Today is the Feast of St. Charles Borromeo.
From Universalis: Office of Readings:
"We must meditate before, during and after everything we do. The prophet says: I will pray, and then I will understand. When you administer the sacraments, meditate on what you are doing. When you celebrate Mass, reflect on the sacrifice you are offering. When you pray the office, think about the words you are saying and the Lord to whom you are speaking. When you take care of your people, meditate on how the Lord’s blood that has washed them clean so that all that you do becomes a work of love.
This is the way we can easily overcome the countless difficulties we have to face day after day, which, after all, are part of our work: in meditation we find the strength to bring Christ to birth in ourselves and in other men."
Tuesday, November 4, 2003
Monday, November 3, 2003
A Cloistered Sister and a Novel About the Cloistered Life
Sister Mary Catherine Perry, a cloistered Dominican nun has written a novel entitled Amata Means Beloved. Check it out at Amata Means Beloved:
FROM THE BOOK
Sister Maria Amata was distracted. "Why is she crying? I wonder if Sister Mary Elaine snapped at her. She doesn't usually get upset, though. Not like I do."
The warm breeze of the June day wafted into the choir. The scent of honeysuckle was in the air. What had Sister Zita Anne told her once?
"I was married in June." Not three months later, her husband had been killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York. His death had tested her faith.
"I thought I could never forgive the terrorists who killed my husband. I knew I had to. It was what Jesus was calling me to do. Every day was a new effort. It took time. It took a lot of help and support from others. I was so in love! Never, and I mean never, would I have thought I'd enter a cloistered monastery. Well, here I am!"
A sudden revelation crashed into Sister Maria Amata's thoughts: "That's what is so peaceful about her. She really forgives those guys."
Sister Mary Dominic intoned the Magnificat, Mary's canticle. "My soul glorifies the Lord."
Sister Maria Amata struggled to fight back the tears coming to her eyes. She looked up at the icon of Our Lady of Tenderness that was at the front of the choir. "Mother of God and my Mother, please, help to forgive the man that killed Danny. I'm trying to, but I'm not free. Show me how to let go! Help me to be truly free, to give everything I am to God."
FROM THE BOOK
Sister Maria Amata was distracted. "Why is she crying? I wonder if Sister Mary Elaine snapped at her. She doesn't usually get upset, though. Not like I do."
The warm breeze of the June day wafted into the choir. The scent of honeysuckle was in the air. What had Sister Zita Anne told her once?
"I was married in June." Not three months later, her husband had been killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York. His death had tested her faith.
"I thought I could never forgive the terrorists who killed my husband. I knew I had to. It was what Jesus was calling me to do. Every day was a new effort. It took time. It took a lot of help and support from others. I was so in love! Never, and I mean never, would I have thought I'd enter a cloistered monastery. Well, here I am!"
A sudden revelation crashed into Sister Maria Amata's thoughts: "That's what is so peaceful about her. She really forgives those guys."
Sister Mary Dominic intoned the Magnificat, Mary's canticle. "My soul glorifies the Lord."
Sister Maria Amata struggled to fight back the tears coming to her eyes. She looked up at the icon of Our Lady of Tenderness that was at the front of the choir. "Mother of God and my Mother, please, help to forgive the man that killed Danny. I'm trying to, but I'm not free. Show me how to let go! Help me to be truly free, to give everything I am to God."
Sunday, November 2, 2003
Confusion of This Weekend's Feasts
I know this will be lost on most. But the way the Feast of All Saints and All Souls falls on a Saturday and Sunday presents a lot of confusion for thos who pray the Liturgy of the Hours. Usually, All Souls would be celebrated on the 3rd of November if it falls on a Sunday (see the old encyclopedia entry below). I still haven't figured out why its being celebrated on a Sunday. But I did find an answer to another question that I had about whether Evening Prayer II for All Saints should be have been prayed last night, since there is no Evening Prayer for the Vigil of All Souls.
