Lift Up Your Hearts

Reflections on the Sacred Liturgy for Parish Use

Month: July 2017 (Page 1 of 2)

Bulletin Insert: Corpus Christi

July 21, 2017 /

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi

On the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of the Lord, which is commonly known as Corpus Christi, we are, in a sense, transported back to Holy Thursday as the Church celebrates once again the solemn commemoration of the institution of the sacrament of the Body and Blood of the Lord.

“Why,” one might ask, “do we have a second feast observing the Lord giving us the Eucharist?” Fundamentally, it seems that the answer lies in the fact that what we commemorate on Holy Thursday is just too much for one day. In a sense, Holy Thursday overflows with grace and blessing too abundant for a single day of celebration. On Holy Thursday, in order of importance, the Church celebrates the giving of the Eucharist, the gift of priesthood, and then fraternal service in the washing of the feet. Consequently, the Church today celebrates another feast which focuses specifically on the gift of the Eucharist.

Also, this feast is so characterized by a focus on the Blessed Sacrament and the devotions that accompany it, for example, Eucharistic Exposition, that it has also appropriately been termed a feast of devotion. This devotion can be understood in a certain sense in what is called the composition of place. Other devotional practices throughout the liturgical year employ the composition of place: the Christmas Crib, for example, fosters our meditation on the Nativity of the Lord; the Stations of the Cross foster our meditation on the Lord’s Passion; but Eucharistic Exposition on Corpus Christi, in a sense, completes and goes beyond these. It sets before us not the Nativity and not the Passion, but the very Kingdom of God. With the Lord himself before us in the Blessed Sacrament, the composition of place is of the Kingdom where the Lord reigns triumphant and the People of God are joined in adoration. Quite properly, the gifts of the Three Kings are present as well: the gold for the King and the incense for our God, only the myrrh, which foreshadows the tomb, is missing because Christ is risen and dies no more.

Source: Rev. Kurt Belsole, OSB, Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA
www.liftupyourhearts.church

 

Bulletin Insert: Pentecost Sunday

July 20, 2017 /

Pentecost Sunday

Pentecost Sunday concludes the Easter Season, and on that day, the Church celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. It is the celebration of the Father’s sending of the Holy Spirit, and not of the Holy Spirit himself. Just as the Church does not have a feast of God the Father or God the Son, neither does she have a feast of God the Holy Spirit. The feast of Pentecost needs to be seen in light of the Paschal Mystery of Christ.

So, on Pentecost, we hear in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles about what happened on Pentecost day itself and how the Spirit descended upon the disciples and how they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Another reading from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians speaks of there being different gifts, but the same Spirit and of how all were baptized into one body and how all were given to drink of one Spirit. Another reading speaks of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Then, the gospel, which in all three cycles is from the gospel of John, speaks of various dimensions of the sending of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, the preface for the Mass of Pentecost speaks of how it is right to give thanks to God for bringing the Paschal mystery to completion, for bestowing the Holy Spirit, and for uniting his adopted children with the Only Begotten Son.

Source: Rev. Kurt Belsole, OSB, Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA
www.liftupyourhearts.church

Bulletin Insert: Easter Season

July 20, 2017 /

The Easter Season

The Easter season begins on Easter Sunday and continues to Pentecost Sunday. During these fifty days, Christians celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord with joy and exultation as one great Sunday.

The first eight days of the Easter season are celebrated as the Octave of Easter. This octave, in many ways, treats every day of the octave as Easter Sunday itself. At Mass, the priest prays in Preface I of Easter, in reference to the resurrection of Christ, that it is our duty at all times to acclaim the Lord but especially on this day when Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. Likewise in the First Eucharistic Prayer, which is the Roman Canon, the priest speaks of how the Church is celebrating the most sacred day of the Resurrection of our Lord in the flesh. Finally, the dismissal at the end of Mass concludes with a double Alleluia every day of the octave. At this time, the deacon or priest dismisses the assembly with the usual words, but after the dismissal adds alleluia, alleluia as a sign of the great joy of the Church as she celebrates the Resurrection of the Lord.

Finally, from the solemnity of the Ascension until Pentecost, almost all of the collects at the beginning of Mass pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. Then at Pentecost itself, as the Church celebrates the sending of the Holy Spirit, the priest prays that the gifts of the Holy Spirit may be poured out upon the whole world so that the hearts of believers may be filled with the divine grace that was at work at the first proclamation of the Gospel.

Source: Rev. Kurt Belsole, OSB, Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA
www.liftupyourhearts.church

Bulletin Insert: Lent: Differences Noticed in Church

July 19, 2017 /

The Season of Lent: What Differences Might We Notice in Church

When the season of Lent arrives, there are some changes that people often notice in Church. Probably the most obvious of these is that people receive ashes on Ash Wednesday.

