Encountering God in the Liturgy by Father Randy Stice Addressing the Trinity during Mass

In sacramental communion, we receive the Trinity and become ‘partakers of the divine

The Trinity is the central mystery of our faith and life. The entire Christian life “is a communion with each of the divine persons, without in any way separating them.”

When we glorify the Father, we do so through the Son in the Holy Spirit.

When we follow Christ, we do so because the Father draws us, and the Spirit moves us (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 259). Indeed, everything that God does in the world, from creation to the final consummation, “is the common work of the three divine persons” (CCC, 258). The beginning of Eucharistic Prayer III affirms this common work of the Trinity: “You are indeed Holy, O Lord, and all you have created rightly gives you praise, for through your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, by the power and working of the Holy Spirit, you give life to all things and make them holy.”

The Father, through the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit, gives life and holiness. In this column we will look at how the three Persons of the Trinity act in the liturgy.

Although everything that God does in the world is the work of the Trinity, each person does “what is proper to him” (CCC, 258). In other words, different activities are assigned to different persons. In theological language this is called appropriation—a certain activity is “appropriated” to a specific divine person. One of the greetings at the beginning of Mass, from 2 Corinthi- ans 13:14, illustrates this: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

Grace, love, and communion are the work of the Trinity, but St. Paul appropriates each to a particular person. Another example is the Liturgy of the Word. God Himself speaks when the Sacred Scriptures are read, Christ is present and proclaims the Gospel, and the Holy Spirit brings home to each person individually the word that is proclaimed to all. The common work of the Trinity is accomplished according to what is proper to each divine person. We also address different persons of the Trinity at different points in the Mass. From the beginning of the Mass through the Our Father (except for the Christe eleison/Christ, have mercy), we are addressing God the Father. The opening prayer is addressed to the Father. The prayers that accompany the placing of the gifts on the altar begin “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness…” Following the dialogue, the preface continues, “It is truly right and just…to give you thanks, Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God…” Eucharistic Prayer I then continues, “To you, therefore, most merciful Father…” and Eucharistic Prayer IV continues, “We give you praise, Father most holy.” All of the Eucharistic Prayers conclude with the same trinitarian doxology: “Through Him [Christ], and with Him and in Him,

O God almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit…,” after which we pray the Our Father.

However, the next prayer, for peace and unity (from John 14:27), is addressed to Christ: “Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles, ‘Peace I leave you, my peace I give you…” Following the Sign of Peace, we say the Agnus Dei/Lamb of God (based on John 1:29) to Jesus, now present on the altar. We then say, “Lord, I am not worthy…,” addressing Jesus in the words of the centurion whose slave was near death (Luke 7:1-10). Following Communion, we again address the Father in the final prayer of the Mass, the Prayer after Communion.

Jesus acts in a unique way when the priest pronounces the words of consecration: “This is my Body”; “This is the Chalice of my Blood.” At this moment, says St. John Paul II, “The priest says these words, or rather he puts his voice at the disposal of the One who spoke these words in the Upper Room” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 5). It is Christ himself, speaking through the priest, who says these essential words.

The Holy Spirit is not directly addressed in the Mass, but He is invoked twice in what is called the epiclesis, which means “invocation upon.” In the first epiclesis the priest asks the Father to send the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. This is the epiclesis from nature’

Eucharistic Prayer III: “O Lord, we humbly implore you, by the same Spirit graciously make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration, that they may become the Body and Blood of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ.” The invocation of the Holy Spirit and the words and actions of Christ bring about the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ (CCC, 1353). The Holy Spirit is again invoked on the faithful following the consecration so that we may become the one Body of Christ—in the words of Eucharistic Prayer II, that “we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.” These two invocations are important moments in the Mass.

The work of the Trinity culminates in sacramental communion. The inseparable unity of the Trinity means that when we receive sacramental communion, we receive the Trinity. We become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4) and the life of the Father. We abide in Christ, and He abides in us (John 6:56), and we “are filled with his Holy Spirit” (EP III). Immersing us in the mystery of the Triune God, the Mass truly is “a meeting of God’s children with their Father, in Christ and the Holy Spirit” (CCC, 1153). ■

Father Randy Stice is director of the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy. He can be reached at frrandy@dioknox. org.

