11/4/2009
Opening Prayer Let us begin: In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let us pray that our prayer rise like incense in the presence of God. Almighty Father, strong is your justice and great is your mercy. Protect us in the burdens and challenges of life. Shield our minds from the distortion of pride and enfold our desire with the beauty of truth. Help us to become more aware of your loving design so that we may more willingly give our lives in service to all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The Word of God November 8, 2009 Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Mark 12:38-44 The Lord be with you. And also with you. A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark. Glory to you Lord. May the gospel always be on my mind, on my lips, and in my heart. In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation." He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 678 Following in the steps of the prophets and John the Baptist, Jesus announced the judgment of the Last Day in his preaching. Then will the conduct of each one and the secrets of hearts be brought to light. Then will the culpable unbelief that counted the offer of God’s grace as nothing be condemned. Our attitude to our neighbor will disclose acceptance or refusal of grace and divine love. On the Last Day Jesus will say: “Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” 2444 “The Church’s love for the poor . . . is a part of her constant tradition.” This love is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, of the poverty of Jesus, and of his concern for the poor. Love for the poor is even one of the motives for the duty of working so as to “be able to give to those in need.” It extends not only to material poverty but also to the many forms of cultural and religious poverty.
Liturgical Calendar 11/5
Thursday
G
Thursday of the Thirty-first week in Ordinary Time
11/6
Friday
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Friday of the Thirty-first week in Ordinary Time
11/7
First Saturday
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Saturday of the Thirty-first week in Ordinary Time BVM on Saturday
11/8
Sunday
G
Thirty-second Sunday of Ordinary Time
11/9
Monday
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Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
11/10
Tuesday
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Saint Leo the Great, pope & doctor
11/11
Wednesday
W
Saint Martin of Tours, bishop
The essential elements of a sacrament: 1. a sensible sign instituted by Christ and gives grace. 2. both matter and form present a. the matter is the material used b. the form is the accompanying words and action 3. an authorized minister Grace is a gift from God; therefore, the sacrament must come from and depend upon God. Baptism Mt. 28:18-20 Confirmation Acts 2:42; 8:15; 19:6 Eucharist Mt. 26:26 Reconciliation Jrn. 20:21:23 Anointing of the Sick Jas. 5:14-15 Matrimony Mt 19:3-9 Holy Orders Jn. 20:21-22 Vat II states that the purpose of sacrament is to make us holy, to build up the body of Christ and to worship God. Sacraments nourish, strengthen and express faith. CELEBRATIONS
Fast facts I
What is a Sacrament? Sacraments are more than seven ritual acts thatgive grace.Rather,they are opportunities for people already In God's grace to gather and celebrate that fact through symbolic action or ritual.Our understanding ofsacraments today begins notwith church rituals,butwith the experience ofCad'spresence and care in ourdailylives.Sacraments are "actions'', hot things. Or, as St Augustine put it, • they are "visible signs of invisible grace
.v. mj,,,EAdAyakmovitcp eAsicpx THE CATHOLIC FAITH BYBILLPAITy. AND LISA COMAKIWENTWINIRD PUBLICATIONS, NEW LONDON, CT) - •
enr The whole Ittlittical life of the Catholic Church revolves around the sacraments.The word sacramentis from the Latin word sacramentummeaning "making sacred."
(SOURCE: THE OFFICIAL C47HOLI C DIRErrORY, RA KENNEDY & SONS, NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ)
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Why •te . ven We are bortt baptism We grow: confirmation Sacram We are fed:Eucharist We neetspititual healing:penance ents?. We need physical healing:anointing ofthe sick
StThomas Aquinas tells us thatGod didn'thave to make seven sacraments,butitseemed reasonable thathe did:
We need family:matrimony We need pastors:holyorders The sacramentsare divided bypurpose and function into three groups: the sacraments of initiation—baptism, confirmation,and Eucharist;the sacraments ofhealing—penance and anointing ofthe sicic and,the sacraments of vocation and commitment—holy orders and matrimony. MARCH 2007 I RTJ: THE MAGAZINE FOR CATECHIST FORMATION
Jesus I II worked in biblical times continues to work today 11 reaching out to real people his body, the church II through actions of love (healing, forgiveness, etc.)
