Today (January 25) is the Feast of the Conversion of Paul the Apostle. One of the optional readings for the day recalls the dramatic story of Paul's conversion, knocked from his horse by the Lord himself (depicted in the painting to the left by the Renaissance master Caravaggio). Saul's conversion, which took place even as he was going to Damascus to persecute Christians, is yet another example of God's generous mercy and his tireless patience with imperfect men and women.
Conversion is an interesting word. In Church-speak it involves more than just embracing a new life. It also involves turning away from the things that interfere with the new life as well. In ancient times those to be baptized would face the west (the place where the sun set and from where darkness comes) to reject satan; they would then turn to face the east (the place of the rising sun / Son) to profess their faith, turning their backs on their former lives. Today, our baptismal profession still requires us to reject satan and all his empty promises and to profess our belief in the Triune God (although we no longer physically turn).
I often speak with liturgists about conversion. When planning liturgies people often approach from the angle of "I don't like (or understand or appreciate) this aspect of the liturgy...how can it be changed?" Instead, I think that the question should be, "I don't like (or understand or appreciate) this aspect of the liturgy...how can I change?" We don't change things to suit our vision. We allow our hearts to be changed to live in Christ.
It's not too early to start thinking about resources to help parishioners fully celebrate Lent, Triduum and Easter.
I've listed some excellent Lenten resources below. Some are new, some are proven favorites from the past. Some are for everyone, some might just be for you. Feel free to suggest your own through the comments form.
Obviously, this list could go on and on. I hope that this is useful to you and, as I said above, share your own suggestions via the comment page.
The graphic is Jésus et la femme samaritaine ("Jesus and the Samaritan woman") from a series of works based upon the Gospel of Saint John by contemporary artist Corinne Vonaesch.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have added a page to their website featuring news about Haiti. It is estimated that 1/3 of the population will need emergency assistance.
In addition to the extreme misery for the entire population, there has been an impact on this Catholic country's Church. The archbishop, along with many clergy and ministers, are among the casualties and Port-au-Prince's Cathedral and many parish churches were destroyed. According to a press release on the USCCB website:
The impact of the earthquake in Haiti will be felt for years, especially in the life of the Catholic Church. The cathedral, many parishes, Catholic schools and other church buildings have been destroyed. Pastoral programs will also need to be rebuilt so that the Church in Haiti will continue to be a place of sacramental life.
This week (January 18-25, 2010) is the annual world-wide commemoration called the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. In this country it is embraced by some communities and, sadly, ignored by others.
The centerpiece of this year's Week of Prayer is the 24th Chapter of Saint Luke's Gospel. According to the resources posted on the Vatican's website:
During the 2010 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity we will reflect each day on chapter 24 of Luke's gospel stopping at the questions which it asks: Jesus' questions to his disciples; the questions the apostles ask of Christ.
Each of these questions allows us to highlight a particular way of witnessing to the Risen One. Each of them invites us to think about our situation of church division and about how, concretely, we can remedy that. We are already witnesses and we need to become better witnesses. How?
by praising the One who gives us the gift of life and resurrection (Day 1) by knowing how to share the story of our faith with others (Day 2) by recognizing that God is at work in our lives (Day 3) by giving thanks for the faith we have received (Day 4) by confessing Christ's victory over all suffering (Day 5) by seeking to always be more faithful to the Word of God (Day 6) by growing in faith, hope and love (Day 7) by offering hospitality and knowing how to receive it when it is offered to us (Day 8)
Would our witness not be more faithful to the gospel of Christ in each of these eight aspects if we witnessed together?
While the liturgical celebration of Epiphany has been transferred to a Sunday in the Dioceses of the United States, it is celebrated on the traditional date of January 6 in the Vatican.
Pope Benedict XVI has eloquently preached and written about the personal encounter of individuals with God--an encounter that God himself desires. The pope stresses the Church's desire that the listener recognize himself or herself in the people and events of Scripture (see Liturgiam Authenticam, 42). Thus, the Scriptures are not just about something that has already happened many centuries ago, but rather they are about how God is acting in the world today.
