Some of us recently had a wonderful experience firstly at Mass and then at a special dinner and program for the 10-year anniversary of Eucharistic Adoration celebrated at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. I believe such a ministry accomplishment (10 years of Eucharistic Adoration) deserves some reflection in this pastor's column. It got its start from a small Friday morning charismatic prayer group that was led by Roger Bresnahan (of happy memory). Since I was blessed to share in the start of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in Fr Smith around the year 2000 (a ministry that continues there) I was more than happy to work with this prayer group in attempting to start it in this faith filled parish. I had seen the blessings that come to individuals who participate in it, as well as blessings that come to others, including parishes and communities, from people spending at least one hour a week with Jesus exposed in the Monstrance. Truly there are many adorers who could, and perhaps will, share the blessings that they have witnessed themselves. Giving that one hour to the Lord means leaving the day to day activities and worries of our lives in the world (and sometimes bringing those to the Lord) and focusing in on the one who humbled himself to share in our humanity, who showed us the BEST say anyone can live, suffered and died on the cross for the redemption of humanity, and opened the doors to eternal life where we will be surrounded forever by His love & peace. Just think of spending a few minutes of your life with the celebrity you admire the most (living or deceased). That PALES in comparison with the opportunity we have for an hour a week (or any period of time 24/7, seven days a week) with the most celebrated AND worshipped person who has ever lived, and who still lives with us and in everlasting glory. While I was blessed to spend so much time with my mom in her long life (now that she is phsically gone) I long to see her and converse with her and I grieve the fact that it will not be possible again as long as I live in this world. What a blessing to spend time receiving my Lord at Mass at least once a day and spending time with him, the one I love the most AND who is there loving me. Not suprisingly, I have more to say about the blessings and challenges of having Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in our parish and will continue to do so next week.
If there ever is a year in which an argument could be made to do without a Vigil Mass of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Eve) and begin the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord with a Midnight Mass it would be this year when Christmas Day is on Monday. On sunday, December 24, the Church celebrates the 4th Sunday of Advent. The last Sunday of Advent is the proximate (very near) preparation for the Solemnity of the Incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. the Gospel for the 4th Sunday of Advent this year is what has come to be known as the Annunciation to Mary through the Angel Gabriel. That gives us much to reflect upon (for a short time) as we will soon "fast forward" (as early as that Sunday afternoon) to readings of the Masses of the Nativity of the Lord and the events surrounding his birth, starting with the Midnight Mass and continuing through the Mass at Dawn and Mass During the Day on December 25. That leaves the Vigil Mass of the Nativity of the Lord which will occur in some parishes (like ours) on the evening of December 24. Like the Easter Vigil (which has more than a few differences from the Easter Sunday Masses). The Christmas Vigil Mass has this as the Entrance Antiphon: "Today you will know that the Lord will come, and he will save us, AND IN THE MORNING you will see his glory." The church gives us the option of proclaiming some Old Testament readings (like we do at the Easter Vigil) before the Gloria is sung, followed by the opening prayer and the readings for the Vigil Mass which focus mostly on God's plan of salvation that originated all the way back to Abraham and continued through the history of our Jewish ancestors in faith up to the time that Jesus, the Messiah, is born. The Gospel of that Mass,, Matthew 1:1-25 has a long geneaologyof Jesus and ends with the Annunciation to Joseph in a dream with only a brief reference to Jesus's bith in verse 25: "He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus." (Mth 1:25). One might leave the Vigil Mass of the Nativity (that begins with an Advent song in place of the "Entrance Antiphon" which I quoted above) questioning why it was not a full Christmas Mass. Hopefully, it's only those who didn't read ;and reflect on this pastor's column who will think or say that. By the way, I wrote this column so early before Christmas and even before Advent, so it will give everyone plenty of time to think and pray before making plans for which Masses you will attend, one for the 4th Sunday of Advent (December 23 at 4:00 p.m. or December 24 at 8:00 and 10:0 a.m. AND for the Nativity of the Lord (December 24 at 4:00 p.m. or Midnight Mass and 10:00 a.m. on Christmas Day). Please pray for me and all priests, deeacons and liturgical ministers who will be challenged and blessed to celebrate multiple Masses in a short period of time!
