Laetare Sunday

LAETARE SUNDAY TRADITIONS.

Laetare Sunday and Mothering Sunday

How is your Lenten journey progressing?  

Are you feeling weary and ready for a little break?

In Lent, we have the tradition to have a mid-Lent break, (the half way point of Lent), which is known as 'Laetare' Sunday derived from the Latin 'to rejoice'. Liturgically we break away from the Lenten penitential spirit of the purple vestments to the wearing of rose-coloured vestments by the priest and/or deacon.  These rose-coloured vestments are only worn twice a year, so from a practical perspective, some parishes do not have a set, but use lighter purple vestments.

The fourth Sunday of Lent is also known as 'let up Sunday' because we 'let up' on our Lenten penance. It can be a timely reminder for those of us who may have struggled through Lent so far.  I remember thinking during one of my disastrous Lents that  we had reached the mid-point, and I had not got started.  It is an excellent time to review how our Lenten journey and tweak it accordingly.  Never too late to start and/or start again.

It is also known as 'Mothering Sunday', coming from the ancient Roman tradition, when a  festival of motherhood and fertility was held at this time. It was linked to the fact that the whole earth seemed to be fertile at this time. (Spring).   This festival was also known 'Matronalia,' and was celebrated by making cakes out of grains of cereal or pounded almonds.  Simmel cake and the creamy egg custard pudding were traditional menu items.

The Church took over these festivals and gave them new meaning by highlighting the dignity of women and motherhood through the image of Mary.  Through Mary, the dignity and status of Christian mothers was 'iced on the Catholic menu'.

Another important tradition of the Mothering Sunday is to to honour 'Mother Church'.  We can do this simply by visiting the cathedral (Mother Church of the diocese) on this day (or if not, sometime during this week). By doing this, we can gain a greater understanding of the great reality of the Church as our Mother and Bride of Christ.

Let us rejoice as we universally celebrate 'Laetare' Sunday.

Opening Prayer and Reflection on the Epiphany

COLLECT SERIES

SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY

COLLECT

The Opening Prayer of the Mass for the feast of the Epiphany reads as follows: 

Father of light, unchanging God,

today You reveal to men of faith the resplendent fact of the Word made flesh.   
Your light is strong, 

Your love is near,

draw us beyond the limits which this world imposes,

to the life where Your Spirit makes all life complete. 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

 In making this prayer tangible for my life during this week, the following reflection questions emerged: 

1.How will I express my gratitude to God for the revelation of His glory during this week?
2. What difference does the Word made flesh make to my life?
3. How might I radiate Your strong light and Your close love to others?
4. What limits does the world impose on me and how might I be drawn beyond them?
5. What is my relationship with the Holy Spirit and how might I enhance it?
6. How might I be guided by the light of faith and how will I nurture the gift of faith given to me?
7. How might your time of adoration be more effective and how might you encourage others to adore the Lord? 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

We Three Kings of Orient

The Epiphany  is the first of seven solemnities of the Lord. It celebrates the revelation of God to all the world. May we encourage others during this week and throughout the year to have a Magi experience, so that we may all say in in voice:

We have seen His star in the east and have come to adore the Lord.

The star guided the 3 Wise Men from the East to Jesus and as both scripture and the carols say

'stopped right over the place where Jesus lay'.  

The 3 wise men did Him homage. These wise men were highly intelligent and knew from their studies about astronomy and stars.  They knew that this star was different- important and special.

SIGNS IN OUR LIVES

We too need to be aware of the signs given in our life. Are we aware of them?

We might like to offer the following prayer or a spontaneous one of our own on the theme of the star of Bethlehem.  We might even like to sing the Carol ' the first Nowell' and/or 'We three Kings'  

Jesus, in this season of Christmastide, help us to be a star- 

a light shining the way to You for others in our family, friends, neighbourhood and parish. 

Help us to be like the Wise men of the East 

A New Liturgical Year- First Sunday of Advent Yr B

Happy New Year- a liturgical New year.

Advent Wreath: Symbol of Advent.

Happy New Year- a liturgical New Year-Advent the Season of Hope.

With a liturgical New year, there is hope in the season of Advent.  I look forward to Advent because with the start of Advent and a new liturgical Year, the Church provides us with the opportunity to start again. I can ask God to help me start again.  It really is a case of ’’Just give me another year Lord and I will dig and manure it...."

I can close the door on the past and start again.  The problems may not go away, but the difference is that I have Jesus by my side again- I have hope again and I can, through His grace continue the struggle of life with the hope that someday, things will be better.

