Dear Parishioners:
The Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, calls us to renew our Faith in the Eucharist. Every Catholic learns that the Consecration of the Mass changes the bread and wine brought forward into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord and Savior. The term used to express this change is “transubstantiation,” which is meant to say that only the appearances of bread and wine remain, while the only Substance present is Jesus Christ Himself.
Polls taken from time to time indicate that Catholics can get a bit confused by what others have to say about their own celebrations of what they call “the Lord’s Supper.” For Christians of other denominations (except the Orthodox, who have the same faith as the Catholic Church), the claim is that the bread and wine remain bread and wine and only serve as a symbol. This is the heart of the difference between Catholics and other Christians concerning the Sacraments: the Sacraments create something new, a true sharing in divine life and power for Catholics; for others, they simply point to a reality beyond themselves.
The Eucharist is symbolic and real at the same time: res et sacramentum. In the Eucharist, it is the Lord Jesus Himself, through the action of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the validly ordained priest Who effects His own Gift of Himself. He becomes Food for us. He is present to us, hidden under the forms of bread and wine, in the full reality of His Person, with His divine nature and His risen and ascended glorified Humanity.
The only adequate response to the Gift of the Eucharist is adoration and worship, and to a full commitment of ourselves to live in accord with Jesus’ teachings as they are made known to us through His Church. The Solemnity of Corpus Christi thus calls us to renew our Faith in the Eucharist and to commit ourselves to witness to this wonderful Truth.
What does this mean practically? We must acknowledge Jesus in the Eucharist by our posture and attitude in church. We dress respectfully. We genuflect toward the Tabernacle, when we come into the church. We bow before the Altar. We kneel and remain silent in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the Monstrance (on Wednesdays at St. Timothy Church.) We fast for one hour before receiving Holy Communion. We publicly share our Faith in the Real Presence and correct others when they have a mistaken understanding of the Catholic Faith. We commit ourselves to live as Temples of the Holy Spirit and earthen vessels of Heavenly Food.
O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine; all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine!
A Third or Fourth Century prayer to our Eucharistic Lord:
Today we have seen our Lord Jesus Christ on the altar. Today we have gained possessions of the burning coal in whose shadow the cherubim sing. Today we have heard a voice say, sweet and strong: This body burns the thorns of sin. This body gives light to the souls of all believers. This body the woman touched that had the flux of blood, and gone was her bitter anguish... See, children, what a body we have eaten, see what blood we have drunk, what a covenant we have made with our God. O to be proof against shame on the day of requital. We can sufficiently praise the mystery of your grace? We have been enabled to take our share of the gift; may we keep it safe to the end, that so we may come to hear the blessed voice, the sweet, the holy, saying: Come, you that have received a blessing from my Father; take possession of the kingdom that awaits you.
Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.
We continue our reflections on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy.
First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:1-4)
St. Paul expresses to Timothy and his community how they (and we) are supposed to relate to the wider culture, even politics. Authority comes from God through a variety of intermediaries. God is the first Authority. Christ and His Church are the source of our knowledge of God’s will. In a pluralistic society, the Church must be a leaven. The primary means of action that the Church always has at her disposal is her life of Prayer. And so, the directive Timothy receives is to pray for all in authority. The reason for the supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings is to create room for a “quiet and tranquil life,” that is, a life lived with the possibility of communicating the Gospel to those who have not yet heard it. God wants all to come to knowledge of the Truth.
For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as ransom for all. This was the testimony at the proper time. For this I was appointed preacher and apostle (I am speaking the truth, I am not lying), teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument. (I Timothy 2:5-8)
The heart of the Gospel preached by St. Paul and entrusted to Timothy is the Truth about Jesus Christ: He is the Son of the One and only God, and He is the Mediator between God and the Human Race. Each person has a relationship with God through Christ. Paul knows his own role as Preacher and Apostle, Teacher of the Gentiles. He conforms his own wish with God’s, calling for prayer.
The vision presented by Paul in this section of the First Letter to Timothy suggests that the Church is able to participate in the wider society no matter what the situation may be. Her first unique contribution is her Prayer. The Christian community bears responsibility to pray for the world and especially for all leaders, those who exercise authority. Her purpose for this Prayer is to open up a hearing of the Gospel. Getting caught up in internal controversies would impede her duty in this matter.
At every Mass, we offer petitions and prayers for the nations of the world and their leaders. Catholics are called to be active in the world of politics so as to transform it into a form that promotes the values of the Gospel. Do we have our priorities straight in this regard?
Reflections on the Liturgy: MYSTERY OF FAITH (Currently called the Memorial Acclamation)
Priest: The mystery of faith
People: (A) We proclaim your Death, O Lord,
and profess your Resurrection
until you come again.
