49. BITESIZE CATECHISM: THE SEASON OF LENT - ASH WEDNESDAY

 

APPETIZER: Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness reveals the way in which the Son of God is Messiah, contrary to the way Satan proposes to him and the way human beings wish to attribute to him (see Mt 16:21-23). This is why Christ vanquished the Tempter for us: ‘For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sinning’ (Heb 4:15). By the solemn forty days of Lent, the Church unites herself each year to this mystery of Jesus in the desert. Our season of Lent and the days of penance in the course of the liturgical year are intense moments for us to participate in this penitential practice (in spiritual solidarity with Jesus in his fasting, prayer and spiritual struggle). (See CCC #540, #1095, #1438)

MAIN COURSE: Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms and/or engaging in works of mercy; and we practice self-control through fasting and other forms of personal discipline. We are called to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. 

Ash Wednesday kicks off the holy Season of Lent. And even though it is not a holy Day of Obligation, it tends to draw more people to church than just about any the religious day except perhaps for Christmas.  Ashes have a very long history in Judeo-Christian cultures as a sign of mortality, sorrow for sin, and grieving over death. Jesus himself also made reference to ashes. Referring to towns that refused to repent of sin although they had witnessed his miracles and heard the good news, our Lord said, "If the miracles worked in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have reformed in sackcloth and ashes long ago" (Mt 11:21).  And in early Church practice, the priest would sprinkle ashes on the head of the person leaving confession as a sign to do penance to make up for their selfishness and sin.

Eventually, the use of ashes was adapted to mark the beginning of Lent, the 40-day preparation period (not including Sundays) for Easter. A ritual for the "Day of Ashes" dates to at least to the eighth century. About the year 1000, an Anglo-Saxon priest named Aelfric preached: "We read in tboth the Old and in the New Testaments, that the people who repented of their sins dusted themselves with ashes and clothed their bodies with sackcloth. Now let us do this little at the beginning of our Lent that we strew ashes upon our heads to signify that we ought to repent of our sins during the Lenten fast." In our present liturgy for Ash Wednesday, we use ashes made from the burned palm branches distributed on the Palm Sunday of the previous year. The minister blesses the ashes and imposes them upon the faithful, saying, "Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return," or "Repent and believe the Gospel." 

The traditional three spiritual exercises of Lent are laid out for us by Jesus in the Gospel of St. Matthew (Mt 6:1-6, 16-18) that is read on Ash Wednesday: 

“Make certain you do not perform your religious duties in public so that people will see what you do. If you do these things publicly, you will not have any reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give something to a needy person, do not make a big show of it, as the hypocrites do in the houses of worship and on the streets. They do it so that people will praise them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. But when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it. Then it will be a private matter. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites! They love to stand up and pray in the houses of worship and on the street corners, so that everyone will see them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. But when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.

“And when you fast, do not put on a sad face as the hypocrites do. They neglect their appearance so that everyone will see that they are fasting. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. When you go without food, wash your face and comb your hair, so that others cannot know that you are fasting—only your Father, who is unseen, will know. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you."

The above passage from the Gospels is where we get our Lenten traditions of prayer, penance and works of mercy.   We fast from meat on Ash Wednesday, Lenten Fridays and Good Friday.   This is a corporate penance and so we all participate as a sign of solidarity with one another, even if we are not big meat-eaters or even vegetarians!  In addition to corporate penance we are also called to practice individual self-discipline in our own ways throughout the season. 

The Lord's call to prayer moves us to examine our personal prayer life. We are called to ask ourselves: where and how can I deepen my spiritual union with God through Christ? This is not a matter of quantity but of quality. More prayers does not necessarily mean better prayer! The Stations of the Cross on Fridays are a most common and extremely popular way for Christians to make the Passion of Christ a significant part of their prayer and meditation during this season.

When it comes to the giving of alms we share God's gift of treasure to us.  It is a call to begin (and then maintain) a personal habit of assistance to the sick, poor and needy in any way. As the great St. John Chrysostom, an ancient bishop and teacher, reminds us: "Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs."  

As we begin this holy season of Lent in preparation for Easter, we must remember the significance of the ashes we have received: We mourn over our selfishness and do penance for our sins. We again convert our hearts to the Lord, who suffered, died and rose for our salvation. We renew the promises made at our baptism, when we died to sin and rose to a new life with Christ. We strive to live in the kingdom of God now and look forward to its fulfillment in Heaven.

DOGGIE-BAG: A little something to take with you for spiritual snacking...

THE STATIONS (OR WAY) OF THE CROSS DEVOTION

The stations of the cross are a powerful prayer experience. The best way to pray these is to do them at your church meditating on each of the stations. Of course, you may also do them at home or in some other quiet place.  While no specific set of prayers are mandatory for this devotion, you can find many different versions of prayers and reflections for the Stations online or in booklet form.

This devotion has evolved over time.  Tradition holds that our Blessed Mother visited daily the scenes of our Lord’s Passion.  After Constantine legalized Christianity in the year AD 313, this pathway was marked with its important "stopping places" called stations.  St. Jerome (342-420), living in Bethlehem during the latter part of his life, attested to the crowds of pilgrims from various countries who visited these holy places and followed the Way of the Cross. It became extremely popular t make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from Europe in order to walk the way of the Cross in person.

