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Canon gave a homily about Western Civilization putting its’ trust in government and social programs instead of God. The line that stuck out the most to me was “Modern man wants to change the world, but sees no need to change himself.”. Absolutely true. He also said that when Mary was asked by Gabriel to be the mother of Jesus that she was depending on God’s help, not welfare. I almost fell out of my pew.
Homily started out okay if I am not mistaken. I have this thing where I mentally block sensory information when certain cues come to my attention. Sunday is the busiest day of the week for retail workers so it makes it difficult to focus. Moreover, Christians are victims of cultural discrimination in that they cannot refuse to work Sundays (mostly, I expect, due to lapse Catholics, who make up about 70% of the local population, that vigorously seek to correct Mass going Catholics in all things spiritual).
I do remember that the communion hymn song thing was something about “…building the city of God.”
Good News: The priest said the Creed is on Page 8 twice before it was recited. It is good news because I have only gotten the chance to hear the new translation a handful of times. I think he recognised this. He must have tough going.
Father preached about preparing for the 2nd Coming, among other things. It was excellent.
In the OF Masses, I talked about desire and how we have to work at increasing our desire for Our Lord during Advent.
At the EF Mass, I talked about how the Church begins our Advent Journey with Mary. Our Lady teaches us how to prepare. I used the introit to show Our Lady’s virtues of contemplation, obedience and trust. Virtues we need to make our own.
The distinction was made between the holiday of Christmas and the holy day of Christmas. Father said that it does not have to be a battle between the two, but just to make a clear differentiation.
I was conflicted by today’s homily. On one hand, Fr. said the words “mortal sin”. Which is very unlike him. Then, he took a very concerning turn, where he basically implied that committing a mortal sin is next to impossible,because for full consent you have to think “bring on the torpedos! I don’t care what God thinks, this is worth hell”. But then, He reminded us that it is a mortal sin to miss mass and that next Saturday is a holy day of obligation. There were audible gasps as people didn’t even know what a mortal sin was. Someone actually raised her hand and asked if Sundays were mortal sins to miss too! I was shocked, but glad it came up when I saw the confused faces around me when Fr asked “does anyone know?” before saying that it was.
There was also a brief detour during which Fr. talked about the current translation, which involved another detour that ran along the lines of “Yay Vatican 2! Participation and stuff!” He also compared the rubrics to Emily Post, but not too negatively.
In all, rather concerning, but the mention of mortal sin was a definite step in the right direction.
Our pastor, an Oratorian, plugged this week’s Advent confession service and encouraged everyone to go during Advent, whether then, on the regular Saturdays, or asking one of the Oratorians at any time. Also stressed keeping Sundays holy as the Lord’s day, not just by going to Mass but by using extra time to pray, read, etc, particularly in the midst of the bustle of shopping that occupies us too much this time of year. Also encouraged people to attend the various extra Advent services outside of Mass during the coming weeks, such as this evening’s solemn sung vespers, first of its kind in our parish in who knows how long. Advent is off to a good start.
Our ecellent homily today began with Father relating Card. Dolan’s story about an event planner asking him during the USCCB Conference what all the bishops were waiting for, while they spent an hour in adoration. Cardinal Dolan explained to him that it is not What we are waiting for, but Whom. Then Father explained all the terms for Jesus during the 7 days leading up to Christmas: Wisdom, Root of Jesse, etc. , and how knowledge of each one of those affects how we prepare for Our Lord’s coming. His Reverence then offered practical penitential suggestions for Advent. He concluded by reminding everyone one that as Catholics, we do not celebrate nor decorate before Christmas, and that we should let everyone wonder what we are waiting for? Brilliant!
The priest talked about how the mass Is Heaven on earth.
Shalom
God bless
Today we had a substitute priest hey is the resident chaplain for the Carmelite monastery a few miles from us. Fr Jimmy Tiu gave a very interesting homily, he dwelt on the word WATCH as an synonym for vigilant from the readings today. Watch our Words, watch our Actions, watch our Thoughts, watch our Choices, watch our Habits.
Another parishioner and I were talking after Mass and she stated that this was a day when you came away from Mass remembering something.