(B) When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup,
we proclaim your Death, O Lord,
until you come again.
(C) Save us, Savior of the world,
for by your Cross and Resurrection
you have set us free.
The changes in the response of the People following the Consecration may be experienced as the most dramatic.
Gone is the form “Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.” This option was never present in the Latin text; it was newly created an added when the English version was made. It is rather surprising that it was placed as the first option, so that English speakers often used this form without ever making use of the responses that are from Scripture.
The three options are newly translated in greater fidelity to the Latin text and to the Scriptures that underlie them.
The term Mystery of Faith is found in Scripture: “Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful, not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain, holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. [I Timothy 3:8-9]
The various forms of the acclamation primarily come from one text from St. Paul:
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.” [I Corinthians 11:26]
The expressions used to address the Lord have many parallels in Scripture; a couple of examples will suffice:
And say, "Save us, O God, our savior, gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in praising you." [I Chronicles 16:35]
The prayer was as follows: "Lord, Lord God, creator of all things, awesome and strong, just and merciful, the only king and benefactor, who alone are gracious, just, almighty, and eternal, Israel's savior from all evil, who chose our forefathers and sanctified them: accept this sacrifice on behalf of all your people Israel and guard and sanctify your heritage." [II Maccabees 1:24-26]
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor June 19
Dear Parishioners:
Trinity Sunday calls us to acknowledge the most precious awareness we have in our Catholic Faith: that God is Triune, A Family of Divine Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Who are One in a Communion of Love. As we celebrate this Feast, we seek to grow in our own capacity to be a Community united in mind and heart, open to others in the image of the Trinity.
During the next couple of weeks, I will be experiencing some interesting adventures. This week, I will be part of a gathering of those who have attended my seminary, the North American College. This Reunion travels from place to place since graduates come from throughout the United States. The Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, is hosting this year. A number of my seminary classmates from the Class of 1985 will get together. This is really our first effort to come together after our departure from the seminary. It will be 30 years since we first met as a group of men presenting ourselves for formation for the priesthood. For those of us who were ordained, it is around the 26th anniversary for most of us.
Next week, I will be giving a Retreat to the candidates for the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Steubenville. This is a real privilege, since they are the first such candidates for their Diocese. These men have studied along with the current class for the Diocese of Columbus, and I taught their course in the Pentateuch last Fall. I invite you to keep them and me in your prayers as we seek to open our hearts to the action of the Spirit.
Many will hardly miss me for these times away since I will be present at the weekend Masses. But I thought it would be a good idea to let you know what I am up to in case you call and don’t find me in. I am not hanging out at the swimming pool or lying at a beach. That will have to come later!
Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.
To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (I Timothy 1:17)
Paul, caught up in the awareness of his gratitude for his Call turns to God with a cry to praise. This expression is inscribed on the plaque below our Parish Statue of Saint Timothy. It has become a prayer special to our community, both in the Parish and in our School:
To the King of Ages, the Immortal, the Invisible, the Only God
--Be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
We can keep this as a sign of our bond as members of the Community of St. Timothy.
I entrust this charge to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophetic words once spoken about you. Through them may you fight a good fight by having faith and a good conscience. Some, by rejecting conscience, have made a shipwreck of their faith, among them Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. (I Timothy1:18-20)
The first chapter of the First Letter to Timothy concludes with Paul’s charge to Timothy to live up to his own Call. He points out that the Call was communicated to Timothy very directly by way of the Church, the prophetic words spoken about him in an assembly of believers. Paul reminds Timothy that the words spoken about him from on high can strengthen him for the trials that come in the life of Faith. Fighting the good fight with a good conscience means exercising strength of will and keeping the mind and heart in correspondence with the Truth of the Gospel.
Some counterexamples Paul mentions among his companions no doubt known to Timothy and his community are a reminder that believers must be vigilant. The battle is not merely fought at the human level. Powers at work in the world beyond us are subject to us only if we rely on Faith.
Reflections on the Liturgy: SANCTUS
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The only change in the Sanctus, the “Holy, Holy, Holy,” is the translation for Sabaoth.
Instead of a paraphrase “Lord God of Power and Might,” the simpler expression “Lord God of Hosts” is used. It is interesting to note that the Latin form kept the Hebrew term rather than offering a translation: “Dominus Deus Sabaoth.” It might have been a good idea to return to this expression instead, but the choice made does have the happy effect of reminding us of many texts of Scripture that use this name for God.
