Dear Parishioners:
You may be surprised to learn that your Pastor had the opportunity to meet with the newly beatified Pope John Paul II many years ago. In 1983, when Bishop Griffin came to Rome for his first ad limina visit as Bishop of Columbus – the official visit bishops make every five years to the Holy See – he gave the seminarians and priests in Rome the opportunity to join him at the Vatican. Pope John Paul gave encouragement to all of us, and his comment about me to Bishop Griffin was “He’s young!” I was very happy to have a few pictures to commemorate the encounter, because I honestly did not see a thing about the room where we were or any other details except that we were really and truly in the presence of the Pope. I do recall asking for the Pope to pray for me and my classmates who were to be ordained Deacons the following May.
We have a great example of what it means to be a witness of Faith in Blessed Pope John Paul II. He was truly a servant of God and His People. His motto “Totus Tuus” – “wholly yours,” in reference to his commitment through Mary to her Son Jesus. May we all live with such Faith!
We congratulate our Second Graders on their reception of First Holy Communion this weekend. May they always know the Love of Jesus Who gives Himself to us as Food for Eternity. May all of us renew our Faith in the Real Presence of the Lord and may we be a living witness to the Truth of this Faith by our participation in the Liturgy.
Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.
“Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the holy ones in Christ Jesus
who are in Philippi, with the overseers and ministers: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 1:1-6)
“I hope, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be heartened by hearing news of you. For I have no one comparable to him for genuine interest in whatever concerns you. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know his worth, how as a child with a father he served along with me in the cause of the gospel. He it is, then, whom I hope to send as soon as I see how things go with me, but I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.” (Philippians 2:19-24)
Paul’s letter to the Philippians is an expression of great concern by the Apostle for the well-being of their Church community. His sense of gratitude for the relationship shared with them is powerfully expressed. He mentions Timothy in similar terms and points out the depth of Timothy’s interest in their welfare as well. The hallmark of the Gospel is genuine desire for the good of others, setting aside self-interest. Paul finds this quality in Timothy on behalf of the Philippians.
When we begin to minister for others in the name of the Gospel, we discover that the Lord places in our heart a genuine love and concern for them that cannot arise from merely natural circumstances. Sharing ministry adds a depth to relationship as well. Every minister of the Gospel finds that certain co-workers become true helpers and confidantes in the effort to build up those who are served. The love of God is embodied in the mutual love and concern of ministers for one another and for the People of God whom they serve. This makes it all the more important that we see ourselves as collaborators in service of God’s Kingdom. None of us can do it alone, and our sharing of the ministry entrusted to us is part of God’s Plan for his Family.
Reflections on the Liturgy: NICENE CREED
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate
of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his Kingdom will have no end.
A few small changes in the Nicene Creed concerning the Incarnation and the Passion of Jesus represent once again a closer rendition of the text as it appears in Latin. The expressions being highlighted regard details that may seem slight but are very significant in developing a fuller understanding of the Mystery of Christ. “Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est.”
The word “et,” “and,” was often left out in English, separating statements into different sentences (in accord with common English style). Re-introducing this conjunction helps to make clear the Catholic perspective that truth is to be found along the continuum of “both/and” rather than “either/or.” The Son of God came down from Heaven AND the Same Divine Person, through the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary. He was not merely “born of Mary,” but took His very flesh from her, AND He became man in this precise manner. The Incarnation is brought about by full mutual cooperation of Heaven and Earth.
Likewise, the Paschal Mystery is expressed in Latin with a concatenation of statements: “Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est, et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas.” The expression “suffered death” is used to cover the Latin word “passus,” which literally means “suffered.” This has been used in the English form of the Liturgy everywhere but the United States since 1975. It is recognized that Jesus’ Passion was the full embracing of human mortality. The full Paschal Mystery includes the Resurrection, following suffering (death) and burial. Just as the Incarnation includes both Heaven and Earth, the Paschal Mystery includes the complete embracing of the reality of death and the New Life of the Resurrection. “In accordance with the Scriptures” is more accurate than “in fulfillment” as a translation of “secundum.”
No comments:
Post a Comment