parish Masses (i.e., not private/special occasion Masses) according to the current, Vatican II rite of the Mass, And if that is being done with any--or even, all--in Latin, by all means, include that.
I'm going to keep updating the "when posted" date, so this stays toward the top. I'm hoping folks will link this on their pages, since the only value this has as a collection of information is if lots and lots of people come here and give their reports.
Update and reminder: Again, I am simply looking for celebrations of the current, Vatican II (so-called "Novus Ordo") Mass, with any amount of Latin and chant included. Nothing against the Tridentine or other rites, but my purpose is to find out how widespread is the inclusion of Latin in the current rite of the Mass...
And thanks for the many reports received, and the links that brought you here! Keep it coming!
Update, Thursday early am: this was originally posted Tuesday evening, but I'm moving it forward so it stays at the top of the page...
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Liturgy help needed!
Help!
My music director liked my bright idea of chanting some readings at the Easter Vigil. Now he quite reasonably asks, er, how does one set the text to music? Is there a resource somewhere, for that?
Meanwhile, me--with the bright idea--has no clue where one turns for that sort of thing.
Suggestions? Referrals?
Help!
My music director liked my bright idea of chanting some readings at the Easter Vigil. Now he quite reasonably asks, er, how does one set the text to music? Is there a resource somewhere, for that?
Meanwhile, me--with the bright idea--has no clue where one turns for that sort of thing.
Suggestions? Referrals?
Help!
Liturgy-nerd question for priests...
I am planning to lead "daytime prayer" for some area priests on Holy Thursday, before we have dinner together. I consulted Peter Eliot about appropriate vesture and ritual, since this is not an hour one often leads publicly. I was surprised that he recommended wearing merely an alb (i.e., over street clothes), but no stole!
Brother priests (and any seminarians or others with the chops to answer, chime in): does this sound right to you? Comments?
Brother priests (and any seminarians or others with the chops to answer, chime in): does this sound right to you? Comments?
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
*@@* Congratulations, 100,000th Visitor *@@*
(Cue fireworks and oompa band...)
Congratulations, you are the 100,000th visitor to the Bonfire of the Vanities!
(Cue sound of crowd roaring...)
I don't know you're name, but:
* You live in or near Aurora, Illinois (isn't that the home of those two great theologians, Wayne and Garth?)
* You came here from the Shrine of the Holy Whapping!, and...
* You stayed for one second!
Thanks for visiting Bonfire of the--hold it, he's gone already, oh well . . .
Party on, Wayne! Party on, Garth!
Congratulations, you are the 100,000th visitor to the Bonfire of the Vanities!
(Cue sound of crowd roaring...)
I don't know you're name, but:
* You live in or near Aurora, Illinois (isn't that the home of those two great theologians, Wayne and Garth?)
* You came here from the Shrine of the Holy Whapping!, and...
* You stayed for one second!
Thanks for visiting Bonfire of the--hold it, he's gone already, oh well . . .
Party on, Wayne! Party on, Garth!
Suggestions for Latin, chant settings for Sanctus and other prayers
A poster in my survey thread asked for suggestions on settings for Mass, using chant and Latin; if memory serves, he was especially interested in the Sanctus.
I deleted his comment, there, because I wanted that thread to focus on the survey I am conducting. But I would welcome any such suggestions here.
My suggestion: Jubilate Deo, the booklet issued by Pope Paul VI. Also, check out the New Liturgical Movement site, linked in my section of bookmarks. That's all I can offer very quickly.
I deleted his comment, there, because I wanted that thread to focus on the survey I am conducting. But I would welcome any such suggestions here.
My suggestion: Jubilate Deo, the booklet issued by Pope Paul VI. Also, check out the New Liturgical Movement site, linked in my section of bookmarks. That's all I can offer very quickly.
Who cares about Latin & chant?
...Apparently, a whole lot of you do!