The Holy Father's Epiphany homily at Saint Peter's Basilica yesterday broke open the Scriptures in this very way. The Magi, he said,
were not the last but the first of the great procession of people who, through all ages of history, were able to recognise the message of the star, to follow the paths indicated by Sacred Scripture, and thus to find Him Who is apparently weak and fragile but Who, in fact, has the power to bring the greatest and most profound joy to the human heart.
He went on to say,
Many have seen the star but only a few have understood its message.
We can, then, ask ourselves why is it that some seek and find, while others do not? What is it that opens their eyes and hearts? What is lacking in those who remain indifferent, in those who show the way but do not move themselves? And we may answer that too much self-confidence, the belief they possess a perfect knowledge of reality, and the presumption of having already formulated a definitive judgement about things makes their hearts closed and insensitive to the novelty of God. They are sure of the idea they have of the world and do not allow themselves to be intimately moved by the adventure of a God Who wants to meet them. They place their trust more in themselves than in Him, and do not believe it possible that God is so great that He can become small, that he can truly draw close to us.
In the end what they lack is the authentic humility capable of submitting itself to that which is greater, but also the authentic courage which brings us to believe in that which is truly great, even if it shows itself in a defenceless Child. What they lack is the evangelical capacity to become children at heart, to be amazed and to abandon the self so as to start down the path indicated by the star, the path of God. (Translation from the Vatican News Service)
Humility is a word not often used--and even less often understood--in our culture. The word itself comes from Latin (humus, meaning earth). My personal definition, for what it is worth, comes from Saint Paul's letter to the Philippians (2:3-4).
humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but (also) everyone for those of others.
Humility isn't groveling and it doesn't mean you are invisible. In fact, most of the time being humble is hard work, sacrificing one's own interests for the good of others because of love. As the Holy Father was suggesting, if we are humble enough to dim our own light so that we may see the star and approach it as children, in wonder, awe and joy, we will see the face of God not simply lying in a manger, but in the faces of all whom he has created and redeemed.
On a lighter note, take a minute to enjoy the wonderful Epiphany hymn, "As with gladness men of old." You'll notice that, like the Holy Father's homily, it reminds us that we too are hurrying to the manger.
The First Letter of Saint John, which is assigned as the first reading for these days of the Christmas, is one of my favorites. Written towards the end of the first century, it is thought that this letter and the Gospel of Saint John come from the same school of Christian thought).
According to the introduction from the New American Bible, the author "insists that the concrete Christian life brings to life the deeper realities of the Gospel." In other words, we have to walk the talk.
The portions on love are most compelling to me. Love is not a by-product of faith...God is love! Four years ago this past Christmas Day, Pope Benedict XVI released his first encyclical which began with this famous Truth from 1 John 4:16:
God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
This love, the author reminds us, comes first from God to each human being.
In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
The letter continues the discourse on love and the importance of loving neighbor and keeping the Lord's commandments.
These passages of Scripture are part of why I began this blog. Love, according to Saint Paul (I Cor. 13) is patient and kind, not jealous, pompous, inflated or rude, it forgives, it doesn't look out for self first, it is not quick-tempered and always rejoices in the truth. These are concrete manifestations of love, and for me they have also help to discern when I am truly expressing love and when I am not.
If "love is of God" (I John 4:7), then when we experience impatience, unkindness, hate, jealousy, rudeness or arrogance, these are not of God, because they are not love.
Pope Benedict's Encyclical, "God is Love," reminds us,
In a world in which the name of God is sometimes associated with vengeance or even a duty of hatred and violence, this message is both timely and significant. For this reason, I wish in my first Encyclical to speak of the love which God lavishes upon us and which we in turn must share with others (1).
Welcome to the blog for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison Office of Worship. We hope that this is useful for all those who prepare the liturgy for the people of God.
Today (January 25) is the Feast of the Conversion of Paul the Apostle. One of the optional readings for the day recalls the dramatic story of Paul's conversion, knocked from his horse by the Lord himself (depicted in the painting to the left by the Renaissance master Caravaggio). Saul's conversion, which took place even as he was going to Damascus to persecute Christians, is yet another example of God's generous mercy and his tireless patience with imperfect men and women.
