25 August 2019 - A programme of reflections - Reflecting on the Mass with Fr Frank (Part 1); Reflection on "Mary Our Mother", Knock 2019 - Eucharistic Blessing & Healing Prayers

This week Fr Frank Duhig joins us to begin series of reflections on the Mass. He concludes his reflection with the last words of Jesus that are used at the beginning of each Mass ‘In the name of the Father and the son and the Holy Spirit’

You can listen to a podcast of the reflection of Fr Frank  excerpted from the programme HERE.

We also replay a reflection of ‘Mary our Mother’ which was originally broadcast in August 2017. Geraldine Creaton & Shane Ambrose share their thoughts on the role Mary plays as our protector and evangeliser.

You can listen to a podcast of the reflection of Geraldine  excerpted from the programme HERE.

We also include a recording made during the recent Knock Novena of the Eucharistic blessing and healing prayers

You can listen to a podcast of the Eucharistic Blessing and healing prayers excerpted from the programme HERE.

You can listen to the podcast of this week's full programme HERE.

3rd June 2018 - Why do we go to Mass with Fr Pat Seaver - Solemnity of Corpus Christi

On this weeks programme John has a chat with Fr Pat Seaver about why we go to Mass reflecting on the nature of the Sacrifice of the Mass which Fr Pat has worked on explaining to children in a new graphic novel. We have our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel as well as other liturgical odds & ends.

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

Why do we go to Mass? - Fr Pat Seaver

On this weeks programme we are joined by Fr Pat Seaver to reflect on Why we go to Mass? and the publication of his graphic book for children explaining what Mass is about which is a timely interview given the feast which we celebrate today.

Peter Costello reviews Fr Pat's book in this weeks Irish Catholic also:

Having to sit on so many Sundays to sit beside families with their small children, even some of communion age, are running around the aisles, inattentive and uninterested in the service they are attending, this is a book many will have longed for.

Once upon a time small children were never taken to Mass – they had not reached the age of reason after all. They stayed at home with Granny or an elder sister. But when the extended family seems to have vanished, along with a series of Sunday morning masses, things are different.

There is nothing comic about the mass. Fr Seaver should perhaps have not used the Americanism “comic book” for his little pamphlet- the correct European term is “graphic book” might have been better. But he has written a book many parents will want to have. In the simplest but clearest terms he can mange he explains to a young readership what the mass and the Eucharist are about.

Observation suggests that some may have been schooled in the right movement and actions, such as going up to receive, but their minds are not engaged with the Mass as a kind of feast, a source of nourishment. Their parents hush them, but are so intent on their own devotions that they neglect their children. Whether this is a sort of mild “child abuse” is something to think about.

Fr Seaver wrote an earlier book with a similar intent but found it was just too academic. This book is a further effort to reach out to what seems to be a neglected cohort of Catholics, the Catholics of the future. What surprises one is that the Catholic publishers that exist have not taken up his idea. Maybe with a bit of promotion now they will, and so reach even more families.

Why We Go to Mass, a comic book by Fr. Pat Seaver & Hugh McMahon (€5.99 postage included; for copies contact Paul Flynn at Kyle House, Henry St, Limerick, tel: 061-313377).

You can listen to the interview with Fr Pat excerpted from the main programme podcast HERE.

Gospel - Mark 14:12-16, 22:26

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
when they sacrificed the Passover lamb,
Jesus’ disciples said to him,
"Where do you want us to go
and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
He sent two of his disciples and said to them,
"Go into the city and a man will meet you,
carrying a jar of water.
Follow him.
Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house,
'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room
where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"'
Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready.
Make the preparations for us there."
The disciples then went off, entered the city,
and found it just as he had told them;
and they prepared the Passover.
While they were eating,
he took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, gave it to them, and said,
"Take it; this is my body."
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them,
and they all drank from it.
He said to them,
"This is my blood of the covenant,
which will be shed for many.
Amen, I say to you,
I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine
until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Then, after singing a hymn,
they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Reflections on this weeks gospel

Word on Fire
Centre for Liturgy
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections

Vatican News - Reflections for the Feast of Corpus Christi

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 4, 8th week of Ordinary Time

Saints of the Week

June 4th - The Ugandan Martyrs, also St Kevin
June 5th - St Boniface
June 6th - St Jarlath of Tuam
June 7th - St Colman of Dromore
June 8th -  Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
June 9th -  St Columcille also Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Pope's Intention
That social networks may work towards that inclusiveness which respects other for their differences.