Holy Spirit Church hosts St. Joseph’s Altar

Holy Spirit Church in Soddy-Daisy hosted its inaugural St. Joseph’s Altar on March 18-19. Teams baked cookies, breads, and cakes, as well as cooked pasta Milanese and seafood couvillion for six weeks leading up to the feast. The altar was available for viewing after all weekend Masses, and a meal was served at noon on Sunday. The tradition stems from the 1500s, when the people of Sicily prayed to St. Joseph for his intercession in ending a severe famine. In thanksgiving, the people provided tables of food for all in need. The fava bean, originally grown for fodder, survived the famine and fed the people. They considered themselves “lucky” to have it. Today, it is called the lucky bean and is featured on the altar. Each attendant was given a small bag of goodies: three cookies, a holy card and medal of St. Joseph, and a lucky bean. The altar was festively decorated with breads and cakes in religious shapes and other foods with scriptural meaning. Holy Spirit pastor Monsignor Al Humbrecht blessed the altar with Deacon Jim Bello assisting. More than 200 people viewed the altar, and all donations received were given to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Leftover food was donated to the Chattanooga Community Kitchen. Volunteers pictured are Ernie and Kathy Landry, Aimee Barbre, Bob Kirn, Wendy and Dave Laudone, Eula Purvis, Joey Smetch, Kathy Maxwell, and Charlene Kirn. Breads shaped like a monstrance, a cross, St. Joseph’s staff and lilies, a lamb, grapes, a crown of thorns, and the Sacred Heart were displayed.

Daily readings

Saturday, April 1: Ezekiel 37:21-28; Jeremiah 31:10-13; John 11:45-56

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, April 2: At the procession with palms—Gospel, Matthew 21:1-11; readings at the Mass, Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14–27:66

Monday, April 3: Isaiah 42:1-7; Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14; John 12:1-11

Tuesday, April 4: Isaiah 49:1-6; Psalm 71:1-6, 15, 17; John 13:21-33, 36-38

Wednesday, April 5: Isaiah 50:4-9; Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34; Matthew 26:14-25

Holy Thursday, April 6: Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15 Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion,

April 7: Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm

31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25; Hebrews

4:14-16 and 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42

Holy Saturday, April 8: Easter

Vigil, Genesis 1:1–2:2; Psalm 104:1-

2, 5-6, 10, 12-14, 24, 35; Genesis

22:1-18; Psalm 16:5, 8-11; Exodus

14:15–15:1; Exodus 15:1-6, 17-18;

Isaiah 54:5-14; Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 11-13;

Isaiah 55:1-11; Isaiah 12:2-6; Baruch

3:9-15 and 3:32–4:4; Psalm 19:8-11; Ezekiel 36:16-28; (when baptism is celebrated) Psalms 42:3, 5 and 43:3-4 or (when baptism is not celebrated)

Isaiah 12:2-6 or Psalm 51:12-15, 1819; Romans 6:3-11; Psalm 118:1-2,

16-17, 22-23; Matthew 28:1-10

Easter Sunday, April 9: Acts 10:34, 37-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9

Monday, April 10: Acts 2:14, 2233; Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11; Matthew 28:8-15

Tuesday, April 11: Acts 2:36-41; Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22; John 20:11-18

Wednesday, April 12: Acts 3:1-10; Psalm 105:1-4, 6-9; Luke 24:13-35

Thursday, April 13: Acts 3:11-26; Psalm 8:2, 5-9; Luke 24:35-48

Friday, April 14: Acts 4:1-12; Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-27; John 21:1-14

Saturday, April 15: Acts 4:13-21; Psalm 118:1, 14-21; Mark 16:9-15

Divine Mercy Sunday, April 16: Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31

Monday, April 17: Acts 4:23-31; Psalm 2:1-9; John 3:1-8

Tuesday, April 18: Acts 4:32-37; Psalm 93:1-2, 5; John 3:7-15

Wednesday, April 19: Acts 5:17-26; Psalm 34:2-9; John 3:16-21

Thursday, April 20: Acts 5:27-33; Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-20; John 3:31-36

Friday, April 21: Acts 5:34-42; Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14; John 6:1-15

Saturday, April 22: Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; John 6:16-21

Sunday, April 23: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11; 1 Peter 1:17-21; Luke 24:13-35

Monday, April 24: Acts 6:8-15; Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30; John 6:22-29

Tuesday, April 25: Feast of St. Mark, evangelist, 1 Peter 5:5-14; Psalm 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17; Mark 16:15-20

