July 14, 2014 Faith Formation

July 14, 2014  St. Francis Parish Adult Faith Formation Group

V:  God, come to my assistance.
R:  Lord, make haste to help me.
V:  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R:  As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen.
V:  Lord, set aflame my heart and my entire being with the fire of the Holy Spirit, that I may serve you with chaste body and pure mind.  Through Christ our Lord.
R:  Amen.
V:  Let us pray for our Sovereign Pontiff Francis.
R:  The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies.

AH 470  Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (different music)

AH 616  I sing the Mighty Power of God

The Priest’s Preparation (what does this say about Liturgy – importance of signs and symbols, etc….?)

Vesting Prayers:

 1.       Washing of hands:  “Give virtue to my hands, O Lord, that being cleansed from all stain I might serve you with purity of mind and body”

2.      Amice:  ” Place upon me, O Lord, the helmet of salvation, that I may overcome the assaults of the devil.”

3.      Alb:  “Make me white, O Lord, and cleanse my heart; that being made white in the Blood of the Lamb I may deserve an eternal reward”

4.      Cincture:  “Gird me, O Lord, with the cincture of purity, and quench in my heart the fire of concupiscence, that the virtue of continence and chastity may abide in me.”

5.      Stole:  “Lord, restore the stole of immortality, which I lost through the collusion of our first parents, and, unworthy as I am to approach Thy sacred mysteries, may I yet gain eternal joy.”

6.      Chasuble:  “O Lord, who has said, "My yoke is sweet and My burden light," grant that I may so carry it as to merit Thy grace.”

 

 Laurence Paul Hemming, Worship as a  Revelation:

             “A further part of this textual character of the liturgy as a whole is the vestments the furnishing and ordering of the church interior, the shape and character of the sacred vessels, the materials from which all is made, its exact placing and so forth.  Everything in a church intends a meaning, so that the whole of liturgy, its chant, what is performed, by whom, and how, where, and when, form a whole textual complex with intricate significance.”  (pg. 11)

 Video Part 1:  A Biblical Walk-Through the Mass  (Edward Sri)

Homework for next week:

1.        Read the Prayers for the Introductory Rites, 17^th Week Ordinary Time (Entrance Antiphon through the Collect)  If you don’t have a Missal or a Magnificat (or similar), check out “Laudate” which is an app on Apple products and also available as a download for PC – It’s FREE!!

2.       Bring your Bible (and Missal if you have one)

June 9, 2014 Faith Formation

V:  Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful

R:  And kindle in them the fire of your love.

V:  Send forth your spirit and they shall be created.

R:  And you shall renew the face of the earth.
V:  O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord,
R:  Amen.

Pray together:

Breathe into me, Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit,
that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit,
that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit,
that I may always be holy.

Sing:  Come Holy Ghost, Creator Blest  443

Passage I

“…what is revealed is passed on by means of the tradition and therefore the virtue of faith requires that we give assent to what pertains to Sacred Tradition.  But at certain times in history and particularly in modern times, there has been a rejection of the tradition, and introduction of novelty and constant changing of everything from doctrinal formulations to the monuments.  Because the monumental structure of churches has changed, often what people believe has changed.  Since monuments manifest our faith (like the liturgy), if the monuments are modified too much, one can be left with the impression that the faith has changed.”  (Fr. Chad Ripperger:  The Binding Force of Tradition, pg. 45)

 

Before heading into Scripture, some things to consider:

 “But the records of the Last Supper contain few details concerning the ceremonial of the meal, probably because this ceremonial was not meant to be the lasting setting of the celebration.”  (Joseph A Jungmann, SJ: The Mass of the Roman Rite, pg. 7)

 “In Christ’s day the paschal meal was surrounded with a very complicated ceremonial.” (cf 8)

 “As the NT accounts intimate by their omission of nearly all details of the paschal feast, the setting of the paschal rite was not considered.” (cf 9)

“Besides the liturgy of the Old Law in which everyone regularly took part, there was also this new celebration, which was referred to only by suggestion, and to which the Christians had to come in smaller groups and in their own dwellings.” (cf 10)

Acts 2:42  “And they held steadfastly to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.”  (CCC 950, 1329, 2624)

Acts 2:46  “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts.”  (eg: 3:1, 20: 7, Lk. 24:53, CCC 584)

1 Corinthians 11: 17-34

Focus on Jesus

For some time I have been trying to find a direction in which to head.  I look around and see so many Catholics who are lost, and I wonder how to reach them.  There are many "parish renewal programs" or books on "intentional disciples,"  but none of them have really grabbed me as the way to go.  They seem to focus on the wrong thing: either the priest, or the people, or the parish as a whole.  One of the more popular programs which I have seen is "Called and Gifted," and while I am sure it is a fine program, it seems to me that it is only relevant for an already evangelized parish; a parish which is already doing well, full of faithful Catholics, but just needs a little kick-start or some new energy.  But it is not a starting place. 

