SEASONS CHANGE - IN NATURE AND IN THE CHURCH

Wednesday, September 22 was the first day of the Autumn Season, as we said goodbye to summer. I was thinking about the changes of the seasons during the calendar year.

We probably all have seasons we like more than others, and it is probably good that we live in a part of the country where we can experience all of the seasons.

I am sure you all know that the Church Year is divided into seasons as well, and I thought I could comment on the changes in both the calendar year seasons, and the Church year seasons.

I will start with the calendar season we are in, the season of Autumn.

Autumn - Some people will tell you Autumn is their favorite season of the year. Like other seasons Autumn marks an end, and a beginning. We end summer, a season of sun and vacations, baseball, and not having to wear coats and heavy clothing. We think of the beginning of Autumn as a time for fairs and the beginning of a new school year, and we look forward to the brilliant colors of the foliage season.

Advent - The Church Season of Advent typically be- gins on the first Sunday of December. Now it might very well be snowing by then, but we are still in the Autumn season. Winter does not begin until December 21. Advent is a season of prayerful anticipation of the birth of Jesus. Perhaps all of us can think of Advent as a season of prayer, rather than a season of Christmas shopping.

Winter - The calendar season of winter can seem to last forever! Some people love winter because of the opportunity to ski, snowboard, skate, and enjoy other winter activities. Me, not so much. Don't get me wrong. I don't mind snow, but I am not a fan of icy roads, darkness at 4 pm, and freezing cold weather. That said, I think I would miss winter if I went south for the season.

Christmas - The Church Year of Christmas begins December 25 . I say that because the retail shops would have us believe it begins around Thanksgiving, or even before! The other thing to remember is that the Christmas Season is not just one day!

Christmas is such a blessed time, as we remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

Spring - Springtime is a season of hope, and the promise of new life. We gradually get rid of the snow and the cold weather, and we start to see longer, warmer days. The grass starts to green, and we see the leaves come back on the trees, and flowers begin to bloom. I like spring partly because, by then, I have become so sick of winter.

Lent and Easter - I combine these two seasons of the Church Year because they don't always begin and end at the same time every year. We begin the Season of Lent every year on Ash Wednesday, when we are still in the grasp of winter. Lent is a season of prayer and repentance, and a season of conversion. We pray, fast, and give alms during Lent, as we try to become the people God calls us to be. The season of Easter is like spring, as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus! It too, is a season of hope and new life, and we give thanks- giving to God for the promise of new and everlast ing life in Jesus.

Summer - It would be difficult to find anyone who does not like summer. The days are longer, the weather is sunny and warm (except for this summer), and we enjoy outdoor activities. For many, summer is their favorite season.

Ordinary Time - The Church Year designates Ordinary Time for all of those times outside of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. Consequently, Ordinary Time is the longest season of the Church Year, but it is far from ordinary! Perhaps because it does not have all of the emphasis that the other Church Seasons have, Ordinary Time is an excellent time for growing in our loving relationship with Jesus.

In the final analysis, I enjoy all of the calendar seasons and the Church seasons. I like the changes, and I enjoy the anticipation of new seasons. Maybe you do too.

Question:
What is the “Miraculous Medal” ad why is it called that?

Answer:
The medal of the Immaculate Conception that has come to be called simply the “Miraculous Medal” dates back to an apparition of Mary to Saint Catherine Laboure, who was then a novice sister with the Daughters of Charity. On November 27, 1830, Our Lady appeared to her standing on a globe, with shafts of light streaming from her hands and the words, “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee,” surrounding the image. In the same vision, Catherine saw a capital “M” with a cross above it and below two hearts. seemed to hear a voice telling her to have what she saw struck as a medal and a promise that those who wore the medal would have the protection and intercession of the Mother of God. The first 1,500 of medals were distributed in 1832. Many miraculous favors were attributed to the use of the medal. Saint Catherine’s “Miraculous Medal” is among the recognizable and popular symbols of modern Catholicism. Reflecting on its widespread use, the 2001 Vatican document, “Directory on Popular Piety and Liturgy,” observes that the medal “recalls the mystery of Redemption, the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Sorrowful Heart of Mary. It signifies the mediatory role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mystery of the Church, the relationship between Heaven and earth, this life and eternal life.” 

The US COnference of Catholic Bishops continues its year-long effort to promote civility in public discourse through a pledge, resources and this prayer. 