Wednesday, April 26: Acts 8:1-8; Psalm 66:1-7; John 6:35-40

Thursday, April 27: Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 66:8-9, 16-17, 20; John 6:44-51

Friday, April 28: Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 117:1-2; John 6:52-59

Saturday, April 29: Memorial of St. Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor of the Church, Acts 9:31-42; Psalm 116:12-17; John 6:60-69

Sunday, April 30: Acts 2:14, 36-41; Psalm 23:1-6; 1 Peter 2:20-25; John 10:1-10 n emotional or spiritual difficulties from a past abortion, from May 26-28 at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton. You can learn more about Rachel’s Vineyard on the CCETN website at ccetn.org/project-rachel. For more information, contact Sandi Davidson at sandi@ccetn.org or call or text 865776-4510. Complete confidentiality is honored at all times.

Tennessee Right to Life invites all high school students to participate in its annual art contest and/or oratory contest, both to be held Tuesday, April 18. For the art contest, students are asked to create an original work of art illustrating one of these life issues: abortion, euthanasia, infanticide, or stem cell research. Entrants may use any medium. No graphic depictions or computer-generated entries are allowed. Deadline for registration is April 14. Artwork must be delivered by April 17. In the oratory contest, students are asked to write and deliver a five- to seven-minute speech on one of the same four topics as the art contest. The speeches will be judged live by a panel of informed judges. Deadline for registration and submission of the rough draft of the speech is April 14. To register, visit www.prolifeknox.org or call 865-689-1339. Cash prizes will be awarded in both contests. The oratory contest winner will advance to a statewide competition in Nashville on May 6.

Middle schoolers are invited to celebrate the joy of the Easter season at a Diocesan Middle School Rally, set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City. Check-in will take place from 10 to 10:30 a.m., and the day will conclude with Mass at 5 p.m. Cost is $25 and includes lunch, snacks, a T-shirt, and all activities. The rally will include fun icebreakers, inflatables, outdoor games, tie-dying T-shirts, lunch, snacks, talks, small-group time, and adoration before the closing Mass. Registration is coming soon at dioknox. org/events/diocesan-middle-schoolrally, where youth can find medical release and code of conduct forms and a downloadable flyer. Participants may also sign up through their youth ministry. For more information, contact Donna Jones at djones@dioknox.org or 423-622-7232.

Young adults ages 18 to 35 are invited to Theology on Tap at Bearden Beer Market at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April

Parish notes continued from page B4 (35), Bernard and Peggy Gleason (30), Christopher and Susan Bivans (10) St. John Neumann, Farragut

Knights of Columbus Council 8781 Grand Knight Walt Hanson presented $2,000 in checks to Catholic Charities of East Tennessee program manager Michelle Kitts on March 2. Mr. Hanson presented a $1,000 check for Samaritan Place and a $1,000 check for the Columbus Home children’s emergency shelter and Safe Place for Kids. The funds were raised from two parish breakfasts and other events.

The Knights welcomed new members Deacon Shawn Ballard, Dr. Jack Hay, Michael Roland, Dr. Thang Phan, Romano Vlastelica, and Mike Wilson at an exemplification ceremony March 18.

The Knights presented a showing of the film “Mother Teresa: No Greater Love” on April 1 in the school gym.

Five Rivers Deanery

Holy Trinity, Jefferson City

The parish thanked all who participated in the Knights of Columbus’ first cornhole tournament. Prizes went to Bob Rave for first place, Tim Eldridge for second, and Rodneil Duties for third.

Newcomers: Joseph and Anne Marie Antinozzi, Joan Kyriazes, Judith Larger

Anniversary: Tom and Monica Witkowski (25)

St. Patrick, Morristown

The Council of Catholic Women sponsored a Ladies Night Out on March

11. Father Michael Hendershott, associate pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville, will be speaking. Food will be available for purchase. No underage drinking is permitted. Contact Cason Asher at casonasher@icloud.com with any questions. For a flyer on the event, visit dioknox.org/events/theology-ontap-with-father-hendershott

A Diocesan Youth Holy Hour is set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, at Knoxville Catholic High School. KCHS and the diocesan Office of Christian Formation are hosting the holy hour for middle and high school youth. The evening will include eucharistic adoration, preaching by one of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National Eucharistic Preachers, opportunities for confession, and music led by KCHS’s concert choir. After the holy hour, there will be snacks and opportunities for small-group discussions. Youth leaders should visit dioknox.org/events/ diocesan-youth-holy-hour to RSVP with an estimate of the number of youths they will be bringing to the event. A downloadable flyer is also available at the same site.

