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In Festo Septem Dolorem
Feast of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows
Friday of Passion Week
A.D. MMIX
Today we honor the Seven Sorrows
of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is quite fitting that this feast day
come not just in Passion Week, but on Friday of Passion Week;
precisely one week before our Lord was crucified. The Blessed Virgin
shared in the misery of Christ during his Passion, but also felt a
mother’s pain at other times in His life.
In the Prophecy of Simeon, she
was told of what Christ was to be to Israel. Then followed their
flight into Israel to prevent Herod from killing Jesus. As any parent
who has lost a child can sympathize, the Holy Family lost Jesus, only
to find him in the Temple. At the end of the Passion, the Blessed
Virgin passed her beloved Son carrying his own cross on the way to
Calvary. What a sight this must have been for her to see, knowing the
fate that awaited Him.
Then Mary, full of sorrow, stood
at the foot of the cross as Jesus yielded up his spirit. The body was
pierced and taken down, in fulfillment of the prophecy. Her final
sorrow was seeing Christ placed in the tomb.
As Christ bore the weight of all
the sins of mankind on his own shoulders as he hung on the cross,
Mary reflected the anguish and sorrow of the world. Not all the world
felt it then, of course, but the Blessed Virgin bore the sorrow for
them. Christians, though, share in her sorrow; sorrow for the death
of Christ, and sorrow for the=2 0sinful state of man that required
Christ’s sacrifice in the first place.
Too often today, the Christian
religion has been reduced to a so-called forward-thinking or
progressive state in which we focus only on the happy things about
Jesus. None of that means a thing, though, without the death and
resurrection of Jesus. It was only through that act and mystery that
we are freed from the bonds of sin. Unfortunately, we Christians as a
whole have become afraid to face the sorrow of the death and passion
of Christ. Perhaps we cannot face our own nature. Perhaps we are afraid.
Instead, though, we should follow
the example of the Blessed Virgin, standing at the foot of the cross
as her Son slowly died and was pierced. We should accept our true
nature, for only through accepting our true nature can we be truly
happy. By pretending we were not born into sin, we slap Christ in the
face and suggest that His death and passion were meaningless and not
needed by us. Not needed? How arrogant that is.
This feast day today reminds us
of our duty to remember the death and passion of our Lord. This
reminder comes at just the right time, for Sunday recalls the entry
of Christ into Jerusalem. By remember the Seven Sorrows of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, and by accepting them into our hearts and
joining with them, we put ourselves in the proper state of mind to
remember the dead on the cross one week from today at Good Friday.
Only through this proper remembrance may be truly live with and in Christ.
Dominica IV in Quadragesima
Fourth Sunday in Lent
"Laetare Sunday"
XXII Martii A.D. MMIX
Today is a special day in Lent.
Of course, all days in Lent are special, as we experience the joy of
preparation for the coming of Easter and the celebration of the
resurrection of our Lord. Laetare Sunday, otherwise known as
"Rose Sunday" due to the rose vestments, is a time of
rejoicing, as we see the coming end of Lent and the approaching of
Easter. Modest pink flowers even adorn the altar today.
Recall that the twofold purpose
of Lent is penance and recalling or preparing for Baptism. Rose
Sunday is a lightening of the penitence of Lent, as we are bid to
focus on remembering our Baptismal vows. Through Baptism and His
death on the cross, Christ has freed us from sin. This is the reason
that we rejoice today as we offer the mass.
This sense of rejoicing is made
present even at the very beginning of the mass. The Introit,
"Laetare Jerusalem, et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam:
gaudete cum laetitia, ut exsultetis. (Rejoice, Jerusalem, and come
together all you that love her, rejoice with joy, you that have been
in sorrow.)" In the Gradual and Communion antiphon, we once
again proclaim our joy. The sorrow is ending. Laetare Sunday is a
wonderful gift, and it is proof that Lent is not a somber season, but
a joyful season, full of hope. For those who are preparing for
baptism, this Sunday is even more special for you. The day of your
Baptism, Holy Saturday, is fast approach. This week, then Passion
Week, and then Holy Week, and the day will have arrived.
For all who have been baptized or
who are about to be baptized, the message of today is simple. Christ
has freed us from sin. Today's lesson from St. Paul tells us that the
people of Israel were under the Law, captives of sin. Yet, Christ
came to set them free. Because of Him, we are free from the bondage
of sin. We are no longer under Mosaic Law and its multitude of
proscriptions. We are subject only to Christ. We are free.
