Penitential Rite Part 3: About the Mass Series Vol 2- New Translation

‘PENITENTIAL RITE: PART 3’.

 

About the Mass Vol 2 icon photo

Welcome to my new series called ' About the Mass Series Volume 2-New Translation'

I started this Series back in 2012 and now in 2019, restart the series.

 Why did I start the series in the first place? I had already written a series called About the Mass which explained in detail each element of the Mass.  So why Volume 2?  Let me explain.

In the English-speaking world from First Sunday of Advent 2010, the words said at Mass changed. In some parts, there were significant changes, whilst in others, it may be a word or two. What is important for us to remember is the Mass is the same.  We may wish to reflect on what the Mass is and why we attend Mass.  

I wish to take up this series again not only because it was incomplete but now that time has elapsed and we are used to the New translation for a number of years now, I think it is good to review these changes to make us more aware and more appreciative of the Mass. Understanding some of those changes and why they were made may deepen our knowledge about the Mass but more importantly, deepen our love for the Mass.

Here is the link to the first post of this new series ‘’About the Mass Volume 2- New Translation’’. ‘You may wish to review the 12 posts in this series before following along with its continuation.

PENITENTIAL RITE 2 AND 3

Let’s begin where I left out at Penitential Rite.  Today we examine Rite 2 and 3.

 PENITENTIAL RITE 2 AND 3

In both Rites 2 and 3, we ask for the mercy of God, but the ‘Lord have mercy’ (Kyrie) or part thereof, is incorporated into the Rites.

Rite 2:

The Priest says: ‘Lord, we have sinned against You, Lord have mercy’.

All: 'Lord have mercy’.

Priest: ‘Lord, show us Your mercy and love’.

All: ‘And grant us Your salvation’.

Rite 3: In this rite, the Priest has a number of options from which to choose,, but the Rite is in dialogue form and includes the complete Lord have mercy (Kyrie).the dialogue form and Kyrie is still included. 

If Rite 2 or 3 is used, the Kyrie (as shown previously) is omitted.

In these rites when there is a choir/ cantor/congregation available, the priest can intone the dialogue and invite the congregation with Kyrie or Lord have mercy. The congregation/choir sing Kyrie/Lord have mercy once in reply.

Then a precious and vital moment can escape us if our minds and hearts have wandered.  The priest, in the name of Christ prays:

‘May almighty God have mercy on us, 

forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life’.

This does not replace the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation, but it is a wonderful opportunity not only to accept His pardon, but to recommit our lives to God, and to endeavour to live by the Gospel standard during the coming week.  Often, this wonderful moment in the liturgy can be said so quickly that we miss it or even worse, left out all together.  It is advisable to consider even one failure/sin  before we attend Mass, so that when this part of the Mass occurs, we can quickly recall it and gain the benefit of God's pardon and our re- commitment of our lives to God for the upcoming week. This also applies to when we attend Mass during the week also.  

Remember, the purpose of this part of this part of the Mass is to help us recall our failure/s sins, accept God's pardon, re-commit our lives to God and that we can approach Jesus in Holy Communion at rights with Him. Obviously, if we have mortal sin on our souls, we should not be receiving Holy Communion until we have attended the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation.  Otherwise, to receive Holy Communion whilst knowingly in the state of mortal sin is to commit at sacrilege and add more sins to our souls. that will need to be confessed in the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation. However, should we be in that position, this part of the Mass can be a starting point towards moving our lives back towards God and examining our consciences and our lives.

The Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling Holy Water (Asperges) may replace the Penitential Rite and Kyrie.   The Priest uses a Holy Water Vessel and Aspergillum (holy water sprinkler) to carry the holy water which is sprinkled over the congregation. The sprinkling of the water reminds us of how we accepted the Lord at Baptism, turning away from sin. 

As part of your preparation for Mass, why not reflect on the words used in these three Rites? 

Each encapsulates some aspect of God’s mercy to YOU.   

Human Longing: 12 Step Catholic Spirituality Series

WELCOME BACK TO MY 12 STEP CATHOLIC SPIRITUALITY SERIES.