The Healing Ministry at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa offers healing prayers every third weekend of the month for anyone who has a physical, emotional, or spiritual need. Individual healing prayer will be offered in Spanish in the church immediately following the 7 p.m. Saturday Mass in Spanish, and prayer will be offered in English in the chapel immediately following the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass. Call Toni Jacobs at (561) 315-5911 if you have any questions.

Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga is currently accepting applications for the 2023-24 academic year. Apply by visiting www.myndhs.com and submit an online application. Contact Lisa Costello at 423-624-4618 or costellol@myndhs. com with any questions.

Join Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, teacher and historian, on an 11-day Rhine River pilgrimage cruise through Germany, Switzerland, France, and Holland from May 23 to June 2. The pilgrimage themes are “finding God in the beauty of His creation,” “how the Catholic Church built western civilization,” and “how the greatest fortresses of Europe have been its saints,” many of whom spent much of their lives along the Rhine, including Sts. Am-

21 in the church basement. The guest speaker was Kelley Williams, executive director of Lakeway CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), who explained how the women could help protect children in Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, and Sevier counties. Participants in Ladies Night Out also made tray favors for the residents of Life Care Center in Morristown.

The Samaritan Committee recently thanked parishioners for supporting its work of charity toward the local community in need. From July through December 2022, the committee assisted 105 clients, distributing $2,460 for utilities, $2,415 for rent, and $7,130 for food and gasoline.

Anniversaries: Charles and Betsy Michel (61), Dean and Phyllis Ishmael (60), Steve and Nan White (52), Bill and Sharon McDuffie (50), Andrew and Susan Vrba (50), Charles and Janet Guyett (45), Juan Hernandez-Garcia and Maria Ramos-Maldonado (20), Alejandro Mendez-Avila and Adriana Mendez (20), Eliseo and Espenza Rodriguez (20)

Smoky Mountain Deanery

Holy Ghost, Knoxville

Sonia Summers taught Pysanky: Ukrainian Egg Decorating on March 6 and April 3 in Henkel Hall.

Associate pastor Father Michael Hendershott led a Women’s Silent Lenten Day of Recollection: The Interior Silence of a Marian Heart on April 1 at St. Joseph Church in Norris. The event included time for Mass, confessions, and adoration.

Parishioners took part in a rosary rally brose, Athanasius, Jerome, Constantine, Helen, Edith Stein, Hildegard of Bingen, Boniface, Albert the Great, and others. Pilgrims will admire the many picturesque castles that dot the shoreline of the Rhine and visit some of the most impressive of European abbeys. They will experience mountains, saints, castles, cathedrals, quaint towns, and delectable food, all aboard a ship that will be entirely reserved for this pilgrimage. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@ select-intl.com.

A pilgrimage to Poland with Father Martin Gladysz is scheduled for July 1726. The group will spend a day in Warsaw visiting the sites before continuing on to Czestochowa, where pilgrims will visit the Jasna Gora Monastery, the Treasury, and the famous icon of the Black Madonna, to which many miracles have been attributed. They will visit Wadowice, the hometown of Pope St. John Paul II, and visit his childhood home, and visit the church where he was baptized. They will visit the Shrine of Divine Mercy and visit St. Faustina’s convent chapel and her tomb, and have a tour led by one of the Sisters. Another visit will be to Europe’s oldest salt mine, which UNESCO has listed as a World Heritage Site. The mines are a unique place where many generations of Polish miners have created a world of underground chambers and decorated chapels carved out of salt, including the famous Chapel of St. Kinga. The group will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Ludzmierz, the Niepokalanow Sanctuary, and the Franciscan Monastery, linked with St. Maximilian Kolbe, and have a chance to visit Auschwitz, where St. Maximilian Kolbe died a martyr. Other sites visited will be Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a popular pilgrimage place for Pope St. John Paul II, and Zakopane, in the highlands of Poland, and the group will enjoy a peaceful river trip through the beautiful towering cliffs. Father Gladysz is from Krakow and is excited to be leading this pilgrimage to his homeland of Poland. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@select-intl.com.

