Word & Eucharist: Global Reflection

Two great pastoral messages were released this weekend. Combined they unwittingly dealt with both the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist in the Mass.

The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, asked for a pastoral letter to be read at all parish Masses within the diocese. The letter, which can be heard and read at the diocese’s website, reflects not only on doctrine of the Eucharist but the correct practice of recognition of this doctrine in devout reception of Holy Communion. His instruction is clear, precise, and a little surprising. His words should be heard not only in England and Wales but around the world especially the United States.

The Holy Father’s Angelus address reflected on and prayed for ministry to maritime workers. He acknowledged a particular need to pray for those who are victims of piracy. In his reflection on the Gospel for Sunday 10 July, he pointed out the necessity for the Word of God to be received and not just heard. A report on the Sunday Angelus address can be heard through Vatican Radio. This was the Holy Father’s first Angelus from Castel Gandolfo for the summer.

Cor Jesu

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like unto Thine!

Every first Friday during the academic year at the University of Saint Thomas (UST), hundreds of young adults gather at Saint Paul Seminary (SPS) to participate in a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Cor Jesu. Latin for Heart of Jesus, the monthly devotion has become one of the most popular events on the Catholic campus. The evening begins at 8pm with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The celebrant gives a homily after the Gospel and then, for up to two hours, 10-15 priests hear confessions. A small band of musicians lead praise and worship music ranging from contemporary youth songs to traditional hymns. I have found the music to be a beautiful orthodox balance. During this period of Adoration, these hundreds of Faithful pray together contemplating the Sacred Heart of Jesus, of which today is the Solemnity.

Four women known as “The Handmaids” were on the ground floor of this venture. From out of the UST/SPS community, these four women have begun their own growing religious order. The whole community rallied in prayer around these women as they sought the desire of His Sacred Heart for their lives. One of the most poignant moments of the Cor Jesu evening comes towards the end when the Handmaids would sing a chant-style harmonized sung Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The voices echoing through Saint Mary’s Chapel surrounded the monstrance like incense uniting all our prayers to our Lord.

Today, in New Ulm, Minnesota, more Handmaids are making their final vows on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This marks the end of a long journey of discernment and formation and the spiritual beginning to a new life in our Lord’s Sacred Heart. May God bless these women and their work!

LITANY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS – Please join me in praying this litany for the Handmaids as well as others who wish to fulfill the Lord’s call in their life, especially those called to Holy Orders and religious life.

Godless Marriages

I have recently gotten my PC-laptop back after a hard drive replacement. My home page is still set to MSNBC so after returning from a Sunday afternoon party, I found an article on marriage by Sandra Tsing Loh: Let's Call the Whole Thing off. Basically she sees no point to marriage anymore. I also watched the interview video from the Today Show. (That link will be scattered throughout the article.) If you are reading this, then you know me and my (and the Catholic Church's) views on marriage and family, unless you've randomly stumbled upon this site by some miracle. In that case, let me send you to a site that will give you some valuable information: Try this.

What I noticed from both the article and the video: I found no reference to God, a Supreme Being, or anything in marriage that is outside of the couple and their own emotions. The article and video never reached beyond erotic love. Marriage was apparently an institution for the convenience of agrarian societies and not a commitment to another person under the mastery of the Divine Lover.

The closing paragraph of this obnoxiously long article reads:

In any case, here’s my final piece of advice: avoid marriage — or you too may suffer the emotional pain, the humiliation, and the logistical difficulty, not to mention the expense, of breaking up a long-term union at midlife for something as demonstrably fleeting as love.

As Catholics, this is what we're up against in bringing the Gospel of Jesus to the world. The world's acceptance of love as "demonstrably fleeting", I believe is the beginning of the end. No love of neighbor, friend, parent, sibling, spouse...or God...could ever exist. What we rely on deep in our human nature, no one will believe can last forever.

Let us stay close to the Sacrament of Love, Our Lord Jesus Christ, our Lover, in the Holy Eucharist. Let us love one another as He has loved us.

Now to lighten your mood so you may bring joy to the world: Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

We are united in the Hearts (and Love!) of Jesus and Mary!