As of 5 pm, I've had over 800 visits today, and I expect a lot more by midnight. As it stands, I've never had that many visits on one day, and it's all been about the survey about use of Latin and chant at Mass. Yes, it helps that several popular sites have linked this post; but the point remains--a whole lot of folks are really interested in this subject.
Sometime later this evening, someone will be my 100,000 visitor! Thanks for your interest.
Update: As of 11:15 pm, over 1,200 visits today, on top of about 100 last night, in response to the survey below on Latin used at Mass.
As of 5 pm, I've had over 800 visits today, and I expect a lot more by midnight. As it stands, I've never had that many visits on one day, and it's all been about the survey about use of Latin and chant at Mass. Yes, it helps that several popular sites have linked this post; but the point remains--a whole lot of folks are really interested in this subject.
Sometime later this evening, someone will be my 100,000 visitor! Thanks for your interest.
Update: As of 11:15 pm, over 1,200 visits today, on top of about 100 last night, in response to the survey below on Latin used at Mass.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Thanks for the lamb butter mold!
This is a shout-out for Kasia, who kept her promise to send me a butter mold.
It actually arrived a bit ago, I'm sorry; I set it aside for a thank you, and time got away from me!
I am looking forward to using it.
Thanks!
It actually arrived a bit ago, I'm sorry; I set it aside for a thank you, and time got away from me!
I am looking forward to using it.
Thanks!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
The Spirit helps us see (2nd Scrutiny)
A lot of blind people in the readings today.
In the first reading, pretty much everyone is blind:
nobody sees anything special in the youngest son,
not even the Prophet…Samuel.
In the Gospel, lots of people think they can see.
But what do they see?
A man born blind;
a man who must be a sinner—
or else his parents must be.
Someone of no importance.
Only one person really sees in the readings:
God sees—in the first reading,
And God in human flesh—that is, Jesus—sees.
Of course, the blindest one of all isn’t the blind man.
He’s sees better than most—
he sees who Jesus is.
No, the blindest ones are those
who think they see just fine.
Boy, isn’t that us a lot of the time?
As last week’s readings—filled with water—
recalled our baptism,
so this week’s readings, especially the first one,
recall the Sacrament of Confirmation.
The prophet comes to anoint a chosen one;
And the Spirit rushed upon him.
That’s for everyone here preparing for confirmation—
either at Easter, or on April 22.
For those of us who have been confirmed,
we, too, have been chosen;
we have been anointed by God;
and the Spirit has rushed upon us as well.
The connection between the readings is this:
When we are guided by the Holy Spirit,
We will see as Christ sees.
Do you want to see?
Ask Jesus to open your eyes.
But be careful what you ask for.
You may see someone in need—
and realize God is calling you to do something about it.
That’s why people never see the “elephant in the room”—
because that’s how we avoid doing something about it.
You may see something, in your own life,
and see it as God does—and realize, it has to go.
The Holy Spirit who rushed upon David,
wants to rush upon each of us as well.
All we have to do is ask.
In the first reading, pretty much everyone is blind:
nobody sees anything special in the youngest son,
not even the Prophet…Samuel.
In the Gospel, lots of people think they can see.
But what do they see?
A man born blind;
a man who must be a sinner—
or else his parents must be.
Someone of no importance.
Only one person really sees in the readings:
God sees—in the first reading,
And God in human flesh—that is, Jesus—sees.
Of course, the blindest one of all isn’t the blind man.
He’s sees better than most—
he sees who Jesus is.
No, the blindest ones are those
who think they see just fine.
Boy, isn’t that us a lot of the time?
As last week’s readings—filled with water—
recalled our baptism,
so this week’s readings, especially the first one,
recall the Sacrament of Confirmation.
The prophet comes to anoint a chosen one;
And the Spirit rushed upon him.
That’s for everyone here preparing for confirmation—
either at Easter, or on April 22.
For those of us who have been confirmed,
we, too, have been chosen;
we have been anointed by God;
and the Spirit has rushed upon us as well.