However, around the 14th century it became very dangerous for Christians to travel to the Jerusalem to walk the Way of the Cross because of the hostility of Muslim Turks. So the Stations devotion evolved at this time into the familiar 14 Stations we see on the walls of our parish churches. Since pilgrims could not go to the Stations, the Stations would instead come to them!

At St. Sebastian's, Stations of the Cross are prayed as a group at 7PM on all the Fridays of Lent. We all together walk through the Stations as we pray this devotion. It is a very peaceful and meditative experience.  The traditional 14 Stations of the Cross are:

1. Jesus is condemned to death.

2. Jesus is given His cross.

3. Jesus falls down for the first time.

4. Jesus meets His mother Mary.

5. Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry the cross.

6. Veronica wipes blood off of Jesus’ face.

7. Jesus falls down for the second time.

8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.

9. Jesus falls down for the third time.

10. Jesus is stripped of His clothing.

11. Jesus is nailed to the cross – the Crucifixion.

12. Jesus dies on the cross.

13. Jesus’ body is removed from the cross – the Deposition or Lamentation.

14. Jesus’ body is placed in the tomb.

CATHOLIC CORPORATE PENANCE FOR ASH WEDNESDAY, LENTEN FRIDAYS AND GOOD FRIDAY

CANON LAW: reaffirms the obligation we all have to do penance – to interrupt the usual comforts of life, to rediscover in prayer the saving love of God, and to practice charity and justice towards those in need.  During Lent we do penance, not only on our own account, but also in the name of the Church and of the world and so our penance is corporate. We must take seriously our penitential obligations and be sure to carry them out. Of course, advanced age and illness at any age excuses a Catholic from this obligation of corporate penance if it is not safe for them to participate.

FASTING: which includes,abstinence from meat, is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. All who have completed their 18th year and have not yet begun their 60th year are bound to fast. This corporate fast is defined as eating only one full meal in the day.  If needs be a snack may be taken in addition to the one meal. 

ABSTINENCE FROM MEAT: All who have completed their 14th year are bound to abstain from meat on the Fridays of Lent, in addition to Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  One's usual amount of food at meals remains uninterrupted for this is not the same as fasting.

48. BITESIZE CATECHISM: THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL & THE GIFT OF JUSTIFICATION

 

APPETIZER: The grace of the Holy Spirit has the power to justify us, that is, to cleanse us from our sins and to communicate to us the holiness of God through faith in Jesus Christ and through Baptism. The first action of this grace of the Holy Spirit working in us is conversion in accordance with Jesus' proclamation at the beginning of the Gospel: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Moved by this grace, a person turns toward God and away from sin, accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high. "Justification means not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the inner-person. Justification frees us from spiritual alienation from God and purifies our hearts of sin. Justification comes from God's merciful free initiative (that is, we don't earn it) . (see CCC #1989-1990)

MAIN COURSE: On January 25 we celebrate the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul which led to his justification (freedom from sin, spiritual renewal) by receiving the Sacrament of Baptism. What an awesome day for all of us because we all owe so much to him who was the greatest of the early Christian missionaries.

Paul first appears in the Acts of the Apostles under the name of Saul. Saul was raised in the Jewish faith as a Pharisee trained in the strict observance of God’s Law. The Pharisees believed that absolute adherence to Jewish religious law was how a person was made pleasing in God’s sight. Saul looked upon Christianity as an unacceptable corruption of Judaism. He actively persecuted the Christians in Jerusalem and approved of the execution of the first Christian martyr, the Deacon St. Stephen.

Paul then traveled to Damascus (Syria) to further persecute early Christians. On the road to Damascus Saul had an encounter with the Risen Jesus Christ who said to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Paul replied, “Who are you, sir?” Jesus responded, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” Then Jesus sent Saul, who was shaken and blinded by the experience, into Damascus to await further instructions. When a Christian named Ananias came and baptized Saul, the blindness went away.

As a result of this encounter Saul was now convinced about the truth of Christianity: that trusting in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, and not in the Law, was all that was needed to receive God’s promise of salvation. Now going by his Roman name of Paul, he spent the rest of his life focusing bringing Christ to the non-Jewish world, establishing local churches, and writing to them when he heard of their accomplishments or failures. Paul’s letters are the earliest records of the life and history of the early Church and have become the largest part of the New Testament. They are an invaluable record of the expansion of the Christianity in the Mediterranean world.

In a nutshell, the Theology of St. Paul (i.e., his religious teachings) that we hear read at Mass can be summarized as this: Jesus Christ has already accomplished salvation for us, destroying sin with its ultimate effect of death and offering us the gift of eternal life. By trusting in him and receiving the Sacrament of Baptism, we Christians become temples of the Holy Spirit, who is our bond of communion (i.e., our link) with the Father through the Son. The Holy Spirit helps us to live out this deep mystical personal relationship with God and unites us with all others who have been baptized and who together form the one Mystical Body of Christ (i.e., Christ’s Church) on planet Earth. We are thus equipped and empowered to carry on the message and mission of Jesus to all people until the end of the world.

We all stand in need of the gift of justification simply by virtue of our human nature.  Indeed, it was for this very reason that God the Son became human.  All of us (with the exception of Jesus and Mary) have been conceived and born into this world in a state of spiritual alienation from God and so are in need of spiritual healing and wholeness. Traditionally this has been called "original sin" (since it originated in the human race with Adam and Eve).  The Sacrament of Baptism is the ordinary way which Jesus gave us to bring about this first work of justification within us. 