Corpus Christi

This year's Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, yesterday, June 14, 2009, marks the fourth anniversary liturgically of my blog. While all entries aren't visible, I am reflective about the past four years...where I've come and how far I have left to go.

During Father Rutten's homily at 10am Mass on campus, I thought about how poignant it is to put this feast and the tradition of a Eucharistic Procession where it is in the Liturgical Year. Over the course of a year, we experience all of Salvation History. It begins in Advent not only preparing for the Feast of the Nativity, but exploring the very beginning of the Bible. All too quickly the year passes and brings us up through the Paschal Mystery and Pentecost. Yesterday, we celebrate the Church of today...bringing Christ out into the world by means of Eucharistic Procession, witnessing to Him as we were taught 2,000 years ago.

Throughout the summer we celebrate the leftover mysteries that didn't fit particularly well...but they are anything but leftover! Saints feasts, the Assumption, the Triumph of the Holy Cross, All Saints and Souls Days, etc.

I attended the Archdiocesan Procession from The Little Sisters of the Poor Holy Family Residence to the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Saint Paul, Minnesota. After thirteen years, the bugs had all been worked out and I was duly impressed with how smooth the whole event ran. Bishop-Elect Lee Piche presided over the procession, a poignant beginning to his episcopacy. (He is officially consecrated on June 29...more to come.)

All praise and glory be to Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar!

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The Year of the Priest begins Friday overlapping with the Year of Saint Paul for 11 days. What am I going to do with my blog banner? Time to get creative.

The Sure Foundation

I began to look though YouTube for a video or photo montage to post today. I had trouble finding a good one. There is one thing I had to trouble realizing: Satan is rampant throughout the media. He is using all the technology and influence on people to lead us away from Jesus Christ and His Church.

People who have no foundations in the Church and who are extremists and sensationalists take whatever they can and twist it. Another video makes the Church in Pope into thieving money mongers. According to one video, Pope Benedict XVI is the last in a line of 111 pontiffs before Rome, the Vatican, and perhaps the world, are destroyed. Another points to Francis Cardinal Arinze's election as the next pontiff and the world ending very violently by 2013.

Cardinal Arinze had something different to say. Praise God I found a video that explains truth. Let us rest in the Church built on a Rock. Let us rest on the sure foundation of faith and devotion to the Eucharist.

Persistence

Back at school, J-Term is unlike any other time during the school year. I only have one class to worry about for three hours four days a week. I'm working in Campus Ministry and finding time to just relax…read a book, watch a movie…or write.

I'm still trying to clear out all the clutter from my life. My problem usually consists of getting too busy and unfocused. Then the responsibilities pile up and I cannot focus on the most important time of my day, prayer. It is the center of everything! Why doesn't that idea stick with me? As Mother Theresa said, Everything starts with a prayer.

I visited the Missionaries of Charity in Minneapolis on Tuesday for the first time since last May. Sister Justus was very happy to see me. After working with the children in the after-school program, she invited me to stay for their Holy Hour of Adoration. It was one of the most beautiful experiences I have had in a long time. It was the simple idea of praying quietly before Our Lord's Sacred Presence. How beautiful!! Satiate His Thirst! His for me and mine for Him!

In the stillness of winter, as we prepare to settle into Ordinary Time, may we stay focused on the miracle of Christmas and strive to satiate His thirst. May we persist through our emotions and feelings and be able to hear Christ in the silence.

We are United in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!

God-made-man

As I prayed Christmas Eve before our manger scene, I began to contemplate the idea of "God-made-man". I had meditated on this before and am still trying to wrap my brain around the whole idea. The Holy Trinity has existed since the beginning of time. The second person, with one woman's "fiat", suddenly becomes contained in a single embryo within her womb. God is suddenly brought down to one of the most insignificant and vulnerable states.

Angelus Domini, nunciavit Mariae et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary and she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Out of love God became man. He permitted Himself to be made vulnerable so that we would no longer be vulnerable. He continues this gift of Himself in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. The Divine Presence we receive this Blessed Day at Mass is the same Divine Presence in the manger at Bethlehem two millennia ago.

Let us welcome Him and give Him all praise, honour, glory, and devotion!

Hark! The herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th'angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! The herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

We are United in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!