In addition, however, the color of the vestments changes to violet. On the Fourth Sunday of Lent, which is also called Laetare Sunday, as the Lenten season is already half over, the joy of the Easter is a bit anticipated, and on that day rose colored vestments may be used.

Also, the hymn Glory to God in the highest is omitted at Mass, and the Alleluia before the gospel is replaced. The Alleluia will not be heard again until the Easter Vigil.

During Lent, is it not permitted to decorate the altar with flowers. Exceptions to this, however, are Laetare Sunday (the Fourth Sunday of Lent), solemnities, and feasts. In addition, the organ and other musical instruments are allowed only in order to support the singing. Again, exceptions to this would be Laetare Sunday, solemnities, and feasts.

In churches where the daily homily is not already an established practice, a homily is strongly recommended on the weekdays of Lent for the sake of the faithful who regularly take part in the celebration of Mass.

Source: Rev. Kurt Belsole, OSB, Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA
www.liftupyourhearts.church

Bulletin Insert: The Season of Lent

July 19, 2017 /

The Season of Lent

Lent consists of forty-four days. It begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes immediately before the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. At that time, the Sacred Paschal Triduum begins.

The season of Lent aims at preparing us for the celebration of Easter and has a twofold character. First of all, it directs the Christian faithful to recall their own baptism when they rejected the devil and confessed their faith in Christ. They are also asked at this time to engage more deeply in prayer and penance. Secondly, for those who are preparing to be baptized at the Easter Vigil, it serves as a more intense time of preparation as the moment of their baptism draws near.

During Lent, the disciplines of fasting and abstinence from meat apply on Ash Wednesday, and the discipline of abstinence from meat applies on the Fridays of Lent unless a solemnity occurs on those days.

Towards the very end of Lent, we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord when we commemorate his triumphal entry into Jerusalem and read the Passion of the Lord from one of the gospels of either Matthew, Mark, or Luke.

On Thursday of Holy Week, in the morning, the bishop concelebrates the Chrism Mass with his priests and blesses the oil of catechumens and the oil of the sick and consecrates the chrism that will be used throughout the year.

Source: Rev. Kurt Belsole, OSB, Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA
www.liftupyourhearts.church

Bulletin Insert: The Christmas Season

July 18, 2017 /

The Christmas Season

The Christmas Season begins with the celebration of the birth of Our Lord and concludes on the feast of his Baptism. The birth of Christ at Christmas falls exactly nine months after the feast of his Annunciation on March 25th. The Christmas season, therefore, focuses on the coming of Jesus Christ, God and man, in our flesh and born of the Virgin Mary.

Two of the gospels for the Masses of Christmas Day come from the Gospel of Luke. The gospel for the Mass during the Night, which is commonly called Midnight Mass, relates the story of the birth of Christ and the song of the angels: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those who enjoy his favor. The gospel for the Mass at Dawn speaks of how the shepherds went to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the Christ child lying in the manger. Finally, the gospel of the Mass during the Day is the great prologue to the Gospel of John which recounts how the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

During the Christmas season, we also celebrate feasts that are closely associated with both the birth of the Lord as well as his manifestation to both Jews and non-Jews alike. On January 1st, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. As it is the Octave Day of Christmas, we also commemorate the giving of the holy Name of Jesus to the Word made flesh. We then celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Finally, at the end of the Christmas season, we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord and hear in the gospel that Christ is the beloved Son, in whom the Father is well pleased.

Source: Rev. Kurt Belsole, OSB, Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA
www.liftupyourhearts.church

Bulletin Insert: Advent: Differences Noticed in Church

July 15, 2017 /

The Season of Advent: What Differences Might We Notice in Church

When the season of Advent arrives, there are some changes that people often notice in Church. Probably the most obvious of these is that the color of the vestments changes to violet. On the Third Sunday of Advent, which is also called Gaudete Sunday, as the Advent season is already half over, the joy of the Nativity begins to break in and on that day rose colored vestments may be used.

Also, the hymn Glory to God in the highest is omitted at Mass, and  one will find that there is a certain moderation in the decoration of the altar. While flowers may still be used, the decoration of the altar should not express the full joy of the Nativity of the Lord. The same can be said of the use of the organ and other musical instruments. They are used with a certain moderation that does not anticipate the great celebration of Christmas.

In churches where the daily homily is not already an established practice, a homily is strongly recommended on the weekdays of Advent for the sake of the faithful who regularly take part in the celebration of Mass.

Biblical figures who are especially prominent during the Advent season are the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Prophet Isaiah, and St. John the Baptist. The season of Advent cannot be understood without taking into account their role in the fulfillment of God’s plan in Christ for our salvation.