You may or may not be aware that Bishop Joseph Strickland, now formerly the bishop of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas was relieved of his pastoral care and administration of the people of that diocese by Pope Francis effective on Saturday, November 11. While this is sad for Bishop Strickland, who I personally know through our time together in seminary formation at Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, Texas, I am bothered by some in the media who are characterizing this as a "liberal" pope (Pope Francis) coming down hard on a conservative bishop who has, over a roughly 5 year period been openly critical of some of the words, actions and priorities of Pope Francis.
I think it is helpful and certainly informative to share with you, that Bishop Strickland was appointed Bishop of the Tyler, Texas Diocese by the late Pope Benedict XVI in September of 2012, about 6 months before Pope Francis was elected Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. While I don't know what the rite says when a bishop is ordained for that role in the Church, I suspect he promises respect and obedience ot the Church's teachings and to the Pope who appointed him and his successors. A case can certainly be made that Bishop Strickland was not always true to the first part of that promise (respect) through various public statements he made on social media. Besides this, Pope Francis sent two bishops of the United States in June to the Diocese of Tyer to evaluate Bishops Strickland's governance of his diocese in the almost 11 years since he started being the chief shepherd there. Their conclusions were presented to Pope Francis and one has to believe that that might have been one important reason that he was relieved of his ministry as bishop there.
Pope Francis has certainly shown himself over his 10 year papcy and before as a humble, compassionate and merciful person, and, as such, I believe that he did not make a hasty or vindictive judgement about Bishop Strickland based solely on the bishop's critical words about the pope and those who counsel him at the Vatican and through other places and people. So many, if not most, of the people who are speaking out negatively toward what the pope has done with regard to Bishop Strickland are those who have been critical of the pope for some or all of his papacy and do not (as all of us don't) have the whole story of what all went into the pope's decision. I think it can be said that all of the bishops of the United States who are meeting together in Baltimore in the last few days have various opinions of some of the words and actions of our pope. I trust they are firstly and mostly focused on the pastoral administration of their diocese and striving to dialogue together and with the pope to keep the Church true to its mission that has been passed down through the centuries with Jesus Christ as the Supreme Shepherd and Savior of the world.
Let us all pray for unity in all things that make us blessed to be a part of such a large flock of believers!
I think it is helpful and certainly informative to share with you, that Bishop Strickland was appointed Bishop of the Tyler, Texas Diocese by the late Pope Benedict XVI in September of 2012, about 6 months before Pope Francis was elected Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. While I don't know what the rite says when a bishop is ordained for that role in the Church, I suspect he promises respect and obedience ot the Church's teachings and to the Pope who appointed him and his successors. A case can certainly be made that Bishop Strickland was not always true to the first part of that promise (respect) through various public statements he made on social media. Besides this, Pope Francis sent two bishops of the United States in June to the Diocese of Tyer to evaluate Bishops Strickland's governance of his diocese in the almost 11 years since he started being the chief shepherd there. Their conclusions were presented to Pope Francis and one has to believe that that might have been one important reason that he was relieved of his ministry as bishop there.
Pope Francis has certainly shown himself over his 10 year papcy and before as a humble, compassionate and merciful person, and, as such, I believe that he did not make a hasty or vindictive judgement about Bishop Strickland based solely on the bishop's critical words about the pope and those who counsel him at the Vatican and through other places and people. So many, if not most, of the people who are speaking out negatively toward what the pope has done with regard to Bishop Strickland are those who have been critical of the pope for some or all of his papacy and do not (as all of us don't) have the whole story of what all went into the pope's decision. I think it can be said that all of the bishops of the United States who are meeting together in Baltimore in the last few days have various opinions of some of the words and actions of our pope. I trust they are firstly and mostly focused on the pastoral administration of their diocese and striving to dialogue together and with the pope to keep the Church true to its mission that has been passed down through the centuries with Jesus Christ as the Supreme Shepherd and Savior of the world.
Let us all pray for unity in all things that make us blessed to be a part of such a large flock of believers!