But as we all know from experience, being baptized in and of itself, without embracing and living what it means, is not sufficient for our spiritual growth. Jesus knew this too, of course, and so he gave us the other Sacraments to help us live out pour Baptism. Confirmation strengthens it within us. Eucharist feeds it spiritually. Confession heals and forgives when we go astray. Along with these Sacraments, we need to develop lives of prayer and strive for virtuous living according to the Word of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

St. Paul the Apostles is a perfect example of all these things. He shows us how lives can be transformed like his own. He teaches us Christian behavior in his Letters. Get to know St. Paul and his Christian teaching by reading a from his Letters and pondering what he has to say.  Remember that his words are not just his own but are inspired by the Spirit as part of the Word of God to lead us deeper and deeper into a personal and Church-supported relationship with Christ.

DOGGIE-BAG: A little something to take with you for spiritual snacking…

Holy Quotes...the story of Paul's conversion retold by St. Luke...

Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes, he was blind. So, his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.” “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”

But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” So, Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. (Book of Acts 9:1-9)

Prayer to St. Paul the Apostle

Glorious Saint Paul, Most zealous apostle, Martyr for the love of Christ, Give us a deep faith, A steadfast hope, A burning love for our Lord, So that we can proclaim with you, 'It is no longer I who live, But Christ who lives in me.'  Help us to become apostles, Serving the Church with a pure heart, Witnesses to her truth and beauty Amidst the darkness of our days. With you we praise God our Father: 'To him be the glory, in the Church And in Christ, now and forever.' Amen.

Scripture Verse to Memorize: "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." (St. Paul's most famous words from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

47. BITESIZE CATECHISM: THE PEACEBEARERS OF ST. FRANCIS

Considering the present state of our nation the Bitesize Catechism is starting a series to"light a candle rather than curse the darkness".  It is my hope that many who read it will be inspired to make a conscious daily commitment to live as Peacebearers of St. Francis in their everyday lives!

APPETIZER: Respect for and development of human life require peace. Peace is not merely the absence of war, and it is not limited to maintaining a balance of powers between adversaries. Peace cannot be attained on earth without safeguarding the goods of persons, free communication among men, respect for the dignity of persons and peoples, and the assiduous practice of fraternity. Peace is "the tranquility of order." Peace is the work of justice and the effect of charity. Earthly peace is the image and fruit of the peace of Christ, the messianic "Prince of Peace." By the blood of his Cross, "in his own person he killed the hostility," he reconciled men with God and made his Church the sacrament of the unity of the human race and of its union with God. "He is our peace." He has declared: "Blessed are the peacemakers." (CCC #2304-2305)

MAIN COURSE: Long before he was born on planet Earth, Jesus Christ was prophesied to be the Prince of Peace. To the shepherds of Bethlehem, the angels proclaimed that his birth brought peace on earth to people of good will. As Teacher and Lord, he grew up to preach the Gospel of Peace, declaring “Blessed are the peacemakers, they will be called the children of God.” Peace - along with the fruits of unity, serenity and interior joy that it brings - has long been recognized as an important characteristic of Christianity.

One thousand years after Christ, St. Francis of Assisi was born and has become one of the most well-known and universally popular saints and religious figures. Called “the most Christ-like man who ever lived”, he was also known as a Man of Peace during his lifetime. 

Upon his conversion of heart to Christ as a young man, Francis was inspired to truly live the Gospel in his daily actions. His culture was filled with "Christians" who said they believed in Jesus but acted as if they barely knew him. Francis' sincerity of faith, love of Christ and devotion to the Gospel initiated a movement of reform and renewal that spread like wildfire throughout the known world.

Because of the widespread influence of his Franciscan Movement, Europe experienced a crusade of peacemakers inspired by the Holy Man of Assisi. So, it is no surprise that the most widely circulated prayer which contains his spirit and outlook (but which was not written directly by him) ha been the Peace Prayer of St. Francis.

The religious order started by St. Francis grew by the thousands in his own lifetime. But not everyone who was drawn to him was able to join it in a formal manner as friars or nuns. Many people associated themselves with St. Francis in various other ways. One of these ways was called the Cordbearers of St. Francis. They were so named because they wore a miniature white rope (called a "cord") in imitation of the Franciscans who used a cord a belt.This was their sign of their devotion to St. Francis and reminded them to put his ideals into practice. This simple form of affiliation with the worldwide Franciscan Movement expanded the influence of St. Francis but it has become defunct in recent times. 

However, the Holy Spirit seems to always find new ways to keep the spirit and ideals of St. Francis alive. New forms of being part of the Franciscan Movement are born to meet various needs of various times and places. Based on the simple idea of the Cordbearers, I have been thinking about a new group that I like to call The Peace-Bearers of St. Francis. 

Inspired by the Peace Prayer of St. Francis they would be ordinary everyday people from every walk of life.  Instead of binding their bodies with the Cord of St. Francis as a sign of their spiritual affinity with him, they would bind their minds and their hearts with the Prayer of St. Francis and put it into practice. They are inspired to live as instruments of the Lord’s peace and make a conscious commitment to really live the Peace Prayer in all their relationships and interactions. Theirs is a simple yet concrete way of putting into practice the Beatitudes. It is also a way to contribute to making our world a better place. I think such intentional devotees of St. Francis could be a powerful contribution for peace and reconciliation, for healing and unity in our much-divided nation.

