Be Not Afraid

Newsletter

Printed Version of November 2004 Newsletter

HOLY FATHER’S HOPES FOR THE WORLD

     Pope John Paul II has proclaimed this “The Year of the Eucharist” from October 17, 2004 through October, 2005.  He encourages all parishes to have frequent Holy Hours with Eucharistic Adoration and Eucharistic Processions.  His dream is that every parish in the world would have perpetual adoration!

            Prayer is powerful, especially prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament and the prayer of the Rosary, or better yet, both of these combined!  Many miracles have come from praying the rosary in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

            Try to imagine Perpetual Adoration being carried out in all parts of the world.  Through this means of prayer, we could hope to attain true peace on earth, an end to abortion and all forms of the abuse of life, and a flourishing priesthood.

            The Holy Father has asked for a National Day of Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood in America.  He believes that prayer is the answer.

            At Medjugorje, Our Lady has said that she is always present when we come to Our Lord in Eucharistic Adoration.  It is then that great graces are being given.  Let us make every effort to be where the graces are being given out for ourselves and for our loved ones.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION AND ROSARY

St. John the Baptist RC Church

Wading River, Wednesday, Dec. 8^th

8:30 pm to 9:30 pm

     This year we will celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady on December 8^th.  On this evening we will have a holy hour following the 7:30 pm holy day Mass.  This will be in conjunction with the National Night of Prayer for Life in which holy hours of prayer are being held throughout the country to pray for an end to abortion.  We will also pray for an end to the war in Iraq and the safe return home of our troops.

“I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION”  Words of Our Lady to St. Bernadette of Lourdes

      On December 8^th in the year

1854, Pope Pius IX declared the solemn definition of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.  This means that Mary was conceived in the womb of her mother, St. Anne, without the stain of original sin.  Mary is the sinless one; her womb was worthy to carry the Son of God. 

            Mary was the first tabernacle.  St. John the Baptist, while still in his mother’s womb, leapt for joy at the sound of Mary’s greeting; recognizing the presence of the Savior in Mary’s womb. 

            All of this calls to mind the sacredness of life in the womb.  St. Therese of the Child Jesus said that she loved to think of Jesus like this when He was the smallest He could possibly be.

OUR LADY ASKS US TO PRAY THE ROSARY

            We can relate the words from the Book of Wisdom 7:26 to Our Lady:  She is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of His Goodness.

              Each time we pray the rosary, (especially in a group) we are closer to world peace; world peace is more of a reality and in focus with the Will of God; abortion is closer to being overturned in the Courts; and the Holy Father is strengthened.  Our prayers are the link between Heaven and Earth. 

DO ALL CHURCH LEADERS READ THE SAME DOCUMENTS?

      Father Frank Pavone of Priests

for Life is wondering if we have a reading comprehension problem in the church.  The Bishops of the U.S. have made it clear that while we must embrace a consistent ethic of life (all the life issues are important from conception to natural death), not all of the life issues deserve an equal amount of attention.  In fact, the issue of abortion is the one issue which deserves the most attention and the most effort on our part because it is an assault on life itself. 

Without life,  the other issues

don’t mean anything.  So for example, you won’t have to worry about being unemployed, or homeless, or without adequate health care if you don’t get to be born.

      When a Catholic University

invites a pro-abortion politician as a guest speaker because they like how he stands on other issues, they are missing the point. According to Father Pavone, such church leaders lack the most basic capacity for moral judgment and as such, they should resign as church leaders.

           If Christians everywhere refused to accept abortion by their actions as well as by their words, abortion would quickly come to an end.  Silence and inaction are the same as acceptance.

IS IT LITURGICALLY CORRECT???

Catholic liturgy, in particular Sunday worship, is the heart of the Church.  We come together publicly to worship and adore the God-Man, Jesus Christ, the Lord.  As members of a particular parish and a particular diocese, we are part of a greater whole, the Universal Church.

   For many years, parishioners in many parishes have been confused over the various changes in the way  parts of the liturgy are carried out.  Changes have been made often with the reason given that “this or that” is or is not liturgically correct.  To understand what exactly is liturgically correct, we refer to the General Instructions of the Roman Missal (G.I.R.M.) which we as Catholics are to adhere to. 

The following is taken from the book “Liturgical Question Box, Answers to Common Questions about the Modern Liturgy”, written by Peter J. Elliott, and published by Ignatius Press. 

Glass Chalices – G.I.R.M.290 –“preference is to be given to materials that do not break easily or become unsuitable”  G.I.R.M. 291 – The cup of the chalice is to be made of “non-absorbent Material”.

        There are two reasons for the above, one practical and one spiritual.  The vessel used should be worthy of the Eucharistic Sacrifice.  Practically speaking, It should be unbreakable and something that does not crack or chip easily.  In other words, the chalice which holds the precious blood of Christ should not be something that gets tossed away if it happens to crack or chip. 

The Chalice Veil- G.I.R.M. 125 – requires the use of the Chalice veil which is to be of the same color as the vestments.  

        The veil shows respect for the sacred vessels.  The veiling and unveiling of the sacred vessels helps to delineate the different stages of the Eucharistic celebration i.e. from Liturgy of the Word to Liturgy of the Eucharist. 