Baptism is the sacrament by which
we are set free. The water symbolically and literally washes away our
sins. That does not at all mean that we will sin no more, but it does
mean that we have been freed from sin. By sinning and turning again
to the ways of Satan, we are not true to our baptismal promises that
we made or were made for us. Yet, we still have the hope of
salvation. Our earthly bodies will die, but we will share in Christ's
Easter victory and shall rise again on the last day. This is the
Church's message to all the world on this day. We continue this until
Passion Sunday, when we begin the celebration of our Lord's
preparation for his ultimate sacrifice. Our thoughts will turn somber
towards the end of Holy Week, but on Holy Saturday, as the color
turns from purple to white, we once again rejoice. It is the
forward-looking hope of this rejoicing that is the root of today in
the liturgical year.
In the Gospel today, we also have
cause to rejoice. The Gospel speaks of Jesus feeding the multitudes.
Every time we attend mass and receive the sacrament, He feeds us with
Himself. He once again has fed the multitudes, and indeed the entire
world of the faithful. "He who drinks my blood and eats my flesh
shall have everlasting life, and I shall raise him up on the last
day." That is Christ's baptismal promise to us.
Today the Church tells us to
rejoice. This has been the custom of the Church since long before we
were here. We should not just rejoice for that reason, though, but
because we are members of the Christ's church who, through our
baptism and Christ's death and resurrection, have been set free from
the bondage of sin. Let us use this day and this entire week to
intensify our penance; our acts of charity towards others, so that we
may be fully ready to take part in the Paschal mysteries of Easter
weekend. Laetemur igitur. Therefore let us rejoice.
Festum Sancti Cuthberti, E.C.
Feast of Saint Cuthbert, Bishop
and Confessor
XX Martii AD MMIX
Today as we approach Laetare
Sunday, when we see the light at the end of the tunnel of our Lenten
journey, we take the time to celebrate the Feast of Saint Cuthbert.
He was, of course, an English bishop, and lived in the 7th century.
He was credited with having had a great influence in his time. His
tomb is credited with miracles, and so St. Cuthbert is often known as
the "Wonder Worker of England." He spent most of his life
as a religious, but was eventually called by the synod to be
consecrated bishop. He served only about a year before he died.
It is said that his devotion to
the mass was so great that he could not celebrate mass without coming
to tears. Such devotion and his general zeal won him many converts.
Such devotion comes from love, for love proves itself in action. His
devotion was a simple manifestation of his self-sacrificing nature
and is a prime example of what our sense of charity should be like.
During Lent, we have the opportunity to grow in our sense of self-sacrifice.
We must imitate God because we
are the children of God; like a child imitating his father. God loves
his children, and therefore his children should reflect this love
through their own actions towards others. This is the root of
charity. The ultimate act of love and devotion was God giving His
only Son to be killed upon the cross. St. John tells us that greater
love has no man that he who gives up his life for a friend. What
greater act of love could there be than Christ's passion and death?
Jesus, of course, did far more
than die on the cross. In his time on earth, he went around helping
the poor, healing the sick, and in general went about doing good. His
entire life was filled by doing good; a life of self-sacrifice. This
life cost Him a lot. It put Him in danger. Indeed, it led to His
crucifixion. Yet, He did good anyway.
How many of us would be willing
to act similarly? It is easier to give up doing good and doing the
right thing when under fire from critics and when threatened. When
your reward for doing good is pain and suffering, you might not be as
likely to do good again. The example of Christ, however, and also
that of Saint Cuthbert, is quite the opposite. Their love manifested
itself through their actions, which is the true test of love. This
resulted in sacrifice, and in the case of Christ, the ultimate
sacrifice. Their example says that we should do good, even when we
suffer for it. I submit that the more one suffers for doing good, the
more one should do good.
The penitential nature of Lent is
one of self-sacrifice. This is not easy, and it is not meant to be
easy. The Lenten season, though, affords us the opportunity to
practice self-sacrifice so we will be prepared for a life of selfish
charity. We are imperfect humans, and we need a boost sometimes. Lent
is that boost. Every year, we get this opportunity to renew our sense
of charity and self-sacrifice.