The connection between the readings is this:
When we are guided by the Holy Spirit,
We will see as Christ sees.
Do you want to see?
Ask Jesus to open your eyes.
But be careful what you ask for.
You may see someone in need—
and realize God is calling you to do something about it.
That’s why people never see the “elephant in the room”—
because that’s how we avoid doing something about it.
You may see something, in your own life,
and see it as God does—and realize, it has to go.
The Holy Spirit who rushed upon David,
wants to rush upon each of us as well.
All we have to do is ask.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Aren't you glad he's prodigal? (Sunday homily)
I want to focus on one word: “Prodigal.”
Many of us think we know what “prodigal” means:
someone who wanders off—
someone who is lost—right?
Let me read you Webster’s definition of “prodigal”:
“Exceedingly or recklessly wasteful;
extremely abundant; a spendthrift.”
Hmm.
Nothing about “being lost” there;
nothing all that sinful—is there?
Hmmmmm!
Of course, it’s because the boy spent his fortune
that he was called “prodigal”—but that wasn’t the sin;
the sin was, first, turning his back on his Father;
and second, giving away God’s gifts the wrong way.
And doing that always leaves us empty:
We use the gift of speech—
with vanity or ugliness or falsehood—it leaves us empty.
We hoard gifts for ourselves
that we could have lavished them on others—
we feel empty.
There is nothing wrong with being “prodigal”—
after all, who is more “prodigal” then the Father?
He really is “recklessly spendthrift”—
both with his property and his love.
Which is exactly what the older boy resents, isn’t it?
How often we can be that way.
Someone else “gets off easy”;
someone else gets a free ride—
we can resent it.
But maybe we should challenge ourselves:
Will God really “let them off easy”?
Someone bitterly asked me this about two sisters:
“Joan” doesn’t care about God—or other people—
yet God lets her off easy;
while “Jane” tries to be faithful—and has it so hard!
My response?
What if “Joan” has an “easy” path to hell;
while “Jane” has a hard path to heaven?
We see really very little;
God is doing things we know nothing about.
Ultimately he is both truly just and truly merciful.
But if God, the Prodigal Father,
aches and weeps for all his lost children—
who are we to resent that?
God is “prodigal”—
“recklessly and exceedingly wasteful”
with his love, his forgiveness, and his gifts.
Aren’t we glad?
If he weren’t, where would that leave us?
Many of us think we know what “prodigal” means:
someone who wanders off—
someone who is lost—right?
Let me read you Webster’s definition of “prodigal”:
“Exceedingly or recklessly wasteful;
extremely abundant; a spendthrift.”
Hmm.
Nothing about “being lost” there;
nothing all that sinful—is there?
Hmmmmm!
Of course, it’s because the boy spent his fortune
that he was called “prodigal”—but that wasn’t the sin;
the sin was, first, turning his back on his Father;
and second, giving away God’s gifts the wrong way.
And doing that always leaves us empty:
We use the gift of speech—
with vanity or ugliness or falsehood—it leaves us empty.
We hoard gifts for ourselves
that we could have lavished them on others—
we feel empty.
There is nothing wrong with being “prodigal”—
after all, who is more “prodigal” then the Father?
He really is “recklessly spendthrift”—
both with his property and his love.
Which is exactly what the older boy resents, isn’t it?
How often we can be that way.
Someone else “gets off easy”;
someone else gets a free ride—
we can resent it.
But maybe we should challenge ourselves:
Will God really “let them off easy”?
Someone bitterly asked me this about two sisters:
“Joan” doesn’t care about God—or other people—
yet God lets her off easy;
while “Jane” tries to be faithful—and has it so hard!
My response?
What if “Joan” has an “easy” path to hell;
while “Jane” has a hard path to heaven?
We see really very little;
God is doing things we know nothing about.
Ultimately he is both truly just and truly merciful.
But if God, the Prodigal Father,
aches and weeps for all his lost children—
who are we to resent that?
