By John 6:54
Reading 1 Dn 12:1-3
In those days, I Daniel, heard this word of the Lord: “At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace. “But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.”
Responsorial Psalm Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11
R. (1) You are my inheritance, O Lord!
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence;
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
Reading II Heb 10:11-14, 18
Brothers and sisters: Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.
Gospel Mk 13:24-32
Jesus said to his disciples: “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. ”And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky. “Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Being Ready for Jesus’ Second Coming
As we near the end of another church year, our attention is drawn more and more to the end of time, that final day when Jesus will come again. Today’s Gospel tells us: “Of that day or hour, no one knows . . . but only the Father” (Mark 13:32). It is less important for us to know the exact time that Jesus will come again than it is to make sure that when he does come, we won’t be taken by surprise. Above every responsibility we have in this world, the one that is most critical is for us to be able to say: “I am right with the Lord. If he comes now, I am ready.” It is a common philosophy in the world that basic goodness is sufficient grounds for confidence in our heavenly home: I haven’t killed anyone; I haven’t told any outrageous lies; I haven’t stolen huge amounts of money. What’s the problem? Even among believers, there can be a sense that God’s love is so gentle and forgiving that he will overlook our sins and our lack of readiness and just let us into his kingdom anyway. While it is true that God is rich in mercy, we also need to be alert to the fact that he is a God of justice and righteousness. Today’s Gospel reading is a call to make sure we are ready for the end. It is easy to fill our attention with less important issues, such as the clothes we wear or the way we are going to spend our free time. But our spiritual state is far more important. Simply assuming that we are bound for eternal life without checking ourselves may work out, but the consequences of being wrong are severe. So make sure that you are secure in your faith. Be sure to “confess” and “believe” in Jesus each day (Romans 10:9). Examine your conscience every day, and let no grave sin remain. And do your best to care for the outcast, the lonely, and the marginalized.
“Jesus, help me to keep my eyes fixed on heaven so that I can remain pure in heart and pleasing to you!”
By John 6:54
It appears my “I Have the Matter in Hand” post on Monday the 23rd caused as much thought, discussion, and website traffic as any post I’ve put up to date. I think I might pull some more quotes from the individual who gave the “Matter In Hand” quote over the next few weeks and see what people think of his statements. I will continue to keep his name secret for now as I believe if I gave his name it would cause a potentially unhealthy bias towards his comments that don’t necessarily need to be there, but I want to make sure people are aware that the quote from Monday and future quotes, that I will attribute to the “GTM Summer Mystery Catholic”, are not mine. My next Mystery Catholic quote will be on Friday the 27th.
Something I’ve found most interesting is that most Catholic blog readers of my site and especially those who are willing to comment seem to be more on the conservative side of Catholicism or Christianity in general. I’m not exactly sure why that is, but it could just be an example of “birds of a feather, flock together”. I know we shouldn’t use words like liberal and conservative when it comes to Catholicism as “Truth” cannot be describe with such terms but I am a product of my environment and the world likes to label.
“Help me Lord discern Your truth in the world. Help me not to label but to love. Amen”
By John 6:54
 I have wanted to write about communion in the hand for sometime. I cast no judgment on anyone who receives communion in the hand but I found a little excerpt that spoke to me and I wanted to share it. I will not provide the name of the author as it may bias your opinion of the quote and I’d rather you just consider the comments. The author is speaking about the reintroduction of communion in the hand after the Vatican II council.
…At first, many may have been shocked by communion in the hand; but “everybody does it.” Then little by little, as you receive Our Lord in your hands standing, you end up thinking that He is not your Lord. Because if He were really God, you would fall on your knees to adore Him and you would not take Him in your hand. For when you take something in your hand, you are the one in control. “I have the matter in hand” means that you have something under control…
I was born after communion rails/kneelers were discarded but I have had the opportunity to receive communion kneeling a few times. All I can say is that it feels right and I wish this opportunity was made more readily available to the faithful.