Our resident priest is in Chicago doing an intensive Latin course on his way to being a spiritual advisor. He is a convert and his homilies are very enthusiastic and generally have something to think about.
Our priest said the Church knows what she is doing with the liturgical calendar, they’ve put centuries into putting it together and working through the theology of it all. So, we should let Advent be Advent and celebrate Christmas when it comes.
Unfortunately, we had a visiting priest who talked about the needs of his order in Africa. No homily at all.
Here’s a puzzle: Our parish (2,200 families; 6,200 members) offers 6 – SIX – Sunday Masses to accommodate all of its parishioners. So why – WHY – is there only one Friday night and one Saturday morning Mass for the upcoming holy day of obligation??? The same number of people should be attending! I’m always boggled by that.
@One of those TNCs: bishops may dispense the obligation, and often do, if a Holy Day of Obligation falls on a Saturday or Monday. It is most likely not a day of Obligation where you are, so there was, sadly, no need to add more Masses.
Father talked about how Advent is sometimes seen negatively has a time of waiting, and in our rush-rush culture we hate waiting as wasted time. Instead, it is to be a time a preparation and penitence.
Just as his mother cleaned out the whole house when an important visitor came, not just the ‘visible’ spots, so should we clean out our whole heart in preparation for Jesus coming to dwell with us.
That means repenting of all our sins, forgiving those who have sinned against us, and going to confession. I think I’ll get there extra early next Saturday.
Father preached mortification during Advent in order to prepare for Christmas–not as severe as Lent. He recommended giving up something we are addicted to, like cell phones, reading our favorite blogs, etc. We can give anything up for 22 days. The world will not end because we did not answer the phone immediately.
Father taught us that Isaiah’s prophecy of peace was referring to the Pax Romana at the time of Christ’s birth.
Father told us to await our lord with confidence and hope. He said that all the evidence we see around of us of the end of times is a good thing, evidence that Christ is on his way.
I took the trouble of driving 30 min each way to a latin mass with chant. You want active participation? I had trouble keeping up. It was so beautiful, truly time spent in the world to come.
Come, oh come Emmanuel
Our tabernacle was changed (back?) to its proper place! I didn’t make it to Mass, since I was at home taking care of 4 children recovering from the flu, but my wife went (the situation is normally reverse, so this time we decided she got to go.) The tabernacle has been located on one of the side altars (I gather that at least from the mid 90s, when the high altar was removed.) My wife said at the end of Mass the priest (who is new as of 4 months ago, and is incidentally of a somewhat older generation) gave a brief explanation that this was not the proper place and had 4 strong volunteers move it to the back of the apse (I’m not sure if that’s the right word.) The altar that’s there is rather simple and sad compared to the high altar that once held that place, but at least it’s good to see the tabernacle moved back! Seems to have worked well. Quick, to the point, and no times for any committees or groups to oppose the move.
More correctly, this belongs in a “good news” post, but I’m excited that this was done! As for the sermon, my wife says the priest demonstrated “lectio devina.” I don’t know much about Lection devina, although I would like to know more. I assume that lectio devina could be a good thing for many of the parishioners. I wish I had been there to hear (and to see the tabernacle being moved.)
Father emphasized the preparatory and penitential aspects of Advent, for both the first coming and the second coming. Our parish has added a weekly Vespers service and additional hour of confession during Advent, which Father encouraged as well as additional time spent in daily prayer.
The homily was about the travesty of mixed marriages, and he invited all those in mixed marriages to try to use this season to convert their spouses.
WOW! This belongs in the good news thread, but Fr. just announced that we would have Tuesday masses during Advent.
And… depending on how many want it… confession!
No more walking two miles in the dark !
Father spoke of advent being a penitential season, preparing not only for our Lord’s birth, but also more importantly, preparing for his second coming in glory at the end of the world, and encouraged us to go to confession. He mentioned while at breakfast a few days ago at a IHOP he saw a death notice posted in the restaurant for an former employee of the restaurant who was killed in Afghanistan in the service, and mentioned no matter how old we are, we do not know the date when our Lord will judge us, whether it be at our death or in his second coming, and we should always be prepared.