Dominica II in Quadragesima
Second Sunday in Lent
A.D. 2009
We are now two weeks into Lent, a
time that many unfortunately consider to be annoying and painful; a
gloomy and joyless time where we deny ourselves to make up for our
sins. It is not, though, supposed to be that way. Lent is to be a
positive and joyful preparation in which the whole church prepares
for the coming Paschal mysteries. Lent is not a just a personal
experience effecting individuals, but something done by the church as
a whole; by the complete corporate body of the people of God.
St. Paul wrote to the
Thessalonians urging them to greater holiness, and the message is the
same in the church today. We as the people of God face today some of
the same anti-Christian persecution that St. Paul's converts faced in
Thessalonia. Such persecution can test the faith, and indeed many bow
to the pressure and either lose their faith or drive it underground.
St. Paul was very worried about his enemies possibly causing this to
happen then, and we should be worried about the enemies of the church
causing this to happen today. Christians all around us are being
marginalized, and maybe some of you have experienced this, from being
teased to outright persecution. As societies lose their faith, this
problem becomes more imminent. We must not, however, lose sight of
God's plan.
Reminding the Thessalonian that
God's plan for us is sanctification, St. Paul urged them on to their
efforts of purification. In this Lenten season, we have the
opportunity to redouble our efforts in this regard. Lent is a time to
gain spiritual strength.
Lent has two primary aspects:
recalling or preparing for Baptism and penance. In recalling our
Baptism, we remind ourselves that we are the people of God. Those
preparing for Baptism are getting themselves ready to become part of
the Church and joined to the glorified Lord. Through penance, we look
ahead to the joys of the Paschal season, and both make reparation for
our failure to live up to our Baptismal promises and prepare to
receive the Paschal mysteries. Penance is first and foremost an act
of hope. As we say the general confessions during mass, we are both
acknowledging our shortcomings and expressing our hope and belief in
the forgiveness of sins.
Our acts during Lent, though, are
not done by us alone. We act as the corporate Church. Those who are
baptized join in spirit with those who will be baptized on Holy
Saturday. We join together in saying the general confession. We pray
for those who are not present and who may have separated from the
church. We pray for those who may have lost their faith through
persecution by the enemies of Christ and His church. Offer up some of
your acts of penance for those who have lost or who are close to
losing their faith because they suffer persecution or are being
marginalized for being Christian, even in developed countries.
As St. Paul said urged the
Thessalonians, so I urge you to make even greater efforts. Go to
confession often during Lent. Do many acts of charity. Pray
constantly, not just for your own intentions, but for those who are
suffering around the world. Against the Church, hell shall not
prevail. God works his plan through each of us. Remain strong in your
faith, and use this Lenten season to help you in that effort.
FERIA IV CINCERUM
Ash Wednesday
XXVII Februarii AD MMIX
Christ told his followers
that he was going to Jerusalem to suffer and die, and that He would
rise on the third day. Today begins the season of Lent, our time of
preparation for Easter. During this time, Christ invites us all to go
up to Jerusalem with him, just as His disciples accompanied him.
In the Gospel of last
Sunday, he told his Disciples that they were going to hide no longer.
They were going to go with Him to Jerusalem, where He would be
humiliated and crucified, a manner of execution considered too
horrific for Roman citizens, and so was only used on non-citizens of
the Empire. His enemies, though, would not triumph over Him in the
end, for the prophecy would be fulfilled, and He would rise on the
third day. The sting of death would be taken away, and the grave
would not have the victory. The triumph would be His.
In the mass, we take part
in the Word of God. The Word is both what God says and what God does.
In Christ, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, a fact that we
recall at the end of most every mass with the Last Gospel, the
Beginning of the Gospel according to St. John. The Word itself is
preached in the mass, and we are called to respond to it. God's Word
and wonderful works, the joy of salvation, and the mysteries of
Christ become active within us through the liturgy. Through the
Eucharistic celebration, we take part by joining in Christ's action
of sacrifice. Only a few witnessed the actual crucifixion, yet in the
mass, we have the opportunity to witness it and take part in it,
offering ourselves completely to God, through Holy Communion.
Our lives must reflect
this acceptance of the Word of God. In Lent we have a special
opportunity to extend our part in the Word of God, and go to
Jerusalem with Christ. He suffered and died for the sins of the
world, and then rose again to demonstrate the forgiveness of God;
that sin shall be washed away. Today as you receive the Blessed
Sacrament, the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, feel in your hearts
that you are joining in the sacrifice He made on the cross. Give your
bodies in spiritual sacrifice and become one with Him.