The first line of the Sanctus is almost directly from the Isaiah’s Vision in the Temple as the Seraphim sing: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!" they cried one to the other. "All the earth is filled with his glory!" [Isaiah 6:3]
The same theme is picked up by the Book of Revelation: “The four living creatures, each of them with six wings, were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.’ ”[Rev 4:8]
“LORD of Hosts” appears in the Old Testament at least 95 times, in Torah, the Prophets and especially in the Psalms.
The LORD of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. [Psalm 46:4, 6, 12]
As the sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest to settle her young, My home is by your altars, LORD of hosts, my king and my God! Happy are those who dwell in your house! They never cease to praise you. [Psalm 84:4-5]
Elijah speaks to the God he encounters on Sinai: "I have been most zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts." [I Kings 19:10]
Jeremiah addresses God with this name: “When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, because I bore your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” [Jer 15:16] Hosea does as well: “The LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD is his name!” [Hosea 12:6]
Putting the expression “God of hosts” on our lips as worshipers in the Mass once again draws us into the line of the Prophets and the Prayers of the People of God through the ages.
Trinity Sunday calls us to acknowledge the most precious awareness we have in our Catholic Faith: that God is Triune, A Family of Divine Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Who are One in a Communion of Love. As we celebrate this Feast, we seek to grow in our own capacity to be a Community united in mind and heart, open to others in the image of the Trinity.
During the next couple of weeks, I will be experiencing some interesting adventures. This week, I will be part of a gathering of those who have attended my seminary, the North American College. This Reunion travels from place to place since graduates come from throughout the United States. The Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, is hosting this year. A number of my seminary classmates from the Class of 1985 will get together. This is really our first effort to come together after our departure from the seminary. It will be 30 years since we first met as a group of men presenting ourselves for formation for the priesthood. For those of us who were ordained, it is around the 26th anniversary for most of us.
Next week, I will be giving a Retreat to the candidates for the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Steubenville. This is a real privilege, since they are the first such candidates for their Diocese. These men have studied along with the current class for the Diocese of Columbus, and I taught their course in the Pentateuch last Fall. I invite you to keep them and me in your prayers as we seek to open our hearts to the action of the Spirit.
Many will hardly miss me for these times away since I will be present at the weekend Masses. But I thought it would be a good idea to let you know what I am up to in case you call and don’t find me in. I am not hanging out at the swimming pool or lying at a beach. That will have to come later!
Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.
To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (I Timothy 1:17)
Paul, caught up in the awareness of his gratitude for his Call turns to God with a cry to praise. This expression is inscribed on the plaque below our Parish Statue of Saint Timothy. It has become a prayer special to our community, both in the Parish and in our School:
To the King of Ages, the Immortal, the Invisible, the Only God
--Be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
We can keep this as a sign of our bond as members of the Community of St. Timothy.
I entrust this charge to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophetic words once spoken about you. Through them may you fight a good fight by having faith and a good conscience. Some, by rejecting conscience, have made a shipwreck of their faith, among them Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. (I Timothy1:18-20)
The first chapter of the First Letter to Timothy concludes with Paul’s charge to Timothy to live up to his own Call. He points out that the Call was communicated to Timothy very directly by way of the Church, the prophetic words spoken about him in an assembly of believers. Paul reminds Timothy that the words spoken about him from on high can strengthen him for the trials that come in the life of Faith. Fighting the good fight with a good conscience means exercising strength of will and keeping the mind and heart in correspondence with the Truth of the Gospel.
Some counterexamples Paul mentions among his companions no doubt known to Timothy and his community are a reminder that believers must be vigilant. The battle is not merely fought at the human level. Powers at work in the world beyond us are subject to us only if we rely on Faith.
Reflections on the Liturgy: SANCTUS
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The only change in the Sanctus, the “Holy, Holy, Holy,” is the translation for Sabaoth.
Instead of a paraphrase “Lord God of Power and Might,” the simpler expression “Lord God of Hosts” is used. It is interesting to note that the Latin form kept the Hebrew term rather than offering a translation: “Dominus Deus Sabaoth.” It might have been a good idea to return to this expression instead, but the choice made does have the happy effect of reminding us of many texts of Scripture that use this name for God.
The first line of the Sanctus is almost directly from the Isaiah’s Vision in the Temple as the Seraphim sing: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!" they cried one to the other. "All the earth is filled with his glory!" [Isaiah 6:3]
The same theme is picked up by the Book of Revelation: “The four living creatures, each of them with six wings, were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.’ ”[Rev 4:8]
“LORD of Hosts” appears in the Old Testament at least 95 times, in Torah, the Prophets and especially in the Psalms.
