Second Sunday of Easter, Year A

Encouraging others

Reading I: Acts 2:42-47 (communal life)
Reading II: 1 Peter 1:3-9 (thanksgiving)
Gospel: John 20:19-31 (appearance to the disciples; Thomas)

Key Passage: Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” (John 20:27)

Adult: We show our faith when we demonstrate courage in the face of difficulty. What could you do this week to help strengthen someone?
Child: What could you do this week to encourage someone who is sad or discouraged?
(from PastoralPlanning.com)

Canonization Process

On Sunday, April 27 2014, Blessed Pope John XXIII and Blessed Pope John Paul II will be canonized (become official saints). Canonized saints are those people who the Church believes are in heaven. These are the people we try to imitate and who we ask to intercede for us when we need God’s help.

In the early Church many Christians died for their faith so it was easy to identify who was a saint. All martyrs go to heaven so those who died rather than deny Jesus were considered a saint. Sometimes person who was considered especially virtuous would be considered a saint in a particular region but that wouldn’t necessarily mean the whole Church would consider that person a saint. Although there were some instances where that would happen.

As the Church grew it became aware that it had to be careful about how it handled the investigations that would take place before someone could be named a saint. Beginning around the year 1,000 the Church began to look into all aspects of a candidate for sainthood life. People are interviewed, if the candidate wrote things they are all read, prayer for guidance is an integral part of the review. For some individuals it can takes a very long time. The Church does not want to make a mistake, so it really tries to take all things into consideration even when the popularity of a person may seem to make him or her a shoe in.

What is this process like? The Church has a waiting period of 5 years before the process for making a saint can begin. This is so the Church will not be influenced by any emotions surrounding a candidate’s death. The pope is the only person who can suspend this rule. So the first step is 5 years after a person’s death the diocese where the person lived would ask the Vatican for permission to begin a cause (the process for making a saint). If no one objects then the cause is begun. The candidate for sainthood is then called, doe example, Servant of God, Mary Alice Smith of wherever she is from i.e. Eau Claire.

The next step is becoming a venerable. This is up to the diocese that the candidate was living in. The diocese will conduct interviews to gain testimony from people who knew the candidate. They will look into all things he or she may have written even high school essays, a graduation speech, letters written and in this day and age e-mails will be sifted through. If after an extensive research into the person’s life the diocese finds the person to be a worthy candidate the findings are forwarded to the Vatican. Once they findings reach the Vatican there are several committees that must review them to see if the cause will stay active or will go no further. If it is determined to be an active cause the pope will make the final decision to declare the person “Venerable.” Then the person will be known as Venerable Mary Alice Smith.

The third step is being declared “Blessed.” To have this happen a miracle must be confirmed having taken place due to the candidate. That would show that the candidate is able to “intercede at the throne of God” (1) for the miracle to occur. To find out if a miracle truly did occur due to the intercession of the candidate the investigation begins in the diocese where the miracle occurred. It must be proven that there is not a natural way for the miracle to have taken place. The people who were praying for the miracle must testify that they had requested of the Venerable to intercede for them. Then a panel is put together consisting of theologians and scientists to confirm it was indeed a miracle. The findings of the panel are then sent to the Vatican. Then another committee must review the materials and give the pope a recommendation. If the recommendation is that the person be called “Blessed” and the pope agrees with that assessment then a ceremony is held to declare the candidate “Blessed.” The person would then be known as Blessed Mary Alice Smith.

The fourth and final step is the Declaration of Sainthood. Before a “Blessed” officially becomes a saint, “to be deemed really in heaven with God,” (2) a second miracle must be attributed to him or her and found to be authentic through the same process as for the first miracle. If the facts are found to be true and everything in the process is continuing then the pope may decide to put the candidate forward for canonization. “The ceremony at the Vatican does not make Blessed Mary Alice Smith a saint,” (3) it confirms that she already is a saint and is in heaven with God.

(1-3)Pflaum Gospel Weeklies, 2014, Canonization – Recognizing and Proclaiming a Saint

1st Week of Easter

Did you ever wonder why the women went to the tomb early on Sunday morning to take care of Jesus’ body? In the Jewish tradition the Sabbath is celebrated from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday. Since, Jesus’ death took place late Friday afternoon they had to very quickly get him into his tomb and did not have the time to properly prepare his body for burial so the ladies were going on Sunday morning to take care of his body in the proper way. They had fragrant spices with them to embalm his body and fresh wraps as well.