Pope Francis: Mass is for prayers not mobile phones

Vatican Radio - Pope at General Audience: through the Eucharist we receive God

Pope Francis has reminded the faithful that the Eucharist is a wonderful event during which Jesus Christ, our life, becomes present. 

Speaking to the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis began a new series of reflections focusing on the Eucharist and highlighting the importance of how we attend and of how we participate in Mass in order to really experience our relationship with God. 

To the some 13,000 pilgrims present for the weekly audience, Pope Francis said that while at Mass “the Lord is present with us but many times we talk among ourselves and we are not close to Him” during the celebration.

BBC - Pope Francis: Mass is for prayers not mobile phones

7th December 2014 - 2nd Sunday of Advent

On this weeks programme John is joined by Mary Lynch, Martina O'Sullivan and Stephanie O'Donnell who have a reflection on Eucharistic Adoration. Michael Keating joins John to reflect on this weeks gospel as well as some other liturgical odds and ends.

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

Apostolate of Eucharistic Adoration

This week we reflect on Eucharistic Adoration as part of preparation for Advent. 

Mary Lynch introduces us to the Apostolate of Eucharistic Adoration which is an Association of Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament, embracing God’s call to weekly Eucharistic Adoration, striving to be a people of prayer, vision and mission, and accepting the challenge to live the Good News of Jesus Christ. This Apostolate is organised, maintained and developed by lay people.

Website of the Irish Apostolate of Eucharistic Adoration.

Martina O'Sullivan returns to the programme to share about Children's Eucharistic Adoration and Stephanie O'Donnell reflects on her involvement in the Do This in Memory programme which is the preparatory programme for First Holy Communion through the parish and the primary schools in the diocese of Limerick.

You can listen to the excerpt of the programme on Eucharistic adoration HERE.

Gospel - Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight--" John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."




Reflections on the second Sunday of Advent:

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
English Dominicans
Phil Ewing over at Ennis Blue

Liturgical odds and ends

Saints of the Week

December 9th - St Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin
December 10th - Bl Adolph Kolping
December 11th - St Damasus I (Pope)
December 12th - St Finnian also Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 13th - St Lucy
December 14th - St John of the Cross is not celebrated this year

Rome Reports: Millions join Pope for simultaneous worldwide Eucharistic Adoration

The Eucharist: The Source and Summit of the Christian Life

One of the recommendations for the Year of Faith is to study the documents of the Second Vatican Council.  The Council document on the Church described the Eucharist as the “source and summit of the Christian life” (Lumen Gentium 11). This means everything we do should come from and lead to our celebration of our Sunday Mass. 

The Eucharist is the summit, the high-point, of the Christian life; because through our celebration of Mass we offer God the Father praise and thanksgiving through His Son Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1407).  When we come to celebrate Mass, we offer our whole lives to God.  During the preparation of the gifts, the priest adds a little drop of water to the wine.  When I’m helping to prepare the altar servers, I ask them to especially watch out for this moment of Mass.  This little drop of water represents all of us and all our daily lives – our joys, our worries, our concerns, our hopes, our dreams and our whole humanity.  As the priest adds the water, he prays: “By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.”  In other words, we pray that, through the power of the Holy Spirit during this Mass, God will transform our lives and help us to become more Christ-like in everything we do and say and think. 