The LORD of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. [Psalm 46:4, 6, 12]
As the sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest to settle her young, My home is by your altars, LORD of hosts, my king and my God! Happy are those who dwell in your house! They never cease to praise you. [Psalm 84:4-5]
Elijah speaks to the God he encounters on Sinai: "I have been most zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts." [I Kings 19:10]
Jeremiah addresses God with this name: “When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, because I bore your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” [Jer 15:16] Hosea does as well: “The LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD is his name!” [Hosea 12:6]
Putting the expression “God of hosts” on our lips as worshipers in the Mass once again draws us into the line of the Prophets and the Prayers of the People of God through the ages.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor June 12
Dear Parishioners:
Happy Pentecost! We pray together, "Come, Holy Spirit!"
For some pix of my ND Class Reunion last weekend visit this link:
ND Class of 1981 Reunion 2011
June is the month of the Sacred Heart. The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus falls on the Friday after Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The Feast of the Sacred Heart generally occurs in the month of June. Ironically, this year, since Easter was so late, it falls on July 1. Closely related to this Feast is the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which falls on the Saturday following, this year July 2. Even though these celebrations are a few weeks away, it is a good idea to reflect on them now, to prepare our own spirits for the grace of these days.
Devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary has been traditional among Catholics and it appears to be experiencing a renewal, as are many of the devotions of our childhood. Let us pray that it not be a passing fad like the current fascination with comic book heroes. Rather, let it be for all of us a true renewal of an understanding of the Love of God expressed in our human nature.
The human heart is a symbol full of complexity. The Heart of Jesus has the distinction of being the very Heart whose flow of Life and Love is responsible for all that exists. Jesus is the Word through Whom God made the universe. His human nature received the full Reality of His Person, and as He lived the whole of our life, He shares His Divine Life with us. When we contemplate His Heart, with its suffering and its flames of Love, we are confronted with the Truth that God has loved us concretely, in the very stuff of this world.
The heart of Mary was the source of her “fiat,” her “yes” to the action of God’s Spirit which brought about the Incarnation. We acknowledge her own share in the sufferings of her Son and her privileged first experience of the Salvation He won for us.
The Devotion to the Sacred Heart includes a special observance of Nine First Fridays. The Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary includes observance of Five First Saturdays. Both devotions point to a concrete commitment to a live open to the action of grace and to cooperation with the Holy Spirit in accomplishing God’s Will and establishing His Reign in our hearts.
I invite each family to consider putting into practice these devotions. Display the images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in your home. Develop a practice of prayer that includes awareness of the devotion. As a child, my mother taught me and my siblings to say “All for Thee, most Sacred Heart of Jesus.” There are many such prayers that can become the mainstay of your family’s Faith.
The Catholic Times will be highlighting St. Timothy Parish in July. Features Editor Tim Puet will be at St. Timothy Church on Wednesday, June 15, after the 9 a.m. Mass to talk about the parish. If you have a story to share, be there about 10 a.m. or contact Tim at The Catholic Times tpuet@colsdioc.org
Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.
We know that the law is good, provided that one uses it as law, with the understanding that law is meant not for a righteous person but for the lawless and unruly, the godless and sinful, the unholy and profane, those who kill their fathers or mothers, murderers, the unchaste, sodomites, kidnapers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is opposed to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. (I Timothy 1:8-11)
In many of his writings, St. Paul discusses the relationship of the Christian way of life to the Law or the Torah, that is, the teaching and legal system of the Jewish People. In this part of his First Letter to Timothy, he points out the contrast and highlights the fact that the Law does have a positive purpose. The Gospel, however, is acknowledged as having a higher authority than the Law. It is the Glorious Gospel of the Blessed God, and it has been entrusted to Paul as a Minister. Paul expresses his gratitude for this call. This approach invites us to be sure that we put our Faith in the Gospel and not in external observance of customs and traditions that are meant to express our Faith, not to put the cart before the horse. Have we kept in mind the Mission entrusted to us?
I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief. Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. (I Timothy 1:12-16)
Reflecting on his Ministry, Paul is able to look back and see the Mercy of God. He also has the humility to note that God uses his “checkered past” for the sake of others. The aim is to open up the offer of Eternity to all who believe in Christ Jesus. Once again, we have to admire Paul for his freedom in the Gospel. He knows where he came from and where he is headed. Even if this may be written by a disciple, rather than Paul himself, it certainly captures Paul’s spirit and offers hope to us who are weak and who have failed to live in accord with the Gospel. Our Timothy has been with Paul in his journey and no doubt could attest personally both to the failing of the Apostle and to his strength and to his response to the Call of Mercy.
Reflections on the Liturgy: PREFACE DIALOGUE
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
People: It is right and just.
