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.
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