For the next few weeks, our Bitesize Catechism will be taking a a closer look at living the the Peace Prayer (love, pardon, unity, truth, faith, hope, light, joy, to console, to understand, to love, to give, to to forget self, to pardon, and to desire eternal life). It is my hope that this might be of some little help for those who feel called to live their Christianity as Peacebearers of St. Francis.

DOGGIE-BAG: A little something to take with you for spiritual snacking during the day…

THE PEACE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS (A Simple Prayer)

This is the original and longer form of the popular Peace Prayer. It is the version used by St. Mother Teresa and her Missionaries of Charity as well as by the worldwide 12-Step Recovery movement. The lines in italics are those that are usually edited out for the shorter version which is a pity because they very much need to be lived.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me bring love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is discord, unity.

Where there is error, truth.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love,

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in forgetting self that we find self,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

HOLY QUOTES...

"Peace is always possible but we have to consciously seek it. Let us pray for peace, and let us bring it about, starting in our own homes." (Pope Francis)

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." (Mother St. Teresa of Calcutta)

"The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today. Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you will find yourself doing the impossible." (St. Francis of Assisi)

46. BITESIZE CATECHISM: EPIPHANY HOME BLESSING

 

EXPLANATION: The custom of blessing the home on the Solemnity of the Epiphany is a beautiful way of asking God's mercy and grace at the beginning of a New Year.  The Epiphany is celebrated in culturally Catholic countries on January 6 (thus giving rise to the phrase, the "12 Days of Christmas") but in the USA it is liturgically observed on the Sunday closest to January 6.

Why a Home Blessing on Epiphany and not some other Christmastime feast?  Because the Gospel of St. Matthew mentions that the three Magi found in the Holy Family in a home (no longer in the stable-cave with its manger) and the initials of the Magi's traditional names "C.M.B." (Caspar, Balthasar, Melchior) conveniently stand for the first letters in the Latin phrase: Christus Mansionem Benedictat ("Christ bless this house.")  So over time it became a favorite Catholic custom to bless one's home on this special day.

How do I bless my home?   What will I need to do it?  It is important to know that in Catholic teaching, the parents of a family have the authority to give genuine blessings upon people and things that are under their domaine as spouses and parents. Thus, one's children and one's home can be powerfully blessed by a parent without the need to ask a priest or deacon to do so. The only item you will need are:

Prayers & Blessing Service (given below).  

Holy Water (which is always available to our parishioners in the vestibule of the church, just bring a small container.)

Optional: Chalk to inscribe the blessing over your main door. This is optional. You can still give the blessing without "chalking the door" although many find this to be a most unique and special part of the ceremony!  As an alternative, some families make a plaque out of various media to hand above the door that has the Epiphany Home Blessing Inscription written upon it.

A HOME EPIPHANY BLESSING PRAYER SERVICE

OPENING PRAYERS

Leader (Parent) : Peace be to this house.

All: And to all who live here.

All: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.

BLESSING OF THE CHALK (Optional. If not chalking the door go to Blessing of the Home below)

Leader: Our help is the name of the Lord:

All: The Maker of heaven and earth.

Leader: The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in:

All: From this time forth for evermore.

Leader: Let us pray. Loving God, bless this chalk which you have created (make the Sign of the Cross over the chalk), that it may be helpful to your people; and grant, through the invocation of your most Holy Name, that we who use it in faith to write upon the door of our home the names of your holy ones Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, may receive health of body and protection of soul for all who dwell in or visit our home; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Sprinkle the chalk with Holy Water)

Inscribing the Blessing: Using the blessed chalk mark the upper door frame of your main door as shown below. If hanging a plaque you can dos o while saying the prayer verse used with the chalking.

20 + C + M + B + 21 while saying:

Leader:  The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star and discovered God’s Son  May this same Lord Jesus Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the new year. Amen.

After chalking the door offer this home blessing prayer: 

BLESSING THE HOME

Leader: Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of your love; and grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and forever. 

All: Amen.

Go through the house sprinkling each of the rooms with Holy Water. If you're a musical you might want to sing "We Three Kings".

This is the homemade word-burned plaque our family is using this year.

45. BITESIZE CATECHISM: THIRD WEEK OF THE ADVENT WREATH - Jesus Comes to us Through Mary

 

APPETIZER: The Annunciation to Mary inaugurates the time of the fulfillment of God's promises and preparations. Mary was invited to conceive Christ in whom the "whole fullness of deity" would dwell in "bodily form".  The Holy Spirit, "the Lord, the giver of Life", is sent to sanctify the womb of the Virgin Mary and make it fruitful, causing her to conceive the eternal Son of the Father in a humanity drawn from her own. The Father's only Son, conceived as a human being in the womb of the Virgin Mary, is "the Christ", that is to say, the Anointed One consecrated by the Holy Spirit from the beginning of his human existence and manifested to the shepherds, to the magi, to John the Baptist, to the disciples who would follow him. Thus the whole life of Jesus Christ will make manifest "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power." To the shepherds, the angel announced the birth of Jesus as the Messiah promised to Israel: "To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." From the beginning Jesus was the one whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world as it Savior and Rescuer from sin and death. (see CCC 484-486) 

MAIN COURSE:   TheThird Week of Advent stands out from the other three by its color and spirit. The purple of the season gives way to pink which is the liturgical color of joy.  The week itself starts off with the celebration of the Third Sunday of Advent which is called "Gaudete"(from the Latin meaning "rejoice").  So, why the change? Because the hope of a Savior (theme of Week One) and the long centuries of expectation for Israel (Week Two) are drawing near to reaching their goal in the ;ittle town of Bethlehem. 