Just as Christ suffered
and then rose again in a new life, so can each of you live a new life
as sons of God. In fact, this is what we are all called to do. By
taking part spiritually with Him in his Passion and resurrection, we
can live a new life, rededicated to God, or even dedicated to God for
the first time. By going with Him to Jerusalem, we become even more
conscious of God's gift of His only-begotten Son, and the great
victory that Christ already achieved for us.
What, then, should we do
for Lent? Many talk of giving up bad habits or even things we like
for Lent as a form of penance. This is fine enough, but often
impractical and purely inward-looking. Recall that on Jesus' journey,
He cured a blind man. Indeed, Jesus was a man of charity who loved
with His whole being. Re-read the Epistle of last Sunday to see what
St. Paul says a man of charity should do and how he should live his life.
During Lent, then, I
propose that you join in Christ's journey by doing acts of charity
for others. Certainly this should be a year-round activity for you,
but take this opportunity to increase your efforts. Many of you might
say, though, that you have nothing to give. To that question, I will
say you are wrong. To prove it, let us look to the early days of the Church.
During the early Christian
assemblies, some people would speak in tongues, some would interpret,
some would give prophecies, and others would show themselves to be
brilliant preachers, eloquently proclaiming the Word of God. Others
(and indeed probably most) probably felt cheated, as they did not
possess these gifts. I'm sure they wondered what it was they could
do. What could they contribute to the Lord and to the people? Perhaps
they could not see the gifts that they had. Sometimes especially the
simpler gifts are harder to see. Look to St. Paul's writing to the
Corinthians. He pointed out that all these gifts were transitory.
They were manifestations of the Holy Spirit among the people, and
were there because God was working His will through those people.
Such gifts were not and are not indications of the personal holiness
of the individual possessing them.
These feelings of
differences among members of the Christian community persist even to
this day. Some feel that the clergy are the really important members
of the Church, or that certain parishioners are special because of
the parish jobs they have. Yet, what St. Paul was telling the
Corinthians, and what he is telling us today, is that these special
gifts of the Holy Spirit are not important. We all have a purpose,
and we are given the gifts that we need to fulfill that purpose, if
we would only open our eyes to see it. None of these gifts mean
anything, though without the greatest gift of God.
The greatest gift of God,
which is one that we all have, is that of charity. It is an essential
gift, and without it, we are worthless in the sight of God. Let me
repeat myself: We all possess charity within us. Charity is the
outward manifestation of inner love. During this Lenten season, you
don't have to worry about what to do for other people. Just do
something for others, no matter how small, and you are reflecting the
goodness of Christ. You are truly joining with Him on his journey to Jerusalem.
In Festo Sancti Cajetani
On the Feast of St. Cajetan, C.
(and the conferral of Holy Orders)
VII Augusti A.D. MMIX
The Saint whom we remember today,
Cajetan, was a Confessor. He was from the Republic of Venice and
ordained to the priesthood in the 16th century. He founded a hospital
and was devoted to both spiritual and physical healing. Before his
ordination, he was a diplomat for Pope Julius II, but left the Papal
Court after Julius' death.
Pope Julius II was known as the
Warrior Pope, personally leading soldiers to defend the autonomy of
the Church. He was also a true Renaissance man, and commissioned many
great works of art, including Michaelangelo's frescoes on the ceiling
of the Sistine Chapel. In his apartments in the Vatican, you can see
murals depicting learned individuals from all backgrounds: Christian
church scholars standing next to Greek philosophers, Roman
intellectuals, and yes, even a Muslim Saracen. He was a man who
believed religion was not separate from all other aspects of life,
but rather that God was present in everything. He is my favorite Pope.
Today as we have ordained a new
Deacon and are about to ordain a new priest, let us reflect on what
our saint of today's mass and the Pope for whom he worked can teach
to a new priest (and even to old priests). We do not, of course,
worship saints, but we do venerate them for their piety and for what
they can teach us today.