From Office of the Chancellor August 2003:
"The Solemnity of All Saints begins with Evening Prayer I on Friday, 31 October, and concludes with the celebration of Evening Prayer II of the Solemnity on 1 November. The Liturgy of the Hours on Sunday, 2 November 2003, All Souls Day, is that of the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time. When Morning and Evening Prayer are celebrated with the people, however, these Hours may be taken from the Office for the Dead. If the Eucharist is celebrated on the evening of Friday, 31 October, the Mass is that of the Solemnity of All Saints. If the Eucharist is celebrated on Saturday evening, 1 November, the Mass is that of All Souls Day and is taken from the section, 'Masses for the Dead,' in the Sacramentary. "
From Office of the Chancellor August 2003:
"The Solemnity of All Saints begins with Evening Prayer I on Friday, 31 October, and concludes with the celebration of Evening Prayer II of the Solemnity on 1 November. The Liturgy of the Hours on Sunday, 2 November 2003, All Souls Day, is that of the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time. When Morning and Evening Prayer are celebrated with the people, however, these Hours may be taken from the Office for the Dead. If the Eucharist is celebrated on the evening of Friday, 31 October, the Mass is that of the Solemnity of All Saints. If the Eucharist is celebrated on Saturday evening, 1 November, the Mass is that of All Souls Day and is taken from the section, 'Masses for the Dead,' in the Sacramentary. "
All Souls' Day
From the CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: All Souls' Day:
"The commemoration of all the faithful departed is celebrated by the Church on 2 November, or, if this be a Sunday or a solemnity, on 3 November. The Office of the Dead must be recited by the clergy and all the Masses are to be of Requiem, except one of the current feast, where this is of obligation.
The theological basis for the feast is the doctrine that the souls which, on departing from the body, are not perfectly cleansed from venial sins, or have not fully atoned for past transgressions, are debarred from the Beatific Vision, and that the faithful on earth can help them by prayers, almsdeeds and especially by the sacrifice of the Mass. "
"The commemoration of all the faithful departed is celebrated by the Church on 2 November, or, if this be a Sunday or a solemnity, on 3 November. The Office of the Dead must be recited by the clergy and all the Masses are to be of Requiem, except one of the current feast, where this is of obligation.
The theological basis for the feast is the doctrine that the souls which, on departing from the body, are not perfectly cleansed from venial sins, or have not fully atoned for past transgressions, are debarred from the Beatific Vision, and that the faithful on earth can help them by prayers, almsdeeds and especially by the sacrifice of the Mass. "
Saturday, November 1, 2003
Feast of All Saints
A great meditation for this feast from a sermon by Saint Bernard about the feast.
From the Universalis: Office of Readings:
"Why should our praise and glorification, or even the celebration of this feast day mean anything to the saints? What do they care about earthly honours when their heavenly Father honours them by fulfilling the faithful promise of the Son? What does our commendation mean to them? The saints have no need of honour from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them. But I tell you, when I think of them, I feel myself inflamed by a tremendous yearning.
Calling the saints to mind inspires, or rather arouses in us, above all else, a longing to enjoy their company, so desirable in itself. We long to share in the citizenship of heaven, to dwell with the spirits of the blessed, to join the assembly of patriarchs, the ranks of the prophets, the council of apostles, the great host of martyrs, the noble company of confessors and the choir of virgins. In short, we long to be united in happiness with all the saints. But our dispositions change. The Church of all the first followers of Christ awaits us, but we do nothing about it. The saints want us to be with them, and we are indifferent. The souls of the just await us, and we ignore them.
Come, brothers, let us at length spur ourselves on. We must rise again with Christ, we must seek the world which is above and set our mind on the things of heaven. Let us long for those who are longing for us, hasten to those who are waiting for us, and ask those who look for our coming to intercede for us. We should not only want to be with the saints, we should also hope to possess their happiness. While we desire to be in their company, we must also earnestly seek to share in their glory. Do not imagine that there is anything harmful in such an ambition as this; there is no danger in setting our hearts "
From the Universalis: Office of Readings:
"Why should our praise and glorification, or even the celebration of this feast day mean anything to the saints? What do they care about earthly honours when their heavenly Father honours them by fulfilling the faithful promise of the Son? What does our commendation mean to them? The saints have no need of honour from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them. But I tell you, when I think of them, I feel myself inflamed by a tremendous yearning.
Calling the saints to mind inspires, or rather arouses in us, above all else, a longing to enjoy their company, so desirable in itself. We long to share in the citizenship of heaven, to dwell with the spirits of the blessed, to join the assembly of patriarchs, the ranks of the prophets, the council of apostles, the great host of martyrs, the noble company of confessors and the choir of virgins. In short, we long to be united in happiness with all the saints. But our dispositions change. The Church of all the first followers of Christ awaits us, but we do nothing about it. The saints want us to be with them, and we are indifferent. The souls of the just await us, and we ignore them.