This Third Week signals the fulfillment of God’s promise and represents the era of the New Testament that began with the conception and birth of Jesus from the Blessed Virgin Mary. During this week we are especially invited to reflect upon the role of Mary in the story of salvation and turn to her whom we call “Cause of our Joy”, asking her to bring us to Jesus and to help us prepare our hearts to receive and live the meaning and message that his birth brings.  And it is in the Gospel stories of the Nativity of Christ that we find its meaning and its message spelled out for us.

With the shepherds of the Bethlehem fields we learn that Jesus is the Savior, Christ the Lord. Savior means "he who heals" and it is the mission of this Newborn Child to heal us of sin and bring us into a loving relationship with God. Christ means "Messiah" or "Anointed One".  This Child is the Promised One whose coming was foretold by the prophets. Lord is a Jewish title for divinity and it proclaims that this Little One is God come among us in the flesh.

With the Magi we learn that the Newborn Savior is someone worth searching to find. We are informed that he is a king, but not the kind we usually think of. The symbolism of the gifts they bring deliver a message about his identity.  Gold for his kingship; frankincense as worship of his divinity; and myrrh (a burial ointment) foretelling his saving death.

With Simeon in the Temple of Jerusalem, we learn that the 40-day old Baby he takes into his arms is the long promised Savior of Israel and of all peoples. Simeon tells us that the Child is a Sign that salvation has arrived on earth and a Light who shines on every human heart, revealing both the good and the bad that lays within.

So, during this Third Week of Advent we have a lot to rejoice about.  Not the superficial rejoicing that we call "holiday cheer" but that deep-down-inside sense of peace and contentment that comes from a heart that has found its Savior and has been reconciled with God.

DOGGIE-BAG: A little something to take with you for spiritual snacking...

THE NUNC DIMITTIS (The Prayer of Simeon)

The Nunc Dimittis (named from its first two words in Latin which mean "NowDismiss") comes directly from the Gospel of St. Luke (Lk 2:29-320 and records the prayer of praise that the elderly Simeon exclaimed upon taking the Infant Jesus into his arms.  It is prayed every night by clergy, nuns, monks and lay people as part of the Liturgy of the Hours (the official daily prayer book of the Church).  It is a would be a good custom for all Christians to join in the nightly prayer before going to sleep.

LORD, now you let you servant go in peace; 

your word has been fulfilled; 

my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared 

in the sight of every people: 

A light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people, Israel.

PRAYERS IN HONOR OF THE BLESSED MOTHER

Adapted from the Mass in Honor of Mary, Cause of our Joy

Rejoice, Virgin Mary, you have found favor with God!
Listen; you will conceive and bear a son,
and you shall call his name Jesus.

OR

Lord our God, you were pleased to bring joy to the world

through the Incarnation of your Son.

Grant that we who honor his Mother, the cause of our joy,

may always walk in the way of your commandments

with our hearts set on true and lasting joy.

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.

OR

Lord, holy Father, we honor the memory of the Blessed Virgin,

the daughter of your love, and with her we wish to  proclaim with fitting praise 

the greatness of your name.

Her blessed birth heralded joy for all the world.

Her virgin-motherhood brought forth the true Light, the source of all joy.

Her hidden life brings light and warmth to all Christians in the world.

Her passing into glory has raised her to the heights of heaven,

where, as our sister and our Mother, she waits for us with loving care.

May we be inspired by her and helped by her prayers, until we come to enjoy 

the vision of your glory for ever. Amen.

SCRIPTURE VERSE TO MEMORIZE: "Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb." (Lk 1:26, 42)

44. BITESIZE CATECHISM: THE SECOND WEEK OF THE ADVENT WREATH - THE OLD TESTAMENT ERA

 

APPETIZER: In order to reveal himself to men, in the condescension of his goodness God speaks to them in human words. In Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment and her strength, for she welcomes it not as a human word, but as what it really is, the word of God. In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them. The Old Testament is an indispensable part of Sacred Scripture. Its books are divinely inspired and retain a permanent value, for the Old Covenant has never been revoked. Indeed, the message of the Old Testament was deliberately oriented so that it should prepare for and declare in prophecy the coming of Christ, the redeemer of all people. It was by the apostolic Tradition that the Church discerned which writings are to be included in the list of the sacred books. This complete list is called the canon of Scripture. It includes 46 books for the Old Testament and 27 for the New. (see CCC #101-120)

MAIN COURSE:  We pondered the first era of human history beginning with Adam and Eve during the First Week of Advent.  We learned during that week that from the beginning, God promised to send a Savior who would undo what those first two humans had done in causing a spiritual alienation between mankind and God. As we light the second purple candle for this Second Week of Advent, the Wreath calls our attention to the Old Testament of the Bible.  It is in this first part of the Sacred Scriptures, which we hold in reverence together with Judaism, that we see the unfolding of God's promise through those who were chosen to be the ancestors of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. So, let's take quick journey through this phase of the salvation story.