St. Cajetan believed in the
combination of spirituality and active ministry. He believed in
spiritual healing alongside physical healing. In the ministry, a
priest is called on in many instances to visit the sick and tend to
their spiritual needs, for example, through the Sacrament of
Anointing of the Sick. This is the most obvious interpretation. There
are many, though, who are not obviously physically ill who are,
nonetheless, ill, and need ministration. Additionally, and perhaps
most importantly, there are those who are physically healthy, but
spiritually weak. These are the people that the priest struggles to
identify, but must pray for guidance in identifying. They are there,
and from time to time all of us are in this category. Be vigilant in
watching for those in need of spiritual help. Do not smother them, or
you might drive them further away. Show them, your Brothers and
Sisters in Christ, by example what it means to live in Christ. Always
ask God for guidance in knowing how to approach each person.
This brings me to what Julius II
can teach a new priest. As you are being observant for signs of
spiritual need, you cannot help but realize that the spiritual needs
of humans exist not just within the walls of a church, but outside as
well. The typical layman spends far more of his life outside a church
building than inside. Julius was keenly aware of the
interrelationship between religion and science, between spirituality
and every aspect of life. Keep this in mind in your ministry.
Another point that Julius II can
teach a new priest is that of defense of the faith. It is highly
unlikely these days that you will be riding a horse in battle or
laying siege to an Italian city! Defense of the faith today takes on
a different form. All around us, we watch our traditions being
eroded, both by enemies outside the church and, yes, unfortunately,
inside the church as well. Be on guard in your ministry. Do not give
in to trends, but rather keep the faith. Keep the faith handing down
from Jesus Christ in unbroken succession through the bishops of the
world from St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, and all the
Apostles. Never yield to pressure to give in to modernism or trends.
Keep your focus always on your duty and do not seek popularity. This
is perhaps the most difficult part of being a priest. However, as a
very religious American soldier, General George S. Patton, Jr. said,
do what is right, and ignore the consequences.
So, we wish you every blessing
and grace in your new ministry. In a few minutes, the Holy Spirit
will enter you and place the indelible mark of Holy Priesthood on
your soul. Remember always that to whom much is given, much is
required. Your new life of service as a priest in the universal
church begins today.
In Dedicatione Sanctae
Mariae ad Nives
On the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows
(and the conferral of the
Sacrament of Confirmation)
V Augusti A.D. MMIX
Today we celebrate an important
Marian feast, that of the dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary
Major. In addition, we celebrate the imposition of the gifts of the
Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is through this
sacrament that baptized Christians personally renew the vows made on
their behalf by their sponsors and become full members of Christ's Church.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are
wondrous and mysterious, and so too is the Holy Mass. The mass
teaches all that a confirmed member of the Church needs. Today, you
received the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but first to receive them, you
gave. You gave your promise, you gave your faith, and you gave
yourself. This is the purpose of the mass.
The mass is not a theatrical
production, it is wholly an act of worship. All acts are directed in
the common act of worship, with the congregation being led by the
priest. The faithful should attend the mass because of what they wish
to give, not solely in order to obtain something. Rewards to the
faithful come in God's time, not our time. This is sometimes
frustrating, but it is the only way for a person of true faith.
As the priest says the proper
prayers of the mass on behalf of the people, do not focus just on
what the priest is doing. The priest prays on behalf of the faithful,
not to the faithful. The faithful should pray the mass themselves.
They should join their own prayers and petitions with those of the
priest. As the priest prays, the faithful should add their own
prayers. The priest has his role, and the faithful have theirs. This
role for priests was intended from the beginning, when the Apostles
formed the early Church, their authority having been given to them by God.
Those who believe that every
person present must understand every word being said by the priest
commit two primary errors. The first error is that of challenging the
leadership role of the priest, established by God. In so doing, they
insult the Apostles and Jesus Christ. St. Peter spoke of the various
roles the clergy and faithful have in the Church. The suggest
otherwise is an insult to Christ's Church.
The second error is far worse,
and that is the error of shifting the focus of the Holy Mass from
worship of God and the ever-living sacrifice of Christ upon the altar
to a focus upon the people. Let the focus be on the people after mass
at a social gathering. During mass, the focus is on God and God
alone. To suggest that the people must understand every prayer being
said, regardless of the language being used, is to place the focus on
the individual and, perhaps, even to suggest that the prayer is being
said to that individual. (And indeed prayers being said in English
aren't always understood in meaning by all present, even native
English speakers.) Such thoughts are easy to spread through a
congregation, but they amount to nothing more than revolutionary,
rebellious selfishness. The mass is about what we give, not what we
get. Instead of focusing on yourself or the exact words the priest is
saying, add your own personal prayers to those of the priest. Pray
the mass.
