Easter. Whereas in Lent we repented, in Eastertide we rejoice. Whereas we fasted, now we feast. Whereas we gave alms, now we give witness in all manner of ways to all people that Christ is truly risen, the old-world order is passed away, and the reign of God is begun. Begun in the newly baptized, newly oiled believers who have taken their place at Christ's table. Begun again in us who were baptized and christmated long ago or last Easter.
In Central Europe, it's customary to spritz people with water on Easter Monday, to remember baptism, to make merry and in some cultures, even to choose a spouse! The bathed and anointed church is the risen Christ's spouse. Let the wedding feast begin!
Lent was 40 days, the season of sorrow and striving and training. But Eastertide is 50 days, the season of joy and celebrating and feasting! Fifty days for our delight! Fifty days to sing the song of saints and angels: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Fr. Dean
Easter Sunday
April 21, 2019
In Central Europe, it's customary to spritz people with water on Easter Monday, to remember baptism, to make merry and in some cultures, even to choose a spouse! The bathed and anointed church is the risen Christ's spouse. Let the wedding feast begin!
Lent was 40 days, the season of sorrow and striving and training. But Eastertide is 50 days, the season of joy and celebrating and feasting! Fifty days for our delight! Fifty days to sing the song of saints and angels: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Fr. Dean
Easter Sunday
April 21, 2019
Palm Sunday begins "HOLY WEEK" the greatest week of the year for Christians. We commemorate Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem with our waving of Palms. This note of triumphal joy quickly turns into the Passion of Christ being crucified. In the Sacred Triduum, the Church solemnly celebrates the greatest mysteries of our redemption, keeping by means of special celebrations the memorial of her Lord, crucified, buried, and risen.
The Sacred Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord's Last Supper (Holy Thursday), continues through the Passion of our Lord (Good Friday), comes to the crescendo with the Easter Vigil Mass of the Resurrection (Holy Saturday), and is completed with evening prayer on Easter Sunday.
In the Easter Vigil Liturgy, we honor the Lord handing over his Spirit to the Church through the new fire and lighting of the Paschal Candle, the blessing of new water for baptisms, the strengthening of the baptismal vocation through the gifts of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation and our being fed the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ.
What will you be doing during those days? Will you be worshipping the Lord who suffered and died for you, or will these days be no different than any other?
Fr. Dean
April 14, 2019
The Sacred Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord's Last Supper (Holy Thursday), continues through the Passion of our Lord (Good Friday), comes to the crescendo with the Easter Vigil Mass of the Resurrection (Holy Saturday), and is completed with evening prayer on Easter Sunday.
In the Easter Vigil Liturgy, we honor the Lord handing over his Spirit to the Church through the new fire and lighting of the Paschal Candle, the blessing of new water for baptisms, the strengthening of the baptismal vocation through the gifts of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation and our being fed the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ.
What will you be doing during those days? Will you be worshipping the Lord who suffered and died for you, or will these days be no different than any other?
Fr. Dean
April 14, 2019
Laetare (Rejoice) Sunday! The Fourth Sunday of Lent takes its name from the Latin translation of Is 66:10-11 which sets the tone of joyful anticipation of the Easter mystery, as does the permitted use of rose-colored vestments. We rejoice because we are over the half-way mark of our Lenten journey to the Easter Triduum (the three days of Holy Thursday evening through Easter, including Good Friday and the Holy Saturday Vigil.)
The Second Scrutiny of the Elect involves the Question of the Man born Blind, who is healed by Jesus. Whose sin was it that he was born blind, his parents or ancestors or his own; who is Jesus that he heals the blind? Are our eyes open to see him at work in our lives or are we blinded by worldly pursuits?
Fr. Dean
March 31, 2019
The Second Scrutiny of the Elect involves the Question of the Man born Blind, who is healed by Jesus. Whose sin was it that he was born blind, his parents or ancestors or his own; who is Jesus that he heals the blind? Are our eyes open to see him at work in our lives or are we blinded by worldly pursuits?
Fr. Dean
March 31, 2019
The Scrutinies of the Elect take place on the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent at St. Thomas Church. The Scripture readings for the Scrutinies will be taken from the Year A Cycle of readings at the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Masses. The Gospel of John stories of the woman at the well, the healing and coming to faith of the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus from the dead are proclaimed during the Scrutinies. These readings are used to prepare the elect and the church for baptism. The readings focus on sin and redemption using the images of thirst and water, darkness and light, death and life. We pray that whatever is weak and sinful may be eliminated in us and whatever is good and holy may be affirmed.
