I was talking the other day with a parishioner about the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass and the reality that the altar servers prayed, (without any help from the congregation,) the "Confiteor" (I confess to almighty God....). I can remember doing that in my early years of being an altar server, except I only did it in English. I feel sure that if any of our parishioners who were altar servers in those "Latin-Rite days were completely honest, they would admit that they prayed this prayer rather "speedily". It was more "said" and less "prayed" by many of the altar servers who did it.
I think we all could recall a time when we just said our prayers and didn't really pray them slowly and with thought. Admittedly I have tried in praying the rosary both in private and in community to slow down and consciously speak to Mary the words of the "Hail Mary". I would encourage all of us to consider whether or not you are going slow enough where we are truly speaking to Mary, or Jesus, or the Father in the rote prayers that we pray. It is especially hard when one is praying 53 Hail Mary's in a rosary, but it is potentially much more meaningful and powerful to pray "thoughtfully" AND from the heart. I would like to present the Anima Christi prayer that many of us learned by heart growing up, which is a good prayer to pray, slowly and deliberately when we speak to Christ especially after receiving Holy Communion, or before him in the Monstrance or in the Tabernacle.
If we truly pray this prayer (composed by St. Ignatius of Loyola 1491-1556), and properly observe the periods and commas, then we will be blessed in many ways.
SOUL OF CHRIST SANCTIFY ME.
BODY OF CHRIST,SAVE ME.
BLOOD OF CHRIST, INEBRIATE ME.
WATER FROM THE SIDE OF CHRIST, WASH ME.
PASSION OF CHRIST, STRENGTHEN ME.
O GOOD JESUS, HEAR ME.
WITHIN YOUR WOUNDS HIDE ME. PERMIT ME NOT TO
BE SEPARATED FROM YOU.
FROM THE MALIGNANT ENEMY, DEFEND ME.
AT THE HOUR OF MY DEATH, CALL ME, AND BID ME
COME TO YOU.
THAT WITH YOUR SAINTS, I MAY PRAISE YOU,
FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN
I think we all could recall a time when we just said our prayers and didn't really pray them slowly and with thought. Admittedly I have tried in praying the rosary both in private and in community to slow down and consciously speak to Mary the words of the "Hail Mary". I would encourage all of us to consider whether or not you are going slow enough where we are truly speaking to Mary, or Jesus, or the Father in the rote prayers that we pray. It is especially hard when one is praying 53 Hail Mary's in a rosary, but it is potentially much more meaningful and powerful to pray "thoughtfully" AND from the heart. I would like to present the Anima Christi prayer that many of us learned by heart growing up, which is a good prayer to pray, slowly and deliberately when we speak to Christ especially after receiving Holy Communion, or before him in the Monstrance or in the Tabernacle.
If we truly pray this prayer (composed by St. Ignatius of Loyola 1491-1556), and properly observe the periods and commas, then we will be blessed in many ways.
SOUL OF CHRIST SANCTIFY ME.
BODY OF CHRIST,SAVE ME.
BLOOD OF CHRIST, INEBRIATE ME.
WATER FROM THE SIDE OF CHRIST, WASH ME.
PASSION OF CHRIST, STRENGTHEN ME.
O GOOD JESUS, HEAR ME.
WITHIN YOUR WOUNDS HIDE ME. PERMIT ME NOT TO
BE SEPARATED FROM YOU.
FROM THE MALIGNANT ENEMY, DEFEND ME.
AT THE HOUR OF MY DEATH, CALL ME, AND BID ME
COME TO YOU.