God is “prodigal”—
“recklessly and exceedingly wasteful”
with his love, his forgiveness, and his gifts.
Aren’t we glad?
If he weren’t, where would that leave us?
Rose for Laetare Sunday
How's this?
If you don't like it, relax, I probably will get rid of it Monday...
If you don't like it, relax, I probably will get rid of it Monday...
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Some plans for Holy Week...
This is one of the few times I'll post online some plans for parish liturgy that I haven't put in the bulletin yet; but nothing here will be controversial (I hope!) and I won't be able to write about it, in the bulletin, for another week, and even then, rather briefly.
Also, more of my parishioners are reading this blog, so this will "get the word out."
And there may be folks who find this interesting--and you can feel free to give me suggestions if you like...
Palm Sunday
Each parish will have a procession at one of the Masses. Processions are a great idea that are both "old school" but still popular, and yet have fallen out of use in particular places. One of their charms is they tap into the kinetic part of us--some of us learn, not by reading or hearing, but by doing; and for youngsters, moving about is often more fun than sitting still.
For the Passion narrative, we still do it the new "old" way: the people are given a part. My understanding is that this isn't really how we're supposed to do it, but rather, have three readers, one of whom is a deacon or priest. But for now, we'll keep this familiar way in place. Changing this practice won't be easy.
"Spy Wednesday" is when the Blessed Sacrament is removed from the tabernacle in St. Boniface, after the evening Mass--since the tabernacle is to be empty for Holy Thursday evening Mass, and we will have the Blessed Sacrament in our perpetual chapel. (I.e., the Sacrament has to be moved, so why not after the Wednesday evening Mass?)
So we'll have Wednesday evening Mass at 7--an hour later, both to allow more confessions before, and also to accommodate folks for whom 6 pm is too early--then, after Mass, I'll lead a simple procession around to the chapel (in the basement below the church). The Eucharist will be removed from the monstrance, placed in the ciborium, and that will be replaced on the throne for exposition. (It is permissible to have exposition with a ciborium rather than a monstrance; and the reason for doing this is that the ciborium is being brought from the tabernacle.) The monstrance will be returned, right after the Vigil, with a host consecrated at the Vigil.
Holy Thursday, we'll have Morning Prayer, no morning Mass, in St. Clare Chapel at St. Boniface. Additionally, I'm going to try leading Office of Readings beforehand; it'll take about the same time, altogether, as Mass would have. Plus, the norms for the Liturgy of the Hours especially recommend Office of Readings during the triduum (yes, I know Holy Thursday day is not part of the Triduum...). Our music director is working on some musical resources, which are not as readily available for Liturgy of the Hours.
At 3 pm, at St. Mary, I'll be welcoming the priests of the area for dinner; we'll begin with None, which is the old name for what is insipidly called "mid-afternoon prayer." After that, the Eucharist will be removed from the tabernacle, and moved to a secure place of reposition in the sacristy. Then the church will be "stripped." The Mass of the Lord's Supper will be at St. Boniface, so St. Mary's will be made ready for Good Friday at this point.
At St. Mary, we'll have Office of Readings and Morning Prayer, for whoever is interested, on Good Friday, followed by confessions, other prayers, leading up to the solemn liturgy (not Mass) of Good Friday at 2 pm. We'll have more confessions later, followed by the Good Friday liturgy at 7, at St. Boniface.
On Holy Saturday morning, I'll lead Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for the catechumens and candidates, after which I'll rehearse the Vigil liturgy for the sponsors and servers, while the catechumens and candidates go home. Based on how I'm told they did in the early church (talk about "old school"!), they simply show up, and their sponsors get them through it; it's worked fine the past few years I've done it this way.
The Vigil will be an extravaganza, as well it ought to be; I really hope many parishioners will come, both to support those to enter into the Church, or into full communion, and for a beautiful and especially meaningful liturgy. I've been telling folks: if for no other reason, come because it won't be so crowded as Easter Day!