The Preface Dialogue includes two relatively minor changes. The response “And with your spirit” has been discussed. It corresponds directly to the Latin and to Scriptural texts. The response “Dignum et iustum est” is likewise translated now more literally.
The response of the People just before the Eucharistic Sacrifice includes and implicit expression of the duty to live in accord with what is offered, not simply to perform a ritual. This simple expression calls to mind many texts of the Old Testament, including the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings:
• The LORD reflected: "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, now that he is to become a great and populous nation, and all the nations of the earth are to find blessing in him? Indeed, I have singled him out that he may direct his sons and his posterity to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD may carry into effect for Abraham the promises he made about him." [Genesis 18:17-19]
• Give ear, O heavens, while I speak; let the earth hearken to the words of my mouth! May my instruction soak in like the rain, and my discourse permeate like the dew, Like a downpour upon the grass, like a shower upon the crops. For I will sing the LORD'S renown. Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God! The Rock--how faultless are his deeds, how right all his ways! A faithful God, without deceit, how just and upright he is! [Deuteronomy 32:1-4]
• Happy those who do what is right, whose deeds are always just. [Psalm 106:3]
• The Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel: That men may appreciate wisdom and discipline, may understand words of intelligence; May receive training in wise conduct, in what is right, just and honest; That resourcefulness may be imparted to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. [Proverbs 1:1-4]
• To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. [Proverbs 21:3]
• Thus says the LORD: Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed. [Isaiah 56:1]
• Thus says the LORD: Do what is right and just. Rescue the victim from the hand of his oppressor. Do not wrong or oppress the resident alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. If you carry out these commands, kings who succeed to the throne of David will continue to enter the gates of this palace, riding in chariots or mounted on horses, with their ministers, and their people. [Jeremiah 22:3-4]
• Who says, "I will build myself a spacious house, with airy rooms," Who cuts out windows for it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermillion. Must you prove your rank among kings by competing with them in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink? He did what was right and just, and it went well with him. Because he dispensed justice to the weak and the poor, it went well with him. Is this not true knowledge of me? says the LORD. [Jeremiah 22:14-16]
• Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; As king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land. [Jeremiah 23:5]
• The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land. In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: "The LORD our justice." [Jeremiah 33:14-16]
• For all lives are mine; the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine; only the one who sins shall die. If a man is virtuous--if he does what is right and just, if he does not eat on the mountains, nor raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; if he does not defile his neighbor's wife, nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period; if he oppresses no one, gives back the pledge received for a debt, commits no robbery; if he gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked; if he does not lend at interest nor exact usury; if he holds off from evildoing, judges fairly between a man and his opponent; if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances, that man is virtuous--he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD. [Ezekiel 18:4-9; see also 18:18-27 and 33:14-19]
• Thus says the Lord GOD: Enough, you princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression, and do what is right and just! Stop evicting my people! says the Lord GOD. [Ezekiel 45:9]
• In the fire Azariah stood up and prayed aloud: "Blessed are you, and praiseworthy, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and glorious forever is your name. For you are just in all you have done; all your deeds are faultless, all your ways right, and all your judgments proper. [Daniel 3:25-27]
• Therefore, I, Nebuchadnezzar, now praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because all his works are right and his ways just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. [Daniel 4:34]
A careful review of these texts serves as a charge in the Liturgy and on the lips of the People of God to imitate God in His righteousness and justice, putting into action what is accomplished through worship. It is far more than simply to “give Him thanks and praise.” These actions are meant to be the beginning of a new way of living in the Covenant relationship with God that is effected through Eucharist (giving thanks).
Opportunities for Pilgrimage to the Lands of the Bible
Pilgrimage "In the Footsteps of St. Timothy": Fr. Tim Hayes & Fr. Paul Hrezo, Spiritual Director at the Pontifical College Josephinum, are offering a pilgrimage departing on October 19th for 12 days to Greece & Turkey, following the path of St. Timothy & St Paul. Ephesus, where St. Timothy served as Bishop, a cruise to the island of Patmos, where St. John composed the Book of Revelation, Rhodes & others are included among many other sites. Deposit to reserve a place: $300.00.
This is an opportunity to learn about our Patron Saint Timothy and to come to understand both the writings of Saint Paul and the Book of Revelation by seeing the lands where they were composed.
Call Judy Lorms 614-670-8626 for details or email: judylorms@gmail.com.
Happy Pentecost! We pray together, "Come, Holy Spirit!"