 

The Eucharist is the source of the Christian life.  During Mass we are nourished in a number of ways.  Firstly, by God’s Word through the First and Second Readings, the psalm, the Gospel and also the homily, where the priest helps us to better understand God’s Word and apply God’s Word to our lives.  We are nourished as a parish community, by coming together to support each other and pray for each other and the whole world.  In receiving Holy Communion we are nourished by the Body of Christ.  Holy Communion is not blessed bread or holy bread; it is the Body and Blood of Christ.  Normally when we eat food, the food is broken down so that our bodies can change the food into ourselves.  However, when we receive Holy Communion, we receive Christ Himself (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1324).  The process is reversed, because we don’t change Holy Communion into ourselves, the Lord changes us into Himself[1].  This doesn’t mean that we are suddenly perfect or sinless… our journey towards holiness takes a lifetime of co-operating with God’s grace!  Receiving Holy Communion strengthens our communion with God and with the parish community.  Receiving Holy Communion forgives our venial sins and strengthens us to resist the temptation to commit grave sins (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1416).  If we regularly attend Mass and receive Holy Communion it will have an effect on the way we live and love.

At the end of Mass each of us is given the mission to “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord” or to “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life”.  In the old translation, the priest used to say: “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord”.  How do we fulfil this mission?  We can only do this because we have received Jesus in Holy Communion.

We announce the Gospel as lay people by living the Gospel message.  St. Francis of Assisi was said to have commissioned his friars to “preach the Gospel always, and if necessary use words”, meaning that we primarily preach the Gospel by living by Gospel values. 

We can also announce the Gospel by standing up for Christian values in the public arena, by not being afraid to give a defence of our faith, what we believe in and why.  This doesn’t necessarily mean that we will have to stand up and preach in the middle of a market square or go house-to-house evangelising, but it means speaking honestly and openly about our faith and what our faith means to us when we are asked.

 

How do we love and serve the Lord?  Pope Benedict, quoting St. Thomas Aquinas, described the Eucharist as a ‘Sacrament of Charity’ (Sacramentum Caritatis 1; cf. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae III, q. 73, a. 3), a Sacrament of Love.  God loved the world so much that He gave Himself to save us (cf. Jn 3:16).  After receiving Jesus in Holy Communion we are asked to follow His example… to give ourselves to the love and service of others.  If we reflect on it, most of us are living this way already.  As parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, children, teachers, volunteers working in the community… we are already sharing our love with our families and members of the community.  We are already living eucharistically.  In receiving Holy Communion we are asked to go even further… we are challenged, as Pope Benedict says, “in God and with God… [to] love even the person whom I do not like or even know” (Deus Caritas Est 232; Sacramentum Caritatis 88). 

Loving strangers, in a sense, is easy.  I don’t know enough about them to dislike them, but to love the person who drives you nuts, you know that person that you duck down an aisle at the supermarket to avoid or cross the street so they don’t see you… or that person who is at home or at work or at school whom you find difficult to get on with… that takes the grace of God that we receive through the Eucharist.  Christian love is not about feelings.  We don’t have to like every person we meet, but we do have to love them.  We love these people especially, as Pope Benedict says, ‘in God and with God’.  In other words, God loves them through us, if we allow Him to and He helps us to love them with Him. 

On the odd occasion that I have missed Sunday Mass, I truly felt as if something was missing from my life.  You know the phrase: “There, but for the grace of God, go I”.  I need God’s grace to be a Christian.  I cannot do it without Him.  I am a worse version of myself when I neglect my prayer life or I miss going to Mass.  Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta said: “We cannot separate our lives from the Eucharist; the moment we do, something breaks.”  Our attendance at Sunday Mass is intimately related to every part of our daily lives.  Attending Sunday Mass is a precept of the Church, not because the Church likes burdening us with rules and regulations and obligations, but because regularly receiving Jesus and spending time listening to His Word brings us closer to the Holy Trinity.  Celebrating Mass together as a parish community each Sunday is a fountain of grace for us (cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium 10)… It makes us better people and better Christians.  It is a well spring where we are nourished and renewed so that we can go out again refreshed to love and serve the Lord during the coming week.

 In the Eucharist, Christ fulfils His promise to stay with us always (cf. Mt 28:20; Mane Nobiscum Domine 16), to give us His love and grace and help (cf. Mane Nobiscum Domine 15).  Perhaps during this Year of Faith one little promise we could make to ourselves is to spend a little time each week reflecting on the mystery of God’s love for us in the Eucharist and how we are called to live the Eucharist in our daily lives.  