The story begins with Abraham who is the first to be called by God in special way for very special mission. He lived about 4,500 years ago and was asked to trust in God and become the father - literally and spiritually - of the Chosen People who who were known as Hebrews and would come to be called "Israel".  Because he believed God, to this day Abraham is honored by Jews, Christians and Muslims as an outstanding example of faith. It is important to remember that in all of Scripture the word "faith" can also be equally translated as "trust". Abraham trusted in God even when what was asked of him seem impossible or even ridiculous.

Isaac and Jacob were respectively the son and grandson of Abraham.  Together with Abraham, they are called the Patriarchs or Fathers of the Chosen People. They receive the highest reverence and praise in this regard by us Christians as well. Like him they carried on the promise and the prophecy with trust, although they faltered here and there. It is from Jacob that the Hebrews became known as Israel (which was his nickname) and it was on the foundation of his 12 sons that there came to be the Twelve Tribes of Israel.  

Jesus, in his incarnate humanity, was a descendent of Jacob's son Judah.  We can say this because tribal lineage came from one's paternal line and St. Joseph was of the Tribe of Judah. We must remember here that in Jewish law adoption bestowed all legal rights and family ties as for a biological child. So Jesus, the adopted son of Joseph, and thus of this tribe.  There is some ancient evidence that the Virgin Mary, too, was of this tribe on her father's side while her mother was of the Tribe of Levi.  You might find it interesting to know that one of Jesus' titles is "Lion of the Tribe of Judah" and for this reason author C.S. Lewis made Aslan, the lion to be the major Christ-figure in his Chronicles of Narnia.

After the Patriarchs the most important persons of the Old Testament are Moses, King David and the Prophets.  Moses, of course, is first among these heroes and holy ones of Israel's history since he was the one to lead them out of slavery in Egypt, received he Ten Commandments from God, and brought them to the borders of the Holy Land. This happened about 3,500 years ago. Moses was a prefigurement of the Savior who would free the people from slavery to sin and its consequence of death by his Cross and Resurrection.

While there were several kings of Israel, David of Jerusalem was the second and most beloved. He was at first the shepherd boy who slew Goliath with a slingshot and through this victory became a servant  and friend of King Saul.  He had musical talent and is said to have written most of the hymns of the Jews that we call the Book of Psalms so, you see, we still pray his inspired words to this day in our Liturgies.  David slipped into some pretty awful sinful tendencies as king.  But he repented and became such a awesome leader that after his death he was held up as an example and model of the Messiah to come.

Finally, the Prophets of Israel stand our among all the Old Testament figures during Advent.  It is their inspired words that we read and proclaim in this holy season which foretell and describe the message and mission of the Messiah, the Savior.  There were about 48 significant prophets but the chief ones among them to whom we turn in our liturgy are Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. The Messianic Prophecies of these men foretold that the Savior would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem.  A star would announce his coming and worshippers from afar would come to him bearing gifts.  He would carry out a ministry of healing the blind, lame and sick and would bring about a kingdom rooted in peace and justice. Finally, he would be rejected by the people, suffer and die but God would not permit him to remain in the grave.

DOGGIE-BAG: A little something to take with you for spiritual snacking...

ICON OF MARY, VIRGIN OF THE SIGN

One of the most ancient icons (religious images) of the Blessed Mother is the one called "Virgin of the Sign" or "Mother of God of the Sign".  It is an illustration of the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah which says that God will give a SIGN of his promise and it will be that a VIRGIN will give birth to a SON. This icon is especially popular among Eastern Rite Catholics and Orthodox Christians, but it is an Advent favorite for all. There are many versions of it, but they all show Mary with outstretched arms welcoming Jesus who is conceived within her womb.  The one below is a copy of an ornate beaded and gold-plated icon.

An Advent Prayer for Peace

Lord, in a season when every heart should be happy and light, many of us are struggling with the heaviness of life—burdens that steal our joy. Threats seem to be all around us at times and an inner voice whispers, “Be afraid!”  But you have said, "Do not be afraid. I am with you always." We need your peace, Jesus. We confess that our hearts are too often filled with worry, not peace. Stir up within us the Good News once again. 

This Advent, make the Good News real in our hearts. Never have we needed Your joy and peace more than now. We not only need Your peace and joy; Lord, we crave it. You’ve promised rest for the weary, victory for the battle-scarred, peace for the anxious, and acceptance for the broken hearted—not just at Advent, but every day of every year. Your name is still called “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” and “The Prince of Peace.” We know that peace on earth can only come when hearts find peace with You. So please grant to me, and to all who are worried or burdened, the Joy and Serenity that your Bethlehem manger promises. Amen.

SCRIPTURE VERSE TO MEMORIZE: "The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel (which means God-is-with-us)." (Isaiah 7:14)

43. BITESIZE CATECHISM: THE FIRST WEEK OF THE ADVENT WREATH - JESUS OUR SAVIOR & MESSIAH

APPETIZER: Jesus means in Hebrew: "God saves." At the annunciation to Mary, the angel Gabriel gave her Child the name Jesus as his proper name, which expresses both his identity and his mission.Since God alone can forgive sins, it is God who, in Jesus his eternal Son made man, "will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).   The word "Christ" comes from the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah, which means "anointed". It became the name proper to Jesus only because he accomplished perfectly the divine mission that "Christ" signifies. It was necessary that the Messiah be anointed by the Spirit of the Lord at once as king and priest, and also as prophet.  Jesus fulfilled the messianic hope of Israel in his threefold office of priest, prophet and king.  Jesus' messianic consecration reveals his divine mission, "for the name 'Christ' implies 'he who anointed'. The one who anointed is the Father, the one who was anointed is the Son, and he was anointed with the Spirit who is the anointing. "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power that he might be revealed to Israel as its Messiah. His works and words will manifest him as "the Holy One of God"(see Catechism of the Catholic Church, #430-438)

MAIN COURSE:  During the First Week of Advent our prayerful thoughts and meditations go back to the primordial Garden of Eden, to the first stage of human history.  We light the first purple candle which calls to mind the creation of the original human couple. The Book of Genesis calls the man Adam (which simply means "man") and the woman "Eve" (which means 'mother').  God created them in goodness and full of holiness.  