Father Bill and Sherri McNeeley are leading a Holy Land pilgrimage Sept. 13-22 with an optional post-tour to Rome from Sept. 22-26. Places visited will include Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Stella Maris, Nazareth, Tiberias, Cana, the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, Mount Tabor, Jericho, Jerusalem, Temple in support of traditional marriage March 25 at the corner of Baxter Avenue and Central Street by the church.

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville

The parish encourages participation in the third Spirit of Hecker Awards, an online event set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22. Register at Paulist.org/ HeckerAwards. A $10 suggested donation enters you in a raffle. The parish congratulated this year’s winners from IC: Gerry and Carol O’Farrell.

The IC Bees held a quilt show and sale on the weekend of April 1 and 2 in the parish hall after all Masses.

IC wished former pastor Father Ron Franco, CSP, a happy 75th birthday March 25.

The Haiti committee reported that the third drive-through Haiti Fest on Feb. 11-12 was a success, with 241 meals served and more than $6,900 collected in sales and donations in the best participation ever by parish and community volunteers. IC, in addition to its quarterly check for about $4,000 to support its sister parish’s school in Fonds des Blancs, Haiti, will be able to send a bonus check for $5,700. Father Belizaire in Haiti intends to use the extra money to begin a program for preschoolers. Because of IC parishioners’ generosity, 3- and 4-year-olds will receive regular meals and instruction in the basics of learning.

St. John XXIII,

Knoxville

The parish is hosting a watch party for the third Spirit of Hecker Awards at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22, in the Paulus Room. Register for the online

Model, Ein Karem, Bethlehem, Bethany, the Dead Sea, the Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, Mount Zion (Upper Room), the Western Wall, the Via Dolorosa, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. For more information, including pricing and a daily itinerary, visit www. pilgrimages.com/frmcneeley or contact Danielle at danielle@206tours.com or 800-206-8687.

A pilgrimage to Greece, including a four-day Aegean cruise, is set for Sept. 18-29. Join Glenmary Father Steve Pawelk “In the Footsteps of St. Paul” as pilgrims visit the places where St. Paul preached the Gospel—Thessaloniki, Philippi, Corinth, and Athens— and visit the Meteora Monasteries. The Aegean cruise stops on the islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, and Patmos and will also visit the ancient city of Ephesus, featuring some of the most magnificent excavations in the world, and visit Mary’s house. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865567-1245 or lisam@select-intl.com.

Join Father Michael Cummins on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from Oct. 16-26, with an optional extension to Jordan from Oct. 26-29. Pilgrims will walk in the footsteps of Jesus, visiting the holy and sacred sites of His life, death, and resurrection. They will journey to Bethlehem, Bethany, Masada, Caesarea, Mount Carmel, and the Sea of Galilee area, including the Mount of Beatitudes, Nazareth, Capernaum, Magdala, and Tabgha. They will journey on to Mount Tabor, Jericho, the Mount of Temptation, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea, then travel to Jerusalem, visiting the Mount of Olives, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Wailing Wall. They will have the blessing of walking the way of the cross, the Via Dolorosa. There will be the opportunity to extend the pilgrimage for three days, visiting Jordan, including Petra. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@select-intl.com.

Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at noon each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville; every Sunday at 8 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Athens; at 2 p.m. each Sunday at St. Mary Church in Johnson City; at 6 p.m. most Thursdays at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge; and at 11:30 a.m. every Sunday at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. For more information, visit www.Knox LatinMass.net n event at Paulist.org/HeckerAwards

The event will be catered, so RSVPs to the parish office at 865-523-7931 are requested.

St. John XXIII recently thanked parishioners who provided a family from Afghanistan with a treadmill and an exercise bike.

Twenty-six parishioners attended a Justice Knox Congregational Meeting on Feb. 12. The purpose of the meeting was to contact other parishioners, family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and others to invite them to the Nehemiah Action Assembly, set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium. The Action Assembly offers a chance to present concrete proposals for change to public officials regarding public transportation and homelessness, and participants will receive reports related to ongoing work on gun violence and education in the Knoxville community.

The recent Mardi Gras party silent auction raised $1,512 for the parish.

St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville

The parish youth group has planned an Easter Sunday event at 12:30 p.m. April 9 that includes an Easter egg hunt, food, and outside games.

St. Joseph the Worker thanked parishioners for their generosity in making the “Voice of God” project a reality. The parish is now able to purchase needed equipment to upgrade the church’s sound system.

The women’s group held a “Tour of Italy” spring fundraiser March 25 in the church hall. n