What a surprise for them when they arrive and find the angels who helped remove the stone in front of the tomb. And even more of a surprise when they ask them why they are looking for Jesus among the dead. I am sure they were thinking who are these crazy people and what are they talking about especially when they also announced that Jesus had risen.

There is this tradition called an “Easter Egg Roll” that takes place on Easter. This is meant to remind us of the stone being rolled away from the opening to the tomb. Did you know that is where that tradition originated? Until I was finding things to write in this blog post I hadn’t heard that. It only makes sense. Maybe this week you could have a family “Easter Egg Roll.” Set a start line and a finish line then each family member has to roll their egg from start to finish, but wait they would have to do it on their hands and knees and push the egg with their noses! Yes you read that correctly, and to make it even more fun they should be raw eggs so the first one to get across the finish line and not have a broken egg would be the winner.

Any outdoor activity around Easter can remind us of the angels’ words about looking for life, a walk in the park, visiting a zoo, or planting some seeds to transplant into your gardens. What else can you think of to do over the next several weeks to celebrate the Easter Season? Remember the Easter Season lasts until Pentecost!

Do you remember another part of the Easter story involved Jesus meeting 2 of his disciples on the road to Emmaus? They didn’t realize it until he broke bread with them. As we spend time outdoors this Easter Season we need to keep our eyes open for Jesus because we never know where we will meet him.

Easter Sunday Witness to faith

Reading I:Acts 10:34, 37-43 (Peter’s discourse)
Reading II:Colossians 3:1-4 (mystical death and resurrection)
Or 1 Corinthians 5:6–8 (unleavened bread of sincerity and truth)
Gospel:John 20:1-9 (Peter and the disciple at the tomb)

Key Passage:Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed. (John 20:8)

Adult: What is your experience of resurrection in your own life or the life of your family?
Child: Jesus is with us today. How can you see him in the people around you in Church

Holy Saturday (Vigil) New life in Christ

Reading I:Genesis 1:1—2:2 (first story of creation)
Reading II:Genesis 22:1–18 (the testing of Abraham)
Reading III:Exodus 14:15—15:1 (crossing of the Red Sea and destruction of the Egyptians)
Reading IV:Isaiah 54:5–14 (the new Zion)
Reading V:Isaiah 55:1–11 (an invitation to grace)
Reading VI:Baruch 3:9–15, 32—4:4 (prayer of wisdom in the Law of Moses)
Reading VII:Ezekiel 36:16–17a, 18–28 (regeneration of the people)
Epistle:Romans 6:3–11 (death to sin, life in God)
Gospel:Matthew 28:1–10 (the women at the tomb)

Key Passage: Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)

Adult: How do you live your baptismal call to spread the Good News?
Child: If someone who was not a Christian asked you what difference it makes to be baptized, what would you say?

Fasting and Feasting

In the matter of 3 days we go from fasting to feasting. From after the Holy Thursday Mass until Easter Sunday we are asked to fast and then on Easter we celebrate with an Easter dinner. Have you ever thought about that before? Why do we sometimes lose our appetites? Nerves will have that effect on people, such as a bride and groom who may be so worried that things will go right for their special day that by the time the meal comes around they are not relaxed enough to eat much. Or what about those who are mourning the loss of a loved one? From experience I know the last thing that is thought about is food but we do need to eat so our friends and relatives tempt us with food that will sustain us. It is sort of like that on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, Christians you might say lose their appetites. Meals are kept small and simple, we don’t eat meat or indulge is festive desserts or snacks. After the Easter Vigil the fast is over and we can begin celebrating Easter with a festive dinner and other things that remind us of the Resurrection of Jesus.

In most households dying Easter Eggs is a tradition why is that? Eggs are a sign of new life for sure but why color them? It is suggested that the rainbow colored eggs remind us of God’s life-giving covenant with Noah. Any meats that are served are thought to remind us of the paschal lamb that saved the Israelite from slavery in Egypt or the calf served by the father of the prodigal son at the celebration feast when he finally came back home.

In the book of Exodus the author talks about a place that is “a land flowing with milk and honey.” So, to remind us of that we may have sweet desserts to enjoy with our feast. Some of those desserts may be made with dairy products such as cheesecake. Even the chocolate Easter Bunnies are a reminder since most of them are made with milk chocolate since that is what most children like,
(Take Me Home, Too is the resource used for this post. ©1997, LTP, Paschal Triduum, page 51))

Keep all of this in your heart as you celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus our Lord and Savior over the next few days.

