Has anyone ever wished you a "Happy Easter Monday" or a "Happy Easter Tuesday" or the same for each day of this week. The "Octave" of Easter goes on for eight days beginning on Easter Sunday and ending on Divine Mercy Sunday. They are given the second highest rank on the calendar (the first being the Paschal Triduum) and the Masses of those days include the said or sung Gloria, the Sequence that is obligatory on Easter Sunday and optional on these days, the readings of the post-Resurrection appearances of the risen Lord, and the "double Alleluia" that is sung at the dismissal of Mass. These most important days "cry out" for us to participate in ALL these liturgies or at least some and CELEBRATE at Mass and at home the Resurrection of the Lord and what this means for us at the end of our eartly lives and what it should mean to our daily lives in the Lord!!
On Divine Mercy Sunday (the Second Sunday of Easter) after concluding the Divine Mercy Novena which began on Good Friday and ends on Easter Saturday, we have the opportunity to join with Catholics throughout the world in a Divine Mercy Holy Hour (3:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church) which will include songs, prayers and scripture readings of God's Mercy that was shown to us in the greatest way through his Son, Jesus Christ. I urge you, whether you are familiar with the Divine Mercy Devotion or not to log in to www.FORMED.ORG, sometime early this week, click on "for a parishioner" enter 71909 and when Sacred Heart appears, click that, then enter your name and e-mail address and the content of video offerings will apperar. Look for the title "Ocean of Mercy" that has images of St. Faustina, Saint, Pope John Paul II, and St. Maximillian Kolbe on it, and then click and watch this 75 minute documentary. It will hopefully inspire you to participate in this devotion not only on Divine Mercy Sunday but on a regular basis and the Chaplet being prayed by or for you as your loved ones or you are nearing death. I hope you will find out the blessings that will come when this is done!!!
While many of our prayer devotions have been around for centuries and have been passed down (hopefully) from family to family, the Divine Mercy Devotion is one that started in our time of history, and will grow and continue for generations to come ONLY IF we adopt it for our lives and pass it on to our family members and friends.
On Divine Mercy Sunday (the Second Sunday of Easter) after concluding the Divine Mercy Novena which began on Good Friday and ends on Easter Saturday, we have the opportunity to join with Catholics throughout the world in a Divine Mercy Holy Hour (3:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church) which will include songs, prayers and scripture readings of God's Mercy that was shown to us in the greatest way through his Son, Jesus Christ. I urge you, whether you are familiar with the Divine Mercy Devotion or not to log in to www.FORMED.ORG, sometime early this week, click on "for a parishioner" enter 71909 and when Sacred Heart appears, click that, then enter your name and e-mail address and the content of video offerings will apperar. Look for the title "Ocean of Mercy" that has images of St. Faustina, Saint, Pope John Paul II, and St. Maximillian Kolbe on it, and then click and watch this 75 minute documentary. It will hopefully inspire you to participate in this devotion not only on Divine Mercy Sunday but on a regular basis and the Chaplet being prayed by or for you as your loved ones or you are nearing death. I hope you will find out the blessings that will come when this is done!!!
While many of our prayer devotions have been around for centuries and have been passed down (hopefully) from family to family, the Divine Mercy Devotion is one that started in our time of history, and will grow and continue for generations to come ONLY IF we adopt it for our lives and pass it on to our family members and friends.
I am composing this pastor's column earlier than usual because of a Palm Sunday bulletin deadline. It is the day before the NCAA basketball semi-finals between Duke, Kansas, Villanova, and North Carolina. Fans who have been faithfully following these teams throughout the long season (which started in early November) will flock ito the arena or watch at home, in hopes that they can do the same only two days later in the final. It is something they wouldn't miss. It is the highpoint of the college basketball season and will also be watched by millions of college basketball fans even if their team is not in the finals.
Ever more important than a basketball (or any sport) season and championship is our participation faithfully, and on the weekend (for sure), in the celebration of the Mass. Such participation (whether we realize it or not) is both pointing toward and looking back at the highpoint of the Church's liturgical season, the Paschal or Easter Triduum. The importance of Catholics participating in these days (more as players than fans) in church AND at home is brought out beautifully by Fr. Paul Turner in the booklet, "What Am I Doing For Triduum This Year." Speaking of these three days he says that they stand out AGAINST ALL OTHERS for Christians: the day Jesus died, the day Jesus lay in the tomb, and the day he rose from the dead. WE celebrate them each year with a unique and extended liturgy at Church (with extended pauses for reflection, personal prayer and a fast from food and/or other normal wordly activities in between our gathering together). (Admittedly I did edit some of what he said). He ends by saying "Make time for your faith! Make these days different! Make them count!!
If you have been at Sacred Heart Parish over the last 12 years you have heard me stress the importance for ALL OF US who possibly can, to participate in church and in home devotional practices in the Paschal Triduum. Some have told me they have never heard a priest talk so strongly about participation in the most important days in the Church's entire year. My response is how sad! How sad that all priests aren't educating about the Triduum and strongly encouraging every Catholic's full participation. The Triduum is certainly what the Elect have been pointing toward during the 40 days of Lent as they prepare to receive the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. Lent is, in reality, for ALL CATHOLICS a preparation for what some collects and prefaces at Mass during Lent say; the "paschal festivities" which is the TRIDUUM (the three days). I pray that ALL Sacred Heart parishioners, both those who have heard me stress the importance of full participation in the Triduum for the years I have been your pastor and some for the first time, will commit to making this a three day retreat for themselves both in church and at home. I strongly believe those who do so will be blessed abundantly with a strengthening faith in the paschal mystery (the passion, death, and resurrection of the Lord) and a more lively and committed faith life for the whole year and the rest of your lives!!! Unlike the NCAA finals, EVERYONE OF US can come out a winner with our celebration of Christ's ultimate victory going on for all eternity with him and with all the saints in glory!!
