11/4/2009

Opening Prayer

Let us begin: In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray that our prayer rise like incense in the presence of God.

Almighty Father, strong is your justice and great is your mercy.Protect us in the burdens and challenges of life.Shield our minds from the distortion of pride and enfold our desire with the beauty of truth. Help us to become more aware of your loving design so that we may more willingly give our lives in service to all.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Word of God

November 8, 2009Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mark 12:38-44

The Lord be with you. And also with you.A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark. Glory to you Lord. May the gospel always be on my mind, on my lips, and in my heart.

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation."

He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

678 Following in the steps of the prophets and John the Baptist, Jesus announced the judgment of the Last Day in his preaching. Then will the conduct of each one and the secrets of hearts be brought to light. Then will the culpable unbelief that counted the offer of God’s grace as nothing be condemned. Our attitude to our neighbor will disclose acceptance or refusal of grace and divine love. On the Last Day Jesus will say: “Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”

2444 “The Church’s love for the poor . . . is a part of her constant tradition.” This love is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, of the poverty of Jesus, and of his concern for the poor. Love for the poor is even one of the motives for the duty of working so as to “be able to give to those in need.” It extends not only to material poverty but also to the many forms of cultural and religious poverty.

Liturgical Calendar

11/5 Thursday G Thursday of the Thirty-first week in Ordinary Time

11/6 Friday G Friday of the Thirty-first week in Ordinary Time

11/7 First Saturday GW

Saturday of the Thirty-first week in Ordinary TimeBVM on Saturday

11/8 Sunday G Thirty-second Sunday of Ordinary Time

11/9 Monday W Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

11/10 Tuesday W Saint Leo the Great, pope & doctor

11/11 Wednesday W Saint Martin of Tours, bishop

The essential elements of a sacrament:

1. a sensible sign instituted by Christ and givesgrace.

2. both matter and form present

a. the matter is the material usedb. the form is the accompanying words and

action

3. an authorized minister

Grace is a gift from God; therefore, the sacrament mustcome from and depend upon God.

Baptism Mt. 28:18-20Confirmation Acts 2:42; 8:15; 19:6Eucharist Mt. 26:26Reconciliation Jrn. 20:21:23Anointing of the Sick Jas. 5:14-15Matrimony Mt 19:3-9Holy Orders Jn. 20:21-22

Vat II states that the purpose of sacrament is to makeus holy, to build up the body of Christ and to worshipGod.

Sacraments nourish, strengthen and express faith.CELEBRATIONS

Fast facts IWhat is a Sacrament?Sacraments are more than seven ritual acts that givegrace. Rather, they are opportunities for people alreadyIn God's grace to gather and celebrate that fact through symbolic action or ritual. Our understanding of sacramentstoday begins not with church rituals, but with the experi-ence of Cad's presence and care in our daily lives. Sacra-ments are "actions'', hot things. Or, as St Augustine put it, •they are "visible signs of invisible grace

6

The whole Ittlittical life of the Catholic Church revolvesaround the sacraments. The word sacrament is from theLatin word sacramentum meaning "making sacred."

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(SOURCE: THE OFFICIAL C47HOLI C DIRErrORY,RA KENNEDY & SONS, NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ)

.v. mj,,,EAdAyak-movitcp eAsicpx THE CATHOLIC FAITH BYBILLPAITy. AND LISACOMAKIWENTWINIRD PUBLICATIONS, NEW LONDON, CT) - •

Why •te. ven Sacraments?.

St Thomas Aquinas tells us that God didn't have to makeseven sacraments, but it seemed reasonable that he did:We are bortt baptismWe grow: confirmationWe are fed: EucharistWe neetspititual healing: penanceWe need physical healing: anointing of the sickWe need family: matrimonyWe need pastors: holy ordersThe sacraments are divided by purpose and function intothree groups: the sacraments of initiation—baptism, con-firmation, and Eucharist; the sacraments of healing—pen-ance and anointing of the sicic and, the sacraments ofvocation and commitment—holy orders and matrimony.

MARCH 2007 I RTJ: THE MAGAZINE FOR CATECHIST FORMATION

Jesus

I I I

worked in biblical times continues to work today

1 1reaching out to real

IInitiation

1

baptismconfirmation

eucharist

meeting and touchingpeople his body, the church

I Ithrough actions of love

(healing, forgiveness, etc.)