Holy Thursday

The first day of the Triduum. What makes Holy Thursday so special? This is the day we celebrate Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. He knew what lay ahead in the next hours and spent this last time celebrating the Seder meal with those he loved.

At the Last Supper Jesus washed his disciple’s feet. Remember, Peter did not want Jesus to do that for him until Jesus told him in John 13:8, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Then Peter was ready for Jesus to wash not only his feet but his head and hands as well. This is such an intimate thing to do for one another, and we reenact this as well on Holy Thursday. I can say from having been the foot washer it is a beautiful experience and honor to wash the feet of others during this celebration. And it is also very humbling to be the one having their feet washed which I can also attest to from experience. So when you are at Mass on Holy Thursday and are invited to come forward for the washing of the feet remember that Jesus did this for his friends and some of them were reluctant as well so just come forward and be part of this powerful experience.

This is the time when the Eucharist was instituted. Each time Mass is said the words Jesus used that night are repeated at the consecration, from Matthew 26:26-28 “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.’…” We remember this each time we attend Mass as well as on Holy Thursday.

At the end of Mass there will be a procession. Remember we just had a procession to begin Mass on Palm Sunday with the palm branches. On this solemn night we have another procession after Mass the Blessed Sacrament is taken in procession to the tabernacle where for a few hours people are invited to stay and pray or come back and pray before the Blessed Sacrament. The night closes with prayer. And then continues the next day with the Good Friday service.

So this week as we anticipate the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday try to take the time to attend Mass on Holy Thursday as the start of this wondrous, solemn and joyous time in the life of Jesus.

Divine Mercy Sunday

Introduction to Divine Mercy Sunday:
By Scott P. Richert

Divine Mercy Sunday, celebrated on the Octave of Easter (the Sunday after Easter Sunday), is a relatively new addition to the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar. Celebrating the Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ, as revealed by Christ Himself to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, this feast was extended to the entire Catholic Church by Pope John Paul II on April 30, 2000, the day that he canonized Saint Faustina.

Quick Facts:
• Date: The Sunday after Easter Sunday;
• Type of Feast: Solemnity
• Readings: Acts 5:12-16; Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19; John 20:19-31
• Prayers: Divine Mercy Novena; Divine Mercy Chaplet
• Other Names for the Feast: The Octave of Easter, Second Sunday of Easter, Low Sunday, Thomas Sunday

The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a relatively recent but very popular devotion revealed by Our Lord to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun. On Good Friday 1937, Christ appeared to Saint Faustina and asked her to recite this chaplet for nine days, starting on Good Friday and ending on the Octave of Easter (the Sunday after Easter Sunday), now known as Divine Mercy Sunday. The chaplet is most often recited during those nine days, but it can be prayed at any time of the year, and Saint Maria Faustina recited it almost unceasingly. A standard rosary can be used to recite the chaplet.

1.Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.
2.Then on the Our Father beads say the following: Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
3.On the 10 Hail Mary beads say the following: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. (Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all five decades)
4.Conclude with: Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world. (Say 3 times)

You may also want to pray the Divine Mercy Novena which can be found in the St. Olaf bulletin for Palm Sunday or by going to this web site: http://catholicism.about.com/od/divinemercy/p/Novena_DM.htm

Chrism Mass

Each year during Holy Week a Chrism Mass takes place in the diocese (not just the La Crosse Diocese, but everywhere). During this special Mass the oils used throughout the year in all the parishes of the diocese are blessed by the bishop. The bishops have been blessing the oils each year since the early days of the Catholic Church. For a long time the oils were blessed at the Holy Thursday Mass at the diocesan seat or the cathedral of the diocese. But that changed in 1955 when it was decided that a the Bishops would have a Mass of Chrism on the morning of Holy Thursday so the oils could then be taken back to the parishes by either the parish priest or if they were not in attendance by the Dean each deanery or a parish representative. That has changed as well since 1955 and the Chrism Mass now may take place on a different day shortly before Holy Thursday. In the Diocese of La Crosse for instance the Chrism Mass will be the Tuesday before Holy Thursday. This enables more people to be able to attend as well as giving a little more time for the priests to get the oils back to their parishes, particularly if the Dean is bringing them back to his deanery.

