Too many people today are without good, strong preaching, to the detriment of all. Share the good stuff.
Was there a GOOD point made in the sermon you heard at your Mass of obligation for this Sunday, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany and in the Novus Ordo the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Tell us about attendance especially for the Traditional Latin Mass.
Any local changes or (hopefully good) news?
A taste of what I offered at 1 Peter 5 this week:
[…]
Within the Church herself, trials are not absent. Many of the faithful experience deprivation in matters that touch the heart of worship. The image of the empty wine jars at Cana has become a poignant symbol. For those who desire the Traditional Latin Mass, the Eucharistic banquet may feel diminished or distant. Access may be limited, reduced, or removed altogether. In recent days we saw how the Prefect of Divine Worship distributed an anti-tradition essay to cardinals gathered for a consistory. It was a banal, on-the-spot product which, when carefully examined, is more manipulative than truly persuasive. Yet it is yet another sign that, if certain people still have their way, the persecution will continue.
[…]
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Our sermon was a tape-recorded message from our bishop played over a loudspeaker promoting the annual fund. It’s been a mandatory annual feature from our last three bishops. I can’t be the only one less likely to donate after sitting through it.
Our good deacon spoke about the imperative to be bold in speech, like St. John the Baptist. However it was a surprise to hear a second talk from our pastor, who told us of a new capital campaign, to last 5 years. The goal is to raise 2.5 million, half of which we may keep, for example to lay a more negotiable narthex staircase for the elderly attending funerals.
This new capital campaign is different from the annual appeal, which will begin next month. And it is couched in the “renew my Church/securing the future” language that more or less translates to “get ready for closures and amalgamations.” So far, our parish has escaped this, being oddly well-to-do.
I looked at the Archdiocesan website. Every single parish that I am familiar with, from my childhood forward, has either been closed or merged. The church of my parents’ wedding is long gone. So is my mother’s school. The parish of their young married life is now a mosque. The only exception is my actual childhood parish. Maybe it is oddly well-to-do.
The math doesn’t quite fit, I know, but it would be as if every single home I ever visited in my life, childhood friends or cousins or whatever, had been demolished. What war or bomb or plague would account for that?
Yes, Rich Leonardi, you’re not the only one. I think I might tithe very carefully, and beg God’s forgiveness if I am displaying stinginess or lack of faith.
We were at the local Ruthenian Catholic Parish today. I was a little disappointed we couldn’t experience the last but if Epiphany at our Latin Rite parish, but circumstances required us to be there today.
I saw before leaving for Divine Liturgy that today was Zacchaeus Sunday. I thought to myself, “There’s gotta be a reason why the Byzantine calendar does this”. Sure enough, I got my answer in a very good homily by the priest. He started by saying that we are still in the Christmas season, and we have one shot feast left with our Lord’s Presentation. But he said while we still are in Christmas mode, the Church in her wisdom had us start preparing for the next season… Lent.
Father said we’re starting our ramp to Kent, which will then peak at Easter. So as one “wavelength” comes down from Christmas, the next “wavelength” starts for Lent/Easter. I later found out from a friend that Zacchaeus Sunday is always 4th Sunday before Meatfare Sunday, the start of Byzantine pre-Lent.
So why is this Sunday the start of the Lenten “wavelength”? Father said it’s because of where Zacchaeus was he climbed the sycamore tree even though he was called a fool and was hated. But that day, the greatest love came into his heart, as Jesus desired to stay in his house that day.
Father then asked us, who else was hated, reviled, mocked and then mounted a tree on the day the greatest love came forth from his heart? Our Lord Jesus. I knew there was a reason why this was the Gospel reading today, and I got my answer. Every traditional Rite has a good reason their liturgical year is ordered the way it was. I can certainly appreciate more what the Byzantine Rite does after today.
Oh, and after Mass I told Father how thankful I was for his exposition, and let him know what we do in the traditional Latin Rite today. He smirked and said, “Truth be told, you know where I got that bit on comparing the tree of Zacchaeus and the tree of Christ? Augustine!”
If that’s not true “mutual enrichment” between liturgical rites, I don’t know what is!
Our Bishop just released a letter about his desire to see a greater emphasis on sacred music, particularly, Gregorian Chant in all parishes.
A point about the miracle at Cana. The miraculous wine was aged.
Our homily was on spreading the Gospel, in season and out of season, to everyone. I thought it was very good.
There’s a new semester starting, and a lot of the college students went to the SEEK conference last weekend. There are also a lot of events this week that students can bring their friends to. So it was timely.
Father brought up St. Anthony of Padua not just seeking lost things, but preaching all over the place, including preaching to the fish when the humans wouldn’t listen. He also said it was his goal to basically fill the pews at both Sunday Masses. (Attendance isn’t bad, but it’s down a tad from the last couple years, although at certain points the chapel has overflowed so people are there. A lot of students go home on weekends in the autumn. The next few months will be more of a fair test.)
Father also specially encouraged male students to sign up to be servers, and pointed out its usefulness to discernment for the vocation of priest. (Technically that was during the announcements, though.)
I forgot to mention that the other Rite’s parish that is sharing the chapel with us has found a church property up for sale that seems suitable, so they are trying to raise the cash to cover a downpayment, etc. It was a little Protestant/nondenom church before, but the community aged out.
It’s a site that’s semi-conveniently close to where I live, so I’m in favor of this working out, although of course we will miss them at the chapel! It’s also really close to a fire station and military base, which is suitable for their patron saint.
So prayers for their enterprise would be appreciated!
Also, the Eparchy of Parma (the Byzantine Rite folks) is going to have an “Eparchial Assembly” this October in Columbus, OH, to make some decisions about their statutes (ie, canon law stuff for them). So that’s another thing to pray for.
Sunday of Zacchaeus at the Byzantine Catholic Outreach – this is the first of the five preparatory Sundays prior to Great Lent. We begin with desire for Christ, as Zacchaeus had, imperfect though he was, which allows Christ to begin his work on us.