By John 6:54
Catechism 2181 states, “The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.”
I think a serious reason should be defined as any reason we are willing to give Jesus on Judgment Day. The questions I have surrounding our Sundary obligation are;
- Isn’t missing Mass mentally just as bad as missing Mass physically?
- If we are only at Mass due to “obligation” aren’t we missing the point? and
- Does God want us in Mass when our mind is on the golf course?
As I ponder these questions I keep coming back to the answers of “Yes, Yes, & Yes”
1. Missing Mass mentally is definitely on par with missing Mass physically.
2. If we are only at Mass due to our obligation we are missing the point. Jesus’ sacrific on the cross is made present to us at every Mass. He died for our sins so that we could be with him in Heaven. Jesus did nothing out of obligation; Jesus did everything for us out of His love for us. He is our model and we need to follow him by doing everything we do out of love as well, especially attending Sunday Mass.
3. If our mind isn’t at Mass then should we be there? The reason I keep coming back to the answer of yes is because there is no better place for us to be. Our mind maybe else where but God will work with what is there. He loves us too much not to poor his graces upon us.
Lord Jesus keep my mind focused on You. Let my actions be according to Your will. Amen
{moscomment}
Continue reading Sunday Obligation
By John 6:54
Since Ash Wednesday this year I have started out the day by going to morning Mass. Today, I had an appointment for some blood work at 8:40am in which I needed to fast prior so I decided to sleep in and go to noon Mass. Well all was going to plan until I woke up at 6:20am this morning since my body is now used to getting up earlier. So I got up and figured I’d do some work on the computer until it was time to leave for my appointment.
Somehow I forgot about the fasting part and since I always fast before Mass and then head to work without breakfast I figured today would be a good day for breakfast at home, Eggos & Coffee are pretty good when your use to nothing. Not until 8am did I recall the fasting requirement. Well since that point my whole day has been blown. No morning Mass, a missed appointment, and to follow all that up nicely my morning meeting at work went poorly. Hopefully noon Mass can salvage my day. Today they had a flutist and organ that played sacred music with Mass and the Agnus Dei was great. So far things are looking up. Amazing how receiving the Body & Blood of Jesus can turn things around.
By John 6:54
I think I need to comment further about my TLM is lacking comment in the previous post. Let me first say that my first TLM was my brother’s wedding in a SSPX chapel. It was the first time that I saw and experienced the TLM and I could see by only going once that it was where heaven touched earth. I believe that those who want the TLM should have it and I think that Vatican II made a big mistake by making such a change from the TLM to the Novus Ordo so quickly. The Catholic Church never does anything fast and the history of this event is a prime example of why the Church is prudent when it implements changes slowly and with care.
So how can I say the TLM is lacking? Let me suggest what probably will end up being a poor analogy. As a football fan I can watch any two teams play and enjoy it. As a Nebraska fan its has been engrained in my head since birth that the 1971 Nebraska – Oklahoma game was the “Game of the Century”. It was a great game but as great as it was it was still lacking a few things. Shouldn’t the greatest game ever encompass every type of scoring play? The NU-OU game lacked a safety, it lacked a two-point conversion, it lacked a drop kick (I always wanted to see one of those). There was a punt return but no kickoff return. There were 66 points scored that day so you could say it lacked great defense. So the “Game of the Century” lacked many things. If your not a Nebraska fan you might say it lacked your own team playing in it. If you’re an Oklahoma fan you might say the game lacked a clipping call on that punt return and that it lacked an Oklahoma win.
Yes I know the logical response would be to say that my “lacking” comment comes down to a matter of opinion and yes it probably does. But when I say the TLM is lacking I mean it from a sense that the common man (Non-Catholic) cannot understand the TLM if they just walked in off the street to attend Mass. The common man could view the TLM as ritualistic or cultish, which could be considered scandal. I have seen this viewpoint by my elderly Protestant grandfather-in-law, which I believe saw the TLM at some point in his life without explanation. What he saw matched up with every lie he had ever heard about the Catholic Church. The TLM is lacking in its participation of the congregation and appears only to focus on the Priest’s actions and prayers. There is more I could say but that’s not the point.