This Mass has also come to be an acknowledgement of the call of priests to their ministry. The priest are invited to come to the Chrism Mass and renew their commitment to the priesthood. What a wonderful opportunity for the priests to be able to take advantage of each year with their brother priests they recommit to their service in the church.

What are the oils that the Bishop blesses? They include the oil of the catechumens, the oil of the chrism and the oil of the sick. Why so many oils you ask? Well they are each used for a different purpose. The definition of each of the oils are as follows: Oil of the catechumens is used in the sacrament of baptism, from which its name is derived, the catechumen being the person about to receive the sacrament. It is also used in the consecration of churches, in the blessing of altars, ordination of priests, and has been used in the coronation of Catholic monarchs; oil of the chrism is a consecrated mixture of olive oil and balsam. Blessed by a bishop, it is used in the public administration of baptism, confirmation, and holy orders; in the blessing of tower bells, baptismal water, and in the consecration of churches, altars, chalices, and patens; oil of the sick is the olive oil blessed by the bishop of a diocese for use in the sacrament of anointing of the sick. The oils are kept in a special repository called an Ambry. At St. Olaf the Ambry is located on the wall between the confessional and the vesting sacristry. The Bishop is the only one in each diocese that can consecrate the oils. This is one of the highlights as his ministry as our Bishop. Each time the oils are used in the parish it is a symbol of the Bishop’s unity with the people of the diocese.
From CatholicCulture.org (1)

Triduum

Did you know that at sundown on Holy Thursday Lent ends? Well it does. At that time the Easter Triduum begins. Triduum, which means the 3 days of Passover, is basically consider one long day beginning at sundown on Holy Thursday and ending at sundown on Easter. What you say, how can that be? It is actually 3 days right? Yes it is actually 3 days but the celebration of Triduum is really one celebration of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

During Lent we are getting ready for the Triduum. We get things ready so we can celebrate Easter in a grand style. We should have everything ready as much as possible for Easter so we can keep Triduum free from distractions if at all possible. If at all possible we should try to attend church on Holy Thursday, and yes plan on having your feet washed. Did you know that the web site Busted Halo did a tournament type ranking to find out what the best moment of Pope Francis’ first year as pope was? They did and it was when on Holy Thursday that Pope Francis washed, dried and kissed the feet of 12 inmates (2 Muslim, 2 women) at Casal del Marmo jail, a juvenile detention center. Remember that this year when you attend Mass and pray for all those who are incarcerated.

Then on Good Friday again attend the service in the afternoon, listen to the Passion and walk the way of the cross with Jesus and then approach the cross with reverence and honor the cross for what it represents. Keep this day holy and remember that is a day of fast and abstinence which will last into Saturday.

At the Easter Vigil we will bless the fire to begin the service and then the Paschal Candle will be lit from the new fire. The procession into the church will be done in the dark with candles being lit from the Paschal Candle. The water in the font will be blessed by dunking the newly lit Paschal Candle will be dipped into the font. We will hear all of the rich scripture readings that show us our heritage. The Elect will be baptized at the Easter Vigil and those adults seeking full Communion with the Catholic Church will receive their 1st Communion and be confirmed along with the newly baptized. Christ has risen and we celebrate in grand style with this rich liturgy of the Church.

Palm Sunday

Why palms? What could palms possibly have to do with Jesus? Well in the Gospel of John chapter 12 verses 12-15 it talks about the people taking palm branches and going out to greet Jesus. So, you can see how the idea of using palm branches would become part of the beginning celebration of Holy Week. Celebrations of Palm Sunday can be trace back to the 8th century in Italy.

We begin our weekend liturgies with a procession of palms to commemorate the reading from John’s Gospel of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. We can look at this as a way of praying with our feet. We in our own way are entering into the spirit of our “Passover festival” which begins Holy Thursday night.

When we take the blessed palms home with us we place them by a crucifix or near a door to remind us of the journey we are on with Jesus. Other traditions for example in Austria, Bavaria and the Slavic countries farmers will walk through fields and farm buildings on Palm Sunday. “They pray and sing, while placing a sprig of the blessed palm in each pasture, as well as in the barn and stable.” This is believed to stave off weather disasters, diseases etc. and to ask for God’s blessings on the year. (1)

Our entire lives are a journey or procession to eternal life with God in heaven. So this year as you process into the church on Palm Sunday carrying your newly blessed palms remember that we are constantly on the move with Jesus and carry his love and word to everyone we meet on the journey to heaven.

