Sunday, August 29, 2010

Eucharistic Congress 2010

Friday, September 10th, begins the 2010 Diocese of Charlotte Eucharistic Congress. All servers and their families are highly, highly, highly, and even highly encouraged to attend this wonderful event. It's one of the few times a Pontifical Mass in the Novus Ordo is offered and it's a blessed opportunity to experience the Lord. Even if you've been a number of times, it's also a great opportunity to be united, engage, and even evangelize in word and deed to fellow Catholics. Click here for the Congress Web Page.

For those attending, don't forget to make the Sacrament of Confession at the Congress or within 8 days as well as fullfilling the rest of the requirements with the intention of obtaining the plenary indulgence.

In preparation for the event, servers are encouraged to make a novena of the Prayer for the Eucharistic Congress beginning this Wednesday:

O Jesus, who art really, truly and substantially present in the Blessed Sacrament to be the food of our souls, deign to bless and bring to a successful issue all Eucharistic Congresses and gatherings, and especially the coming Congress of the Diocese of Charlotte. Be Thou the inspiration of our labors, resolutions and vows; accept graciously the solemn homage we will render to Thee; send Your Holy Spirit to kindle the hearts of priests, religious, and all the faithful, especially the children, so that devout participation in the Holy Mass and frequent and daily Holy Communion may be held in honor in all the countries of the world; and grant that the Kingship of Your Sacred Heart over human society may everywhere be acknowledged to the glory of God, the Father. Amen.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, bless the Congress.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Patroness of our Diocese, pray for us.
Saint Paschal Baylon, pray for us.
Saint Patrick, pray for us.
Amen.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Genuflection to the Blessed Sacrament


A question came up in the last training session: Can a genuflection to the Blessed Sacrament provide a remission of venial sin?

St. John Vianney comes right out and says, as if it was already general knowledge, that such a reverence does provide a remission of venial sins in his "Catechism on Confession": "My children, as soon as ever you have a little spot upon your soul, you must do like a person who has a fine globe of glass, which he keeps very carefully. If this globe has a little dust on it, he wipes it with a sponge the moment he perceives it, and there is the globe clear and brilliant. In the same way, as soon as you perceive a little stain on your soul, take some holy water with respect, do one of those good works to which the remission of venial sins is attached -an alms, a genuflection to the Blessed Sacrament, hearing a Mass." (Click here for the rest of that teaching...Chap 17)

Yet, as we frequently ask in our ministry, is the outward movement enough? Or is there more St. John Vianney was alluding to? St. Thomas Aquinas addresses these questions in his Summa Theologica:

"...Hence, for three reasons, certain things cause the remission of venial sins: first, because they imply the infusion of grace, since the infusion of grace removes venial sins, as stated above (Article 2); and so, by the Eucharist, Extreme Unction, and by all the sacraments of the New Law without exception, wherein grace is conferred, venial sins are remitted. Secondly, because they imply a movement of detestation for sin, and in this way the general confession [i.e. the recital of the Confiteor or of an act of contrition, the beating of one's breast, and the Lord's Prayer conduce to the remission of venial sins, for we ask in the Lord's Prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses"]. Thirdly, because they include a movement of reverence for God and Divine things; and in this way a bishop's blessing, the sprinkling of holy water, any sacramental anointing, a prayer said in a dedicated church, and anything else of the kind, conduce to the remission of venial sins."

So the genuflection alone does not serve the purpose. The grace given by the Lord, the detestation for sin, and a reverence for the Lord are some of the necessary ingredients to the recipe for remission of venial sins.

Bottom line: With the right frame of heart and mind and by the grace of God, a genuflection to the Blessed Sacrament can provide a remission of venial sin. But is that the goal?

Is a genuflection a habit, a custom, or desire to revere the Lord? It may start off as a noble custom taught to us by our priests and parents, and then it may become habit. Hopefully, as one matures, it becomes an act of love and faith.

As for remission of sins, the Church advocates to stick to the Sacrament of Confession:
"Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father's mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful." (CCC 1458)

Altar servers have the privilege of genuflecting to Blessed Sacrament in the Sanctuary during training and especially at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass where their frame of heart and mind should be prepared and focused. Yet, when you attend Mass with your family, should you love any less before you enter the pew?
Photo Credit: jdbradley

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Mass Schedule Updated

I had some time to update the Mass Schedule for our servers for September and October. This schedule will be finalized on 9 pm Monday, August 23rd. Please contact me if you see any issues. Please note all of the wonderful Marian Feasts in September and the Missa Cantata at the end of October for Christ the King.

Please preview the schedule on the side bar to the right.

Pope Benedict XVI on Altar Servers

On August 4th the Holy Father gave a short discourse on St. Tarcisius, the patron saint of altar servers. His words help to guide altar servers in their ministry. The entirety of the General Audience can be found here on the Vatican website.