One of the things I've considered is having someone chant one or more of the readings, something that rarely happens, yet is entirely proper to do. We'll see if that happens this year... I do plan on chanting the Gospel. God willing, I won't have a vocal "blowout" before the last Mass of Easter, as almost everything will be sung for Easter!
Thankfully, our fine music director has done a good job leading our choir, which is growing (especially when both parish choirs come together), and we aim to continue to grow; plus, it is deepening its repertoire, and the members seem to enjoy both the challenge of some of what we've done, and the thrill of pulling off harder pieces. I don't know what music is planned, but I know it will be good; I heard glowing reports about the Midnight Mass I was too sick to attend at Christmas.
Now, I just have to find out who knows how to turn off the bells between the Mass of the Lord's Supper, and the Vigil...
Also, more of my parishioners are reading this blog, so this will "get the word out."
And there may be folks who find this interesting--and you can feel free to give me suggestions if you like...
Palm Sunday
Each parish will have a procession at one of the Masses. Processions are a great idea that are both "old school" but still popular, and yet have fallen out of use in particular places. One of their charms is they tap into the kinetic part of us--some of us learn, not by reading or hearing, but by doing; and for youngsters, moving about is often more fun than sitting still.
For the Passion narrative, we still do it the new "old" way: the people are given a part. My understanding is that this isn't really how we're supposed to do it, but rather, have three readers, one of whom is a deacon or priest. But for now, we'll keep this familiar way in place. Changing this practice won't be easy.
"Spy Wednesday" is when the Blessed Sacrament is removed from the tabernacle in St. Boniface, after the evening Mass--since the tabernacle is to be empty for Holy Thursday evening Mass, and we will have the Blessed Sacrament in our perpetual chapel. (I.e., the Sacrament has to be moved, so why not after the Wednesday evening Mass?)
So we'll have Wednesday evening Mass at 7--an hour later, both to allow more confessions before, and also to accommodate folks for whom 6 pm is too early--then, after Mass, I'll lead a simple procession around to the chapel (in the basement below the church). The Eucharist will be removed from the monstrance, placed in the ciborium, and that will be replaced on the throne for exposition. (It is permissible to have exposition with a ciborium rather than a monstrance; and the reason for doing this is that the ciborium is being brought from the tabernacle.) The monstrance will be returned, right after the Vigil, with a host consecrated at the Vigil.
Holy Thursday, we'll have Morning Prayer, no morning Mass, in St. Clare Chapel at St. Boniface. Additionally, I'm going to try leading Office of Readings beforehand; it'll take about the same time, altogether, as Mass would have. Plus, the norms for the Liturgy of the Hours especially recommend Office of Readings during the triduum (yes, I know Holy Thursday day is not part of the Triduum...). Our music director is working on some musical resources, which are not as readily available for Liturgy of the Hours.
At 3 pm, at St. Mary, I'll be welcoming the priests of the area for dinner; we'll begin with None, which is the old name for what is insipidly called "mid-afternoon prayer." After that, the Eucharist will be removed from the tabernacle, and moved to a secure place of reposition in the sacristy. Then the church will be "stripped." The Mass of the Lord's Supper will be at St. Boniface, so St. Mary's will be made ready for Good Friday at this point.
At St. Mary, we'll have Office of Readings and Morning Prayer, for whoever is interested, on Good Friday, followed by confessions, other prayers, leading up to the solemn liturgy (not Mass) of Good Friday at 2 pm. We'll have more confessions later, followed by the Good Friday liturgy at 7, at St. Boniface.
On Holy Saturday morning, I'll lead Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for the catechumens and candidates, after which I'll rehearse the Vigil liturgy for the sponsors and servers, while the catechumens and candidates go home. Based on how I'm told they did in the early church (talk about "old school"!), they simply show up, and their sponsors get them through it; it's worked fine the past few years I've done it this way.
