Category: Reflections - Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Church

Chrism Mass at Savannah Cathedral

5/28/2014

The Holy oils with which parishioners Jerianne Griffin and Korrie Spikes will be confirmed on May 29 were blessed in the so called Chrism Mass on Tuesday of Holy Week, April 15, 2014 by Bishop Gregory John Hartmayer in the Cathedral of St. John in Savannah, Georgia. Here is the diocese's own transmission of that Mass:

May Crowning and the Peace of the World

5/10/2014

On Sunday, May 11, 2014 the First Communion Class will crown the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven. This "May Crowning" has been done in many lands in different ways for many centuries.

In 1965, Pope Paul VI asked Catholics the world over to add a new layer of meaning to the Month of Mary. In the document "The Month of May", published during the last session of the Second Vatican Council, the Pope asked that the May Crownings and the gift of flowers to the Virgin Mary be an opportunity for increased prayer

1) for the effectiveness of Vatican II in renewing the whole Church, and
2) for peace throughout the world.

When the Council is finished, wrote the Pope, it must still be implemented. This requires that it be understood, accepted and bear "tangible, salutary fruit." It is a "weighty proposition," the Pope wrote, for the Catholic Church to renew itself, and the Council's implementation will determine the history of the Church. Without the intercession of Mary, Queen of Heaven, it is hard to imagine the Council's reforms succeeding.

We have survived two World Wars, wrote the Pope, but this has not led to world peace. Instead, new wars seem to threaten every day. We need the intercession of the Queen of Peace to help people turn away from sin and take the path of justice which alone leads to peace.

"You should know that we are particularly relying on the prayers of children," Pope Paul added, not only because they are the Church of tomorrow, but because even today their innocence is the voice of truth and "their pleas have special power to penetrate heaven and soften God's justice."

Fr. Bob in the 80's

Canonization of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II

4/29/2014

Here is Vatican Television's upload of the canonization of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, Sunday, April 27, 2014. (3:38:23) This edited broadcast starts in a beautiful French and becomes wonderfully multilingual, well expressing the catholicity of the Church.

Easter Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, Rome

4/25/2014

Here is Vatican Television's transmission of the Mass of Easter Morning at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Pope Francis presiding:

The St. Francis Pledge - Earth Day 2014

4/22/2014

St. Francis of Assisi loved all of God's creation, he knew that every creature - animate or inanimate - was his brother and sister. Now he intercedes in heaven to assist those who would protect God's creation.

Even today, those inspired by the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi speak of the three elements of Franciscan spirituality: love for peace, justice and care of God's creation. Franciscans from around the world, in cooperation with many other Catholics and believers of other faiths, have developed the Catholic Climate Covenant. (Info at www.catholicclimatecovenant.org)

On this Earth Day 2014
please consider learning about and signing the St. Francis Pledge
by clicking here.

The Catholic Health Association of the United States has assembled a useful list of Earth Day resources for Catholics. See their list by clicking here.

Finally, here is an article published by the Franciscans of the Sacro Convento of Assisi, the home and headquarters of the Franciscan Order:

Francesco e il creato

Catholic Youth Rally for Peace, Justice & Protection of the God's Creation. Assisi, Italy - Holy Week 2014

Urbi et Orbi

4/20/2014

Pope Francis' address to the city and to the world on Easter Day, April 20, 2014:

Blessings to All This Sacred Night of Easter

4/19/2014

Thank you to everyone who helped make this
a blessed, happy, memorable
Easter Vigil 2014!

The Mass of Easter Morning will be celebrated at 10:00.

It Is Finished

4/18/2014

The Easter Vigil begins Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Mass of Easter Morning begins at 10:00 a.m.

Holy Week - A Time Of Grace

4/14/2014

Pope Francis hands out free Bibles

4/8/2014

On Sunday, April 6, 2014, Pope Francis held a wonderful homily at the afternoon Angelus, reminding the people that "there is no limit to the mercy of God!"

The act of Jesus by which He raised Lazarus from the dead demonstrates the end to which the power of the Grace of God can arrive, and the end, therefore to which our conversion - our change - can arrive. But listen well: there is no other limit to the divine mercy offered to all! There is no other limit to the divine mercy offered to all! Remember this phrase. And we can all say it together: “There is no other limit to the divine mercy offered to all!” Let us say it together: “There is no other limit to the divine mercy offered to all!”

Pope Francis then recalled the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda, the 5th anniversary of the terrible earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy and the current tragedy of Ebola fever in Guinea and surrounding countries, leading the people in intercessory prayer.

Finally, the Pope had a surprise for the people gathered in St. Peter's Plaza. He handed out free Bibles! More precisely, volunteers distributed small pocket editions of the four Gospels. The Pope said:

And now I want to make a simple gesture for you. Last Sunday I suggested that all of you should obtain a little book of the Gospels, to carry with you during the day, that can be read often. And then I thought about the ancient tradition of the Church, of giving a book of the Gospels, during Lent, to the catechumens, to those preparing for Baptism. So today I want to offer to you who are here in the Piazza — but as a sign for everyone — a pocket Gospel book. It is distributed to you free of charge. There are places in the Piazza for the distribution… I see them there… there… there… there, there, there. Go to these places and take the Gospel. Take it, carry it with you, and read it every day: it is Jesus Himself Who is speaking to you. It is the Word of Jesus: this is the Word of Jesus.

And as Jesus said, I say too: “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give!” Give the message of the Gospel! Today you can read the Gospel on so many technological devices. You can take the whole Bible with you on a phone, on a tablet. Do it! The important thing is to read the Word of God, by any means, but read the Word of God!

I wish you a happy Sunday, and a ‘buon pranzo!’ Arrivederci!