Perhaps if you are in a good place emotionally and spiritually, then at least be grateful. Use this Advent well to be grateful, or at least to stop and think and decide to change something in your life that needs attention- be on the alert- is your life really in keeping with God's plan for you?  I hope it is, but if not, start to make the adjustments through this season of hope.

I want to create again a spiritual new Year goal.  I know I can’t change myself without God’s help and I can’t change it all in a day.  I have another year to use wisely. So, instead of wanting to change the world within myself, I will choose one aspect. just one and sincerely ask God to help me change that this year.  I sure dont want to be in the same place this time next year.

So Happy New Year- I hope you have a think about your spiritual goals and hope, with Jesus, that you will act on them.  We can act on them one day at a time, one hour or one minute at time, knowing that God loves us in our hope, loves us when things are going well and we are happy, and loves us when we fail too and come to Him.

Let us prepare for the coming of Jesus and allow Him to be born in our hearts again this Christmas.

Stay awake and be alert.  Happy New Year.

Why have All Saints and All Souls Day?

Why have All Saints and All Souls Day?

All Souls Day.

Origins of All Saints Day and All Souls Day

The feasts of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, when Catholics are encouraged to offer Masses and prayers for our deceased family members and relatives, were the living expression of a doctrine which stretched back to the earliest era of Christianity, and which is embodied in the Apostles' Creed.

The origin of All Saints Day is to be found in the prayers made to the martyr saints of the persecuted Church in the early centuries.  All Souls Day reflects the constant teaching of the Church, stretching back into the Old Testament period where it is record in the Book Maccabees, " It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to prayer for the dead, that they may loosed from their sins'

It seems a tragedy that All Saints Day is less recognized that Halloween, now a secular celebration of what was once the day before All Hallows (Saints) Day.

In Australia in 2001, the Australian bishops made a decision to reduce the number of Holy Days of Obligation, with the great feast of All Saints Day and All Souls Day (albeit an unofficial Holy Day of Obligation) disappearing from the awareness of even practising Catholics. Sadly, in some parishes including mine, the emphasis in November is about students and exams, rather than the Holy Souls.  As a consequence of that decision, a diminished awareness of the doctrine of Communion of Saints has resulted, a doctrine which teaches that believers on earth are united in a spiritual fellowship with the saints in Heaven and the souls in Purgatory.

These beautiful feasts days are both a source of inspiration and a consolation that we, in the world as the pilgrim Church can aspire to be reunited with our families and friends who are the Church triumphant in the joyful perfection of Heaven.  We can also give the souls in purgatory- great consolation by our prayers and Masses since we can pray for them, but they cannot pray for themselves.  Let us especially pray for the Holy Souls who have no one to pray for them or have been forgotten.

Many Catholics like to think that their loved ones have gone ''straight to Heaven''.  However, as consoling as this thought is at the time of death, it is not Church teaching.  You may wish to check the Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraph 1029-31 on Purgatory. However the doctrine of purgatory also gives us hope. We hope that we will get to heaven ourselves but we live in the hope that our loved ones have reached eternity.  We do not know for sure on most occasions, but there are times that bereaved get a certain sense that their loved ones have reached eternity.  We live in hope.

However, just for a few moments let us be practical. If a person went into confession and confessed their sins and came out and dropped dead straightaway outside the door of the confessional, then, yes, there might be a possibility of a quicker route to Heaven. If a person who had the opportunity of a plenary indulgence and died outside the confessional, then there definitely could be case for going straight to heaven, since any residual effect would be wiped. Short of that, we all have some shortfalls/sins/weakness at the time of death.

To enter Heaven, we want to be perfect, ''just as our Heavenly Father is perfect''.  So, God, in His kindness and love provides that opportunity for our souls to be cleansed and purified. Of course, how long we are in purgatory is in a sense up to us, since we can use our time wisely here on earth spiritually, or we can squander it largely or to a lesser extent. However, when we die and give an account of ourselves, God, by giving us the chance of purgatory is being kind and letting us know that our salvation is assured, but we still need to do some ''grooming'' through the efforts of the pilgrim church and the Church triumphant.  We cannot do it ourselves.
It will be one of my happiest moments in heaven if someone tells me in heaven that my prayers, works of charity or trials and attending Mass helped to release them from Purgatory.

What about you? Would you want to hear it from someone in heaven too?