The Vigil will be an extravaganza, as well it ought to be; I really hope many parishioners will come, both to support those to enter into the Church, or into full communion, and for a beautiful and especially meaningful liturgy. I've been telling folks: if for no other reason, come because it won't be so crowded as Easter Day!
One of the things I've considered is having someone chant one or more of the readings, something that rarely happens, yet is entirely proper to do. We'll see if that happens this year... I do plan on chanting the Gospel. God willing, I won't have a vocal "blowout" before the last Mass of Easter, as almost everything will be sung for Easter!
Thankfully, our fine music director has done a good job leading our choir, which is growing (especially when both parish choirs come together), and we aim to continue to grow; plus, it is deepening its repertoire, and the members seem to enjoy both the challenge of some of what we've done, and the thrill of pulling off harder pieces. I don't know what music is planned, but I know it will be good; I heard glowing reports about the Midnight Mass I was too sick to attend at Christmas.
Now, I just have to find out who knows how to turn off the bells between the Mass of the Lord's Supper, and the Vigil...
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Just for Virginians...
Here's a shout-out for my good friends in Vuh-jin-yuh:
What the heck was former governor James Gilmore doing, today, sucking up to the Fire Fighters union, talking about how he's "from a union family," and boasting he's "going to get this union's endorsement"?
This from a governor who boasted being for Right to Work?
Y'all know about this?
What the heck was former governor James Gilmore doing, today, sucking up to the Fire Fighters union, talking about how he's "from a union family," and boasting he's "going to get this union's endorsement"?
This from a governor who boasted being for Right to Work?
Y'all know about this?
What will the Governor do about JOBS?
I just read the report in the Dayton Daily News about our new governor's "state of the state" speech. In fairness to his excellency, I don't assume a brief report in the press gets the story right. But the story is more money for senior citizens, fewer charter schools, an end to vouchers, more government-funded health insurance and . . .
What about jobs, governor?
"Also, he proposed targeting $250 million a year in tax exempt bonds for four years to invest in job-creating energy projects."
How many jobs will that create, governor?
Does anybody have anything to add, from what Governor Strickland said?
Is this it?
This was the governor's "state of the state" address. The state of the state, governor, is that we need jobs and economic development.
What are you going to do, governor?
What about jobs, governor?
"Also, he proposed targeting $250 million a year in tax exempt bonds for four years to invest in job-creating energy projects."
How many jobs will that create, governor?
Does anybody have anything to add, from what Governor Strickland said?
Is this it?
This was the governor's "state of the state" address. The state of the state, governor, is that we need jobs and economic development.
What are you going to do, governor?
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Bulletin item about the Holy Father's letter on the Eucharist...
Pope Benedict on the Eucharist. This past week, the holy father issued a long-awaited letter called Sacramentum Caritatis (Sacrament of Love). It is a lengthy meditation on the Eucharist. Parishioners may be interested to know he recommends some things we are already doing:
• Perpetual adoration of our Eucharistic Lord.
• Following the rubrics closely.
• Gregorian chant: “I desire, in accordance with the request advanced by the Synod Fathers, that Gregorian chant be suitably esteemed and employed as the chant proper to the Roman liturgy.”
• Latin: “the better-known prayers of the Church's tradition should be recited in Latin and, if possible, selections of Gregorian chant should be sung. Speaking more generally,* I ask that future priests…receive the preparation needed to understand and to celebrate Mass in Latin, and also to use Latin texts and execute Gregorian chant; nor should we forget that the faithful can be taught to recite the more common prayers in Latin, and also to sing parts of the liturgy to Gregorian chant.”
Some wonder why I asked you to learn some prayers in Latin. I reiterate: Vatican II said to do it; so did Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, and now Pope Benedict XVI. This is not “going back,” it’s continuing to embrace our tradition, rather than leaving it behind.
After I’ve read the holy father’s letter more closely, I will propose a way we can study it together. The successor of St. Peter is teaching us about the Mass; shall we not learn from him?