---

[1] Cf. http://www.iec2012.ie/media/TheEucharistmakestheChurch1.pdf

Verbum Supernum Prodiens (including O Salutaris Hostia)

From Catholic Culture:

For the Lauds of Corpus Christi, St Thomas Aquinas wrote the hymn Verbum Supernum Prodiens (The Divine Word coming forth). The last stanza preceding the customary conclusion in praise of the Trinity has become a favorite song and prayer in itself:

O salutaris hostia,
Quae caeli pandis ostium,
Bella praemunt hostilia:
Da robur, fer auxilium.


O saving host, O bread of life,
Thou goal of rest from pain and strife,
Embattled are we, poor and weak:
Grant us the strength and help we seek

Sequence Lauda Sion

The sequence of the Mass for Corpus Christi, Lauda Sion Salvatorem (Sion, praise thy Lord and Saviour). Saint Thomas Acquinas enumerates in unmistakable words the main truths of Christ's revelation and the Church's teaching about the Holy Eucharist.

Sion, lift thy voice and sing:

Praise thy Savior and thy King;

Praise with hymns thy Shepherd true:

Dare thy most to praise Him well;

For He doth all praise excel;

None can ever reach His due.

Special theme of praise is thine,

That true living Bread divine,

That life-giving flesh adored,

Which the brethren twelve received,

As most faithfully believed,

At the Supper of the Lord.

Let the chant be loud and high;

Sweet and tranquil be the joy

Felt to-day in every breast;

On this festival divine

Which recounts the origin

Of the glorious Eucharist.

At this table of the King,

Our new Paschal offering

Brings to end the olden rite;

Here, for empty shadows fled,

Is reality instead;

Here, instead of darkness, light.

His own act, at supper seated,

Christ ordained to be repeated,

In His memory divine;

Wherefore now, with adoration,

We the Host of our salvation

Consecrate from bread and wine.

Hear what holy Church maintaineth,

That the bread its substance changeth

Into Flesh, the wine to Blood.

Doth it pass thy comprehending?

Faith, the law of sight transcending,

Leaps to things not understood.

Here in outward signs are hidden

Priceless things, to sense forbidden;

Signs, not things, are all we see:-

Flesh from bread, and Blood from wine;

Yet is Christ, in either sign,

All entire confessed to be.

They too who of Him partake

Sever not, nor rend, nor break,

But entire their Lord receive.

Whether one or thousands eat,

All receive the selfsame meat,

Nor the less for others leave.

Both the wicked and the good

Eat of this celestial Food;

But with ends how opposite!

Here 'tis life; and there 'tis death;

The same, yet issuing to each

In a difference infinite.

Nor a single doubt retain,

When they break the Host in twain,

But that in each part remains

What was in the whole before;

Since the simple sign alone

Suffers change in state or form,

The Signified remaining One

And the Same forevermore

Lo! upon the Altar lies,

Hidden deep from human eyes,

Angels' Bread from Paradise

Made the food of mortal man:

Children's meat to dogs denied;

In old types foresignified;

In the manna from the skies,

In Isaac, and the Paschal Lamb.

Jesu! Shepherd of the sheep!

Thy true flock in safety keep.

Living Bread! Thy life supply;

Strengthen us, or else we die;

Fill us with celestial grace:

Thou, who feedest us below!

Source of all we have or know!

Grant that with Thy Saints above,

Sitting at the Feast of Love,

We may see Thee face to face. Amen

Adoro te devote

One of the five beautiful hymns St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) composed in honor of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at Pope Urban IV's (1261-1264) request when the Pope first established the Feast of Corpus Christi in 1264. The hymn is found in the Roman Missal as a prayer of thanksgiving after Mass. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly recite this hymn.

Adoro te devote, latens Deitas,
Quae sub his figuris vere latitas;
Tibi se cor meum totum subiicit,
Quia te contemplans, totum deficit.

Visus, tactus, gustus in te fallitur,
Sed auditu solo tuto creditur;
Credo quidquid dixit Dei Filius,
Nil hoc verbo veritatis verius.

In Cruce latebat sola Deitas.
At hic latet simul et humanitas:
Ambo tamen credens, atque confitens,
Peto quod petivit latro paenitens.