For some pix of my ND Class Reunion last weekend visit this link:
ND Class of 1981 Reunion 2011
June is the month of the Sacred Heart. The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus falls on the Friday after Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The Feast of the Sacred Heart generally occurs in the month of June. Ironically, this year, since Easter was so late, it falls on July 1. Closely related to this Feast is the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which falls on the Saturday following, this year July 2. Even though these celebrations are a few weeks away, it is a good idea to reflect on them now, to prepare our own spirits for the grace of these days.
Devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary has been traditional among Catholics and it appears to be experiencing a renewal, as are many of the devotions of our childhood. Let us pray that it not be a passing fad like the current fascination with comic book heroes. Rather, let it be for all of us a true renewal of an understanding of the Love of God expressed in our human nature.
The human heart is a symbol full of complexity. The Heart of Jesus has the distinction of being the very Heart whose flow of Life and Love is responsible for all that exists. Jesus is the Word through Whom God made the universe. His human nature received the full Reality of His Person, and as He lived the whole of our life, He shares His Divine Life with us. When we contemplate His Heart, with its suffering and its flames of Love, we are confronted with the Truth that God has loved us concretely, in the very stuff of this world.
The heart of Mary was the source of her “fiat,” her “yes” to the action of God’s Spirit which brought about the Incarnation. We acknowledge her own share in the sufferings of her Son and her privileged first experience of the Salvation He won for us.
The Devotion to the Sacred Heart includes a special observance of Nine First Fridays. The Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary includes observance of Five First Saturdays. Both devotions point to a concrete commitment to a live open to the action of grace and to cooperation with the Holy Spirit in accomplishing God’s Will and establishing His Reign in our hearts.
I invite each family to consider putting into practice these devotions. Display the images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in your home. Develop a practice of prayer that includes awareness of the devotion. As a child, my mother taught me and my siblings to say “All for Thee, most Sacred Heart of Jesus.” There are many such prayers that can become the mainstay of your family’s Faith.
The Catholic Times will be highlighting St. Timothy Parish in July. Features Editor Tim Puet will be at St. Timothy Church on Wednesday, June 15, after the 9 a.m. Mass to talk about the parish. If you have a story to share, be there about 10 a.m. or contact Tim at The Catholic Times tpuet@colsdioc.org
Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.
We know that the law is good, provided that one uses it as law, with the understanding that law is meant not for a righteous person but for the lawless and unruly, the godless and sinful, the unholy and profane, those who kill their fathers or mothers, murderers, the unchaste, sodomites, kidnapers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is opposed to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. (I Timothy 1:8-11)
In many of his writings, St. Paul discusses the relationship of the Christian way of life to the Law or the Torah, that is, the teaching and legal system of the Jewish People. In this part of his First Letter to Timothy, he points out the contrast and highlights the fact that the Law does have a positive purpose. The Gospel, however, is acknowledged as having a higher authority than the Law. It is the Glorious Gospel of the Blessed God, and it has been entrusted to Paul as a Minister. Paul expresses his gratitude for this call. This approach invites us to be sure that we put our Faith in the Gospel and not in external observance of customs and traditions that are meant to express our Faith, not to put the cart before the horse. Have we kept in mind the Mission entrusted to us?
I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief. Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. (I Timothy 1:12-16)
Reflecting on his Ministry, Paul is able to look back and see the Mercy of God. He also has the humility to note that God uses his “checkered past” for the sake of others. The aim is to open up the offer of Eternity to all who believe in Christ Jesus. Once again, we have to admire Paul for his freedom in the Gospel. He knows where he came from and where he is headed. Even if this may be written by a disciple, rather than Paul himself, it certainly captures Paul’s spirit and offers hope to us who are weak and who have failed to live in accord with the Gospel. Our Timothy has been with Paul in his journey and no doubt could attest personally both to the failing of the Apostle and to his strength and to his response to the Call of Mercy.
Reflections on the Liturgy: PREFACE DIALOGUE
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
People: It is right and just.
The Preface Dialogue includes two relatively minor changes. The response “And with your spirit” has been discussed. It corresponds directly to the Latin and to Scriptural texts. The response “Dignum et iustum est” is likewise translated now more literally.