If we focus on the people of the parish or on the priest, any efforts at renewal, at evangelization, are bound to fail.  I am reminded of the one necessary thing:  hearing the word of God and living by it.  What is the word of God - or better yet, Who is the Word of God?  Jesus.  We need to bring our focus back to Jesus, for He certainly knows how to "save" or renew the Church much better than you or I do. 

My opinion for quite a while now has been that we as a Church need to bring back a renewed sense of love, of awe, of belief in the Eucharist.  To recapture what is an essential part of our Catholic faith: that the consecrated bread we receive is truly, substantially, the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The percentages of people who call themselves Catholic but do not profess belief in the True Presence is staggering.  Is Transubstantiation taught anymore?  I have not heard (in person) a homily on the True Presence, nor one on Transubstantiation, nor on proper reception (disposition to receive) of the Eucharist. 

How do we as a Church begin to re-teach this Truth?  I think it must begin with the Liturgy, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  It is easy to see how a loss of belief in the True Presence has come about if you observe how the Liturgy is celebrated in many of the parishes I have visited.  Just one example: what would a person who was not Catholic think if they came in and watched the Mass, watched people walking up and taking something into their hands from the priest, placing it in their mouths, then walking back to their seats to stand ... as if nothing had happened?  Contrast that with the same person seeing people receiving Communion on their knees, then returning to their seat and kneeling in prayer for several minutes?  What are the different body postures and attitudes telling them?  So simple, and yet just a simple change in posture can make such a difference.

I challenge  anyone reading this to observe what goes on during the Mass at their parish - the priest's actions, the people's actions:  do they show a belief in the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist?  If so, how?  If not, why not?

I am endeavoring to teach a course on the Mass to interested parishioners this summer.  I will try to post outlines and observations throughout the summer, and I always welcome thoughts and observations from others.  And don't forget:  before you can effectively evangelize others, you must first evangelize yourselves.  You must conform yourself to the Church - orthodoxy is required, obedience is required.  If you do not know something, take the time to learn it.  People are shocked when they see my "Catholic" bookcase - but there is so much I don't know, and the more I learn the more I realize how little I DO know. 

But begin simply:  immerse yourself in the Mass, go to regular Confession, prioritize prayer time.  From these three simple steps will come many, many fruits.  Not the least of which is beginning to hear God's Word, and a desire to live by what you hear.

Our Future? Our Present?

When I read this in Jason Evert's new book:  Saint John Paul the Great: His Five Great Loves, I couldn't help but think how this is now occurring in a certain manner in this country, and likely in other places as well.  Does anyone else see the parallel?

"G.K. Chesterton once said that the family is a cell of resistance to oppression. Unfortunately, this was one point of Catholic theology that the communists agreed with. To undermine Polish culture, communists struck at its heart - the family. Work and school schedules were organized so that parents had minimal contact with each other and with their children. Birth control and abortion were encouraged, state-sponsored sex education was implemented in schools, and apartments were built to accommodate only small families."

From the Summa

Thomas Aquinas makes more sense when I'm sick ... go figure!  I pulled out this little gem from the third section, question 82:

Article 3. Whether dispensing of this sacrament belongs to a priest alone?