Plagas, sicut Thomas, non intueor,
Deum tamen meum te confiteor:
Fac me tibi semper magis credere,
In te spem habere, te diligere.

O memoriale mortis Domini,
Panis vivus vitam praestans homini:
Praesta meae menti de te vivere,
Et te illi semper dulce sapere.

Pie pellicane Iesu Domine,
Me immundum munda tuo Sanguine:
Cuius una stilla salvum facere
Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere.

Iesu, quem velatum nunc aspicio,
Oro, fiat illud, quod tam sitio,
Ut te revelata cernens facie,
Visu sim beatus tuae gloriae.
Amen.

Hidden God, devoutly I adore Thee,
Truly present underneath these veils:
All my heart subdues itself before Thee,
Since it all before Thee faints and fails.

Not to sight, or taste, or touch be credit,
Hearing only do we trust secure;
I believe, for God the Son has said it
Word of Truth that ever shall endure.

On the Cross was veiled Thy Godhead's splendor,
Here Thy Manhood lieth hidden too;
Unto both alike my faith I render,
And, as sued the contrite thief, I sue.

Though I look not on Thy wounds with Thomas,
Thee, my Lord, and Thee, my God, I call:
Make me more and more believe Thy promise,
Hope in Thee, and love Thee over all.

O Memorial of My Savior dying,
Living Bread, that givest life to man;
May my soul, its life from Thee supplying,
Taste Thy sweetness, as on earth it can.

Deign, O Jesus, Pelican of heaven,
Me, a sinner, in Thy Blood to lave,
To a single drop of which is given
All the world from all its sin to save.

Contemplating, Lord, Thy hidden presence,
Grant me what I thirst for and implore,
In the revelation of Thy essence
To behold Thy glory evermore.
Amen.

Pange Lingua

Written by St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), this is one of the great seven hymns of the Church. This hymn is also used on the Feast of Corpus Christi. The last two stanzas make up the "Tantum Ergo" (Down in Adoration Falling) that is used at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. 

Of the glorious Body telling,
O my tongue, its mysteries sing,
And the Blood, all price excelling,
Which the world's eternal King,
In a noble womb once dwelling
Shed for the world's ransoming.

Given for us, descending,
Of a Virgin to proceed,
Man with man in converse blending,
Scattered he the Gospel seed,
Till his sojourn drew to ending,
Which he closed in wondrous deed.

At the last great Supper lying
Circled by his brethren's band,
Meekly with the law complying,
First he finished its command
Then, immortal Food supplying,
Gave himself with his own hand.

Word made Flesh, by word he maketh
Very bread his Flesh to be;
Man in wine Christ's Blood partaketh:
And if senses fail to see,
Faith alone the true heart waketh
To behold the mystery.

Therefore we, before him bending,
This great Sacrament revere;
Types and shadows have their ending,
For the newer rite is here;
Faith, our outward sense befriending,
Makes the inward vision clear.

Glory let us give, and blessing
To the Father and the Son;
Honour, might, and praise addressing,
While eternal ages run;
Ever too his love confessing,
Who, from both, with both is one. Amen

God in the streets of New York

Sacris Solemniis

From Catholic Culture:

This is one of the five beautiful hymns St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) composed in honor of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at specific request of Pope Urban IV (1261-1264) when the Pope first established the Feast of Corpus Christi in 1264. Today Sacris Solemniis is used as a hymn for the Office of the Readings for Corpus Christi. The last two stanzas are the text for the hymn Panis Angelicus. Latin from the Liturgia Horarum. English translation is a cento based upon a translation by John David Chambers (1805-1893).

At this our solemn feast
let holy joys abound,
and from the inmost breast
let songs of praise resound;
let ancient rites depart,
and all be new around,
in every act, and voice, and heart.

Remember we that eve,
when, the Last Supper spread,
Christ, as we all believe,
the Lamb, with leavenless bread,
among His brethren shared,
and thus the Law obeyed,
of all unto their sire declared.

The typic Lamb consumed,
the legal Feast complete,
the Lord unto the Twelve
His Body gave to eat;
the whole to all, no less
the whole to each did mete
with His own hands, as we confess.