I know there are many good responses to all my criticisms and I know that the Novus Ordo is lacking in many things as well. In short our worship of our Lord Jesus Christ can always be viewed as lacking on this earth until the day he perfects us in Heaven.
By John 6:54
 Well today this Novus Ordo Catholic who was born in 1973 went “Back to the Future” sacramentally. I did this by going to my first Extraordinary Mass said by a priest who is in union with a bishop who is in union with the Pope. Yes I had previously gone to a TLM twice before said by our obstinate SSPX Christian brethren, once for my brothers wedding and once with him for a daily Mass so afterwards we could discuss his participation as my best man in my own wedding at a Novus Ordo Mass. The whole thing is a story for another occasion.
I went to the noon Mass at Blessed Sacrament in Kansas City, KS. For someone from Johnson County, KS where I reside the neighborhood that Blessed Sacrament is in might also be deemed extraordinary. (really it’s fine, just pay attention to your directions) I got there a half hour before Mass started. I entered through the side door and made the mistake of turning left instead of right when I came in, if you go left you walk into the Sacristy so take a right. After opening the wrong door I did a u-turn and went through the sanctuary door, dipped my hand in the holy water, made my sign of the cross, headed to an open pew, genuflected, got situated, knelt down, and started to pray. There were only 5 people in the sanctuary when I came in all of them well past the age of 70.
The altars, plural, at Blessed Sacrament are awesome. Three ornate altars which serve as examples of what our newer churches should get back to, they are altars meant for God and the flowers that decorated them were everywhere. It was absolutely beautiful. After about 10 minutes the elderly gentleman 2 pews in front of me started to pray the rosary so I got out my rosary and joined in. He had a German accent, which actually was pretty cool because it made me think that good ole Pope Benedict was leading me in an English rosary. His Glory Bes were always said Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Which for this Vatican II baby is always difficult to hear. The Latin say’s Espiritu how does that translate into Ghost and not Spirit? But I digress.
The lights were off in the place so I wasn’t 100% sure Mass was going to happen with the lights off and 6 people in the pews but then people started rolling in and the lights came on. Women with their veils on, middle aged men, and lots of kids … lots of kids. Mostly little ones from babes to 5 years old and they all knew what to do. Holy water, sign of the cross, and genuflect. God bless them.
Then out came the altar servers who I would say ranged from age 7 to 12 to prepare for Mass and man, were they impressive! I cannot put into words how impressed I was with their service. I never was an altar boy in the Novus Ordo when I was younger because I never saw the point. They seemed to just stand there the whole time. In the TLM they do everything but stand. They kneel, bow, genuflect, move prayer books, lift vestments, fold altar linens, respond with prayers in Latin, and have a number of choreographed movements that seem akin to the guards at Buckingham Palace minus the leg kicks, military spins, and salutes. I think had I grown up in the TLM, I still wouldn’t have been an altar boy, I would have been too intimidated. I think any boy or girl who serves at the Novus Ordo should go watch these little guys in action. After watching the TLM there is no wonder why altar boys during Vatican I were the recruiting ground for future priests. So then the bell rang to start the Mass, which is just cool. I wish all daily Novus Ordo Masses would start out the same way.
Next a priest and four altar boys came out from the Sacristy and Mass started. Now I don’t have a Missal so I just listened for the Latin parts I knew like the Kyrie and the Agnus Dei and followed along with the rest of the congregation as when to sit, stand, and kneel. Everything was in Latin except the readings and the homily. How any Protestant converted to Catholicism prior to the Novus Ordo Mass I’ll never know. I’m sure it was mostly marriage converts though.