"...Who was St Tarcisius? We do not have much information about him. We are dealing with the early centuries of the Church's history or, to be more precise, with the third century. It is said that he was a boy who came regularly to the Catacombs of St Calixtus here in Rome and took his special Christian duties very seriously. He had great love for the Eucharist and various hints lead us to conclude that he was presumably an acolyte, that is, an altar server.

Those were years in which the Emperor Valerian was harshly persecuting Christians who were forced to meet secretly in private houses or, at times, also in the Catacombs, to hear the word of God, to pray and to celebrate Holy Mass. Even the custom of taking the Eucharist to prisoners and the sick became increasingly dangerous. One day, when, as was his habit, the priest asked who was prepared to take the Eucharist to the other brothers and sisters who were waiting for it, young Tarcisius stood up and said: "send me!". This boy seemed too young for such a demanding service! "My youth", Tarcisius said, "will be the best shield for the Eucharist". Convinced, the priest entrusted to him the precious Bread, saying: "Tarcisius, remember that a heavenly treasure has been entrusted to your weak hands. Avoid crowded streets and do not forget that holy things must never be thrown to dogs nor pearls to pigs. Will you guard the Sacred Mysteries faithfully and safely?". "I would die", Tarcisio answered with determination, "rather than let go of them".

As he went on his way he met some friends who approached him and asked him to join them. As pagans they became suspicious and insistent at his refusal and realized he was clasping something to his breast that he appeared to be protecting. They tried to prize it away from him, but in vain; the struggle became ever fiercer, especially when they realized that Tarcisius was a Christian; They kicked him, they threw stones at him, but he did not surrender. While Tarcisius was dying a Pretoria guard called Quadratus, who had also, secretly, become a Christian, carried him to the priest. Tarcisius was already dead when they arrived but was still clutching to his breast a small linen bag containing the Eucharist.

He was buried straight away in the Catacombs of St Calixtus. Pope Damasus had an inscription carved on St Tarcisius' grave; it says that the boy died in 257. The Roman Martyrology fixed the date as 15 August and in the same Martyrology a beautiful oral tradition is also recorded. It claims that the Most Blessed Sacrament was not found on St Tarcisius' body, either in his hands or his clothing. It explains that the consecrated Host which the little Martyr had defended with his life, had become flesh of his flesh thereby forming, together with his body, a single immaculate Host offered to God.

Dear altar servers, St Tarcisius' testimony and this beautiful tradition teach us the deep love and great veneration that we must have for the Eucharist: it is a precious good, a treasure of incomparable value; it is the Bread of life, it is Jesus himself who becomes our nourishment, support and strength on our daily journey and on the open road that leads to eternal life; the Eucharist is the greatest gift that Jesus bequeathed to us.

I am addressing those of you who are present here and, through you, all the altar servers of the world! Serve Jesus present in the Eucharist generously. It is an important task that enables you to be particularly close to the Lord and to grow in true and profound friendship with him. Guard this friendship in your hearts jealously, like St Tarcisius, ready to commit yourselves, to fight and to give your lives so that Jesus may reach all peoples. May you too communicate to your peers the gift of this friendship with joy, with enthusiasm, without fear, so that they may feel that you know this Mystery, that is true and that you love it! Every time that you approach the altar, you have the good fortune to assist in God's great loving gesture as he continues to want to give himself to each one of us, to be close to us, to help us, to give us strength to live in the right way. With consecration, as you know, that little piece of bread becomes Christ's Body, that wine becomes Christ's Blood. You are lucky to be able to live this indescribable Mystery from close at hand! Do your task as altar servers with love, devotion and faithfulness; do not enter a church for the celebration with superficiality but rather, prepare yourselves inwardly for Holy Mass! Assisting your priests in service at the altar helps to make Jesus closer, so that people can understand, can realize better: he is here. You collaborate to make him more present in the world, in every day life, in the Church and everywhere.

Dear friends! You lend Jesus your hands, your thoughts, your time. He will not fail to reward you, giving you true joy and enabling you to feel where the fullest happiness is. St Tarcisius has shown us that love can even bring us to give our life for an authentic good, for the true good, for the Lord.

Martyrdom will probably not be required of us, but Jesus asks of us fidelity in small tings, inner recollection, inner participation, our faith and our efforts to keep this treasure present in every day life. He asks of us fidelity in daily tasks, a witness to his love, going to church through inner conviction and for the joy of his presence. Thus we can also make known to our friends that Jesus is alive. May St John Mary Vianney's intercession help us in this commitment. Today is the liturgical Memorial of this humble French Parish Priest who changed a small community and thus gave the world a new light. May the example of St Tarcisius and St John Mary Vianney impel us every day to love Jesus and to do his will, as did the Virgin Mary, faithful to her Son to the end..."

Monday, August 2, 2010

Tuesday Afternoon training

We are a go for a 5 pm Missa Cantata practice tomorrow at St. Ann's. Please don't forget to sign up for the chant workshop if you want to go.