I started this series in September 2018 and will continue with the series this year.  If you have not read the first posts, click here to read.  This series is based on the 12 Steps of AA and could have easily been called 12 Step Christian Anon programme.  However, I prefer to think of it as a 12 Step guide to Catholic spirituality

HUMAN LONGING

Today we continue on with Step 1 looking at Human longing. Last Week we discussed the parable of the rich young man.   You may wish to read that post before continuing on with today’s post as it relates to it.

When we consider the rich young man, we may ask ourselves several questions as we read the parable. They may be:

1.    Why was our rich young not exactly content with his situation?

2.    How is that many people with abundant opportunities to achieve esteem pleasure, and security are so seldom find deep and lasting joy?

These questions and ones like it that bite at the heart of human nature, provoking the most pointed inquiry of all. What is that human being really need? Many philosophers and psychologists have identified the follow to be high on the list of human longings:

1.    The esteem of others.

2.    Sexual fulfilment.

3.    Assurance of immortality.

4.    Love and belonging.

5.    Knowledge.

6.    Harmony.

7.    Self-actualisation.

Although these needs are relatively important motivators, they .do not encompass the totality of human nature and therefore fall short of total fulfilment for the human being. Philosophers speak of human behaviour as springing from of the three levels of our nature:

v  Body

v  Mind

v  Spirit.

Firstly, we are physical creatures, and sensual gratification is an important essential motivating factor.  After all, without food and drink, we would eventually die and without the use of sex the species would become extinct.

Secondly, we are psychological beings capable of using our minds to understand ourselves, and our world.  Our memory, reason feeling, and imagination be placed at the disposal of consciousness to help us to make decisions and attain knowledge, love, self-respect, and the esteem of others.  When we experience these values we feel well-being, happiness, and security. 

Thirdly, we are spiritual beings hungering for beauty, freedom, and wisdom ( meaning).  In our question for experiences of meaning we utilize our minds and our bodies, but it is in our spiritual facilities that these needs are embraced.  We we do perceive ourselves to be meaningful, the consequent peace, joy and inner confidence illuminate our minds and our bodies.

We are designed to live on the spiritual level, but selfishness keeps us confined to lower levels.  People who live for sensual gratification- good food, drink, sex  identify these as the source of pleasure as their meaning in life.  They ignore the psychological and spiritual. Similarly, people who make knowledge or power of supreme values in life corrupt their spiritual facilities in the process.  Healthy spiritual people are those whose hunger for meaning embraces truth and love, norming their sense of meaning with humility and community.  What is insidious about sin is that we shall automatically regress to a lower level of character, if we do not constantly strive to realise meaning in truth and love.  If we are not progressing, we are regressing.  The is a basic rule in the spiritual life.

The rich young man was a good, intelligent person.  He probably had control over his bodily passions for he was moral and living on at least a psychological level of motivation.  He felt empty inside, however, and that is the same problem that many people face.  We might manage to stay of trouble and/or be good law-abiding citizens but life still seems dull and meaningless. 

What can we do?  What must we do?  We must be prepared to do as Jesus asked the rich young man. We must let go of our false security, whatever they may be.  We shall not have to struggle on our own power though. The good news is that there is grace aplenty for all who want to become growing, joyful, spiritual beings.

As you read this post, and during the week, we may wish to identify our physical, psychological and spiritual motivators.  This may give us an indicator of which area of our life is ruling our human nature.  The more we can identify these areas in our lives, the more we can admit to ourselves that we cannot continue to live a life of selfishness.

Be gentle with yourself as you explore these areas. If we miss areas this time around, we can always come back during the programme and add it to our list and more importantly to our awareness.  The first thing before change is possible is to become aware.  We must be aware of the need to change before we can admit that we need to change and then we can work on the change.  This is what this week’s action is – about- becoming aware at the physical, psychological and spiritual level.  What are your motivator?

Remember we do not need to do this important work alone.  We have the Holy Spirit to guide us. Ask the Holy Spirit to be our guides as we embark on these 12 steps. God knows each of us best and will guide us to the point where we can listen and accept. God does not force Himself on us. We need to want God in our lives.  God is ready for us to make the change to awareness. Are we ready this week to start?

A second passion prophecy Mk 9:30-34) Gospel of Mark Series.

A SECOND PASSION PROPHECY MARK 9:30-34)

During 2019, each week, I will write a weekly post about the Gospel of Mark, as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. If you are following this series for the first time, you will find this series under Scripture- New Testament- Gospel of Mark. 