(1 Camels, Carols, Crosses and Crowns: 23rd Publications, Kielly & Geraghty, 1996)

Passion (Palm) Sunday, Year A

Obedience and humility

Procession Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11 (triumphal entry into Jerusalem)
Reading I: Isaiah 50:4-7 (salvation only through the Lord’s servant)
Reading II: Philippians 2:6-11 (imitating Christ’s humility)
Gospel: Matthew 26:14-27:66 (the passion of Jesus)

Key Passage: Jesus emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:7–8)

Adult: We are called to die to ourselves in love for others. How do you live that in your own life?
Child: How do you allow Jesus to live in your heart?
(From PastoralPlaning.com)

Grace

What is this thing we call grace? We hear that it is something we are given by God. We receive it in the sacraments yet what is it? It is not something we can tangibly hold in our hands yet it is a gift. Most of the gifts we receive we can hold on too or at least see in action such as the gift from a child to do dishes for a mother on her birthday. God’s gift of grace is free and we not need to do anything to deserve it. God gives us this gift so that we may respond to his call to become his adopted children.

This gift that God gives to us freely is called sanctifying grace and we receive it through the sacrament of Baptism. The only way we lose sanctifying grace is by committing a mortal sin. And yes we can get it back by going to confession (remember confession or reconciliation is a sacrament as well, see a connection here?). Sanctifying grace is a habitual gift and it will enable our soul to live with God in heaven. This is the grace that sustains us in our ongoing life of discipleship. Yes, we are disciples of God and need to be sustained in living a Christian life.

Then there is actual grace. This comes and goes as we need it. This is the grace that helps us to live our lives in a Christian manner. It helps us to regulate our lives with God’s will for us. This is God’s way of nudging us to a deeper relationship with Him, to put God first in all that we do. We may not always feel that nudge or if we do we ignore it. Then there are times that the nudge pretty much “knocks” us off our feet and is something we can’t ignore. Have you experienced either? I have experienced both and must admit ignoring a nudge or two in my lifetime. The times that are very hard to ignore always seem to make me step back and reevaluate what I am doing which is exactly what God has intended. The gentle nudges for the most part are easy to incorporate into our lives yet sometimes they are just ignored. Keep your eyes and heart open for those gentle and sometimes not so gentle nudges that God sends your way.

Pope Francis tells us in his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium that:
“112. The salvation which God offers us is the work of his mercy. No human efforts, however good they may be, can enable us to merit so great a gift. God, by his sheer grace, draws us to himself and makes us one with him.[79] He sends his Spirit into our hearts to make us his children, transforming us and enabling us to respond to his love by our lives. The Church is sent by Jesus Christ as the sacrament of the salvation offered by God.[80] Through her evangelizing activity, she cooperates as an instrument of that divine grace which works unceasingly and inscrutably. Benedict XVI put it nicely at the beginning of the Synod’s reflections: “It is important always to know that the first word, the true initiative, the true activity comes from God and only by inserting ourselves into the divine initiative, only begging for this divine initiative, shall we too be able to become – with him and in him – evangelizers”.[81] This principle of the primacy of grace must be a beacon which constantly illuminates our reflections on evangelization.”
You can find Pope Francis’ Exhortation at: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium_en.pdf


I hope this helps you a little bit in understanding what grace is and how it works in our lives.

Baptism

Why am I talking about Baptism during Lent? We don’t even have a Baptism Weekend during Lent…The highlight of the Church Year is Easter, the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We forgo baptisms during Lent in the anticipation of the Easter Vigil when the unbaptized joining the Catholic Church are baptized. Remember Baptism is a sign of the death, the burial (which is symbolized by going into the water) and the resurrection of Jesus (the coming out of the water). What glorious time the Easter Vigil is when the Elect become part of the Catholic faith with the community as witnesses.

Check the pictures of our Elect out in the gathering space get to know their faces so you can greet them and welcome them when you see them. Remember they are now called The Elect and not catechumens and they are called the “elect” because they have been chosen and called forth by the Bishop on the 1st Sunday of Lent at the St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral in La Crosse. Pray for them and for the candidates who will join our community in full communion at the Easter Vigil

During Lent we look forward to the Resurrection with the anticipation of a great happening. We look forward to Baptisms with excitement and thankfulness as well. Maybe to remind us of our own Baptism we could set an empty bowl in our prayer space at home and then at Easter fill the bowl with water from the newly blessed water at church. Then each day until Pentecost family members can remind themselves of their own Baptisms by dipping their fingertips into the water and making the sign of the cross.