Genuflections – G.I.R.M.233 – “Three genuflections are made during Mass (1) after the showing of the Eucharistic bread, (2) after the showing of the chalice, and (3) before communion.  If there is a tabernacle with the blessed sacrament in the sanctuary, a genuflection is made before and after Mass and whenever anyone passes in front of the blessed sacrament”.

         These three mandatory genuflections in the modern rite invite the celebrant to carry out this gracious act of adoration and humility without haste, reverently and in a spirit of interior prayer.  The genuflections when passing the tabernacle, whether by priest, deacon, or lay person, acknowledge the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.  These genuflections are excused only if one is physically unable.  A priest does not have the authority to replace the genuflection with a bow or some other gesture.

Lay Person reading the Gospel at Mass – The proclamation of the gospel belongs first to the deacon if he is assisting, then to the priest celebrant when there is no deacon present.  A bishop celebrating Mass may not read the Gospel when there is a deacon or priest assisting him.  A lay person may not read the Gospel at Mass.  Lay people may read the first reading, the responsorial psalm, the second reading, and/or the general intercessions.  Where necessary, lay people may take part in the reading of the Passion on Palm Sunday and Good Friday. 

       The preaching of The Word is part of the gift and mission of Holy Orders.

Lay Person giving the homily at Mass – cf. Canon 767 § I – Only a priest or deacon may preach a homily at Mass.  The diocesan bishop does not have the power to dispense from this law.  There are certain circumstances where a lay person or religious person could read a prepared address or message, after a brief homily given by the celebrant or deacon or before the final blessing. 

       The bishop may authorize this for a special appeal. A lay person such as a catechist  or religious may also be authorized to lead a Sunday Communion service in the absence of a priest where they would be allowed to read a homily the text of which would have been prepared beforehand by or in consultation with a priest.

General Absolution – Some people have attended Penance Services in their parishes where General Absolution is given to those assembled without individual confession.  The participants do not confess their sins but often go home incorrectly thinking that they have received the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

            During the first phase of the Synod of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, some people asked if this type of Penance (called Rite III) could be regularly used.  The answer is given in the “Synod Focus”, Issue 3 of 18 and can also be looked up on the internet under www.drvc.org/synodfocus. 

            It is only lawful to use Rite III  (General Absolution) under very limited and particular circumstances; circumstances which do not currently exist in the Diocese of Rockville Centre.  It is not within the authority of the Bishop to extend the usage of this rite beyond the parameters the church has already set down.

                        The above was taken from a publication of the Diocese of Rockville Center entitled “Synod Focus”.

♥          ♥          ♥          ♥          ♥          ♥

In the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy, the Church must duly safeguard so great a mystery in our time.  The Holy Father has mandated that the Congregation for Divine Worship in collaboration with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith should prepare an Instruction treating certain matters pertaining to the discipline of the Sacrament of the Eucharist.  The Pope’s Encyclical Letter, “Ecclesia de Eucharistia” sets forth afresh certain elements of great importance on this subject.  Future issues of Be Not Afraid Newsletter will address more of these issues from the General Instructions of the Roman Missal (G.I.R.M.) as well as from  Redemptionis Sacramentum: On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist.

Write us with your question or concern.

LIFE DYNAMICS

            Life Dynamics is a pro life organization which is getting results.  This Houston based organization produces monthly video magazines filled with timely news you won’t hear or read anywhere else.  President Mark Crutcher ends each video presentation saying:  “We won’t rest until we win, because winning is how the killing stops.”

            Viewers are encouraged to call in their questions at any time by dialing (940) 484-LIFE.  You can also ask questions on the Life Dynamics website or log onto ProlifeAmerica.com for daily news updates.

            The following are some of the latest in news updates: 

*     Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Michigan donated $ 200.00 to Emily’s list, a radical pro-abortion group supporting political candidates.  The sisters stated that they were just trying to help elect more women to office. 

*      A hospital in the Netherlands is starting to euthanize children under the age of 12 who are suffering from serious illnesses.

*      In Michigan, an abortionist, Dr. Finkelstein, sexually assaulted 3 of his patients while examining them.  When 106 women came forward to testify against another abortionist for similar offenses (Dr. Finkel), the abortion industry defended Dr. Finkel.

*       In a Houston abortion clinic, a clinic worker called 911 when the patient who had just undergone an abortion was unconscious & trembling with a Parkinson’s–like reaction.  She told the 911 dispatcher of the situation and the fact that she could not wake the patient up.  She then went on to say that it was not an emergency and would they please tell the ambulance not to turn the lights and siren on because it would scare the other patients waiting to have their abortions.

*       31 years of legal abortion in this country is taking its toll.  One third of the present generation has been killed by abortion. We are approaching the time in which 10,000 baby boomers will retire each day for the next 18 years. 

There will not be enough young people in the workforce to sustain the social security system.

ST. PADRE PIO AND SUFFERING

 St. Padre Pio is a saint for our times.  He lived during our lifetime and in our modern world.  St. Pio lived an austere life filled with sacrifices.  He endured the wounds of Christ in his body for many years.  He also lived through a terrible time in the world’s history, and witnessed the atrocities of World War II.  Padre Pio never minimized the evil or suffering in the world but showed us how they can be met.

Be Not Afraid Newsletter

P. O. Box 31

Wading River, NY  11792