The language, again, is not the
issue. There is nothing inherently magical about Latin. It is simply
the universal Church language of the western Church, and it always
has been. In the Anglican Rite, English clearly also has an
historical place. However, Latin should not be neglected, as Latin
was the language in which mass was said when St. Augustine was first
given leadership of the See of Canterbury, and was used ever since
until tradition and doctrine were destroyed by the Protestant
Reformation. To incorporate Latin in the Anglican Rite worship of
today is to pay honor to our catholic doctrine, our heritage, and
indeed even to the very founding of our church in the British Isles
so long ago.
To those new to the mass,
particularly the latin form of the mass, it can seem indeed quite
mysterious and often confusing. In time these feelings disappear.
During the mass, though, remember that it is a common act of worship,
not a classroom in which you must understand everything being said or
see everything being done. For those wanting to understand more of
what is going on during the mass, educational sessions outside the
mass are the proper time. Meet with the priest or attend a class led
by a priest to learn more of what is going on. Deepen you understand
of the mass outside the mass, and you will enhance your participation
during the mass. This is the duty of the faithful.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are
not ends unto themselves, but rather tools to accomplish God's will
and live God's plan for each of us. This is not a membership in a
club, but a sacred duty. Always treat it as such, and you will
continue to reap the rewards and receive every grace from God that
you need.
Dominica Ascensionis
Ascension Sunday
XXIV Maiis A.D. MMIX
On the Feast of the Ascension
last Thursday, we re-lived the ascension of the Risen Lord to Heaven.
Though He sits at the right hand of God, He remains with us, present
in the visible signs of the sacraments. Now, in between the Ascension
and next Sunday, the Feast of the Pentecost, we re-live the time when
the early Church waited in expectation for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Today we are reminded of the
words of our Lord, promising to send us the Advocate, the Holy
Spirit. The Advocate is there for us, as exiles of the Kingdom of
Heaven, waiting for our eventual return to our true home. We must,
though, be watchful and vigilant. St. Peter reminds us to be watchful
in prayer, as the early Church fathers were watchful, waiting for the
visible manifestation of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost.
Just as we must be vigilant, we
must be faithful in stewardship. We are stewards of the gifts of God
and must use those gifts for the greater glory of God, not our own
selfish purposes. We are instruments, each in different ways, of God
for the purposes of sanctifying each other. God gives us those people
in our lives whom we need at that time to achieve grace. Sadly many
others who are harmful come into our lives at the same time. These
toxic individuals can often mask those sent by God to give us grace,
but we must be ever vigilant in discerning those whom God has sent.
We are not alone in this discernment, though. This is why we have
been sent the Advocate; the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit strengthens
and enlightens us, showing us how to be better stewards of the gifts
of God and to bear witness to Christ in the manner in which God has
called us.
God's grace is communicated to us
most visibly through the gifts of the sacraments of the Church. God
is present through the Holy Spirit. Christ is truly present in the
Eucharist. A sacramental marriage gives the married couple help.
Penance helps us to renew ourselves again and again. Sanctifying
grace is transmitted through the mysteries of the sacraments by the
Holy Spirit. We should all strive by whatever means we can to
participate fully in the sacraments, using them to their true purpose
and fullest extent, to be better witnesses of Christ. Do not merely
say the words during the mass, but put spiritual intent behind them.
Offer yourselves at the offertory. Listen intently and openly during
the readings. Receive communion with the intent of increasing the
gift of love. Be open and let all sacramental participation be a true
reception of the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that you may fulfill,
through the grace of God and the help of the Holy Spirit, your
special purpose on this earth.
+++ Dominica Resurrectionis
Domini Nostri +++
Easter Sunday
XII Aprilis A.D. MMIX
The feelings of the faithful at
Easter are expressed well in the words. "This is the day which
the Lord hath made. Let us be glad and rejoice in it. Alleluia."
This is the most important day in the entire Christian year. The day
on which death was conquered. Last night at the vigil, the light of
Christ was brought from the vigil fire inside the darkened church.
When the paschal candle was lit, the church was dark no more. Christ
broke through the bonds of death and conquered the grave.
Due to our baptism, we are one
with Christ and share in His victory. Because of this, which we are
reminded this day, we should have joy in our hearts at all times
through the rest of the year. The victory is already won.