Objection 1. It seems that the dispensing of this sacrament does not belong to apriest alone. For Christ's blood belongs to this sacrament no less than His body. But Christ's blood is dispensed by deacons: hence the blessed Lawrence said to the blessed Sixtus (Office of St. Lawrence, Resp. at Matins): "Try whether you have chosen a fit minister, to whom you have entrusted the dispensing of the Lord's blood." Therefore, with equal reason the dispensing of Christ's body does not belong to priests only.
Objection 2. Further, priests are the appointed ministers of the sacraments. But this sacrament is completed in the consecration of the matter, and not in the use, to which the dispensing belongs. Therefore it seems that it does not belong to apriest to dispense the Lord's body.
Objection 3. Further, Dionysius says (Eccl. Hier. iii, iv) that this sacrament, likechrism, has the power of perfecting. But it belongs, not to priests, but to bishops, to sign with the chrism. Therefore likewise, to dispense this sacrament belongs to the bishop and not to the priest.
On the contrary, It is written (De Consecr., dist. 12): "It has come to ourknowledge that some priests deliver the Lord's body to a layman or to a womanto carry it to the sick: The synod therefore forbids such presumption to continue; and let the priest himself communicate the sick."
I answer that, The dispensing of Christ's body belongs to the priest for three reasons. First, because, as was said above (Article 1), he consecrates as in theperson of Christ. But as Christ consecrated His body at the supper, so also He gave it to others to be partaken of by them. Accordingly, as the consecration ofChrist's body belongs to the priest, so likewise does the dispensing belong to him. Secondly, because the priest is the appointed intermediary between God and the people; hence as it belongs to him to offer the people's gifts to God, so it belongs to him to deliver consecrated gifts to the people. Thirdly, because out of reverence towards this sacrament, nothing touches it, but what is consecrated; hence the corporal and the chalice are consecrated, and likewise the priest'shands, for touching this sacrament. Hence it is not lawful for anyone else to touch it except from necessity, for instance, if it were to fall upon the ground, or else in some other case of urgency.
Reply to Objection 1. The deacon, as being nigh to the priestly order, has acertain share in the latter's duties, so that he may dispense the blood; but not the body, except in case of necessity, at the bidding of a bishop or of a priest. First of all, because Christ's blood is contained in a vessel, hence there is no need for it to be touched by the dispenser, as Christ's body is touched. Secondly, because the blood denotes the redemption derived by the people from Christ; hence it is that water is mixed with the blood, which water denotes the people. And becausedeacons are between priest and people, the dispensing of the blood is in the competency of deacons, rather than the dispensing of the body.
Reply to Objection 2. For the reason given above, it belongs to the same personto dispense and to consecrate this sacrament.
Reply to Objection 3. As the deacon, in a measure, shares in the priest's "power of enlightening" (Eccl. Hier. v), inasmuch as he dispenses the blood. so the priestshares in the "perfective dispensing" (Eccl. Hier. v) of the bishop, inasmuch as he dispenses this sacrament whereby man is perfected in himself by union withChrist. But other perfections whereby a man is perfected in relation to others, arereserved to the bishop.

Adult Faith Formation, Last Night

We just spent the last two months reading through, studying, and discussing Sacrosanctum Concilium; it seemed appropriate to spend some time away from the more scholarly pursuits. 

So I picked up a copy of Dominican Romanus Cessario's The Seven Last Words of Jesus.  I had planned to move through 2 or 3 last night, and finish up next week in anticipation of Good Friday.  Well, we only got halfway through the first word: "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." 

We spent much time on forgiveness, sin, confession. I brought in imagery and themes from Sunday's Gospel (the raising of Lazarus) and Monday's Gospel (the forgiveness of the adulteress woman).   Forgiveness seems to be a topic that always brings up a lot of questions.  It is a topic people really desire to understand and know more about.  Luckily, I have much experience with forgiveness, and am finally at a point in my life where I am not constrained in talking about it.  My experiences with forgiving the man who sexually abused me and my struggle with forgiving myself seem to help people understand that forgiveness is possible.

But what has been most amazing is watching this group, and how they have grown and changed and slowly started on a steady path toward holiness.  It is beautiful.  The wisdom that comes from their mouths never ceases to amaze me.  They ask the most wonderful questions! 

May the Holy Spirit continue to work in their lives, as they grow in their faith.  And may I continue to be open to His promptings as I guide them - remembering always that it is not me, but God working through me.

(Oh, and the book is quite excellent as a meditation starter - or discussion starter!)

Love?

How shall I love God
as He loves me
when my own heart
is cluttered -
filled with so many things
which are not God;
when I am still
so attached to myself
and see the world
through my eyes
and not His?
How shall I love my Lord
as He loves me
when impurities
still clog the way
to my heart?

The Quality of Mercy

 The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.

- Portia, "The Merchant of Venice"

 

 

What is mercy?  Merriam Webster's dictionary defines it as : "compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power."  This seems as good a definition as any.  But when we speak of God's mercy, what exactly do we mean? 

 

We sin.  We offend against God's love for us.  We turn away from Him - some days we turn further away than other days.  For some people there may come a point where they do not turn back.  But God is always waiting, always ready to take us back into the fold.  We are already forgiven, for it is a freely given gift, but we must cooperate with God.  He will not force us to repent, to turn back.  We must accept His forgiveness.

 

Repentance presupposes a conversion of heart, which is brought about through grace.  "Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, thus accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1989).  In His compassion (mercy), God freely offers His forgiveness to us.  He offers us reconciliation, freedom.  How many of us take Him up on that offer?  Or do we prefer to wallow in our sins, using them as an excuse to stay away from God? 