Prayer to Fast from Incivility

God of all compassion,
You call us to love one another as you have loved us, especially when we face division in our communities. Help us to see our sisters and brothers as beloved children of God.
Help us to fast from incivility and feast on your love for each one of us.
Help us to fast from discord and feast on knowledge that you have created each person in your own image.
Help us to fast from fear of those with whom we disagree and feast on shating the good news of our God-given dignity.
Help us to fast from the desire to win arguments and feast on compassion shared in understanding.
Help us to fast from assumptions and feast on listening deeply to the stories of our community.
Lord, our God, be with us in this time of hurt in our communities. In out fasting may we grow closer to you, In our feasting, let us find healing.
Let us turn to you as the source of our joyfulness and our first giver of love.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Copyright 2020, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. All rights reserved. This text may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration for nonprofit educational use, provided such reprints are not sold and include this notice. Find this pledge and other resources and prayers at civilzeit.org
Posted by the Comnission on Peace and Justice for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, New York
 

A PRAYER FOR DIVINE MERCY
 
     O greatly Merciful god, Infinite Goodness, today all mankind calls out from the abyss of its misery to Your mercy— to Your compassion, O God: and it is with its mighty voice of misery that it cries out. Gracious God, do not reject the prayer of this earth’s exiles! O Lord, Goodness beyond our understanding, who are acquainted with our misery through and through, and know that by our own power we cannot ascend to You, we implore You: anticipate us with Your grace and keep on increasing Your mercy in us, that we may faithfully do Your holy will through our life and at death’s hour.
 
     Let the omnipotence of Your mercy shield us from the darts of our salvation’s enemies, that we may with confidence, as Your children, await Your final coming—that day known to You alone. And we expect to obtain everything promised us by Jesus in spite of all our wretchedness. For Jesus is our Hope: Through His merciful Heart as through an open gate we pass through to heaven. Amen.
 
     Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1570

The Daily Prayer for Priests
By St. Therese of the Child Jesus

O Jesus, I pray for your faithful and fervent priests;
For your unfaithful and tepid priest;
For your priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields.
For your tempted priests;
For your lonely and desolate priests;
For your young priests;
For the souls of your priests in Purgatory.
But above all, I recommend to you the priests dearest to me:
The priest who baptized me;
The priests who absolved me from my sins;
The priests at whose Masses I assisted and who gave me Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion;
The priests who taught and instructed me;
All the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way (especially …)
O Jesus, keep them all close to your heart,
And bless them abundantly in time and in eternity.

Amen.

I found this in a book written by Father Ronald Rolheiser titled, “Sacred Fire, A Vision for a Deeper Human and Christian Maturity.”  This begins chapter six in the book which is titled, “Drawing Strength From Prayer.”  I think it is worth sharing.
Deacon Chris

The Difference
 
By Grace L. Naessens
 
I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish, I didn’t have time to pray.
 
Problems just tumbled about me and grew heavier with each task;
Why doesn’t God help me, I wondered; He answered, “You didn’t ask.”
 
I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on, gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn’t show me – He said, “But you didn’t seek.”
 
I tried to come into God’s presence; I used all my keys at the lock;
God gently and lovingly chided, “My child, you didn’t knock.”
 
I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.

Prayer for Persecuted Christians
 
O God of all the nations,
the One God who is and was and always will be,
in your providence you willed that your Church
be united to the suffering of your Son.
Look with mercy on your servants
who are persecuted for their faith in you.
Grant them perseverance and courage
to be worthy imitators of Christ.
Bring your wisdom upon leaders of nations
to work for peace among all peoples.
May your Spirit open conversion
for those who contradict your will,
that we may live in harmony.
Give us the grace to be united in truth and freedom,
and to always seek your will in our lives.
 
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us!

I found this in the book, “Everything Starts from Prayer, St. Mother Teresa’s Meditations on Spiritual Life for People of All Faiths.” 
A good prayer to start our days.
God bless   
Deacon Chris

In the words of St. Teresa of Calcutta: 
“Wherever they are, the Missionaries of Charity start the day’s work with the same prayer from their community prayer book: 
 

MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY PRAYER

Dear Lord, the Great Healer, I kneel
before you, since every perfect gift
must come from you.  I pray, give skill to
my hands, clear vision to my mind,
kindness and meekness to my heart.
Give me singleness of purpose, strength
to lift up a part of the burden of my
suffering fellowmen, and a realization
of the privilege that is mine.  Take from
my heart all guile and worldliness, that
with the simple faith of a child, I may
Rely on you.
Amen. 

  As you know, the Church is experiencing a shortage of priests. As a result, there have been times when priests have not been available to celebrate Saturday Vigil Masses or Sunday Masses. 
   
  In order to address the needs of the faithful in light of the shortage of priests, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has approved a liturgy known as the Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest. This liturgy is based on the Liturgy of the Hours which has been prayed by the faithful for centuries and it includes the regular Mass readings. It may also include the distribution of the Holy Communion, depending on availability of consecrated hosts. It is important to note that the Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest fulfills the obligation of the faithful to attend the Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass. This liturgy can be conducted not only by a deacon, but also by a trained layperson.    

  While the Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest liturgy is not a Mass, it is a practical solution to the priest shortage. Yet it is more than that. This liturgy is another opportunity for the laity to share their gifts and talents with others. It is another opportunity for the laity to fulfill the privileges and responsibilities which they assumed at their baptism. The Church has been enriched by the many ways the laity has taken part in the life of the Church.   
 
  Attending a Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest may not be as spiritually fulfilling as attending a Mass, but we must accept the fact it is a part of our prayer life in today's Church. Let us not forget that God is present in this liturgy, as well as He is in the Mass.
      
  Let us pray for an increase in vocations, but let us also pray that God sends His grace upon both clergy and laity during this time of challenge.