As a free gift from God, they enjoyed a personal relationship with Him, sharing in his love and also in his  divine life. This was something above and beyond the natural capabilities of human nature. Adam and Eve - and all humans who were to descend from them - were intended by God to also live in this intimate relationship.  But love is, by its very nature, a free choice and so God gave the first humans the freedom of the will to choose to love Him and share his life. 

This is where the enemy of God and the human race, Satan (which means "Adversary") enters the story. He along with other fallen angels also had a free choice to love and live with God. However, they chose to love and serve themselves instead.  Filled with envy and motivated by hatred that God would allow humans to be raised higher in glory and happiness than them, Satan set about his sneaky plan to tempt Adam and Eve and mislead them to make the same choice that he had made.

As we know from the Book of Genesis, the first human did exactly this and disobeyed their Creator. But God love's is merciful and unconditional.  Though Adam and Eve no longer live din intimacy with Him, He promised to send a Savior who would make up for their selfishness and disobedience. Through perfect love and generous obedience, this Savior, called the Messiah, would lead the human race back to God. 

In order to make perfect love and obedience possible for a human being, God the Son himself chose to become human, for only a human who is also divine could fully and truly make-up to God for the original sin of Adam and Eve.  Because he is both fully divine and fully human, Jesus could heal and reconcile in his own person the division that sin caused between God and humans.  And he would bring about this same healing from sin and union with God in those who unite themselves to him by faith through baptism. This is why we call him our Savior because salvation means "healing".  We call him Messiah (which is translated as "Christ" in Greek) because he is the promised Anointed One who would come to set us free from the ancient enslavement of humans to sin.

This first candle invites us to join in the story that began in the Garden of Eden. It calls us to become part of the solution to sin by preparing our hearts and lives to welcome and follow the Messiah, the Christ, the Promised One. 

DOGGIE-BAG: A little something to take with you for spiritual snacking...

Reflection for the First week of Advent: As we read in the Appetizer above taken from the official Catechism of the Catholic Church, Jesus is the promised Messiah, a Hebrew word which is Greek is translated as "Christ" and in English it is "the Anointed One".  At Baptism we each were anointed with the holy oil of Chrism and became intimately and spiritually united with Jesus the Anointed One as prophets, priests and kings.  How well are you living your mission as a prophet, priest and king with the Messiah?  A prophet is an instrument of God'd Word to others - do you read the Scriptures? A priest offers praise and worship to God - are you praying daily and speaking to God from your heart? A king in the Messiah's kingdom is someone who serves the people unselfishly - how are you interacting with and treating others?

SCRIPTURE QUOTE TO MEMORIZE: "Born for  you in King David's City is the Savior who is both Christ and Lord." (Gospel of St. Luke 11:1)

42. BITESIZE CATECHISM: ST. FRANCESCA CABRINI & CHURCH TEACHING ON IMMIGRATION

 

APPETIZER: The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.  Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens. (CCC #2241)

MAIN COURSE: Francesca Saviero (Frances Xavier) Cabrini was the very first American citizen to be canonized a saint to the Catholic Church.  She was born in Italy but dies an American citizen and has been proclaimed the patroness of immigrants.  This makes her an ideal American Saint since we were established as and continue to be a nation of immigrants.

The youngest of thirteen children, Francesca Cabrini was born on July 15, 1850 in a small village near the city of Milan, Italy. She grew up enthralled by the stories of missionaries and made up her mind to join a religious order. Because of her frail health, she was not permitted to join the Daughters of the Sacred Heart who had been her teachers and under whose guidance she obtained her teaching certificate.

However, in 1880, with seven young women, Francesca founded a new religious community in the Catholic Church called the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  As the leader and foundress she was now called Mother Cabrini. She was as resourceful as she was prayerful, finding people who would donate what she needed in money, time, labor and support. She and her sisters wanted to be missionaries in China, so she went to Rome to obtain an audience with Pope Leo XIII for permission to do so. The Pope told Francesca to go “not to the East, but to the West” to New York rather than to China. He told her that she and here Sisters were needed to help the thousands of Italian immigrants already in the United States.

In 1889, New York seemed to be filled with chaos and poverty, and into this new world stepped Mother Francesca Cabrini and her sister companions. Mother Cabrini organized catechism and education classes for the Italian immigrants and provided for the needs of the many orphans. She established schools and orphanages despite tremendous odds.  

Soon, requests for her to open schools came to from all over the world.  Even though she had a deep fear of water due to nearly drowning as a child, Mother Cabrini rose above her fears for love of God and neighbor and made 23 trans-Atlantic crossings to establish 67 institutions: schools, hospitals and orphanages.  These were found in Europe, Central and South America and throughout the United States.