Sacraments

Healing

Ireconciliationanointing of

the sick

through signs of love(the seven sacraments)

IVocation/Service of

Communion1marriage

holy orders

a. Baptism:

baptismalsymbols

b. Confirmation:

effects ofconfirmation

C. Eucharist:

facets ofthe

eucharist

water: death to sin, new life,regeneration•

— oil: healing, power of the Spirit

whitegarmentnewlifeinChrist

light beacon of Christ in the world

— name: adoption into divine family,unity with patron saint

confers and seals the HolySpirit

strengthens us to live theChristian life

— deepens baptismal gifts

thanksgiving: appreciation forGod's many blessings

sacred meal: companionship withJesus and fellow Christians

sacrifice: paschal lamb for us

Mass: "sent" into the worldto be Jesus for others

— Blessed Sacrament source andsummit of Catholic life

— holy communion: union with Christand others

real presence: encounter the RisenLord

— liturgy: people's work in praisingGod

d. Reconciliation:

four keyelements

Preparation: examination of conscience

--- contrition (sorrow)

confession (external sign ofInterior sorrow)

act of satisfaction (penance)

g

absolution (words of forgiveness)

f. Marriage:

purposes ofmarriage

celebrating loveChristian marriage is not simPly a contract, or a

50-50 proposition:50%. 50%

Husband Wife

Christian marriage is a covenant, a totalcommitment.

wife100%

g. Holy Orders:Pr test

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Living the Sacraments An Overview

Deuteronomy 30:15-19

Sacraments: The Church's Way of Celebrating God's Presence among Usin ChrbtCelebration of our relationship with Jesus.Signs of Life—growth—changeBaptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Mat-rimony, Holy Orders

• John 4:5-26• Matthew 3:8-14• 1 Corinthians 11:23-27

How do the significant moments in your life involve growth? Change?How does God enter into these times?

Copyright 0 BROWN Publishing—ROA Media

63

PrayerTheme

Scripture

Questions toPonderReflections

LIFE OF THE CHURCH

SIN separates usrota

this :LIFE

<< Brings us to UNITY

Element of forgiveness

hope for return to good

God — prepares us fo

AA

Bringsback intothe Life

of the Church<<<<-:<

-In this sacrament Gives us

health or prepares us to meet

the journey!

The Sacrament of ReconciliationThe sacrament of Confession (emphasizing the act of naming our sins)The sacrament of Penance (expressing the outward sign of our contrition)The sacrament of Forgiveness (emphasizing what we receive from God)The sacrament of Reconciliation (emphasizing the purpose and effect of the sacrament)The sacrament of Conversion (emphasizing our need to return to God)

One of the Sacraments of healing. The other one is Anointing of the Sick

The Church"Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for theoffense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church whichthey have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors fortheir conversion." (CCC 1422)

The BibleJesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Andwhen he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whosesins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (John 2021-23)

The Church Fathers

The Didache"Confess your sins in church, and do not go up to your prayer with an evil conscience. This isthe way of life. On the Lord's Day gather together, break bread, and give thanks, afterconfessing your transgressions so that your sacrifice may be pure" (Didache 4:14, 14:1 [A.D.70]).

Ignatius of Antioch"For as many as are of God and of Jesus Christ are also with the bishop. And as many as shall,in the exercise of penance, return into the unity of the Church, these, too, shall belong to God,that they may live according to Jesus Christ" (Letter to the Philadelphians 3 [A.13.110]).

Tertuillan"[Regarding confession, some] flee from this work as being an exposure of themselves, or theyput it off from day to day. I presume they are more mindful of modesty than of salvation, likethose who contract a disease in the more shameful parts of the body and shun makingthemselves known to the physicians; and thus they perish along with their ownbashfulness" (Repentance 10:1 [A.D. 203]).

Origen"[A final method of forgiveness], albeit hard and laborious [is] the remission of sins throughpenance, when the sinner does not shrink from declaring his sin to a priest of the Lord andfrom seeking medicine, after the manner of him who say, 'I said, "To the Lord I will accusemyself of my iniquity"' (Homilies on Leviticus 2:4 [A.D. 248]).