 

During this season of Lent, avail yourself of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).  Repent. Turn back to God and accept His freely offered forgiveness.  There is no sin so great that it cannot be forgiven.  Meet Jesus in this most wonderful of sacraments.  Experience His loving mercy, as the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears did.  Allow him to touch you, to give you the gift he has already won for you.  But you must choose to turn back.  He is calling. 

"Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God." —Joel 2:12-13

 



Musings on Mary....

Today is the Feast of the Annunciation.  I spent some time in meditation this morning on the Annunciation:

The Annunciation has captured the imagination of artists throughout the ages.  My favorite is Henry Owassa Tanner's .

From today's Office of Readings, Responsory:  "The light filled her with fear, but the angel said to her: Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God." 

Mary, sinless from her conception, can sit in the Light even though it fills her with fear.  She not only sees the angel but believes.  And, I must presume that because of her sinless nature, she does not shrink from the Light for she is created from the moment of her Immaculate Conception to live within it.  She waits, curious, expectant - she must have lost her fear at the angel's words for not only has she listened well to the angel's proclamation that she is to conceive and bear a son, she finds her voice and asks a perfectly reasonable question:  "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" 

Does the Light fill  me with fear?  How do I respond to the Light?  How do I respond to any fear I may feel when my sins and imperfections are exposed by the Light?

And then she says "yes".  A full yes: "May it be done to me according to your word."  Confidence in her God.  Confidence in herself.  Trust and love fill her words, as she knows the word spoken to her, the Word to grow inside her womb, is from God, is of God, is God.  She knows Him already, for He has been present to Her and with her from the beginning.  Full of Grace, she has no need of perfection for her nature is already perfect.  Childlike in her knowledge of God, she accepts the power of the Most High, seemingly without question, for her answer comes without pause.  It is an immediate yes to the being of Light standing before her. 

When I am asked to carry the Word of God to others, is my response so quick?  Do I trust enough to say "yes?"  Do I cooperate with God, as He perfects my nature, or do I struggle against Him?  How childlike am I in my responses and in my trust?

I must believe that she would have run immediately to Joseph, for she would have no reason to hide this, no reason for deception.  I wonder what those first few days after this encounter with Light would have been like.  She has told her betrothed and her parents.  What is she feeling?  We know that she plans for and takes a trip to her cousin Elizabeth.  Elizabeth would understand.  Elizabeth would know what to say.  Though loved by her parents and by Joseph, can you imagine their reaction to this news?  Knowing Mary to be honest and forthright, they would want to believe her, but how hard was that belief? 

When I am presented with a mystery of the faith, or a teaching I do not understand, how willing am I to surrender myself to knowledge which is beyond me?  Am I willing to accept the truth of something even if I do not understand it?  How do I react? 

Mary sits in the Light.  She is not blinded by it, but is illuminated in its glow.  It overshadows her, she is engulfed within in, yet she emerges whole.  She accepts the word, and from her the Word will be born.  She has been touched by God and lived, indeed emerges from that touch bearing another Life.  Jesus, incarnate, the Word made flesh, begins His life because of Mary's "yes."  In what way will my "yes" bring Jesus into a world which hungers for Him? 

 

Communion Plates and Holy Communion

To my Roman Catholic readers:  if you attend a Novus Ordo Parish, are communion-plates (patens)  in use at your parish?

They are not here.  There was another "incident" during holy Communion today, where (in the words of the EMHC) the "consecrated host went flying."  I was approached after Mass about this by the EMHC, and so I approached Father to ask him to consider the use of a communion-plate.  He didn't understand why it would be needed, and pretty much stated he wouldn't put one in use unless it was required.  I gently (well, maybe not so gently) reminded him that "special care should be taken to ensure that the host is consumed ... in the presence of the minister...." (92, Redemptionis Sacramentum), as even just this would cut down on some of our parish's issues.  He looked surprised and acted as though he had never heard that.

I think I have a small number of parishioners who are willing to back up the use of a Communion-plate.  I know my older son (THE altar server) would like one.  What is the practice at other parishes?  Redemptionis Sacramentum states that the "Communion-plate ... should be retained" (93) but doesn't say "must."  I'm just curious since I have never seen it in use.

As I was talking to Father, my 6 year old was trying to convince Sister Maria that he was old enough and ready to receive Communion.  I heard him say: "I know what to do.  First you kneel . . . . "  Is devotion to the Eucharist contagious?