—Father Martin
* Update, 6 pm: A comment to this post highlights what I suspect will be the "hermeneutic of restriction" likely to be offered by those who don't like the idea of using Latin in the Mass: "oh, he was only talking about large, international gatherings." As I say in the comments, sure he did talk about them, but he's not only talking about that. That said, I decided I won't give anyone an easy target: so I edited the item for the bulletin, and hence, I likewise edited the post, above (deleted text is grey.)
• Perpetual adoration of our Eucharistic Lord.
• Following the rubrics closely.
• Gregorian chant: “I desire, in accordance with the request advanced by the Synod Fathers, that Gregorian chant be suitably esteemed and employed as the chant proper to the Roman liturgy.”
• Latin: “the better-known prayers of the Church's tradition should be recited in Latin and, if possible, selections of Gregorian chant should be sung. Speaking more generally,* I ask that future priests…receive the preparation needed to understand and to celebrate Mass in Latin, and also to use Latin texts and execute Gregorian chant; nor should we forget that the faithful can be taught to recite the more common prayers in Latin, and also to sing parts of the liturgy to Gregorian chant.”
Some wonder why I asked you to learn some prayers in Latin. I reiterate: Vatican II said to do it; so did Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, and now Pope Benedict XVI. This is not “going back,” it’s continuing to embrace our tradition, rather than leaving it behind.
After I’ve read the holy father’s letter more closely, I will propose a way we can study it together. The successor of St. Peter is teaching us about the Mass; shall we not learn from him?
—Father Martin
* Update, 6 pm: A comment to this post highlights what I suspect will be the "hermeneutic of restriction" likely to be offered by those who don't like the idea of using Latin in the Mass: "oh, he was only talking about large, international gatherings." As I say in the comments, sure he did talk about them, but he's not only talking about that. That said, I decided I won't give anyone an easy target: so I edited the item for the bulletin, and hence, I likewise edited the post, above (deleted text is grey.)
Sacramentum Caritatis
I just quickly read through the holy father's exhortation. It covers a lot of ground, and is mostly about a proper theology of the Eucharist and the Mass.
Those who expected a series of prohibitions or very specific mandates will be disappointed.
However, it has a lot to say about the Eucharist, which will be skipped over by some, I suspect. (I am skipping over it for the moment!) It does offer support for several aspects of the "reform of the reform":
* preference for Gregorian chant--all music not created equal (42);
use of Latin--priests should learn and use it, and teach the faithful to do the same (62);
* churches should have perpetual adoration (67)
* encourages locating the tabernacle in the apse of the church (69);
Read it for yourselves (just posted) . . .
One has to wonder at some advanced claims about the contents of this exhortation that have not been borne out--that it would offer a sweeping series of mandates concerning the Mass. Likewise, one wonders why the holy father took so long with this letter.
I have a feeling there is more coming from Pope Benedict on the Mass; he has written far too much about the liturgy. But this should be a cautionary tale about relying too much on rumor and speculation.
(Biretta tip to Rorate Caeli.)
Those who expected a series of prohibitions or very specific mandates will be disappointed.
However, it has a lot to say about the Eucharist, which will be skipped over by some, I suspect. (I am skipping over it for the moment!) It does offer support for several aspects of the "reform of the reform":
* preference for Gregorian chant--all music not created equal (42);
use of Latin--priests should learn and use it, and teach the faithful to do the same (62);
* churches should have perpetual adoration (67)
* encourages locating the tabernacle in the apse of the church (69);
Read it for yourselves (just posted) . . .
One has to wonder at some advanced claims about the contents of this exhortation that have not been borne out--that it would offer a sweeping series of mandates concerning the Mass. Likewise, one wonders why the holy father took so long with this letter.
I have a feeling there is more coming from Pope Benedict on the Mass; he has written far too much about the liturgy. But this should be a cautionary tale about relying too much on rumor and speculation.
(Biretta tip to Rorate Caeli.)
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