He gave them, weak and frail,
His Flesh, their Food to be;
on them, downcast and sad,
His Blood bestowed He:
and thus to them He spake,
"Receive this Cup from Me,
and all of you of this partake."

So He this Sacrifice
to institute did will,
and charged His priests alone
that office to fulfill:
to them He did confide:
to whom it pertains still
to take, and the rest divide.

Thus Angels' Bread is made
the Bread of man today:
the Living Bread from heaven
with figures dost away:
O wondrous gift indeed!
the poor and lowly may
upon their Lord and Master feed.

Thee, therefore, we implore,
o Godhead, One in Three,
so may Thou visit us
as we now worship Thee;
and lead us on Thy way,
That we at last may see
the light wherein Thou dwellest aye.

Panis Angelicus - John McCormack

Our Lady's Pastoral Area Eucharistic Rally

On Sunday, April 29th 2012 the seven parishes of Our Lady's Pastoral Area in West Limerick (Ardagh/Carrickerry, Dromcollogher/Broadford, Feenagh/Kilmeedy, Killeedy, Mahoonagh, Monagea and Newcastle West) gathered in the G.A.A. Grounds, Newcastle West for a Eucharistic Rally in preparation for the 50th International Eucharistic Rally in Dublin in June 2012.  Parishioners of all ages braved the blustery weather to come together to joyfully celebrate the Eucharist and Benediction.

In his homily, Fr. Tony Mullins (Diocesan Administrator) reminded us that our faith is based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  We are invited to engage with that relationship and do so as members of the faith community gathered around the table of the Lord to be nourished by Word and Sacrament. In the words of the Eucharistic Congress Hymn: "Christ's presence is revealed in our communion and His living word".  

Following Christ's Gospel will transform our lives, our culture and our value system.  We are called to proclaim the love of God that we experience in Jesus Christ and one another to all whom we meet.  Fr. Tony reminds us that we are not alone in this call, we are accompanied by the Holy Spirit and we are a community of believers with Jesus Christ at the centre.  With Christ at the centre of our Church we can do all things.  Through our baptism all of us share in the mission to nurture the faith and proclaim the Good News.  This means it begins with me... in our own homes.... in our own kitchens... with our own children.  Spreading the Good News begins within our own family spreading out into the Christian community.  We are all missionaries in that sense.

Fr. Tony's full homily (including the singing of the Eucharistic Congress Hymn) is available here.

John Keily also spoke briefly with Kit Histon, who remembers the 1932 Congress and, please God, will attend the 2012 Congress in June.  This interview is available here.

  

Fr. Tony Mullins (Diocesan Administrator) and the priests of Our Lady's Pastoral Area con-celebrating Mass

Ann Keily (Left) and Kit Histon (Right)

Some of the memorabilia from the 1932 Congress
This altar cloth was hand stitched commemorating the 1932 Congress in Dublin

Did not our hearts burn within us?

On Wednesday of the Easter Octave, we reflect on the account of the disciples encounter with the Risen Christ on the road to Emmaus (cf. Lk 24:13-35). This beautiful encounter is fundamentally Eucharistic.

The disciples are journeying together on the road. We journey together too when we come to celebrate the Eucharist together. The Risen Lord comes to meet them and walk with them, though they don't recognise Him in His glorified body. In the Eucharist the Risen Lord comes to meet us and walk with us, though we don't recognise Him with our senses - He is truly present, body, blood, soul and divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine. Jesus encourages the disciples to relate their story to Him. In the Eucharist we too bring our lives before God and relate our story to Him through prayers and petitions.

On the road to Emmaus "starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, Jesus explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself". The priest, in persona Christi, in the Person of Christ, explains the scriptures to us, showing us the unity of Scripture (Old Testament, Psalms, New Testament and Gospel) in Christ.

On the road to Emmaus Jesus "took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them". The exact same action takes place during Mass. The priest, in the Person of Christ, takes the bread and wine and consecrates them to become the Body and Blood of Christ. We receive the Risen Lord when we receive Holy Communion. When the consecration took place at Emmaus, Jesus disappeared because He was sacramentally present there in the Eucharist.