Source: Rev. Kurt Belsole, OSB, Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA
www.liftupyourhearts.church

Bulletin Insert: The Season of Advent

July 13, 2017 /

The Season of Advent

The season of Advent begins on the First Sunday of Advent and continues until Christmas. This season has a two-fold character. First of all, it is a time when we focus on waiting in joyful expectation for the second coming of the Lord at the end of time. For that reason, on the First Sunday of Advent, we hear in the gospels of the three-year cycle about staying awake for the coming of the Son of Man, about being watchful and alert since we do not know when he will come, and about the Son of Man coming with power and great glory.

As Advent progresses, however, the first coming of Christ becomes more prominent. He is the Son of God and the Son of Mary as well as the baby born in Bethlehem who will suffer, die, and rise again for our salvation. The Second Sunday of Advent, therefore, has John the Baptist crying out: Prepare the way of the Lord. The Third Sunday of Advent again features John the Baptist hearing about the miracles of Christ, instructing the people that there is one among them whose sandal strap he is not worthy to untie, and then teaching that there is someone mightier than he who is coming and who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Then, at last, on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we hear in the gospel of how the birth of Jesus Christ came about, of Mary saying to the Archangel Gabriel: Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, and the exclamation of Elizabeth at the visitation: How is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Source: Rev. Kurt Belsole, OSB, Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA
www.liftupyourhearts.church

Bulletin Insert: Sprinkling Rite: Vidi Aquam

July 9, 2017 /

The Blessing and Sprinkling of Holy Water at Mass during the Easter Season

The Roman Missal provides that on Sundays the blessing and sprinkling of holy water may take the place of the usual Penitential Act at the beginning of Mass. This is done in remembrance of our baptism. When this is used, it comes immediately after the greeting and the priest blesses the water before he sprinkles it.

The Rite for the Blessing and Sprinkling of Water is especially recommended for Easter Time. The priest begins by inviting the people to ask God to bless the water which will be sprinkled on them as a reminder of their baptism and also that they may remain faithful to the Spirit which they have received.

In the blessing of water for the Easter season, the priest speaks of the wonderful work of our creation and the even greater work of our redemption in Christ. He recalls that God made water the instrument of his mercy. Then in a clear reference to the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt through the Red Sea, he speaks of how, through water, God freed his people from slavery. Also, in reference to the forty years that Israel spent in the desert, the priest notes that through water from the rock, the Lord quenched the thirst of his people in the desert. Then in recalling Christ’s baptism in the Jordan, the priest refers to the fact that Christ, by his own baptism, made the very waters of baptism holy. Finally, the priest prays that the water that is blessed may be a memorial of the baptism which those in the congregation have received and that they may also share the joy of those who were baptized that year at the Easter Vigil.

The sprinkling during the Easter Season has customarily been accompanied by the chant which begins with the words of Ezechiel 47: 1: Vidi aquam egredientem de templo, a latere dextro, alleluia. Et omnes ad quos pervenit aqua ista, salvi facti sunt. Et dicent: alleluia, alleluia (I saw water flowing from the right side of the temple, alleluia. And all to whom this water came were saved. And they will say: alleluia, alleluia). This chant begins a passage which further on speaks of other images of abundant life and healing, images that someone familiar with this passage recalls almost automatically: the water becomes a great river; it makes the salt waters fresh; wherever the river flows, every living creature that can multiply will live; along the banks of the river trees of every kind will grow; they will bear fruit every month; their fruit will serve as food and their leaves for medicine.

Source: Rev. Kurt Belsole, OSB, Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA
www.liftupyourhearts.church

 

Bulletin Insert: Sprinkling Rite: Asperges

July 7, 2017 /

The Blessing and Sprinkling of Holy Water at Mass outside of the Easter Season

The Roman Missal provides that on Sundays the blessing and sprinkling of holy water may take the place of the usual Penitential Act at the beginning of Mass. This is done in remembrance of our baptism. When this is used, it comes immediately after the greeting and the priest blesses the water before he sprinkles it.

The priest begins by inviting the people to ask God to bless the water which will be sprinkled on them as a reminder of their baptism and that they may remain faithful to the Spirit which they have received.

In the blessing that follows, the priest recalls that water is the fountain of life and source of purification. This prayer also sees water as the means through which we receive the gift of eternal life in our baptism. The priest asks God to bless the water as a sign of the Lord’s protection, and he prays that the living spring of grace may be renewed within us. He asks as well that we may be defended from all ills of spirit and body, so that we may approach the Lord with hearts made clean and worthily receive his salvation.

The sprinkling outside of the Easter Season has customarily been accompanied by the chant which begins with the words of Ps. 51 (50), 9: Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo et mundabor. Lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor. Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam (Sprinkle me, O Lord, with hyssop and I shall be cleansed. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow).

Source: Rev. Kurt Belsole, OSB, Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA
www.liftupyourhearts.church

 

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