Click here to read the first post in the series. I have written this series in different years (2012, 2015, 2018) with some irregularity, but am determined to complete this series this year since I am more than half way through this Gospel.

My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark. I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season.  In today's post we explore chapter 9:30--34 which is called A second passion prophecy.

THE BIBLE: GOSPEL OF MARK SERIES.

For a second time, as they are travelling quietly through Galilee, Jesus begins to speak to His disciples of terrible sufferings for Himself in the future. As Mark was writing in the 70’s, he added more specific detail from hindsight of these future sufferings than Jesus at the time would have spoken.

Jesus with a firm trust in His final vindication by God the Father may have done more than warn His disciples in a general kind of manner of the likely dishonourable death awaiting Him, and of the failure of his mission by merely human standards.

As after the first passion prophecy (Mk 8:12-33), the disciples fail to understand what Jesus says to them about His future, and they are frightened to question Him.  They still have much to learn about the mission of Jesus and a lot of growing to do in their relation with Him.

When they arrive home in Capernaum, Jesus asks what they were discussing on the way.  They kept silent.  So far are they understanding what Jesus had just been saying to them that they had been discussing with one another who was the greatest among them.

Mark contrasts starkly the failure of the disciples to understand with the effort of Jesus to teach them about His way.  The ‘way’ used twice here (Mk 9:33-34) means not only the roadway to Capernaum, but points also to the way of true discipleship into which Jesus tries to lead them.

JOURNAL REFLECTIONS

In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:

• Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of scripture?

• Imagine that you are one of the disciples- What do you see and hear and feel. What can I learn from this?

• Imagine being Jesus telling the disciples and knowing that they did not understand- what would you have felt?  

• What is reading the Gospel passage with the eyes and ears of disciple mean to me?

• How does Jesus show Himself as the ‘’the way’’ to me?

• What are the areas in my life I need to bring to Jesus? What questions do I want to ask Him?

• Am I willing to look into myself with honesty and ask how much do I grasp what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus in the light of this teaching? 

• Is my faith in the divine power of Christ, whom we follow , large enough to make us ready to walking faithfully his ‘’way’’?

• In the light of this passage, how will you respond to Jesus as a true disciple?

• If a fellow parishioner had read this passage, what might he/she say about this passage?

• In the light of this Gospel passage what positive change will you adopt in your life and in your spiritual life.  How will you implement these changes?
  
  

We can thank Jesus that He was patient with the disciples when they misunderstood Him.  He did not give up on His mission because they did not understand nor did He treat them badly.  Rather He was patient with them knowing that they would come to understand much later.  Jesus is patient too with us.  We might not understand ‘’the way’’ He plans for us, but we know it is for our best.  We may not understand His ways, but He is patient with us as we learn more about Him. 

The Solemnity of Baptism of Our Lord: Collect Series.

SOLEMNITY OF THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD.

Baptism of Our Lord ( Leonardo da Vinci).

SOLEMNITY OF THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD. 

The Collect for the Solemnity of the Baptism of Our Lord reads as follows:

Almighty ever-living God, who, when Christ had been baptised in the River Jordan

and as the Holy Spirit descended upon him, 

solemnly declared him your beloved Son, 

grant that your children by adoption, reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, 

may always be well pleasing to you.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, 

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 

one God, for ever and ever.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible for during the week, the following reflections questions emerged:

1.    What does this Solemnity mean to you personally?

2.    What does it mean to me to be a child of God?

3.    What does it mean to me to be reborn of water and the Holy Spirit?

4.    What does my own Baptism mean to me, in the past, and now in 2019?

5.    What can I do this week to honour my own Baptism?

6.    What difference is being a Child of God make to me this coming week?

7.    In what area/s of my life do I need to practise humility?

Today we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Jordan. This is the second epiphany, or manifestation, of the Lord. The past, the present, and the future are made manifest in this epiphany. We had the first one last in the Solemnity of the Epiphany.  If you wish to read more about that in my post click here.

Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who is the most Holy One placed Himself among us, the unclean and sinners. The Son of God freely humbled Himself at the hand of the Baptist. By His baptism in the Jordan, Christ manifests His humility and dedicates Himself to the redemption of mankind. He takes upon Himself the sins of the whole world and buries them in the waters of the Jordan. — The Light of the World by Benedict Baur, O.S.B.

At Christmas we have contemplated the human birth of the Word incarnate by the Virgin Mary. In the 4th century, the Fathers of the Church deepened the understanding of the faith with regard to the Christmas mystery in the light of Jesus’ Humanity. The spoke of: Jesus is the Christ from the first instant of conception in Mary’s spotless womb because He Himself, with His Divine Power, consecrated, anointed and ‘Christified’ that human nature with which He became incarnate.

In the mystery of the Epiphany, we meditated upon Christ’s manifestation to all nations that was represented by the Magi, the wise men from the East, who came to adore the Child.

Now, in the mystery of Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan River, we again encounter and represent the truth of the Lord’s incarnation and His manifestation as the Christ. Jesus’ Baptism is in fact His definitive manifestation as the Messiah or Christ to Israel, and as the Son of the Father to the entire world.

Here we find the dimension of the Epiphany which was His manifestation to all nations. The Father’s voice from heaven shows that Jesus of Nazareth is the eternal Son and the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove shows the Trinitarian nature of the Christian God. The true and unique God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, shows Himself in Christ, through Him, with Him and in Him.

The Baptism in the Jordan returns to the great Christmas theme of ‘Christification,’ Jesus of Nazareth's spiritual anointing, His presentation as the Anointed One par excellence, the Messiah or the One sent by the Father for the salvation of mankind. The Spirit that descended on Jesus shows and seals in an incontrovertible way the ‘Christification’ of Jesus’ humanity that the Word had already fulfilled from the first moment of His miraculous conception by Mary. Jesus, from the very beginning, was always the Lord’s Christ, He was always God. Yet, His one, true humanity, that which is perfect in every way, as the Gospel records, constantly grew in natural and supernatural perfection. ‘And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and with men’ (Lk 2:52).

In Israel at 30 years of age, one reached full maturity and therefore could become a master. Jesus came of age and the Spirit, descending and remaining on Him, definitively consecrated His whole being as the Christ.

The same Spirit, that descended on the water of the River Jordan wafted over the waters during the first creation (Gen 1:2). Therefore, the Baptism in the Jordan presents yet another truth: that Jesus has started a new creation. He is the second man (1 Cor 15:47) or the last Adam (1 Cor 15:45), that comes to repair the first Adam’s guilt. He does this as the Lamb of God that takes away our sins.

As Pope Benedict wrote ‘Looking at the events in light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christian people realised what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon His shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners’ (Joseph Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth, Bloomsbury 2007, p 18).

Now we may be saying to ourselves’’ this Solemnity is all very nice but how is it relevant to me for my life. I have work to do, debts to pay, no time to meditate. I feel like I am on the hamster wheel of life.

HOW IS THIS SOLEMNITY RELEVANT TO US?

This Solemnity is relevant for us in the following ways. We may be able to incorporate these suggestions or come up with our own during the week.

1.We are Child of the Most High God.  Claim it again this week and say thank you to God. A simple prayer such as:

·         ’’ Thank you, God, for making me Your child. Or

·         As a child of God, let my behaviour today/ this week give You honour and praise or

·          I thank you God for my parents (godparents) who ensured I was baptised.
 Thank you for accepting me as a Child of God- Your child.

2. If the opportunity is possible, speak to your parents/ godparents about your Baptism. See what they remember about the day, how they felt. Do not be disappointed if they do not remember- be thankful that they took that step of faith for you and let them know your gratitude.  If there are any photos or memorabilia of the day look at it.

3. Find out when parish Baptisms are held.   Check with your pastor and explain to him that you would like to attend one even though you are not related to the family of the child to be baptised.  You wish to attend to nourish your own faith.  Organise it and attend during this year. I always do this at least once each year. It helps me say thank you to God for being a child of God. My parents and grandparents have now passed away but when I attend a parish baptism, I visualise myself being that baby being baptised again. Of course, sacramentally, we can only be baptised once. A fresh anointing and focus on the benefits of the Sacraments is always useful at the beginning of the year.