The response of the People just before the Eucharistic Sacrifice includes and implicit expression of the duty to live in accord with what is offered, not simply to perform a ritual. This simple expression calls to mind many texts of the Old Testament, including the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings:
• The LORD reflected: "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, now that he is to become a great and populous nation, and all the nations of the earth are to find blessing in him? Indeed, I have singled him out that he may direct his sons and his posterity to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD may carry into effect for Abraham the promises he made about him." [Genesis 18:17-19]
• Give ear, O heavens, while I speak; let the earth hearken to the words of my mouth! May my instruction soak in like the rain, and my discourse permeate like the dew, Like a downpour upon the grass, like a shower upon the crops. For I will sing the LORD'S renown. Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God! The Rock--how faultless are his deeds, how right all his ways! A faithful God, without deceit, how just and upright he is! [Deuteronomy 32:1-4]
• Happy those who do what is right, whose deeds are always just. [Psalm 106:3]
• The Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel: That men may appreciate wisdom and discipline, may understand words of intelligence; May receive training in wise conduct, in what is right, just and honest; That resourcefulness may be imparted to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. [Proverbs 1:1-4]
• To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. [Proverbs 21:3]
• Thus says the LORD: Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed. [Isaiah 56:1]
• Thus says the LORD: Do what is right and just. Rescue the victim from the hand of his oppressor. Do not wrong or oppress the resident alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place. If you carry out these commands, kings who succeed to the throne of David will continue to enter the gates of this palace, riding in chariots or mounted on horses, with their ministers, and their people. [Jeremiah 22:3-4]
• Who says, "I will build myself a spacious house, with airy rooms," Who cuts out windows for it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermillion. Must you prove your rank among kings by competing with them in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink? He did what was right and just, and it went well with him. Because he dispensed justice to the weak and the poor, it went well with him. Is this not true knowledge of me? says the LORD. [Jeremiah 22:14-16]
• Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; As king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land. [Jeremiah 23:5]
• The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land. In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: "The LORD our justice." [Jeremiah 33:14-16]
• For all lives are mine; the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine; only the one who sins shall die. If a man is virtuous--if he does what is right and just, if he does not eat on the mountains, nor raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; if he does not defile his neighbor's wife, nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period; if he oppresses no one, gives back the pledge received for a debt, commits no robbery; if he gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked; if he does not lend at interest nor exact usury; if he holds off from evildoing, judges fairly between a man and his opponent; if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances, that man is virtuous--he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD. [Ezekiel 18:4-9; see also 18:18-27 and 33:14-19]
• Thus says the Lord GOD: Enough, you princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression, and do what is right and just! Stop evicting my people! says the Lord GOD. [Ezekiel 45:9]
• In the fire Azariah stood up and prayed aloud: "Blessed are you, and praiseworthy, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and glorious forever is your name. For you are just in all you have done; all your deeds are faultless, all your ways right, and all your judgments proper. [Daniel 3:25-27]
• Therefore, I, Nebuchadnezzar, now praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because all his works are right and his ways just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. [Daniel 4:34]
A careful review of these texts serves as a charge in the Liturgy and on the lips of the People of God to imitate God in His righteousness and justice, putting into action what is accomplished through worship. It is far more than simply to “give Him thanks and praise.” These actions are meant to be the beginning of a new way of living in the Covenant relationship with God that is effected through Eucharist (giving thanks).
Opportunities for Pilgrimage to the Lands of the Bible
Pilgrimage "In the Footsteps of St. Timothy": Fr. Tim Hayes & Fr. Paul Hrezo, Spiritual Director at the Pontifical College Josephinum, are offering a pilgrimage departing on October 19th for 12 days to Greece & Turkey, following the path of St. Timothy & St Paul. Ephesus, where St. Timothy served as Bishop, a cruise to the island of Patmos, where St. John composed the Book of Revelation, Rhodes & others are included among many other sites. Deposit to reserve a place: $300.00.
This is an opportunity to learn about our Patron Saint Timothy and to come to understand both the writings of Saint Paul and the Book of Revelation by seeing the lands where they were composed.
Call Judy Lorms 614-670-8626 for details or email: judylorms@gmail.com.
Monday, June 6, 2011
A Word from Your Pastor June 5
Dear Parishioners:
How quickly the years fly by! As you read this message, I am at my 30-year College Reunion at the University of Notre Dame. Here’s me with my parents on campus on the occasion of my graduation and the famous Golden Lady.
The opportunity to visit the Golden Dome, Sacred Heart Basilica, and the Grotto, and to see some of my friends from across the years is a wonderful experience of renewal and encouragement. When we look back across the years, we are able to see the hand of Providence. God is with us each step of our journey. He is often hidden in the events and circumstances we are able to see at the moment, but when we have the benefit of hindsight, His hand is more evident. While I am away, we welcome Fr. Jim Wehner, the rector of the Pontifi cal College Josephinum, for some of the Parish Masses. Any of our young men who have questions about the road to priesthood should take the opportunity to meet Fr. Wehner. Remember the invitation to show our Parish’s gratitude to the Diocese of Columbus for all the priests who have been sent here by returning a Vocation to serve the Diocese? Fr. Wehner is here to collect!
