I'll always remember "May Crowning Day" at St. John's School in the 1960's and early 1970's. The whole school got in line outside and began a procession into church amid a myriad of Marian songs that remain in my mind and heart to this day. The highlight, of course, was when one of the First Communion girls walked up the steps to crown Mary to the words: "O Mary we crown you with blossoms today, Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May." While I never objected to getting out of class early on that day, I know that it truly helped to foster devotion to the Blessed Mother and confirm our faith that tells us that Mary was crowned by her glorified son as Queen of heaven and earth. While I know our Protestant brothers and sisters would not be very positive about our description of Mary in this way, our Catholic faith reminds us that Mary is the great intercessor with her Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ and that He is the one who ultimately has the power to grant our requests and petitions.
Someone asked me the other day why we don't sing Marian songs like we used to, especially in May. My response is that we can sing Marian songs on all days of the week (especially weekday masses on Saturday morning, the month of May, and Marian feast days). Sunday, however, being the "Lord's Day," is normally NOT a day in which we sing Marian songs. An exception to that might be on Mother's Day - especially the song "Be Joyful Mary" which calls Mary and all of us to rejoice in her Son and in His Resurrection, and which is the focus and emphasis of every Sunday Mass, especially during the Easter season.
I appreciate the person who asked that question about singing Marian songs and I will try to include some in our daily Masses in May.
Someone asked me the other day why we don't sing Marian songs like we used to, especially in May. My response is that we can sing Marian songs on all days of the week (especially weekday masses on Saturday morning, the month of May, and Marian feast days). Sunday, however, being the "Lord's Day," is normally NOT a day in which we sing Marian songs. An exception to that might be on Mother's Day - especially the song "Be Joyful Mary" which calls Mary and all of us to rejoice in her Son and in His Resurrection, and which is the focus and emphasis of every Sunday Mass, especially during the Easter season.
I appreciate the person who asked that question about singing Marian songs and I will try to include some in our daily Masses in May.
This Sunday we celebrated First Holy Communion for three of our children: Daeson Rhodes, Bethany Markus, and Samantha Moosebroker. I'm sure even the mention of First Holy Communion brings back memories for all of us as we remember the suits that the boys wore and the white dresses of the little girls, along with the folding of their hands in a gesture of prayer as they walked up in procession to the joy of their parents. It's a priceless picture to have in one's mind. The reception of their "First Communion" brought smiles of joy and pride to parents as their faith precipitated this important moment in their child's life and in their family's life. The hope that I have is always that they will grow in appreciation of and devotion to the gift of Jesus in Holy Communion.
While specific memories of our First Holy Communion might be vague by this point in our lives, I can still remember kneeling down after receiving my FIrst Communion and praying that my family would live long lives on this earth. While this has happened with some family members (i.e., a grandmother who lived to be 97 years and two uncles and two aunts over 90 years of age), I have also experienced early deaths in my dad (59 years), two uncles (50 and 57 years) and some cousins who have died at ages even younger. I certainly do not "hold it against God" that some of my family members died relatively young. I do wish, however, that my First Communion prayer would have been that my family live a long and fruitful "Faith Life" that gives witness to the love and hope that comes from Jesus Christ. Perhaps I could ask you to pray for that blessing for our First Communion children and their families and for all whose families are blessed to have members who are partaking of the "Living Bread come down from heaven" that brings with it the great hope of eternal life at the banquet feast of heaven.
While specific memories of our First Holy Communion might be vague by this point in our lives, I can still remember kneeling down after receiving my FIrst Communion and praying that my family would live long lives on this earth. While this has happened with some family members (i.e., a grandmother who lived to be 97 years and two uncles and two aunts over 90 years of age), I have also experienced early deaths in my dad (59 years), two uncles (50 and 57 years) and some cousins who have died at ages even younger. I certainly do not "hold it against God" that some of my family members died relatively young. I do wish, however, that my First Communion prayer would have been that my family live a long and fruitful "Faith Life" that gives witness to the love and hope that comes from Jesus Christ. Perhaps I could ask you to pray for that blessing for our First Communion children and their families and for all whose families are blessed to have members who are partaking of the "Living Bread come down from heaven" that brings with it the great hope of eternal life at the banquet feast of heaven.
At the conclusion of more and more of our funeral Masses, we are ending as Mass normally does with the Blessing and Dismissal because the interment of the deceased's cremains is not happening at one of our columbariums or at another place close by. When that is the case, it is presumed that the interment will be taking place somewhere out-of-state or out of this area sometime in the near future. With the reality of cremains rather than a body in a casket, in more and more instances, the options as to what to do with the cremains after the funerals are more than a few. The Church has some clear directives for those who choose cremation for themselves and/or for their loved one(s). Firstly, cremains should NOT be scattered or divded up and given to family members. The integrity of the person, even if all that remains of them is cremains, must be maintained. While the Church strongly encourages interment of a body or cremains in a timely fashion and in a blessed place (i.e., a cemetery, or columbarium), there are those who make the choice of keeping their loved ones cremains in their home for an extended and undetermined period of time. Among things to consider, this practice can have the unintended consequence of closure being delayed.
Please know first of all, that we have an option for you to consider if the interment will be taking place at a designated place, at a later time. We are open to letting a family use one of the empty niche's in our columbarium for their loved ones urn for a minimal fee until the permanent interment takes place. Secondly, if you have the cremains of your loved one at home, please put them in a place of honor and respect in your home, AND please alert your family members, AND US, as to where they are and what your plans are for them so that if you were to die, it is clear what you intend for your loved one and for yourself. Of course we keep a file of parishioners choices for their funerals of readings, music and other details of their funeral liturgy and interment thay want followed and respected. So, directives about burial or interment of yours and/or your family members remains or cremains can be kept in our confidential file as well. Please ponder all this and visit with me or one of the deacons about this very important matter. We make plans for so much that happens in our lives, so it makes sense for us to do the same when it comes to the reality of our death, whenever it happens. You might be interested to know that our diocese requires all priests - right after they are ordained, to decide what they want for their funeral. This file is then kept at the diocese and can be updated by us at any time. Since I did mine almost 30 years ago, this column is inspiring me to see what I decided then and consider if I wanrt any changes made to it. Of course you can do the same with anything we have on file for you.
Please know first of all, that we have an option for you to consider if the interment will be taking place at a designated place, at a later time. We are open to letting a family use one of the empty niche's in our columbarium for their loved ones urn for a minimal fee until the permanent interment takes place. Secondly, if you have the cremains of your loved one at home, please put them in a place of honor and respect in your home, AND please alert your family members, AND US, as to where they are and what your plans are for them so that if you were to die, it is clear what you intend for your loved one and for yourself. Of course we keep a file of parishioners choices for their funerals of readings, music and other details of their funeral liturgy and interment thay want followed and respected. So, directives about burial or interment of yours and/or your family members remains or cremains can be kept in our confidential file as well. Please ponder all this and visit with me or one of the deacons about this very important matter. We make plans for so much that happens in our lives, so it makes sense for us to do the same when it comes to the reality of our death, whenever it happens. You might be interested to know that our diocese requires all priests - right after they are ordained, to decide what they want for their funeral. This file is then kept at the diocese and can be updated by us at any time. Since I did mine almost 30 years ago, this column is inspiring me to see what I decided then and consider if I wanrt any changes made to it. Of course you can do the same with anything we have on file for you.