Pope’s Intentions for April

Universal Papal Intention: That governments may foster the protection of creation and the just distribution of natural resources.

Evangelization Intention: That the Risen Lord may fill with hope the hearts of those who are being tested by pain and sickness.

ALERT

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Stations of the Cross for Friday April 4th at St. Olaf have been canceled.

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A

Life everlasting

Reading I: Ezekiel 37:12-14 (prophecy of restoration)
Reading II: Romans 8:8-11 (the flesh and the Spirit)
Gospel: John 11:1-45 (the raising of Lazarus)

Key Passage: Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25–26)

Adult: Christ calls us from death to new life. To what new life are you being called during this Lent?
Child: How does Jesus help you do what is good and avoid what is not?
(from PastoralPlanning.com)

Prayer the Sequel

Here we are a little more than ½ way through Lent. For those of you who decided to expand your prayer time during Lent I hope it is going well. I must admit I added a few extra minutes to my morning time and sometimes I think why did I do this again? For the most part though it has given me a great start to my day. The one thing I have found to be lacking since I added the extra prayer time is am noticing that more often than not my journaling gets forgotten. There is always something to work on in our lives isn’t there?

We just need to remember that if we fall backwards God is always there with us gently guiding us forward. The conversations we have with God during our prayer time are just like having an old friend sitting with us. And remember when we do fall back, it might feel awkward at first when we start the conversation again but then in no time at all it is like we haven’t been away at all.

My sister-in-law gave me a devotional prayer book for women last year for my birthday and I have been using that each day. Some days it is more meaningful than others depending on what is going on in my life. The thing I like about this one is that it is written as if Jesus is talking to me (or whoever is reading the book). It makes it easier to fall into that conversational mode since with this short paragraph or two each day Jesus is talking in words that I read and can respond to.

I pray that the rest of your Lent is a prayerful one and that your conversations with God are fruitful ones.

Reconciliation

What do you think of when you see a cross or crucifix? Does it remind you that Jesus Christ dies on a cross to save us from our sins? It should Jesus did come to this earth as our Savior the one sent by God to redeem us.

God sent his only Son to become human so we could know the loving embrace of his forgiveness for all of us that is a big idea to wrap our minds around right? He loves each of us as we love our own children if we are blessed to have them. God loves us through our good days and our bad days. He forgives us for ignoring Him for extended periods of time. The trials that we face in our lives will find Him walking with us and at times carrying us. So why then is it so hard for us to ask for forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

We all sin. Yes, I said that we may not want to admit to ourselves that we sin but let’s face it we do, it may not be mortal sins but venial sins take us away from God’s love just as easily. It may not be more than telling a little white lie every now and then to protect someone’s feelings. That’s OK right? Not really, we need to at least admit to God and ourselves that we lied and that we will definitely try not to do that again. We will most likely fall back once in a while, but remember God is a loving and forgiving God.

We do not sin in a vacuum that is why the Sacrament of Reconciliation is important. Jesus instituted this Sacrament, in John 20: 21- 23 Jesus says, “…’Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’.” Ok, you say so why doesn’t the priest just have everyone come into the church once a month, 2 times a year or even yearly and we can pray a little and then everyone does a personal examination of conscience and the priest says the prayer of absolution over everyone and voila we are absolved of our sins and we are forgiven. Well…stating our sins out loud to another person who is the representative of Christ here on earth helps us be accountable to ourselves. And just like our conversations (prayer) with God no one else can find out about what we discuss with the priest in confession under the seal of confession unless we chose to share that with someone else. Fr. William Saunders says this in his article The Seal of the Confessional, “The standard of secrecy protecting a confession outweighs any form of professional confidentiality or secrecy. When a person unburdens his soul and confesses his sins to a priest in the Sacrament of Penance, a very sacred trust is formed. The priest must maintain absolute secrecy about anything that a person confesses.”

Everything we say to the priest stays between him and you. Wow, isn’t that mind boggling? We are so used to the things said in what we believe is confidence finding their way to the world around us that we find it hard to believe but it is the truth. So think about that during Lent and attend a reconciliation service or go to confession during the time it is offered at your parish. Here at St. Olaf Father is in the confessional on Saturday mornings from 9 to 10 and on Saturday afternoons from 4 to 4:45. The area wide reconciliation services for Lent are listed in the bulletin.