Father preached mostly about the Second Coming. He compared this world to a layer of snow – certainly real, but it will eventually melt away to reveal what had supported it and given it its shape, namely the Lord. A wonderful image, I thought.
Fr invited us to look at our lives and prepare for and invite Christ into those areas that we need him (which are all). He invited us to prepare by attending a new catechism group he is starting, by availing ourselves of the sacraments, especially confession, which will be more readily availiable in our diocese through the Bishops ‘thh light is on for you’ initiative, where every Church in the diocese will be open for adoration and confession from 7-8 on wednesday evenings in Advent. Fr reminded us that although our lives can be busy with many things, we must take a step back and look at where we are headed and what is important, and correct those areas that need to be directed to our final goal, which is to get to heaven.
Distinguished btw our Advent vigilance FOR Christ vs. vigilance AGAINST some apocalyptic disaster or another.
http://hancaquam.blogspot.com/2012/12/its-end-of-world.html
Fr. Philip Neri, OP
From an otherwise generic “what is Advent all about” homily, I learned an interesting fact: the literal meaning of the word “disaster” (in Latin) is “stars being removed/shaken out of the sky” (dis + astra).
Dear @bookworm, thank you! I had always been thinking that it was a confused rendering of dies ater. No. Really.
Ah, yes, the homily. That part of the Mass found me in the back with a squirmy and at times inconsolable child. Still, I thought it was interesting that while I was dealing with THAT, Father was talking about the virtue of patience and how we should use patience during times of suffering. He specifically pointed out that one way we can tell that we’re not being patient is if we get angry. Ugh. That was rough to hear. Needless to say, I felt very called-on with regards to my attitude of dealing with young children in Mass, praise God.
We were visiting a new parish and ended up at the Spanish-language Mass. Our Spanish is not the greatest, but what I picked up from the homily was a discussion of the purpose of Advent — preparation for Jesus’ incarnation. Just as expecting families prepare for a baby’s birth in advance, so we should prepare for Jesus’ birth. The priest emphasized confession as the best way to prepare, and then spent some time discussing the sacrament of confession and its effects. At the end of Mass, he made announcements about extra confession opportunities during Advent, and also displayed for the congregation the recently-donated rose vestments that will allow him to be liturgically proper for Gaudete Sunday.
While sitting at Mass, it was hard to escape the thought that we could be looking at the demographic future of the Church. A little country church in the Bible Belt — once only a mission, now a full parish — packed full with children and young families, with children everywhere.
Ours was about waiting, and how some things just can’t be sped up despite human impatience. Sometimes we have to go with God’s time instead of our own, and Advent helps us practice that.
Father also discussed fear and anxiety, how they are often more prevalent during Advent and how fear can lead us into sin, which is why penance and prayer are so important during this part of the liturgical year and why Christ constantly admonished, “Do not be afraid.”
Our sermon on the second coming was given by a wonderful young priest who electrified the congregation with his words. I could literally feel the souls of my fellow parishioners igniting with a flame of desire for Jesus Christ. He is truly a blessing for the Holy Church.
JacobWall, Lectio Divina is a slow, contemplative praying of the scriptures. I am just learning about it myself and found an excellent step-by-step guide by Fr. Luke Dysinger, O.S.B. on beliefnet. You can find it through a word search, “How to Practice Lectio Divina.”
Father spoke about having joy in Christ and that we have a choice in life, we can choose to be sad, or we can choose to be happy. With all the wonderful gifts we receive from God, we should have no difficulty in choosing to be happy.
Or priest related his experiences growing up with his father to how we should see the coming of the Judgement day. And how important it was to use the confessional to reconcile us to God so that we can see the end of days (or end of our days individually) with Joy rather than trepidation.
Also announced that there will be a penance service Monday evening, explaining roughly as follows: “We are having Penance Service on Monday Night. Now…. This isn’t one of those newfangled penance things. We are going to have about six priests here, and we’ll start hearing actual confessions and won’t stop until the last penitent leaves. So please, COME TO CONFESSION.”
Oh how lucky to live in these times.
@Trad Catholic Girl,
Thanks! I will search for Fr. Luke Dysinger’s guide. I’m also planning to approach our priest about learning/practicing it in person. Maybe we can start a group. He seems very enthusiastic about getting things started at the parish.