Francesca's activity was relentless until her death. On December 22, 1917,  she passed away while wrapping Christmas gifts for orphans in Chicago. In 1946, she was canonized a saint by Pope Pius XII in recognition of her holiness and service to mankind and was named Patroness of Immigrants in 1950.  She is honored also as one in the Great American Women Hall of Fame.

Immigration can be  very "hot topic" for people today. And you can find Catholics on both sides of the issue. Here are the official three principles of Catholic social teaching as set forth by the US Bishops for our nation of immigrants and which make it pretty simple for anyone to understand:

First Principle: People have the right to migrate to sustain their lives and the lives of their families. People have the right to migrate to sustain their lives and the lives of their families. This is based on biblical and ancient Christian teaching that the goods of the earth belong to all people. While the right to private property is defended in Catholic social teaching, individuals do not have the right to use private property without regard for the common good. Every person has an equal right to receive from the earth what is necessary for life—food, clothing, shelter. 

Moreover, every person has the right to education, medical care, religion, and the expression of one's culture. In many places people live in fear, danger, or dehumanizing poverty. Clearly, it is not God's will that some of his children live in luxury while others have nothing. In Luke's Gospel, the rich man was condemned for living well while the poor man starved at his doorstep (Lk 16:19-31).  The native does not have superior rights over the immigrant. Before God all are equal; the earth was given by God to all. When a person cannot achieve a meaningful life in his or her own land, that person has the right to move.

Second Principle: A country has the right to regulate its borders and to control immigration. While individuals have the right to move in search of a safe and humane life, no country is bound to accept all those who wish to resettle there. By this principle the Church recognizes that most immigration is ultimately not something to celebrate. Ordinarily, people do not leave the security of their own land and culture just to seek adventure in a new place or merely to enhance their standard of living. Instead, they migrate because they are desperate and the opportunity for a safe and secure life does not exist in their own land. Immigrants and refugees endure many hardships and often long for the homes they left behind. 

As Americans we should cherish and celebrate the contributions of immigrants and their cultures; however, we should work to make it unnecessary for people to leave their own land. Because there seems to be no end to poverty, war, and misery in the world, developed nations will continue to experience pressure from many peoples who desire to resettle in their lands. Catholic social teaching is realistic: While people have the right to move, no country has the duty to receive so many immigrants that its social and economic life are jeopardized.  

For this reason, Catholics should not view the work of the federal government and its immigration control as negative or evil. Those who work to enforce our nation's immigration laws often do so out of a sense of loyalty to the common good and compassion for poor people seeking a better life. In an ideal world, there would be no need for immigration control. The Church recognizes that this ideal world has not yet been achieved.

Third Principle: A country must regulate its borders with justice and mercy. A country's regulation of borders and control of immigration must be governed by concern for all people and by mercy and justice. A nation may not simply decide that it wants to provide for its own people and no others. A sincere commitment to the needs of all must prevail. Even in the case of less urgent migrations, a developed nation's right to limit immigration must be based on justice, mercy, and the common good, not on self-interest. Moreover, immigration policy ought to take into account other important values such as the right of families to live together. A merciful immigration policy will not force married couples or children to live separated from their families for long periods.

Undocumented immigrants present a special concern. Often their presence is considered criminal since they arrive without legal permission. The Catholic Church teaches that every person has basic human rights and is entitled to have basic human needs met—food, shelter, clothing, education, and health care. Undocumented persons are particularly vulnerable to exploitation by employers, and they are not able to complain because of the fear of discovery and deportation. Current immigration policy that criminalizes the mere attempt to immigrate and imprisons immigrants who have committed no crime or who have already served a just sentence for a crime is immoral.

Finally, immigration policy that allows people to live here and contribute to society for years but refuses to offer them the opportunity to achieve legal status does not serve the common good. The presence of millions of people living without easy access to basic human rights and necessities is a great injustice. It is the position of the Catholic Church that pastoral, educational, medical, and social services provided by the Church are never conditioned on legal status. All persons are invited to participate in our parishes, attend our schools, and receive other services offered by our institutions and programs.

DOGGIE-BAG: A Little something to take with you for spiritual snacking...

Holy Quotes...

“We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend upon material success but on Jesus alone. I will go anywhere and do anything in order to communicate the love of Jesus to those who do not know Him or have forgotten Him.” (St.Francesca Cabrini)

Prayer Through Mother Cabrini's Intercession

Merciful and Eternal God, Source of all gifts, I trust in Your mercy and love.  You have urged us through your Son, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to ask for your assistance in all our needs. Grant me through the intercession of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, whom I invoke, that I may obtain the grace I desire [mention your intention] according to your holy will. I offer you praise and thanksgiving. Amen.

Prayer After Confession by Mother Cabrini

My dearest Jesus, I have told all my sins as well as I could. I tried hard to make a good confession. I feel sure that you have forgiven me.  I thank You. It is only because of all Your sufferings that I can go to confession and free myself from my sins. Your Heart is full of love and mercy for poor sinners. I love You because You are so good to me. My loving Savior, I shall try to keep from sin and to love You more each day. My dear Mother Mary, pray for me and help me to keep my promises. Protect me and do not let me fall back into sin. Amen.

Scripture Verse to Memorize: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philipians 4:13, Mother Cabrini's personal motto).