What was the reaction of the disciples? They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?" Jesus is just as present to us today during the Eucharist as He was at Emmaus. Does my heart burn within me when I am present at Mass?? Do I long to spend time with the Risen Lord in Eucharistic adoration??

Blessed Pope John Paul II wrote: "The presence of Jesus in the tabernacle must be a kind of magnetic pole attracting an ever greater number of souls enamoured of him, ready to wait patiently to hear his voice and, as it were, to sense the beating of his heart" (Mane Nobiscum Domine 18).

The heart of the Risen Lord burns with love for you. He died and rose again for you. How will you respond?

Some web browsing.........

Some web browsing........


As preparation for the 800th anniversary of the Approval of the Order of Preachers (a.k.a. the Dominicans) in 2016, they are preparing a "Novena" highlighting certain aspects of the charism of the Order. The theme for 2012 is "Go and tell my brothers, Dominican women and evagelization". The letter of the Master of the Order, Fr. Bruno Cadore, OP, reflecting on the role of women in the work of the Holy Preaching is here. While it is aimed specifically at the Dominicans, there is a lot of food for thought for the church universal in it as well.


We have all heard the expression "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus". But what impact has the changing roles of men in society had on the understanding of their role and the impact on the rough and tumble of raising boys. Two pieces which discussed it recently: Raising Boys in a culture that is often alarmed by them and from First Things - The Killer Instinct.

Digitalnun has some thoughts on the upcoming Year of Faith which begins 11th October 2012. She also had a piece reflecting on the feast of St Anthony and the eremitical vocation.


Deacon Greg has an interesting piece about a Hermitage gets a deacon in Texas.


He also has an interesting piece about "Why do Catholics get married in church?"


The IEC2012 is coming June 2012 and the preparations are continuing around the world! Here is a short video from northern Uganda about their preparations. I have meet Sr Maureen, she is a hoot!

Protecting Jesus: the story of the Catholic Chaplain on the sinking Italian cruise ship.
A quick history piece: The Other Successors of St Peter - The Patriarchs of Antioch.


Ever wonder what to think when someone says "I am spiritual but not religious"? A few other points of view on it - Are you spiriual or religious?

A first: South African bishops pick nun as Secretary General.

International coverage of the self-immolation by Tibetan monks has been a bit mixed, here is a piece which asks the question, "Why are Tibetan monks setting themselves on fire?"

We have all heard how the new Social Media such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter etc helped in the Arab Spring. This is an interesting piece looking at How Luther went viral - five centuries before Facebook and the Arab spring, social media helped bring about the Reformation

Some pictures showing the Celebrations of Epiphany from Ethiopia (Coptic Christians) and from Russia and Eastern Europe (Eastern Orthodox Christians).

And finally......

5th June 2011 Exploring the Mass (Part 2)

This weeks show is now available on podcast looking at the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the Concluding Rite.

Programme summary and text of reflection available here.

Exploring the Mass (Part 2)

On this weeks show we continue exploring and for some rediscovering the Order of the Mass led in our reflection by Noirin Lynch from Limerick Diocesan Pastoral Centre where we reflect on the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the Concluding Rites. (Last weeks show on Exploring the Mass - Part 1 can be read here or listened to here).

Saints of the Week

June 6th - St Norbert
June 7th - St Coleman of Dromore
June 8th - St William of York
June 9th - St Columba (Colum cille) Co-patron of Ireland
June 10th - St Ephream of Syria
June 11th - St Barnabas - Apostle

Exploring the Mass (Part 2)

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

The Liturgy of the Eucharist is so rich that we could spend weeks taking it line by line. But for tody, I have three points to reflecton together. It's a beginning, no more. So lets consider: Preparation, Participation, Transformation.

We start the Liturgy of the Eucharist by preparing ourselves and the Table of the Lord.

What are we preparing for? If I invite 4 people for dinner in my home & I prepare the dining room for a buffet for 20, or only lay the table for 2 people … my guests might be confused. Does our preparation reflect what is about to happen?

So, what's the best way to prepare as we begin the Liturgy of the Eucharist?

