Last weekend we had a lively visit from Fr. Jim Wehner, Rector of the Pontifical College Josephinum, here to assist while Fr. Bill Faustner was away for vacation. Although I did not hear his homily myself, I heard from a number of parishioners as I met them at the door after Mass that they found Fr. Wehner very easy to hear (just like Fr. Bill, who has no need of a microphone to get his message through). There was much the same reaction last summer to the presence of our Seminarian Intern Vince Nguyen.
I do hope that every member of the parish really got the message that I have been preaching and that Vince Nguyen shouted in word and action, and that Fr. Wehner repeated as an extra announcement: our Parish is due to make a return on the Church’s investment of priestly service among us. Fr. Wehner suggested that “all unmarried men over the age of 18 can sign up for the Seminary in the vestibule after Mass.” This may overstate the call just a bit, but it makes the point that we need to be supportive of the reality of vocational discernment. It was gratifying to see many stop to greet Fr. Wehner and I made it a point to introduce him to some of our high school students who are looking toward their College prospects.
The Pontifical College Josephinum is a real option to be considered. Some may have heard that a former religion teacher at Watterson, Shane Ball, is at the “P.C.J.” for Pre-Theology, and his position at the high school has been taken by Deacon Byron Phillips, who is on staff at the Josephinum as well. In other words, real people we know make this kind of a decision to “check it out.”
The Tuesday Morning Bible Study was speaking on the topic of Vocations to Priesthood and Religious Life and St. Timothy Parish this week as well. We have come up with just two names of members of our parish who have responded to the call to Consecrated Life: Brother David Henley who is a member of Glenmary Missioners, and Tom Rea, who became a Deacon. Do you know either of these former parishioners or their families? Do you know of any others who have taken vows or been ordained who have roots in our Parish? We want to be sure to invite them to take part in our Jubilee and to assist in the effort to remind us all of our Call to Holiness in every Vocation.
Countdown to our Golden Jubilee: Getting to know Saint Timothy.
But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power. Amen. (I Timothy 6:11-16)
The Call that comes from God is addressed to every human being. We who are Christian and Catholic have the privilege of having heard the Gospel and of being pledged to a witness of its truth and its power. Through Baptism and Confirmation, we have made “the noble confession” of our Faith. It is now our responsibility to hold onto what we have received and to do all we can to share the Gift of New Life in Christ with others.
Many have stood as witnesses for us: our godparents and sponsors, our parents and all who have walked the way of Faith before us. We are to serve as witnesses for others and to bring them to a knowledge of the truth.
St. Paul charges St. Timothy as a “man of God” and holds out before him and us the example of Jesus Christ. What we have learned from Christ we are to put into practice and to pass on to those who have yet to hear it.
In giving Timothy the charge, Paul is drawn into a hymn of praise to the God Who has made Himself known in Christ. When we respond to God’s Call and live our Noble Profession of Faith before the world, we too are caught up in an experience of this glory.
“To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.”
Reflections on the Liturgy:
The document that guides the Church in the Latin Rite in the celebration of the Liturgy is called “Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani,” the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. This has been published in three editions. The new Roman Missal which will be promulgated in English this November finds its norms in this Instruction. It will be helpful to offer a few notes on the principles guiding the celebration of the Liturgy as they are given in the G.I.R.M.
The G.I.R.M. is available online on the US Bishops’ website.
http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/roman-missal/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/
Accommodation to New Conditions (Continued and Conclued)
14. Moved by the same desire and pastoral concern, the Second Vatican Council was able to give renewed consideration to what was established by Trent on Communion under both kinds. And indeed, since no one today calls into doubt in any way the doctrinal principles on the complete efficacy of Eucharistic Communion under the species of bread alone, the Council thus gave permission for the reception of Communion under both kinds on some occasions, because this clearer form of the sacramental sign offers a particular opportunity of deepening the understanding of the mystery in which the faithful take part. [Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 55.
15. In this manner the Church, while remaining faithful to her office as teacher of truth safeguarding "things old," that is, the deposit of tradition, fulfills at the same time another duty, that of examining and prudently bringing forth "things new" (cf. Mt 13:52).
Accordingly, a part of the new Missal directs the prayers of the Church in a more open way to the needs of our times, which is above all true of the Ritual Masses and the Masses for Various Needs, in which tradition and new elements are appropriately harmonized. Thus, while many expressions, drawn from the Church's most ancient tradition and familiar through the many editions of the Roman Missal, have remained unchanged, many other expressions have been accommodated to today's needs and circumstances. Still others, such as the prayers for the Church, the laity, the sanctification of human work, the community of all peoples, and certain needs proper to our era, have been newly composed, drawing on the thoughts and often the very phrasing of the recent documents of the Council.
Moreover, on account of the same attitude toward the new state of the present world, it seemed that in the use of texts from the most ancient tradition, so revered a treasure would in no way be harmed if some phrases were changed so that the style of language would be more in accord with the language of modern theology and would truly reflect the current discipline of the Church. Thus, not a few expressions bearing on the evaluation and use of the earthly goods of the earth have been changed, as have also not a few allusions to a certain form of outward penance belonging to past ages of the Church.
Finally, in this manner the liturgical norms of the Council of Trent have certainly been completed and perfected in many respects by those of the Second Vatican Council, which has brought to realization the efforts of the last four hundred years to bring the faithful closer to the Sacred Liturgy especially in recent times, and above all the zeal for the Liturgy promoted by Saint Pius X and his successors.
The General Instruction makes clear two central points: First, the Liturgy we celebrate is the Liturgy of the Church that is available to the People of God in every time and place. There is unity, continuity, and coherence of the Liturgy as it is celebrated in our time with the very same Liturgy celebrated in other times and cultures. The Councils of the Church do not invent a new reality. Secondly, each age in the life of the Church has its own shape and the Liturgy, as a divine reality expressed through human forms, can freely adapt itself to the time under the guidance of the Church.
Offering the Faithful the opportunity to eat and drink of the Eucharist under the form of bread and wine, is a fuller sign of a sharing that is permissible in our time. Deeper insight into the goodness of Creation and an awareness of modern ways of expression are also given consideration in the way prayers are formulated. This has truly been the custom of the Church and of the People of God from the earliest days.
Tradition is not merely a repetition of the past, but rather it is a forward movement of handing on the Faith with a real understanding. “Everything that is received is received according to the mode of the receiver.” Passing on the Faith means being able to express it and experience in forms that fit those who are today coming to know the truth of Christ and the Salvation He won for us through His Holy Sacrifice. The Sacred Liturgy is the most powerful moment of union with Christ our Savior this side of Eternity.
This completes our reading of the Introduction of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.
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