THAT WITH YOUR SAINTS, I MAY PRAISE YOU,
FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN
In the world of professional sports it has been said over and over again that when a player who is known as an active and successful player on a previous team or teams joins a new team, even before they begin playing on a new team, his or her PRESENCE makes a positive impact on the team. I believe such can also be the case when people come into a parish with an active past in previous parishies. They can come to a new parish and their presence can, early on, make an impact that is felt by a few or many. Such is the case in people who have moved into this wonderful parish and certainly Deacon Gary Christoff and his wife, Doris (who moved here in December 2021). They made an almost immediate impact on me, and in a short time, others, by bringing their love for the Lord and His people to Sacred Heart Church from their previous experiences in Jefferson City, Missouri. When they started coming to daily Mass and revealed to me that Gary is a "senior" deacon from that diocese, both he and his wife of (almost 60 years) got involved beyond being a regular part of the 9:00 a.m. daily Mass community here and offering themselves as Eucharistic Ministers at that Mass. While indicating that he, in his "senior" status, did not want to resume serving as a deacon on the altar and preaching, he was open to doing other forms of mnistry that needed him. He too over the bereavement support ministry that provides a range of help immediately and ongoing to those in our parish who have lost loved ones. He agreed to take turns with Deacon BJ in providing a monthly prayer service a Samaritan Ministries in Hot Springs before other members of our parish serve a meal to the homeless men who reside there. He and Doris became Eucharistic Adorers, with Deacon Gary taking on one of the latenight hours and Doris an evening adorer and now a co-division leader of the evening adoration hours. Gary became and is an active member of our Knights of Columbus and the Men's Club and Doris is active in LOSH and serves as co-captain of St Monica's Guild. Doris has been and still is an active participant in one of our physical fitness groups and recently, Gary has joined her. (I hope other men and women will give this a try in the new year) Doris has gotten involved through her guild in tutoring at Mt Pine School. I hope you realize by now that the Christoffs, though members of our parish for a short time, have been chosen our VIPs (Very Important Parishioners) for the month of January. They are almost a daily presence here and have already made an impact on parishioners and people outside of the parish as well. They have endeared themselves to our parishioners and me and I know that will continue in the future. Thank the Lord and then them for who thay are in our parish family!
Though the media once again has misinterpreted, distorted an/or confused people (especially Catholics) when "reporting" on the latest Declaration from the Vatican, Fiducia Supplicans (On The Pastoral Meaning of Blessings), we in the Catholic Church should always get the most accurate information and interpretation of Church documents and declarations from the Vatican AND from our bishops who are each charged to pastorally implement what is promulgated in their respective dioceses.
Some of the bishops of Africa, where homosexuality is a crime, have put out pastoral statements such as the one from Cameroon which reiterates their disapproval of homosexual unions and go on to say "Consequently, we formally forbid all blessings of homosexual couples in the Church of Cameroon".
On December 27, the Cardinal (Victor Manuel Fernandez) who is the prefect of the Discastery for the Doctrine of the Faith says it is up to each local bishop through discernment to implement this Declaration in their diocese when it come to the propriety or impropriety of giving blessings to individuals who are living in irregular unions. Bishop Taylor, in his statement issued on December 19, reminded us in Arkansas of the differing pastoral concerns and approaches throughout the worldwide Church.
One thing that should be clear TO all bishops, priests and laypeople and FROM our bishops to the lairy is that "Fiducia Supplicans" reaffirms the Traditional teaching of the Church that marriage is to be defined and ritualized ONLY between a man and woman.
I hope that Bishop Taylor will continue to instruct our clergy as to the proper setting and language that couples and individuals who ask for a blessing, and the proper discernment that should take place before blessings are given. I will always ask people what they are asking a blessing for, before I pray for them. When necessary, I make it clear what is being blessed and/or what is not being blessed so as to avoid any confusion before the prayer is prayed. I can only hope that my brotheeer priests and deacons will do something similar as we must one day stand before the judgement seat of God as to waht we have done with the faculties and privileges we have been blessed with through our ordination.
Some of the bishops of Africa, where homosexuality is a crime, have put out pastoral statements such as the one from Cameroon which reiterates their disapproval of homosexual unions and go on to say "Consequently, we formally forbid all blessings of homosexual couples in the Church of Cameroon".
On December 27, the Cardinal (Victor Manuel Fernandez) who is the prefect of the Discastery for the Doctrine of the Faith says it is up to each local bishop through discernment to implement this Declaration in their diocese when it come to the propriety or impropriety of giving blessings to individuals who are living in irregular unions. Bishop Taylor, in his statement issued on December 19, reminded us in Arkansas of the differing pastoral concerns and approaches throughout the worldwide Church.
One thing that should be clear TO all bishops, priests and laypeople and FROM our bishops to the lairy is that "Fiducia Supplicans" reaffirms the Traditional teaching of the Church that marriage is to be defined and ritualized ONLY between a man and woman.
I hope that Bishop Taylor will continue to instruct our clergy as to the proper setting and language that couples and individuals who ask for a blessing, and the proper discernment that should take place before blessings are given. I will always ask people what they are asking a blessing for, before I pray for them. When necessary, I make it clear what is being blessed and/or what is not being blessed so as to avoid any confusion before the prayer is prayed. I can only hope that my brotheeer priests and deacons will do something similar as we must one day stand before the judgement seat of God as to waht we have done with the faculties and privileges we have been blessed with through our ordination.