As beautiful as the TLM is, it is also lacking. I’m sure that last comment just sent a few “traditional” Catholics through the roof, but I do mean what I say. I know that if I knew my Latin better I would get more out of the Latin Mass and that by learning the Latin I would learn more about my faith and I do plan to do that. But how does one preach the Gospel to Protestant Christians or Non-Christians if the Latin gets in the way? This is where I think Vatican II got it right by allowing the Mass in the vernacular and removing some of the ritual, but unfortunately the liberals within the church saw their opening and took it. As a side comment where did all these liberals within the Catholic Church at that time come from? Were they not a product of the TLM? Just something to think about…
The liberals within the Church took the Novus Ordo Mass and ran with it pretty much as far as they could, and they got pretty far, and some are still running with it. Thankfully the Holy Spirit has given us Pope Benedict to help us to restore the Novus Ordo to what I feel (feel=opinion) its original purpose was, which is to be a Mass for the common man, one that anyone could understand and think through without instruction. Benedict has done this by providing his flock free use of the TLM. While I don’t see the Novus Ordo changing the TLM, I do see the TLM changing the Novus Ordo. More Latin is being worked into it, greater reverence is being seen, better translations are coming, and the liberal hijackers are dying off.
I enjoyed my experience today, but I look forward to my Novus Ordo Mass tomorrow. In some ways my experience today was like going back in time and I highly recommend to all Catholics. To experience the Extraordinary Mass is to embrace being fully Catholic but Traditionals also need to embrace the Novus Ordo. Pope Benedict I think realized that in order for the Church to be prepared for the future it needed to go back and ensure its roots had room to function. The Catholic Church didn’t last 2000 years by chance and so in this Catholic’s head we have gone “back to the future”.
By John 6:54
When you have a Mass said for the intention of a deceased loved one you are indirectly confirming your belief in Purgatory. If your loved one is in Heaven, they doesn’t need a Mass said for them. If they are in Hell, all the Masses in the world won’t do them any good. So by default your offering of a Mass for a decease loved shows you care for their soul which may be in Purgatory.
By John 6:54
 The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is Biblical
Eucharist promised to us.
John 6:35-71
Eucharist instituted at the Last Supper.
Matthew 26:26 – Mark 14:22 – Luke 22-17
Christ shows his presence in the Eucharist after the walk to Emmaus.
Luke 24:13-35
Participation in Christ’s body & blood.
1 Corinthians 10:16
Receiving the Eucharist unworthily – if the Eucharist is not the body & blood of Christ why would one be guiltly of sin against the body and blood of Christ for taking it unworthily?
1 Corinthians 11:23-29
The whole Paschel lamb had to be eaten.
Exodus 12:8, 46
Jesus called “the Lamb of God”.
John 1:29
Jesus called “paschal lamb who has been sacrificed”.
1 Corinthians 5:7
Examples of Jesus talking symbolically about food.
John 4:31-34 – Matthew 16:5-12
Explains what Jesus means by “the flesh”.
1 Corinthians 2:14-3:4
Examples showing that symbolically eating & drinking ones body & blood is not a good thing.
Psalms 27:2, Isaiah 9:18-20; 49:26, Micah 3:3, 2 Samuel 23:15-17, Revelations 17:6, 16
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Back to the Future
I went to the noon Mass at Blessed Sacrament in Kansas City, KS. For someone from Johnson County, KS where I reside the neighborhood that Blessed Sacrament is in might also be deemed extraordinary. (really it’s fine, just pay attention to your directions) I got there a half hour before Mass started. I entered through the side door and made the mistake of turning left instead of right when I came in, if you go left you walk into the Sacristy so take a right. After opening the wrong door I did a u-turn and went through the sanctuary door, dipped my hand in the holy water, made my sign of the cross, headed to an open pew, genuflected, got situated, knelt down, and started to pray. There were only 5 people in the sanctuary when I came in all of them well past the age of 70.
