Too many people today are without good, strong preaching, to the detriment of all. Share the good stuff.
Was there a GOOD point made in the sermon you heard at your Mass of obligation for this 18th Sunday after Pentecost, or the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time?
Tell us about attendance especially for the Traditional Latin Mass.
Any local changes or (hopefully good) news?
A couple thoughts about the sign of the cross: HERE A taste…
Context. In Matthew 8 Christ is east of the See of Galilee in Gentile territory where He exorcizes demoniacs. The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) differ in some details in their parallel accounts. In Mark and Luke there is just one poor naked energumen who, with his demonic-fueled strength cuts himself and breaks chains. The demons possessing him are called “Legion”, which is a unit of the Roman army numbering some 7000 with cavalry. In Matthew 8:22ff Jesus sends the demons into a herd of swine who rush suicidally into the sea. Try to imagine the scene of squealing and thrashing around as they walked together… er um… rushed (Greek hormáo) into their final synodal meeting. It was so terrifying that people begged Him to leave.
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Since September 24 is the feast (solemnity in East Anglia in the UK, where the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham sits) of Our Lady of Walsingham, the Ordinariate here in the US moved it to this Sunday for its cathedral in Houston, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham. The Cathedral was packed to the rafters at all three Masses that I either attended or saw as I waited to attend the next one; since the church building was unfortunately kept small by the then bishop of Galveston-Houston back in 2002, packed means about 300 souls, comprised in large portion at all Masses of young adults and families with many children. The appointed readings are from the Annunciation, so the Rector’s homily for the two Masses that I attended started from there, noting Mary’s acceptance of the trials that would surely come, and then went to the Visitation for the main point: in our sufferings we should imitate Mary, saying “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God, my Saviour.”
Fr Abbet essentially concentrated on the recent Ember Days in his sermon, explaining their penitential nature, but that the fasting is not mandatory like for Good Friday, but that it is of inestimable worthiness. The acoustics weren’t too great.
Our Latin Mass had fifty or so people, mostly young families. Father mentioned in his homily that strength in unity of numbers is far greater than numbers alone. More importantly, he differentiated the Latin term “Illorum” as opposed to “eorum,” as heard in the Gospel. It was the specific faith of the people (illorum) who brought the paralytic to Jesus that saved the paralytic. If “eorum” was written, it would mean that the paralytic was healed by the faith of all, an abstract or shallow concept of faith. The true miracle is the conversion of sinners’ hearts. So we who have faith ought to have this intention in bringing others to Jesus.
Novus Ordo Mass in a Pennsylvania parish we’ve never visited before. Father focused on sin and its effects in our world and in our own lives. Important points: Satan wants us all to die. In the modern world, we are well on our way to making that happen, especially through abortion. Father called Catholic ambivalence toward abortion “insanity” and “evil” and encouraged everyone to realize that abortion is an evil that is also leading us toward euthanasia of persons and other anti-life societal decisions that will further play into Satan’s hands.
Father also talked about the effects of venial sin on our souls (specifically mentioning anger and impatience as venial sins we should continue to try to overcome) and encouraged everyone to go to Confession regularly, even if we feel we aren’t making progress in overcoming our repetitive venial sins. God gives us graces to move away from venial sin (and mortal sin, of course) if we ask Him to, and we must not only do this but surrender our wills to Jesus if we truly want to avoid sin.
Father mentioned that allowing our passions/emotions to rule our decision-making can lead to sin, excuse-making, and other ways to avoid Confession and seeking God’s will in our lives. He said that modern society is no longer ordered to support moral decisions, intellectual analysis, or (especially) focus on God’s will, so we must be on our guard and trust in Jesus and His Blessed Mother to guide us.
Throughout his homily, Father quoted from today’s readings and from the Catechism, which I appreciated. We should all know the teachings of the Church on abortion and sin, but in case someone listening did not, Father used definitions from the Catechism to explain and support his points.
I must point out that in my home parish, a homily like this one would result in many calls to the bishop’s office, complaining of the rigidity and harshness of the message, and eventually the priest would probably be transferred to an obscure assignment or even out of the diocese. I’ve seen it happen more than once.
Apparently, this priest preaches this directly every week…may God continue to bless him and his parishioners.
I attended a traditional Latin Mass at the church of the Arciconfraternita della Misericordia in Turin, Italy. It’s a small church and it was packed. The schola sang beautifully (as did the laity, but then again, it’s Italy where people can sing). Like in Trinita, there is a confraternity that is active at this church.
Here are observations after having attended many TLMs and NO masses in Europe, Asia and America. This particular TLM in Turin had a LOT of men, middle aged and older. I’ve noticed the same for TLMs everywhere – the TLM attracts men. At the NO masses in France, Italy and Greece, I see almost all women over 65, except in large cities that have foreign workers like Filipinas, then it’s composed of women under 65. As for families with children, I see them mostly in large cities such as Rome (Trinita dei Pellegrini – but mostly visiting Americans), Paris (St Nicholas du Chardonnet), London and the SSPX chapels. There is one SSPX chapel here in Turin but it’s tiny and seems to be in someone’s house, not in a church.
The NO Masses in France, Italy, Spain and Greece have faded away outside large cities. In the cities, they’re attended mostly by foreigners who work in these countries. In rural areas, a local church will not have a Mass every Sunday for lack of priests and laity.