26 July 2015 - A discussion on Sacramentals - 17th Sunday in Ordinary time (Year B)

On this weeks programme the full SS102fm team is back on air together for the first time in a couple of months. The discussion this week is around the issue of sacramentals and pious objects. We have our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel as well as other liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks full programme HERE.

Holiday & pilgrimage souvenirs - Sacramental's & Pious Objects

It is the holiday season at the minute and many people are also undertaking pilgrimages to the likes of Lourdes, Fatima and Medugorje as well as walking the Camino to Santiago and also more local pilgrimages to Lough Derg and Knock. It is traditional to bring back souvenirs and memento's especially pious objectives for those at home from such journeys. But there can be a tendency by some people to view such items as being superstitious or as some kind of "magic" item. At the same time there are also some who view such items as medieval and passé, anachronistic or mildly embarrassing  like an eccentric old aunt. 

So on this weeks programme the SS102fm team discuss what exactly sacramentals are, how they are different to the Sacraments, the different types of sacramentals and how they are supposed to be used and respected and ultimately what is the point and purpose of them as guides and sign posts in faith towards Christ. 

You can listen to the discussion on sacramentals excerpted from the programme HERE.

Pope Francis has raised the issue of popular piety in his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium and he reflects on the role of popular piety in evangelisation.  

You can read what the Catechism has to say here. You can also listen to the Faith Check podcast from the Discerning Heart website here. You can find a powerpoint presentation used on the main points of this weeks radio programme here.

A few other resources including how to dispose of old and worn out pious objects properly here and here.  

Gospel - John 6: 1-15

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias.  A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 

When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’ 

When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy
Sunday Reflections
Deacon's Bench - Preachers, don’t make this mistake this weekend


Liturgical Odds & Ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 1; 17th week in ordinary time

Saints of the Week

27th July - Saint Ecclesius of Ravenna
28th July - Saint José Melchór García-Sampedro Suárez
29th July - St Martha
30th July - St Peter Chrysologus
31st July - St Ignatius of Loyola
1st August - St Alphonsus Liguori