The Elect throughout the world are asked to reflect upon their personal sin and recognize Jesus as our Savior who frees us from our sins in baptism. We can examine our own consciences and reflect upon our desire for the forgiving mercy of Jesus given to us in the Sacrament of Penance/Rite of Reconciliation, for sins committed after Baptism.
Fr. Dean
March 24, 2019
The Elect throughout the world are asked to reflect upon their personal sin and recognize Jesus as our Savior who frees us from our sins in baptism. We can examine our own consciences and reflect upon our desire for the forgiving mercy of Jesus given to us in the Sacrament of Penance/Rite of Reconciliation, for sins committed after Baptism.
Fr. Dean
March 24, 2019
The Second Sunday of Lent is dedicated to the Scene of the Transfiguration of Jesus. The disciples Peter, James, and John are taken by Jesus up the mountain, and he is transfigured and conversing with Moses and Elijah. Jesus is the new Law Giver and the Great Prophet who is the Word of God. He tells the disciples that he must go to Jerusalem to suffer and die and on the third day be raised up. It is what we celebrate through the Easter Triduum (the great Three Days). The glory of the Lord is revealed prior to the great event so that the disciples may recall Christ's word and the glimpse of His impending glory through His mission of Victory over Sin and Death in the Resurrection. May the victory of our Lord give us the glimpse of our impending glory in eternal life by taking up the cross and following Jesus.
Fr. Dean
March 17, 2019
Fr. Dean
March 17, 2019
"The Disciples of John asked, Jesus, 'Why do we and the Pharisees fast but your disciples don't fast?' Jesus replied, 'When the bridegroom is taken away, then they will fast.'" And so we do. The Gospel from Luke on the First Sunday of Lent today and the Gospels of Matthew and Mark also proclaim, "Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights." The Lenten Season of 40 days is our entering into the great fast of our Lord in preparation for his crucifixion and resurrection. The fasting during the 40 days of Lent is our preparation to enter into the Easter Triduum; our celebration of the Lord's Last Supper on Holy Thursday, his Passion and Death on Good Friday, and the Vigil of the Resurrection on Holy Saturday leading to Easter.
The 40 days of Lent can be counted as the six days of the six weeks of Lent plus Ash Wednesday, with the Sundays of Lent being little Easters as Sunday is referred. Or it can be the 40 days of Lent beginning with the First Sunday in Lent through Holy Thursday when we begin the Easter Triduum (three days). Ash Wednesday through Saturday after Ash Wednesday is then a mini-retreat, a preparation for the 40 days.
Fr. Dean
March 10, 2019
The 40 days of Lent can be counted as the six days of the six weeks of Lent plus Ash Wednesday, with the Sundays of Lent being little Easters as Sunday is referred. Or it can be the 40 days of Lent beginning with the First Sunday in Lent through Holy Thursday when we begin the Easter Triduum (three days). Ash Wednesday through Saturday after Ash Wednesday is then a mini-retreat, a preparation for the 40 days.
Fr. Dean
March 10, 2019
"Death is swallowed up in victory, Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" We hear these words this Sunday in the proclamation of St. Paul's Letter to the Corinthians and sing them again in the "Exultet" beginning the Easter Vigil Mass of the Resurrection. The sting of death is sin but Christ has given us eternal life in the forgiveness of our sins.
This Wednesday we interrupt our counted weeks of the Liturgical Year to begin the Season of Lent. It is known as Ash Wednesday as the reading from Joel speaks of the proclamation of a fast and sitting in sackcloth and ashes so that the Lord may see that the people [we] are repenting of sins and turning towards God to live again in covenant with Him. The Ashes are from the past year's Palm Sunday when we proclaimed Jesus as our King. We acknowledge our need of forgiveness for times we have failed to follow our King's [Jesus Christ] commands. We are reminded on Ash Wednesday to "Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel."
Fr. Dean
March 3, 2019
This Wednesday we interrupt our counted weeks of the Liturgical Year to begin the Season of Lent. It is known as Ash Wednesday as the reading from Joel speaks of the proclamation of a fast and sitting in sackcloth and ashes so that the Lord may see that the people [we] are repenting of sins and turning towards God to live again in covenant with Him. The Ashes are from the past year's Palm Sunday when we proclaimed Jesus as our King. We acknowledge our need of forgiveness for times we have failed to follow our King's [Jesus Christ] commands. We are reminded on Ash Wednesday to "Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel."
Fr. Dean
March 3, 2019