• "The Preparation of the Altar marks the fact that the altar now becomes the focus. It is appropriate that at this point items required for the celebration should be placed on the altar to signify that a new element of the celebration is beginning".
  
  Don't clutter the altar – the symbols and actions of the Rite are all well thought out and important - they should be seen by everyone from every part of the church at every Mass.
  
  "On particular occasions such as funerals, First Communions and Confirmations, symbols might be placed close to the altar, but not on it. This should be done at the beginning of Mass rather than at the preparation of the altar or of the gifts." Symbols of a group or a person help us to remember who we pray for – but they are not part of the offertory at the Lit of Eucharist
  
• Personally – Am I totally present, prepared, or is my mind cluttered with things that may prevent me from seeing whats on offer? After the collection and offertory, can I take a moment to realise where we are now, and what we are being invited into?!
  

29th May 2011 - Exploring the Mass (Part 1)

On this weeks show we were joined by Noirin Lynch from Limerick Diocesan Pastoral Centre who led us through the first part of a two part reflection on the Mass looking at the Introductory rites and the Liturgy of the Word. We also had our regular prayer space and a quick dash through the saints of the week.

Podcast of the programme is available HERE.


Saints of the Week

May 30th - St Joan of Arc

May 31st - The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
June 1st - St Justin (Martyr)
June 2nd - Ascension Thursday or Ss Macellinus and Peter
June 3rd - St Kevin (in Ireland) and St Charles Lwanga and Companions (Ugandan Martyrs) It is also the First Friday.
June 4th - St Cornelius McConchailleach


Exploring the Mass (Part 1)

Have you ever found yourself standing up for the Gospel and realising that you didn’t hear a word of the first readings? Ever sat down in church to realise that you can’t relax and pray today? The truth is that very few people arrive at Mass fully prepared to participate, so we need a time to become present to each other, and to the mystery of the Eucharist which we are about to celebrate together.

Mass has 2 essential parts – the Liturgy of the Word, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. But because we are human, we need time around those to prepare and pray – or we might miss the grace on offer!! So: Who is gathered? Why are we here? What needs to happen so we can really be present here & now?

Recognise that we are welcome as full members of this community

As we enter the church, we bless ourselves in holy water from the font to remind ourselves of our welcome at Baptism. Teaching a child to bless themselves like this is a great gift. Welcome is experienced in the friendly faces, the warmth of the church, the helpful hints (leaflets, usher etc). When we know we are welcome, it’s easier to know we belong!

We begin our liturgy with the sign of the Cross – the same sign that marked us at Baptism. The Amen we say here and throughout the Mass is significant as it calls us to respond, to choose to participate, to full membership. At this point the role of the celebrant is to gather the congregation into a people united in the presence of God.

Recognise ourselves & that we need to prepare our hearts

The Penitential Rite has four possible options: each week the celebrant chooses the one most appropriate for this Sunday. The focus is not on our sinfulness but on our need of God and Gods great mercy.

“The first form, ‘I confess’, acknowledges our sinfulness and asks the support of the prayers of the whole congregation which has gathered to celebrate the Eucharist and of the Blessed Virgin and all the saints. ... That confession is made entrusting oneself to Almighty God in the context of the prayer of the whole Church, on earth and in heaven. The second form reflects the long tradition of repentant prayer found in the penitential psalms. We express our sorrow and our hope in God’s mercy in words that have been used by God’s People for millennia, in words inspired by God himself. …The third form offers a variety of triple invocations leading to the prayer, Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy – the traditional Kyrie Eleison. It is important to note that this form is not a confession of sins, “Lord for the times when we failed to…” It is a litany of praise. The praise is offered to Jesus Christ, to whom the Kyrie is addressed. … The Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling with Holy Water may take the place of the penitential rite, on Sundays, especially Sundays in the Easter Season because of its emphasis on Easter and on Baptism. It thanks God for saving us from sin through the waters of Baptism.”

Recognise God who is with us & give praise

“The Gloria is one of the Church’s most ancient hymns and it is sung or said during the introductory rites of more solemn Masses.”

Its long history (from scripture – Bethlehem – through centuries of prayer) means it should be sung where possible and not replaced by similar words. We should all stand as it is a song of praise!