Vatican Radio has been posting short audio messages from Church leaders. Here is a brief message from the Cardinal Bishop of my own diocese, the Suburbicarian Diocese of Velletri-Segni, His Eminence Francis Card. Arinze, Prefect-Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship. His Eminence was, as a very young bishop, a participant in the last session of the Second Vatican Council!
The first point that His Eminence makes is about the need to be in the friendship of God.
GO TO CONFESSION.
The Holy Father made a good point in his Angelus Address today.
He said:
Elizabeth, welcoming Mary, recognizes that the promise of God to humanity is being fulfilled and she exclaims, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”. The expression “Blessed art thou among women” refers in the Old Testament to Jael (or Yael or Jahel – Judges 5,24) and to Judith (Judith 13,1), two warrior women who strive to save Israel. Now, on the other hand, it refers to Mary, a peaceful young girl who is about to bear the Savior of the world. So too the leap of joy of John (cf Luke 1,44) recalls the dance that King David did when he accompanied the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem (cf 1 Chronicles 15.29). The Ark, which contained the tablets of the Law, manna and the rod of Aaron (cf Hebrews 9,4), was a sign of the presence of God in the midst of His People. John, about to be born, leaps in joy before Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant, who bears in her womb Jesus, the Son of God made man.
Here is Artemesia’s Jael and Sisera:
As in her painting of Judith, you can see the cool, peaceful way in which she hammers the spike through the enemy’s head as he sleeps. It is always interesting to see Artemesia’s portrayal of scenes more commonly painted by men.
A detail from her Judith. Workman-like, getting the job done:
Was there a good point from the Sunday sermon you heard for this 4th Sunday of Advent.
Advent, I say. It is not yet Christmas!
Let us know the good points!
PS: Yes, I am trying to get you to pay closer attention so that you can post about them here each week.
This comes up every year:
If I go to Midnight Mass, and it really starts at Midnight, and I receive Holy Communion, and if I go to Mass again during Christmas Day, can I receive Communion again?
Yes.
The 1983 Code of Canon Law says:
Can. 917 – Qui sanctissimam Eucharistiam iam recepit, potest eam iterum eadem die suscipere solummodo intra eucharisticam celebrationem cui participat, salvo praescripto Can. 921, § 2. … Someone who has already received the Most Holy Eucharist can receive it again (iterum) on the same day only within the Eucharistic celebration [i.e. Mass] in which the person participates, with due regard for the prescription of can. 921 § 2.
Can. 921 § 2 says that if a person is in danger of death, he may receive Communion even it is not in the context of Mass. That is Viaticum.
That iterum does not mean “again and again”, but merely “again one more time”.
So, if you go to Midnight Mass and receive, and are in the choir at the principal Mass of the Christmas Day and want to receive again, go ahead. But if you stay for a third Mass, nope.
From a priest:
Blessings and peace to you. I just wanted to add a confessor’s piece to the many penitent’s testimonies that you have been posting. During Advent I have been inviting and pursuing the parish to go to confession. As is the case, always, the invitation is received. During Advent by placing myself in the confessional, (instead of the doorway), before and after all the weekend Masses, I have heard the best confessions of my three and a half years here. Although I make myself available for confessions regularly, this added piece has been a game changer. It makes me question why I have not done it before. My heart is so full as a pastor right now. I am truly humbled at the grace God has been pouring into the confessional. Thank you, my brother, for your great work in the continued evangelization, and may you have the most blessed Christmas tide.
And Happy Christmas to you!
Thanks for that good feedback.
(The combox is moderated.)
You can reach the Ustream page of the Z-Cam & Radio SPTDV (olim Sabina) here.
I don’t control the ads that pop up, alas. I have found that “Ad Block” works on them, however.
Right now I have some Advent music and Latin Prayers, including the Rosary, in Latin. I’ll change the list around from time to time. After Christmas, I will have to make changes remotely, since I hit the road on Sunday.
I can’t keep it going all the time. Check the sidebar for when it is “Live”.
The webcam is aimed at one side of my smallish window feeder. Not like the old days, but new birds are finding it. And there is a pair of Cardinals around. You should see busy Chickadees, Nuthatches, various finches.
A quick reminder about the Pilgrimage and Solemn Mass are sponsored by the Traditional Knights of Columbus Councils in New York City (Agnus Dei Council (#12361) and Regina Coeli Council (#423).
The Mass will be at the Cabrini Shrine in Manhattan (hint: take the A train).
From a reader:
I know you love to hear good things about Confession. I just wanted to share that I went to Confession today with a most humble, wise, and kind priest. I was on the verge of a panic attack before even though I try to go to confession every two months or so. It never gets easier before – but oh the afterwards! Today’s confession was one of the most heart wrenching, beautiful, and serene experiences I have had in my life. If they could just bottle the feeling after absolution, or if every person experienced the same joy just once in their lifetime, they would come back for more always.
God is good. Jesus loves me. All is right in my little corner of the world.
Go to confession!
Coat of Arms by D Burkart
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