meeting and touching
through signs of love (the seven sacraments)
Sacraments
I Initiation 1 baptism confirmation eucharist
Healing I reconciliation anointing of the sick
I Vocation/Service of Communion
1
marriage holy orders
a. Baptism: water: death to sin, new life, regeneration • — oil: healing, power of the Spirit baptismal symbols
whitegarmentnewlifeinChrist light beacon of Christ in the world — name: adoption into divine family, unity with patron saint
b. Confirmation: confers and seals the Holy Spirit effects of confirmation
strengthens us to live the Christian life — deepens baptismal gifts
C. Eucharist: thanksgiving: appreciation for God's many blessings sacred meal: companionship with Jesus and fellow Christians sacrifice: paschal lamb for us facets of the eucharist
Mass: "sent" into the world to be Jesus for others — Blessed Sacrament source and summit of Catholic life — holy communion: union with Christ and others real presence: encounter the Risen Lord — liturgy: people's work in praising God
d. Reconciliation:
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Preparation: examination of conscience
--- contrition (sorrow)
four key elements
confession (external sign of Interior sorrow) act of satisfaction (penance) absolution (words of forgiveness)
f. Marriage: sharing life •.• purposes of marriage celebrating love Christian marriage is not simPly a contract, or a 50-50 proposition: 50%. 50% Husband Wife Christian marriage is a covenant, a total commitment. wife
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Living the Sacraments An Overview Prayer
Deuteronomy 30:15-19
Sacraments: The Church's Way of Celebrating God's Presence among Us in Chrbt
Theme
Celebration of our relationship with Jesus. Signs of Life—growth—change Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, Holy Orders • John 4:5-26 • Matthew 3:8-14 • 1 Corinthians 11:23-27
Scripture
How do the significant moments in your life involve growth? Change? How does God enter into these times?
Questions to Ponder Reflections
Copyright 0 BROWN Publishing—ROA Media
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The Sacrament of Reconciliation The sacrament of Confession (emphasizing the act of naming our sins) The sacrament of Penance (expressing the outward sign of our contrition) The sacrament of Forgiveness (emphasizing what we receive from God) The sacrament of Reconciliation (emphasizing the purpose and effect of the sacrament) The sacrament of Conversion (emphasizing our need to return to God) One of the Sacraments of healing. The other one is Anointing of the Sick The Church "Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion." (CCC 1422) The Bible Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (John 2021-23) The Church Fathers The Didache "Confess your sins in church, and do not go up to your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life. On the Lord's Day gather together, break bread, and give thanks, after confessing your transgressions so that your sacrifice may be pure" (Didache 4:14, 14:1 [A.D. 70]). Ignatius of Antioch "For as many as are of God and of Jesus Christ are also with the bishop. And as many as shall, in the exercise of penance, return into the unity of the Church, these, too, shall belong to God, that they may live according to Jesus Christ" (Letter to the Philadelphians 3 [A.13.110]). Tertuillan "[Regarding confession, some] flee from this work as being an exposure of themselves, or they put it off from day to day. I presume they are more mindful of modesty than of salvation, like those who contract a disease in the more shameful parts of the body and shun making themselves known to the physicians; and thus they perish along with their own bashfulness" (Repentance 10:1 [A.D. 203]). Origen "[A final method of forgiveness], albeit hard and laborious [is] the remission of sins through penance, when the sinner does not shrink from declaring his sin to a priest of the Lord and from seeking medicine, after the manner of him who say, 'I said, "To the Lord I will accuse myself of my iniquity"' (Homilies on Leviticus 2:4 [A.D. 248]).