I love the wonderful online resources available – like Fr. Z’s blog – but I’m trying to balance/combine that with real person-to-person learning & action as much as possible. I started getting to a point where there was a gulf between my faith as applied online and privately and my faith as applied in public, community and even parish life. I’m trying hard to close that gulf. So, when I learn something online, I try as much as possible to find a connection to a person or group in the real world.
Of course, if it doesn’t work out, I’m always happy to start with a good online guide!
Our priest asked us how many had begun preparing for Advent. He asked how many had already decorated the house and the christmas tree. We were reminded that thinking with the church we should wait until christmas eve. The collective gasp should have opened the doors to our church. He also spoke of going to confession. A good and challenging homily for all.
Father talked about possibly doing the crazy thing of actually waiting for Christ to come before we celebrate. To let Advent be Advent. To make sure we get to confession. To maybe think about exchanging gifts on Jan 6 instead of Dec 25 when the Kings arrived to give the Divine Infant the gifts. To start Christmas on Dec 25 not to finish it that day.
All in all an excellent sermon, though I am a poor informer. I was already thinking of postponing parties and such til after Christmas. It’s so difficult in our culture to do these things. Perhaps this year, a slower approach will be in order. Small changes = lasting changes.
I really liked how my pastor tied the statement Christ makes about standing erect at the time of our redemption and confessing our sins so that we might be able to stand erect. One of the best sermons regarding Confession that I’ve heard.
FYI, we go to a parish that offers both OF and EF every Sunday. (I believe) Father preaches the same homilies at both Masses, so he preaches in teaching series to get his whole flock on the same page. His homilies have always been good, but they have been AMAZING for the past couple months.
Yesterday was no exception. He preached on Cardinal Dolan’s words that “the Church is at her best when she is on her knees”. He said that this has 2 meanings: one, that when she is getting beat down, she is at her best, and two, when she is doing penance. Father said that the recent political disappointments are a good reason to get down on our knees. The alternative leads to hatefulness, and that is not much of an alternative. I was really grateful for this homily.
How would your life change if you knew that today was to be your last?
I went to a Mass of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham yesterday for the first time. The celebrant and preacher was the local Bishop of Nottingham (England), the Rt. Rev. Malcolm McMahon, O.P. (Three ordinariate priests concelebrated. After Mass, I had a brand new experience: meeting and talking with the wife of a Catholic priest!)
The main point in the homily/sermon that struck me was that Christ is going to come again at some point: the future, when the Lord returns, will not merely be an extension of the present state, it will something radically different from reality as we currently know it. As Christians we should long for the return of Christ, and really believe that “Christ has died. Christ is Risen. CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN.” It was good to hear a bishop preaching in this way, unequivocally expounding traditional Catholic doctrine.
Contrasted Advent and Lent — both are “purple” seasons, but Advent is more (but not exclusively!) about preparing the house whereas Lent is more about cleaning the house . . .
Father spoke about the Gospel reading in that during the tribulations to come people will “die of fright in anticipation of what is to come.” But when these things happen, we are to “stand erect and raise your heads.” He talked about the trying times we have now, but how we ought to be different because we belong to Jesus Christ. He told us we have no reason to let our confidence slip. He marveled that people could come up to receive Holy Communion with a worried expression on their faces when they are about to receive Jesus. He talked about how people are anxious to hold on to what they have for fear of losing it, but by sharing what we have, God will bless us many times over.
@ Random Friar: No, I live in the diocese of Phoenix, and Bishop Olmsted has not dispensed with the obligation.
Wouldn’t it be great if all 6,200 parishioners showed up and we split the seams of the church?!?
Father Lankeit began a 4 week catechetical series on liturgy and sacred music. Dynamite! http://www.faithandlifetv.com/audio-shows/sacred-music-part-1
Look at all the Phoenix people! I attend Mater Misericordiae downtown, the FSSP Latin mass. How can we get together, Friends of Fr. Z?? Our Fr. Walker preached on the coming persecution, and to remember to “look up, because your redemption is at hand!”
HyacinthClare – You may know my brother Jeff Holston, who sings in the Mater Misericordiae schola. Big guy, wild black hair and beard. :)