A great time

I've gotten reports from servers, families, and priests that the field trip to St. Bernadette was successful and enjoyable. Fr. Gober was very impressed with the server's catechesis and he credited that to the families. Both Fr. Reid and Fr. Gober were grateful for the time and effort put into the questions presented to them in the Q&A session. We all had fun running around Linville Falls as well. Look for more trips in the future!

Just a reminder that we have training this Tuesday from 4:15 until 5:45 as usual and we'll be covering Missa Cantata work and reviewing the field trip.

Please keep all of the servers and their families in your prayers but please pray especially for Mr. Stefano who's enduring some blessed challenges and has requested prayers.

Anyone want to fill in for Ac2 on Saturday March 5th? If so please email me.

Papa Benedict speaks

Quote from today's General Audience that applies to what we've been discussing in training:

"In closing, Benedict XVI highlighted how the example of St. Gertrude "shows us that the focal point of a happy and authentic life is friendship with Jesus the Lord. This is learned through love for Sacred Scripture and the liturgy, through profound faith and through love for Mary, so as to gain increasing knowledge of God and, therefore, to know true happiness which is the goal of our existence"."

See the whole article here.

• Don't forget that tomorrow is the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary...pray with your family!
• Don't forget that Sunday is the Rosary Rally at St. Patrick's...3 pm...pray with your Church family!

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.

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

We need prayers...

I recently received news that Tim Mack, the father of MEF servers, Chase, Joseph, and JP was admitted to the hospital this week. I called him today and received permission to put up some information. As of right now, Tim will be undergoing open heart surgery with a triple bypass for his heart on Tuesday September 8th. As Catholics, we know September 8th to be the Birth of Mary, Jesus' Mother. So I am asking that prayers, Holy Hours, rosaries, Masses, and whatever else can be offered for Tim be done.

In the mean time, Tim is receiving constant medications and waiting for Tuesday. Please feel free to bring cards and posters to this Monday's training session so we can get them sent to Tim.

In addition, the Goduti family also recently had a surgery this past month. I have not received permission or particulars, but suffice to say that prayers will be needed for them as well.

Last but not least, please bring all cards and items for Lucas' spiritual bouqet so that we can get that sent to him.

Mary, Mother of Hope, Queen of Angels, Ora pro nobis.

photo credit: fergal OP

Happy Mother's Day

A special thank you to all of the mothers of our servers. As Mary received Jesus, so did our mother's receive us. Let us thank the Lord for our mothers who, in doing God's will, guide, serve, teach, protect, love, pray, and sacrifice for the sake for us. So we pray for the mothers:

Debbie, Vicki, Shannon, Marla, Amber, Danielle, Amy, Amie, Theresa, Elizabeth, Lisette, and Kathy.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum; benedícta to in muliéribus, et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta María, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatóribus, nunc et in hora mortis, nostræ. Amen.