Ever more important than a basketball (or any sport) season and championship is our participation faithfully, and on the weekend (for sure), in the celebration of the Mass. Such participation (whether we realize it or not) is both pointing toward and looking back at the highpoint of the Church's liturgical season, the Paschal or Easter Triduum. The importance of Catholics participating in these days (more as players than fans) in church AND at home is brought out beautifully by Fr. Paul Turner in the booklet, "What Am I Doing For Triduum This Year." Speaking of these three days he says that they stand out AGAINST ALL OTHERS for Christians: the day Jesus died, the day Jesus lay in the tomb, and the day he rose from the dead. WE celebrate them each year with a unique and extended liturgy at Church (with extended pauses for reflection, personal prayer and a fast from food and/or other normal wordly activities in between our gathering together). (Admittedly I did edit some of what he said). He ends by saying "Make time for your faith! Make these days different! Make them count!!
If you have been at Sacred Heart Parish over the last 12 years you have heard me stress the importance for ALL OF US who possibly can, to participate in church and in home devotional practices in the Paschal Triduum. Some have told me they have never heard a priest talk so strongly about participation in the most important days in the Church's entire year. My response is how sad! How sad that all priests aren't educating about the Triduum and strongly encouraging every Catholic's full participation. The Triduum is certainly what the Elect have been pointing toward during the 40 days of Lent as they prepare to receive the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. Lent is, in reality, for ALL CATHOLICS a preparation for what some collects and prefaces at Mass during Lent say; the "paschal festivities" which is the TRIDUUM (the three days). I pray that ALL Sacred Heart parishioners, both those who have heard me stress the importance of full participation in the Triduum for the years I have been your pastor and some for the first time, will commit to making this a three day retreat for themselves both in church and at home. I strongly believe those who do so will be blessed abundantly with a strengthening faith in the paschal mystery (the passion, death, and resurrection of the Lord) and a more lively and committed faith life for the whole year and the rest of your lives!!! Unlike the NCAA finals, EVERYONE OF US can come out a winner with our celebration of Christ's ultimate victory going on for all eternity with him and with all the saints in glory!!
As I compose this pastor's column on Tuesday, March 29, I do so with the Order of the Knights of Columbus very much in my mind and heart as this day marks the 140th anniversary of the start of the Knights of Columbus through a Spirit-inspired priest by the name of Michael McGivney (who is now "Blessed" Michael McGivney). There are some who wonder why members of this men's fraternity are known as "Knights." Doesn't that image speak of a warrior who in history were "fighters" who, among other things used violence to defeat an enemy? Yes, they were, is the short answer. The longer answer is that a "Knight of Columbus" should, among other things be committed to defeating the ultimate enemy, the devil, not with violence but with a spirituality that connects daily with the ultimate "commander" Jesus Christ. The notion of Knight also elicits an image of one who is a "protector" and "defender" of the Catholic Faith and seeks to "win over" others to the Faith.
As far as choosing Christopher Columbus as the namesake for this new "benefit society," it was a time in the history of our country when anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant hostilities ran high. Choosing Columbus as the Order's namesake asserted an important truth: that only was there a place for Catholics and immigrants within American society, but that such a person had already played a part in creating the young, free world around them.
While the first and most important tenet of the Knights of Columbus is charity (with the others being unity, fraternity and patriotism), the many charitable works the Knights (including our council) do, flows from the example and command of Jesus to serve others. The Knights of Columbus promotes the spiritual life of its members in a variety of way and provides encouragement and materials to help a Knight grow in his knowledge of and defense of his Catholic Church. Membership in the Knights is open to Catholic men 18 years of age or older who are practicing their Catholic Faith. The Knights pledge to support the pope, bishops, priests and promote and support vocations to the priesthood and religious life as well as the right to life to all from conception to natural death. I hope the men of our parish who are not Knights of Columbus will seriously consider becoming a Knight. It says something strong about the Knights of Columbus when Saint, Pope John Paul II spoke more than once of the Order as the "Strong right arm of the Cathoic Church." Contact our Grand Knight, Murray Claassen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to explore becoming a Knight and a member of our exceptional council!!
As far as choosing Christopher Columbus as the namesake for this new "benefit society," it was a time in the history of our country when anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant hostilities ran high. Choosing Columbus as the Order's namesake asserted an important truth: that only was there a place for Catholics and immigrants within American society, but that such a person had already played a part in creating the young, free world around them.
While the first and most important tenet of the Knights of Columbus is charity (with the others being unity, fraternity and patriotism), the many charitable works the Knights (including our council) do, flows from the example and command of Jesus to serve others. The Knights of Columbus promotes the spiritual life of its members in a variety of way and provides encouragement and materials to help a Knight grow in his knowledge of and defense of his Catholic Church. Membership in the Knights is open to Catholic men 18 years of age or older who are practicing their Catholic Faith. The Knights pledge to support the pope, bishops, priests and promote and support vocations to the priesthood and religious life as well as the right to life to all from conception to natural death. I hope the men of our parish who are not Knights of Columbus will seriously consider becoming a Knight. It says something strong about the Knights of Columbus when Saint, Pope John Paul II spoke more than once of the Order as the "Strong right arm of the Cathoic Church." Contact our Grand Knight, Murray Claassen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to explore becoming a Knight and a member of our exceptional council!!