Once again, we offer our congratulations to our Graduates of the Year 2011. May God bless you as you take the next step in life’s journey.
As you have heard, we have had to say farewell to Sr. Carolyn Thomas, S.C.N., as our Pastoral Minister. Her new address will be Nazareth Motherhouse (O’Connell Hall 211), Box 3000, Nazareth, Kentucky 40048. We wish her well and ask God to bless her on her own new journey.
Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.
Having completed our review of the mentions of St. Timothy in the Acts of the Apostles and in various letters of St. Paul, we can turn our attention to the Letters that bear the name of Timothy
as recipient. Over the next several months, we will reflect on the two Letters of St. Paul to Timothy. This week we begin with The First Letter to Timothy.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, my true child in faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (I Timothy 1:1-2)
The form of greeting identifies the authority of the Letter as that of St. Paul, the Apostle, chosen by God in Christ. It addresses Timothy and expresses the relationship Paul shares with him, also indicating the unity they share in relationship to God the Father and Christ Jesus the Lord. The greeting serves to acknowledge the affection Paul has for Timothy, which is an outcome of their sharing of Faith. It establishes the foundation that is needed in order to address the concerns about which the Letter was written. For Paul and the early Christian Community, it was evident that all they were about had to be founded on their common understanding of Christ.
I repeat the request I made of you when I was on my way to Macedonia, that you stay in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to teach false doctrines or to concern themselves with myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the plan of God that is to be received by faith. The aim of this instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, wanting to be teachers of the law, but without understanding either what they are saying or what they assert with such assurance. (I Timothy 1:3-7)
After the greeting, we hear something of the occasion for the Letter to be written: that the Church of Ephesus may maintain a clear understanding of the Gospel and of Jesus Christ. The purpose is to allow for a living experience of the power of right Faith to enliven Love in the hearts of the members of the Community. The Apostle gives direction to his Co-worker who has been assigned to keep the Faith alive and pure in the hearts of the People entrusted to him. When scholars study the Letters of Timothy, they often raise questions about the direct authorship and the recipient. Comparing the concerns dealt with in the Letter to the earlier Letters of St. Paul, they tend to find such a different approach as to suggest that we are reading something that came from the next generation after Paul. If not, then the situation of the Church is already very different from how it was when Paul and his helpers first established communities of Faith. In any case, through these Letters (along with the Letter to Titus), we are given a genuine glimpse into the concerns of a Community that is adapting to a broader world of Christian involvement. No longer is it a small Jewish community, but now it is a Community whose identity is centered on Christ. The instruction given is meant to keep them on track, focusing on the Truth as it is proclaimed in the Gospel. This message is still valuable for us today.
Reflections on the Liturgy: SUSCIPIAT DOMINUS
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of His name, for our good and the good of all His holy Church. Many old-time Altar Boys will recall the days of having to memorize the Suscipiat in Latin. In the name of the People, they would recite this prayer: Suscìpiat Dòminus sacrificium de mànibus tuis ad laudem et glòriam nòminis sui, ad utilitàtem quoque nostrum totiùsque Ecclèsiae suae sanctae. If you ask a veteran server to say the Suscipiat, he will likely bow low and recite boldly this prayer. It was the prayer that separated the men from the boys. Failure to be able to say it was to lose any right to being a server. With the celebration of Mass since Vatican II, the prayer was returned to the People. The translation currently used left out the word “sanctae,” that is, “holy.” The new translation restores the “holy.” This can be a metaphor for the whole reason for the changes we will experience in Advent 2011. We are to be reminded of the Holy in the manner of celebration of the Mass. A change in posture that has already been implemented in our Diocese also accompanies this prayer: the Congregation are standing as they say it together. In Masses that include incensing the People after the Gifts and the Clergy, they are already standing. In other Masses, the People are to stand as the Celebrant says the “Orate Fratres,” “Pray, my brothers and sisters….”
Opportunity for Pilgrimage to the Lands of the Bible
Pilgrimage “In the Footsteps of St. Timothy”:
Fr. Tim Hayes and Fr. Paul Hrezo, Spiritual Director at the Pontifical College Josephinum, are offering a pilgrimage departing on October 19th for 12 days to Greece and Turkey, following the path of St. Timothy and St. Paul. Ephesus, where St. Timothy served as Bishop, a cruise to the island of Patmos, where St. John composed the Book of Revelation, Rhodes and others are included among many other sites. Deposit to reserve a place: $300.00.
This is an opportunity to learn about our Patron Saint Timothy and to come to understand both the writings of Saint Paul and the Book of Revelation by seeing the lands where they were composed. For details, contact Judy Lorms at 614-670-8626 or judylorms@gmail.com.
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