4. Read Compendium of theCatechism of the Catholic Church to nurture and nourish your faith this week on Baptism. There are many references to Baptism but Section 2 on the Sacraments is the most relevant section. pg 250-264. It is an easier read than the Catechism of the Catholic Church. (take 2 entries each day and mull over them and what it means for your life in 2019).

5. Reflect through Music:  Use ‘’On Jordan’s Bank The Baptist Cry’’ 

 Or  ‘’ I heard the voice of Jesus say’’  or you may to listen to the Instrumental version 

6. Have a discussion with family and/or parishioners about Baptism and what this Solemnity means to you for your lives? If you do not have a group in our parish, start a group. Pick up the phone and talk with one other parishioner who might be interested. It does not have to be a long meeting. It could be a weekly meeting to discuss the Gospel of the day. As other parishioners join, keep the focus on the Gospel and its relevance to your life this week.

Whether you choose to acknowledge that you are a child  of God and think about this Solemnity for your life is obviously up to you. The Church offers us these Solemnities for us to be nourished and nurtured in our faith. Let us use the opportunities given us wisely.

May you receive many blessings this coming week.

The Heart for God: Reflection and Prayer Series

REFLECTION AND PRAYER SERIES

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My Scripture reflection is 

''Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind”’   
(Mark 12:10)

My post is called:

    The Heart for God

Lord, forgive me for the Pharisee who take up residence in me,

Who makes for his own dwelling place,

 The heart meant for God of grace.

Compendium Series: No 85: Why did the Son of God become Man?

Welcome to My Compendium Series: 2019. 

Jesus the Teacher: Compendium Series Icon

Do you every wonder especially when life seems more challenging, what God's plan for you and for me is?  In this series, I encourage you to learn and soak in to your spirit what God's plan is as stated by the Compendium of the Catholic Church

When I started this series back in July 2010, my desire was to become more familiar with my faith so that I felt comfortable in not only knowing my faith, but being able to speak the truth of the faith confidently. To personalise the compendium of the Catholic Church, I followed these steps during the week:

·         learnt the answer to the question by rote.

·         inserted my name into these questions. 

·         wrote my own answer to the question in a simpler form without losing its integrity or meaning.

·         reflected on 'what it means for me".

·         reflected on 'Questions to consider'.

·         Devised an action for each day to integrate this truth of faith into my life.

·         Use the compendium series to shine on areas of my life which need repentance and use it for preparation for the sacrament of reconciliation.

If you have not visited this series before, you may wish to start the journey this year. If you started the journey and faded along the way,( like I have posting it)  you may wish to revisit this series and restart the journey, or if you have stayed on the journey, you may wish to continue the journey during 2019.

You may consider one question per week is not sufficient. I find it sufficient and able to done  by the above mentioned steps.  If you wish to proceed at a faster pace, decide on your plan of action that is most appropriate to you.

So, let us now start, restart or continue the journey for 2019.  Let us take up the journey from Part 1 Section 1 Chapter 2 which discusses in detail the Nicene Creed (which we say every week at Mass). We will take up the journey from the phrase 

'' Jesus Christ was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and was born of the Virgin Mary''

85. Why did the Son of God become man”? (CCC 456-460).

Compendium states:

For us men and for our salvation, the Son of God became incarnate in the womb of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, He did so to reconcile us sinners with God, to have us learn of God's infinite love, to be our model of holiness and to make us "partakers of the divine nature' (Peter 1:4).

What does this mean for me?

1.Each time I say the Nicene Creed at Mass or in my own prayer time, at these word " for us men and our salvation..."', I can recall these reasons for the Son of God becoming man, be thankful and ponder them constantly.

2.  I can choose to accept that Jesus became man for me, and in accepting it be challenged to explore the model of holiness to which Jesus calls me.

3. I can be grateful for God's divine nature within me every day and embrace it, and to learn to experience more deeply His infinite love for me each day.

Questions to consider.

1.What is my reaction to these reasons for Jesus becoming man? How does it impact me?

2.  How can I be reconciled with God today, this week, month? What action or step must I take?

3. How do I experience God's infinite love for me?

4. What does it mean to me to be a ''partaker of God's divine nature''?

5. What will I do this coming week to learn from the Son of God about His model of holiness? 

May God help us to value our salvation for sending His Son for our salvation.