Health "Care"

No one can explain to me how quadrupling the number of diagnosis codes is going to do anything other than decrease quality of care for patients - it certainly isn't going to improve quality of care.  And I wonder when the stats will come out to show how many smaller practices either had to close their doors or be "gobbled up" by a larger entity.  Didn't we go through the hospital-buying-physician-practices era already?  And didn't most hospitals divest themselves of their physician practice investments?  Are we going in this circle AGAIN?  If our doors are still open at this time next year, it will be a miracle.  The $226,000 price tag is around three times what my husband makes in a year as the physician running his own solo practice.  I figured out that last year, he made about $22 an hour.  Of course, he works over 70 hours/week with patients, paperwork, etc....  If these codes are going to increase the documentation requirements by 15-20%, I'm not sure where he is going to find the extra hours.  And we cannot afford to hire any extra staff since the new Medicaid-expansion plans pay us about 30-50% BELOW overhead (overhead doesn't include physician salary), but we need extra staff to be able to keep up with all the regulations and prior authorizations and difficulty finding offices who will accept referrals.  It is a mess, and it is only going to get worse. 

CMS has announced that it will not extend the October ICD-10 deadline for providers.  With all of the other extensions of federal health care deadlines, the steadfastness on this deadline stands out.  If you're unsure what it's all about, this summary gives the details.   

 If you ask providers - particularly smaller clinics - their anxiety about the infrastructure updates required to meet the ICD-10 deadlines is visceral.  An AMA study points to costs as much as $226,000 for the "typical small practice."   

Christi qui lux et dies (in English)

Christ, who art the light and day,
You drive away the darkness of night,
You are called the light of light,
For you proclaim the blessed light.

We beseech you, Holy Lord,
Protect us this night.
Let us take our rest in you;
Grant us a tranquil night.

Let our sleep be free from care;
Let not the enemy snatch us away,
Nor flesh conspire within him,
And make us guilty in your sight.

Though our eyes be filled with sleep,
Keep our hearts forever awake to you.
May your right hand protect
Your willing servants.

You who are our shield, behold;
Restrain those that lie in wait.
And guide your servants whom
You have ransomed with your blood.

Remember us, O Lord,
Who bear the burden of this mortal form;
You who are the defender of the soul,
Be near us, O Lord.

Glory be to God the Father,
And to his only Son,
With the Spirit, Comforter,
Both now and evermore. Amen.

Lenten Awareness

As I made the Sign of the Cross to begin my morning prayers, I clearly recognized something which has been nagging at me for awhile. 

Does anyone else feel like a fake? A fraud?  Do you look at how you are living and recognize the vast gulf between the ideal and  the actual manner in which your life is being lived?  Do you see that you are cruising mostly on cruise-control, being merely "good-enough" and not working or moving toward that perfection you shall find only in Christ?  And that this gulf seems to grow wider and deeper the more you grow in your relationship with Him? 

Maybe it's because I feel the pull of perfection, which is a painful pull because I am so far from perfect - and see more and more each day that I am even further away than I thought.  For even though I want to surrender myself to Him Whom I Love, my habits, my selfishness, my attachments to this world and my place in it hold me back.  I long so to be with Him RIGHT NOW!!  I know He is with me, but I have yet to give myself fully over to Him.

O Lord, I do believe.  Help my unbelief!

Do not reprove me in your anger, LORD,

nor punish me in your wrath.

Have pity on me, LORD, for I am weak;

heal me, LORD, for my bones are shuddering.

My soul too is shuddering greatly—

and you, LORD, how long…?

Turn back, LORD, rescue my soul;

save me because of your mercy.

For in death there is no remembrance of you.

Who praises you in Sheol?  I am wearied with sighing;

all night long I drench my bed with tears;

I soak my couch with weeping.

My eyes are dimmed with sorrow,

worn out because of all my foes.  Away from me, all who do evil!

The LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.

The LORD has heard my plea;

the LORD will receive my prayer.

My foes will all be disgraced and will shudder greatly;

they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

 

Psalm 6

Humility

"Beware...against certain types of humility which the devil inculcates in us and which makes us very uneasy about the gravity of our past sins.  There are many ways in which he is accustomed to depress us so that in time we withdraw from Communion and give up our private prayer, because the devil suggests to us that we are not worthy to engage in it...The things gets to such a pass that a soul can be made to believe that, through being what it is, it has been forsaken by God, and thus it almost doubts His mercy...Humility, however deep it may be, neither disquiets nor troubles nor disturbs the soul; it is accompanied by peace, joy, and tranquility...Far from disturbing or depressing the soul, it enlarges it and makes it fit to serve God better." 

- St Teresa of Avila  The Way of Perfection, chap. 39:1-2, p. 256