The altars, plural, at Blessed Sacrament are awesome. Three ornate altars which serve as examples of what our newer churches should get back to, they are altars meant for God and the flowers that decorated them were everywhere. It was absolutely beautiful. After about 10 minutes the elderly gentleman 2 pews in front of me started to pray the rosary so I got out my rosary and joined in. He had a German accent, which actually was pretty cool because it made me think that good ole Pope Benedict was leading me in an English rosary. His Glory Bes were always said Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Which for this Vatican II baby is always difficult to hear. The Latin say’s Espiritu how does that translate into Ghost and not Spirit? But I digress.
The lights were off in the place so I wasn’t 100% sure Mass was going to happen with the lights off and 6 people in the pews but then people started rolling in and the lights came on. Women with their veils on, middle aged men, and lots of kids … lots of kids. Mostly little ones from babes to 5 years old and they all knew what to do. Holy water, sign of the cross, and genuflect. God bless them.
Then out came the altar servers who I would say ranged from age 7 to 12 to prepare for Mass and man, were they impressive! I cannot put into words how impressed I was with their service. I never was an altar boy in the Novus Ordo when I was younger because I never saw the point. They seemed to just stand there the whole time. In the TLM they do everything but stand. They kneel, bow, genuflect, move prayer books, lift vestments, fold altar linens, respond with prayers in Latin, and have a number of choreographed movements that seem akin to the guards at Buckingham Palace minus the leg kicks, military spins, and salutes. I think had I grown up in the TLM, I still wouldn’t have been an altar boy, I would have been too intimidated. I think any boy or girl who serves at the Novus Ordo should go watch these little guys in action. After watching the TLM there is no wonder why altar boys during Vatican I were the recruiting ground for future priests. So then the bell rang to start the Mass, which is just cool. I wish all daily Novus Ordo Masses would start out the same way.
Next a priest and four altar boys came out from the Sacristy and Mass started. Now I don’t have a Missal so I just listened for the Latin parts I knew like the Kyrie and the Agnus Dei and followed along with the rest of the congregation as when to sit, stand, and kneel. Everything was in Latin except the readings and the homily. How any Protestant converted to Catholicism prior to the Novus Ordo Mass I’ll never know. I’m sure it was mostly marriage converts though.
As beautiful as the TLM is, it is also lacking. I’m sure that last comment just sent a few “traditional” Catholics through the roof, but I do mean what I say. I know that if I knew my Latin better I would get more out of the Latin Mass and that by learning the Latin I would learn more about my faith and I do plan to do that. But how does one preach the Gospel to Protestant Christians or Non-Christians if the Latin gets in the way? This is where I think Vatican II got it right by allowing the Mass in the vernacular and removing some of the ritual, but unfortunately the liberals within the church saw their opening and took it. As a side comment where did all these liberals within the Catholic Church at that time come from? Were they not a product of the TLM? Just something to think about…
The liberals within the Church took the Novus Ordo Mass and ran with it pretty much as far as they could, and they got pretty far, and some are still running with it. Thankfully the Holy Spirit has given us Pope Benedict to help us to restore the Novus Ordo to what I feel (feel=opinion) its original purpose was, which is to be a Mass for the common man, one that anyone could understand and think through without instruction. Benedict has done this by providing his flock free use of the TLM. While I don’t see the Novus Ordo changing the TLM, I do see the TLM changing the Novus Ordo. More Latin is being worked into it, greater reverence is being seen, better translations are coming, and the liberal hijackers are dying off.
I enjoyed my experience today, but I look forward to my Novus Ordo Mass tomorrow. In some ways my experience today was like going back in time and I highly recommend to all Catholics. To experience the Extraordinary Mass is to embrace being fully Catholic but Traditionals also need to embrace the Novus Ordo. Pope Benedict I think realized that in order for the Church to be prepared for the future it needed to go back and ensure its roots had room to function. The Catholic Church didn’t last 2000 years by chance and so in this Catholic’s head we have gone “back to the future”.