Let us assist the Holy Souls by our prayers, works of charity, offering up our day and trials for them and attending Mass for their souls not only on these great feasts, but also during the month of November especially, but also during the year.

Let these great feasts touch our spiritual consciousness this year.

Dominican blessing for the Feast of St Dominic

St Dominic de Guzman

DOMINICAN BLESSING FOR THE FEAST OF ST DOMINIC

Happy Feast day to my readers.  Today is the feast of St Dominic in Australia and 8th for the rest of the universal church.  St Dominic as you know is my favourite saint so I love his feast day.

Perhaps one thing I should clarify is that when I am talking about St Dominic, I mean, St Dominic de Guzman (founder of the Order of Preachers- Dominicans)  not Dominic Salvio. Still I have to say, anyone who is called Dominic is a favourite with me.

Anyway, on this feast of St Dominic, I just wanted to share the Dominican blessing.

DOMINICAN BLESSING.

May God the Father bless us,

May God the Son heal us.

May God the Holy Spirit enlighten us

and give us eyes to see with,

ears to hear with,

hands to do the work of God with,

feet to walk with

 and a mouth to preach the word of salvation.

The angel of peace to watch over us

and lead us at last by our Lord's gift to the kingdom. 

I obviously go to Mass on St Dom's feast, but I do love to celebrate with the Dominican community the Office- Evening Prayer. It is such a privilege to be there with them.  I also love to have a special meal on his feast day.  I had my special meal at lunch time today as tonight I also have choir rehearsal. Our parish is celebrating this coming weekend so the choir need to be in good voice.

May you all have a blessed feast day of St Dominic. 

Happy Feast Day- St Dominic.

 FEAST DAY OF ST DOMINIC.

Many of us have our favourite saint.  My favourite saint is St Dominic, who has a very special place in my heart. His feast day is today- 7 August in Australia, whilst the universal church celebrates it on 8th August. You might wonder why his feast day is different from the universal church. Mary McKillop's feast day falls on the 8th August in Australia.

So when it comes to books about St Dominic, I have to say that I am always keen to have a read.  I never tire of learning and discovering more about my favourite saint.

The authoress Catherine Beebe has presented the life of St Dominic in the popular Vision Books series of saints.  The key story about this wonderful saint which is often told in Dominican parishes is that Dominic as a young priest sat all night at a wooden table in a village tavern, and preached the truths of the Church to an embittered inn-keeper. The next day, the inn-keeper was converted and St Dominic joyfully received him into the Faith.
Of course, it is important to understand the times that St Dominic lived and worked since heresies were rife. It is in this context that St Dominic was able to bring the Church to the people and preach the truths of the Church

This charming paperback book of 161 pages is a delightful read, not only to those who may be unaware of the life of St Dominic and wish to glean a picture of his life, but also to those like myself who are familiar with the story of his life. I always enjoy reading something more about my favourite saint, and this book certainly energizes my novena to St Dominic.  There are other charming books to read as well which I have read and nurtured my faith.

St Dominic is also strongly connected with the Rosary. Tradition tells us that our Blessed Mother Mary, presented St Dominic with the Rosary, and since that time, the Rosary has been part of the Dominican way of life.  In my parish church, the stain glass window depicts magnificently St Dominic receiving the rosary from Our Lady.

Perhaps if you were looking for a precious gift, these beautiful items shown would be warmly received delighting both the giver and the receiver.

May we all continue to grow in our faith and like St Dominic teach the truths of the Church by the way we live and act.

16th Sunday of Year A- Collect ( Opening Prayer)

COLLECT SERIES

COLLECT

The Mass: Collect Series Icon

The Collect for the 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time reads as follows:

Be gracious, Lord, to us who serve You

and in Your kindness, increase your gifts of grace within us:

so that fervent in faith, hope and love

we may be ever on the watch 

and persevere in doing what You command.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible the following questions emerged:

1. What does a ''Gracious Lord'' mean to me?

2. What area/s of my life do I desire the graciousness of my God this coming week?

3. How will I serve God this coming week?

4.What gifts of grace would like to receive?

5. What is my understanding of faith, hope and love?

6. What does being ever on the watch mean to me?

7. What does God command me to do this coming week?( Name it)

8. How will I persevere in doing what God commands me this coming week? (Name at least one action or make a small list).

Previously I have written a series on the Virtue series, of which faith, hope and love are the theological graces.  You may find reading this series helpful as further thought on the Virtues. You will find it under the label of Faith nurturing (2010).