The life of a Christian is one of
happiness and joy due to the Risen Lord. Even St. Paul, when chained
and awaiting his martyrdom by beheading, declared that he was happy
and full of joy. To some, though, these are only words, and the
religion is reduced to nothing but obligations, duties, and rituals,
complete with lists of prohibitions. Those who think this way,
though, miss the full meaning of Christ's resurrection. Seeking the
Kingdom of God, we learn that life on earth is a life of love.
Vigilis Resurrectionis
Easter Vigil
XI Aprilis A.D. MMIX
Our Lenten preparation is over,
the new day is turned, and we now experience the Paschal mysteries.
The light of Christ was brought into the dark church, which is dark
no more. The liturgical gift of the mass gives us, in this particular
liturgy, the chance to see firsthand Lent become Paschaltide; the
crucified Lord for whom we mourn rise up from the dead. The purple
color becomes white, and the veils are removed from the crosses. The
grave has been robbed of its victory. In our state of joy for the
risen Lord, the bells, silent since Thursday, ring again in triumph.
For forty days, we have prepared
through sacrifice, penance, and acts of charity. It is now morning on
the third day, and we stand here ready to greet Christ resurrected.
More than that, we stand here ready to join with him and as
Christians, through the sacrament of Baptism. During the blessing of
the baptismal font earlier, we paid honor to this cleansing water
that washed away sins and joins us individually to the Body of
Christ. As we receive Holy Communion, we pay honor to the Body of
Christ, once broken for us for the remission of the sins of the whole
world, now gloriously risen from the dead.
Dominica II Passionis seu Palmis
Palm Sunday
V Aprilis A.D. MMIX
Today, on the Second Passion
Sunday, otherwise known as Palm Sunday, we celebrate Christ's entry
into Jerusalem. Our procession with the palms reminds us of how He
was greeted and hailed by the people as a king. Yet, later that week
He was to be betrayed and crucified. Passion Week, now concluded, and
Holy Week, now beginning, is a celebration of the sacrifice of
Christ, as He died on the cross and entered the Kingdom of Heaven to
free us from our sins.
Through Christ's coming and
through his death and resurrection, we broke with the old covenant
and established a new. In the old covenant, a sacrifice of a living
animal was made on the feast of Atonement by the High Priest. Yet,
the effects of such sacrifices were temporary. They could not change
man, and they could not make man holy. Jesus Christ became the
sacrifice for the sins not just of Israel, but of the whole world. He
was the one, true, and perfect living sacrifice. It is for this
reason that He was and is called the Lamb of God. Only through the
sacrifice of the Lamb of God was mankind truly brought into a state
in which men could approach God directly.
As Christ established the new
covenant, so too was the new priesthood established. A priest is
God's man, with Jesus as the Chief Priest. Jesus exercises His holy
priesthood through the liturgy, particularly at the sacrifice of the
mass. In the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus exercises this Chief
Priesthood, along with the priest celebrating the mass, to make all
those who partake of it holy and united in Christ.
All Christians share in the
priesthood of Christ, as all Christians have a specific role to play
and a specific ministry under the new covenant. Some men are called
to the Holy Orders, to be ordained as priests, sharing in Christ's
priesthood in such a way that they may celebrate mass and offer the
holy sacrifice. It is through their anointed hands that the bread and
wine become the Body and Blood of our Savior. Some as Bishops share
in the fullness of Christ's priesthood. Others, as Deacons, share in
the long tradition of service to the Bishop, to the Church, and to
their fellow man. Others in the laity share in the priesthood by
various service roles in the Church and in the community. Most are
called to share in the priesthood by living their lives as
Christ-like as possible and ordering their families to be as close to
the relationship Christ has with His Church as possible. All have
different roles, but all share in the priesthood under the new
covenant. St. Peter referred to this as a royal priesthood. It is so
unfortunate that misinterpretations and misunderstandings of this
have led to certain Christian sects accusing Catholic and Apostolic
churches of restricting the priesthood only to the ordained. This
clearly is not the case, and has never been since the Christ
established the Church through the Apostles.
Today as you processed with the
palms, you were participating in the priesthood of Christ. You were
claiming your position in the royal priesthood. As we continue to
offer the mass today, let us all pray especially for an increase of
men to the ordained priesthood, for an increase of the faithful in
participation at worship around the world, and that all people may in
time come to know the love of Christ. |
