28th October 2012 - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

On this weeks programme we are joined by two special guests to discuss their view of the church as well as our regular gospel reflection and various liturgical odds and ends for the start of the month of November.

This weeks programme's podcast is available HERE.


"The Church is alive and young"

We are joined in studio this week Loran Geary and Niamh McMahon, both of whom are 6th year students at Scoil Mhuire & Ide in Newcastle West. Both girls were recently involved with the parish mission held in Newcastle West and they give their views on their faith, their relationship with God and the church. It is an inspiring and hope filled interview with two young catholics from West Limerick which reminds us that despite what the general view, the church is young and alive!

Gospel - Mark 10: 46-52

Where do you desire healing in your own life?

The blind man was clear about what he needed - this made it possible for him to sieze the moment and ask Jesus. Are you?

If you're not sure what to ask God for, what not take some time this week to be still and pray for insight. Ask God to help you identify the healing you seek and the longing beneath your desire. Perhaps there are fears or barriers that would keep you from asking God for healing? Ask God to heal those fears, so that you can then ask for healing.

Imagine Jesus is asking you as he did Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” What would your response be now? Take time this week to write, reflect or otherwise express to God what you need. Bring this request to Sunday Mass, responding to the words of Jesus followers "Take heart, rise, He is calling you".

 

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

 

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy


Liturgical odds and ends

Divine Office - week 2

November - Month of the Holy Souls

As the clocks change and the evenings draw in, we head into Samhain (November) and the dark days of Winter here in Ireland. As the earth heads into hibernation and rebirth, the ancient Celts saw this time as a "thin place" between this world and the next. All Hallows Eve (Halloween) is a reminder to us that our nearest and dearest who have died are not really that far away and that we honour and pray for and with each other in the Communion of Saints especially at this time of the year.

Whilst you remember your own loved ones at this time, also remember to pray for those that are mourning. While time may change the pain of loss, it can never be said to truly go away; remember those who mourn and feel that pain at this time too especially for those who have lost loved ones in the last twelve months.

"For centuries the church has confronted the human community with role models of greatness. We call them saints when what we really often mean to say is 'icon,' 'star,' 'hero,' ones so possessed by an internal vision of divine goodness that they give us a glimpse of the face of God in the center of the human. They give us a taste of the possibilities of greatness in ourselves."
— Joan D. Chittister in A Passion for Life
 

Some resources for you for All Saints and All Souls - here, here, here



Indulgence for the Holy Souls

"An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints."

"An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin." The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead.⁸³ (CCC 1471)

In the communion of saints, "a perennial link of charity exists between the faithful who have already reached their heavenly home, those who are expiating their sins in purgatory and those who are still pilgrims on earth. between them there is, too, an abundant exchange of all good things."⁸⁷ In this wonderful exchange, the holiness of one profits others, well beyond the harm that the sin of one could cause others. Thus recourse to the communion of saints lets the contrite sinner be more promptly and efficaciously purified of the punishments for sin. (CCC 1475) 

Norms for the Indulgence

• From 12 o’clock noon on the 1st of November until midnight on the 2nd November, all who have confessed, received Holy Communion, and prayed for the Pope's intentions (one Our Father and Hail Mary, or any other prayer of one's choice) can gain one plenary indulgence by visiting a church or oratory, and there reciting one Our Father and the Apostle's Creed. This indulgence is applicable only to the souls of the departed. Confession may be made at any time within the week preceding or the week following the 1st of November. Holy Communion may be received on any day from 1 November to 8 November.
• The faithful who visit a cemetery and pray for the dead may gain a plenary indulgence applicable only to the Holy Souls on the usual conditions once per day from the 1st to the 8th November. The conditions mentioned above apply to this day.

Saints of the Week

October 29th - St Coleman
October 30th - Bl. John Slade or St Marcellus the Centurian
October 31st - Bl. Dominic Collins (martyr)
November 1st -Feast of All Saints
November 2nd - Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (First Friday)
November 3rd -  St Malachy
 
Pope's Intentions for November
 
General: Ministers of the Gospel
That bishops, priests, and all ministers of the Gospel may bear the courageous witness of fidelity to the crucified and risen Lord.

Mission: Pilgrim Church
That the pilgrim Church on earth may shine as a light to the nations.