Well, it’s another week gone by – and another great homily yesterday! 
My local parish priest is on form at the moment. With yesterday’s readings being on Eternal Life, and with the month of November being a month that we, as a Church, honour our dead, my parish priest taught his sermon directly from the Catechism. Brilliant! He had pre-selected pages marked out and he went through the Church’s teaching on bodily resurrection, cremation, autopsies, organ donation and Purgatory – all in 10 minutes! Well done that man!
I wondered to myself, as I sat there listening intently, how many of those in the congregation really knew the Church’s position on those topics being taught. My expectations would be that the number would probably be dismally low. Even though there are plenty of older people in my parish – i.e. those that would have had a more “solid” formation in school – I just get the feeling that the general level of catechesis in our Church here in NZ is…well…low.
And our priest has obviously realised that. So, for a number of months now, he has been using his sermon to break open the Word in light of the teaching of the Church – explaining it in very understandable and digestible chunks, and generally doing a great job improving our understanding of why we sit there every Sunday.
I like leaving Mass feeling I’ve learnt something. Sure, we can lament the fact that I should have known everything he taught, but the fact is I didn’t. I have a Catechism, of course, but I don’t read it as a matter of course. I’ll refer to the online version when I am investigating a specific matter, but to have it broken out and related to the readings of the day was inspired. Did you know that cremation used to be banned by the Church because those who were being cremated were doing so in protest against the teaching of the resurrection of the body? Fascinating!
So, props to my parish priest, and to other priests who have realised a the best way to counter this dearth in understanding of the Faith amongst their parishioners is to roll up their sleeves, and break open the contrasting wealth of beauty and knowledge readily available in the teachings of the Church.
Just good stuff.
James,
What’s your parish and what are its Mass times?
Regarding cremation, there are still restrictions. If a Catholic wants to be cremated for the very reason that they don’t believe in the resurrection of the body, it is considered a scandal and the Church would say he/she shouldn’t be cremated.
James,
there sounds like a lot of ‘breaking’ going on.
Indeed. It is stirring to hear a good homily, isn’t it? Good for your parish priest.
What’s also good is to have the greatest thing on earth, i.e. God becoming present in front of us, occur each and every time we go to Mass. It’s amazing when one thinks about it. The humility – and docility, with which Jesus is prepared to become really, truly, substantially present on the altar (some call it a [communion] table) in order to be so intimately connected with us.
He is so vulnerable, and completely at our mercy, under the appearances of bread and wine…we ought to do everything we can to venerate Him.
Of course, some will overemphasise the ‘meal’ aspect of the Holy Mass (we’ve seen it before on the blog). In order to address such things, I highly recommend The Spirit of the Liturgy by Ratzinger. He’s got something to say that guy.
I thoroughly recommend the Lambs Supper by Scott Hahn – Mass will never be the same.
FXD,
What’s also good is to have the greatest thing on earth, i.e. God becoming present in front of us, occur each and every time we go to Mass.
I was talking with my family — all lapsed Catholics — about why I go to (almost) daily Mass. I used that reason you just put forward: that I’m going somewhere that I can find the greatest thing there is, so why wouldn’t I go as often as possible?
Still don’t think they “got” it. Oh well, I’ll keep tryin’.
Oremus said:
“I thoroughly recommend the Lambs Supper by Scott Hahn – Mass will never be the same.”
For that matter anything by Scott Hahn would be great, such as Swear to God. Few people seem to have any “solid” formation in their faith anymore.
Hard times in the Catholic Church such as these always seem to result in men like him or a St Francis de Sales coming forward.
Can’t agree more cgvnau.
Wondering about your faith? – doubting your faith? – read Rome Sweet Home. Scott Hahn’s journey to the Catholic church and that of his wife.
I too have read the Lamb’s Supper oremus. His description of the first Mass he attended will remain with me for the rest of my life. We Catholics are so blessed and take the gift of faith so much for granted. Hahn’s book on the Sacrament of Reconciliation – priceless
A big Amen to those who speak in praise of “The Lamb’s Supper” by Scott Hahn.
I read this a some years ago and was so impressed by it that I purchased 12 copies of it and gave it to out RCIA candidates that year. It was a tipping point for many of them and they entered the Church (partly because a Protestant convert was able to explain in such convincing detail the Truth of the Mass) I still have a few copies that I lend out to Catholics and Catechumens who all gain great merit from it.
A certain priest I know well, Fr. Gerard Boyce says that this book should be compulsory reading in every Catholic school and for all Catholics.
I concur absolutely.
A book that revitalised my appreciation of the Mass is “What happens at Mass” by Jeremy Driscoll OSB. I haven’t read the other books mentioned so far, but Scott Hahn has endorsed Driscoll’s book.
In regards funeral practices and the church teaching I suggest better information can be gained on this site http://www.catholic.org.nz/resources/funeral.php
In regards Cremation note this is the church present teaching
The long-standing practice of burying the body of the deceased in a grave or tomb as was Jesus, continues to be encouraged as a sign of Christian faith. However, owing to contemporary cultural considerations, the practice of cremation has become part of Catholic practice in New Zealand and other parts of the western world. The 1983 Code of Canon Law states that cremation is not forbidden “unless it has been chosen for reasons which are contrary to Christian teaching.” (Can.1176.3)
Here is an interesting quote on the Mass:
- St John Vianney
Here is another interesting quote on the Mass:
- St John Vianney
Here is another interesting quote on the Mass:
- St Alphonsus Liguori
There are, I suppose, Masses and Masses.
I attended morning Mass at St Benedict’s this morning at 7am. It was prayed pretty well, much better than some I have seen at St Ben’s, although the Domincians there aren’t big on a prolonged elevation at the point of consecration I will say.
However, when one considers some of the things there, one worries that respect for the Mass among the Domincans is not what it should be.
Cardinal Arinze, Prefect for the Congregation of Divine Worship, said the following in October of last year:
One priest in particular seems to want to introduce novelty – having lay people hold up the Precious Blood at the doxology, or not communicating first (Redemptionis Sacramentum, 88 & esp. 97), or arbitrarily changing the words of the Eucharistic prayer…I don’t understand it.
Let’s not tamper with the Divine Liturgy…given its importance. Ah well, the Dominicans at St Ben’s probably don’t read this blog anyway…perhaps one ought to just say something…
In fact, in the same speech Cardinal Arinze also rebuked priests who take an ‘overtly egocentric’ approach to the liturgy, violating the norms of the Church by ‘banalization, desacralization, and secularization of the liturgy’. He also criticized priests whose ‘false humility’ leads them to ’share their role with the laity’.
Maybe they’ll come round one day those Dominicans.
The most interesting people are not thsoe who go on and on about themeselves. The best radio or TV hosts demonstrate this.
It’s the “SCHOOL TEACHER effect”. Having to stand in front of a regular captive and polite audience over time gives a person the false impression that everything they utter is profound and valuable.
This is possibly why some teachers are well prepared to become politicans and rugby coaches etc.
So, if you’re a priest beware the ’school teacher effect’.
I really appreciate priests who seem to have made an effort to prepare their homilies rather than just shooting from the lip with flaccid tales.
Another perspective is that most parishioners have worked a 40+ hour week at their jobs (55 hour more likely) where they are expected to be competent and professional and make an effort.
With this in mind and knowing that the Sunday Mass is the priest’s visible formal work then what do people think when a priest (or bishop) deliveries banalities or meanderings they could have lifted from Reader’s Digest in 20 seconds? The same goes for ill-prepared retreat leaders!
FXD
Love your St. Alf quote