Come, brothers, let us at length spur ourselves on. We must rise again with Christ, we must seek the world which is above and set our mind on the things of heaven. Let us long for those who are longing for us, hasten to those who are waiting for us, and ask those who look for our coming to intercede for us. We should not only want to be with the saints, we should also hope to possess their happiness. While we desire to be in their company, we must also earnestly seek to share in their glory. Do not imagine that there is anything harmful in such an ambition as this; there is no danger in setting our hearts "
"I Ask St. Philomena"
This book is a short easy to read book that is a great read! When I first encountered the manuscript, I went to the publisher and told him that this could well be the "Catholic" answer to the Prayer of Jabez. Spirit Daily features the book today (for All Saints) and everyone who reads it ends up recommending it to all of their friends. See what all the talks about:
Friday, October 31, 2003
If Every Day Could be Like Halloween--The Last Christian Feast
Once again we arrive at a very strange day. Little people, some guised in grotesque attire will arrive at our doors this evening and beg for food, if you can call candy that. What is even more strange is that only the most stingy among us will refuse their request.
What if everyday were like Halloween? What if no matter who came to us on any day, wearing whatever guise they chose, was greeted with joy and a generous response of almsgiving? Why we might all be saints!
So this truly is All Saints Eve. It is a lesson for us to learn. We are not frightened by the guises of the little monsters because underneath we know them to be good little children. But how can we translate this act of charity into a life of realizing that Christ comes to us in his many guises throughout the year, begging from us, hoping that we will look beyond the mask He dons at the time?
"When I was hungry you gave me to eat, when I was thirst you gave me to drink, when I was a stranger you welcomed me, when I was naked you clothed me, when I was sick you cared for me, and when I was in prison you visited me,"(Matthew 25) "When did we see you Lord?" is the reply of everyone...but for some it is in response to what they did and for others it is for what they did not do.
It is appropriate on the Eve of All Saints (and I do think we should give this celebration its American English translation), that we imitate the Saints in their ability to recognize Christ in our brothers and sisters--no matter how they present themselves to us, in the same way we will imitate the giving of the Father on Christmas Eve by playing St. Nick for our children. It is fitting to face the ghoulish nature of life that is ever heading toward death, on this eve to be faced with skulls and other symbols of death so that we may commemorate our dead on the Feast of All Souls. Indeed in our secular calendar of feasts, this is the last Christian feast which ironically comes under its harshest attack not from the ACLU but from other Christian churches--go figure!
Would that everyday could be All Hallow's Eve...and that for each of us, that everyday will be the eve of our being with God and His Saints in His heavenly kingdom.
What if everyday were like Halloween? What if no matter who came to us on any day, wearing whatever guise they chose, was greeted with joy and a generous response of almsgiving? Why we might all be saints!
So this truly is All Saints Eve. It is a lesson for us to learn. We are not frightened by the guises of the little monsters because underneath we know them to be good little children. But how can we translate this act of charity into a life of realizing that Christ comes to us in his many guises throughout the year, begging from us, hoping that we will look beyond the mask He dons at the time?
"When I was hungry you gave me to eat, when I was thirst you gave me to drink, when I was a stranger you welcomed me, when I was naked you clothed me, when I was sick you cared for me, and when I was in prison you visited me,"(Matthew 25) "When did we see you Lord?" is the reply of everyone...but for some it is in response to what they did and for others it is for what they did not do.
It is appropriate on the Eve of All Saints (and I do think we should give this celebration its American English translation), that we imitate the Saints in their ability to recognize Christ in our brothers and sisters--no matter how they present themselves to us, in the same way we will imitate the giving of the Father on Christmas Eve by playing St. Nick for our children. It is fitting to face the ghoulish nature of life that is ever heading toward death, on this eve to be faced with skulls and other symbols of death so that we may commemorate our dead on the Feast of All Souls. Indeed in our secular calendar of feasts, this is the last Christian feast which ironically comes under its harshest attack not from the ACLU but from other Christian churches--go figure!
Would that everyday could be All Hallow's Eve...and that for each of us, that everyday will be the eve of our being with God and His Saints in His heavenly kingdom.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)