What is liturgy? What is its purpose?
Liturgy derives from the Greek ergos ("work"), and leiton ("of the people"). Leitourgia (from the 3rd century BC Greek translation of the Old Testament) was a term for the worship led by the Levite priests of the Temple on behalf of the people. Since then, leitourgia has evolved into the liturgy we know and love today. Liturgy has come to define the Church's public and official worship of God. This includes the Mass as well as the official rites and cerimonies.
The liturgy's purpose is diverse: giving glory and honor to God, building the faith of the people, instructing the faithful in the Faith. It is also an exercise of the priestly office of Christ, which the Church continues under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
26 April 2013
25 April 2013
Holiness: A Life of Prayer
What is so important about prayer? I mean it's weird isn't' it? You see people just sitting there staring into space, or talking to themselves? Are Christians insane?
Prayer is basically a conversation with God himself. A well-formed life of prayer strengthens our relationship with God. Why care? God responds to us through prayer. Prayer is how God communicates with us. If we're going through difficult times, prayer can comfort us and offer hope for better times. If we're struggling with a decision, God can talk to us through prayer and guide us in making the right choice.
On the path to holiness, prayer plays a significant role in getting us there. Through prayer, we can build on our relationship with God. Through prayer, God guides us on the road to holiness.
24 April 2013
St. Gianna Beretta Molla
St. Gianna Beretta Molla. Wife, mother, doctor who dwelt on this planet back in the mid-twentieth century. But what about her makes her worthy of the title "saint?"
Gianna was born into a rather large, but devoted Catholic family. In her early years, she contemplated a religious life, but ultimately chose to pursue a career in medicine. But even here, she did not completely put aside her religious devotion. Much of her free time was spent on charity work, and upon her graduation, she immediately went to work, opening a clinic in her hometown for the poor and elderly. Later, she obtained an additional degree in children's medicine so that she would be able to give proper care to the mothers and their young who came to her for help.
In her later years, she would marry a gentleman by the name of Pietro Molla. The two would joyfully celebrate the births of three children, Pierluigi, Mariolina, and Laura. However, in the fall of 1961, after two miscarriages, Gianna once again became pregnant. What made this event significant, is the fact that a tumor was discovered, which threatened both her life and the life of her future child. Gianna was urged by her doctors to abort her child, so as to save her own life. To her, this was completely unacceptable and stated "If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate. Choose the child - I insist on it. Save the baby."
Nine months later, on the Good Friday of 1962, checked into the hospital and the following day, gave birth to Gianna Emanuela. Gianna's doctor's fought and struggled to save her life as well, but ultimately the complications of childbirth proved too much for the elderly woman to bear. She died exactly one week after the birth of her newborn child.
Gianna's actions are a perfect fulfillment of John 15:13, "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." She was later canonized by Pope Blessed John Paul II in 2004.
Gianna was born into a rather large, but devoted Catholic family. In her early years, she contemplated a religious life, but ultimately chose to pursue a career in medicine. But even here, she did not completely put aside her religious devotion. Much of her free time was spent on charity work, and upon her graduation, she immediately went to work, opening a clinic in her hometown for the poor and elderly. Later, she obtained an additional degree in children's medicine so that she would be able to give proper care to the mothers and their young who came to her for help.
In her later years, she would marry a gentleman by the name of Pietro Molla. The two would joyfully celebrate the births of three children, Pierluigi, Mariolina, and Laura. However, in the fall of 1961, after two miscarriages, Gianna once again became pregnant. What made this event significant, is the fact that a tumor was discovered, which threatened both her life and the life of her future child. Gianna was urged by her doctors to abort her child, so as to save her own life. To her, this was completely unacceptable and stated "If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate. Choose the child - I insist on it. Save the baby."
Nine months later, on the Good Friday of 1962, checked into the hospital and the following day, gave birth to Gianna Emanuela. Gianna's doctor's fought and struggled to save her life as well, but ultimately the complications of childbirth proved too much for the elderly woman to bear. She died exactly one week after the birth of her newborn child.
Gianna's actions are a perfect fulfillment of John 15:13, "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." She was later canonized by Pope Blessed John Paul II in 2004.
23 April 2013
The Universal Call to Holiness
"Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect," (Matthew 5:48).
Although perfection is an aspect that no human could ever achieve, each of us is constantly called to greater holiness through charity, prayer, and especially the New Commandment of Love. There are a select few of us who are called to holiness through the priesthood, and another group of us who are called to join the special group known as the laity. The laity composes of lay men and lay women who engage in everyday activities, and evangelize and sanctify the world "from within." These men and women are the "front lines" in the Church's evangelical mission.
How does one seek holiness through the laity? This requires more than just attending mass once a week or volunteering for service hours at a retirement home or homeless shelter. God calls us to seek holiness in every part of our lives: work, school, home, friends, family, etc. A proper response to the call to holiness would be:
Although perfection is an aspect that no human could ever achieve, each of us is constantly called to greater holiness through charity, prayer, and especially the New Commandment of Love. There are a select few of us who are called to holiness through the priesthood, and another group of us who are called to join the special group known as the laity. The laity composes of lay men and lay women who engage in everyday activities, and evangelize and sanctify the world "from within." These men and women are the "front lines" in the Church's evangelical mission.
How does one seek holiness through the laity? This requires more than just attending mass once a week or volunteering for service hours at a retirement home or homeless shelter. God calls us to seek holiness in every part of our lives: work, school, home, friends, family, etc. A proper response to the call to holiness would be:
- Actively participating in the liturgy (i.e. altar serving, attending mass daily)
- Frequent reception of the Sacraments (especially of the Eucharist and Reconciliation)
- Forming an active life of prayer
- Applying the practices of sacrifice and self-denial
- Sanctifying all part of life (ordinary and within the Church)
We should put as many of these practices into our ordinary lives as possible. Through their application, we may grow closer to God and aid in sanctifying the world to make it a better place.
22 April 2013
The Church in the Life of the Faithful
Does the Church play a major or minor role in the life of the faithful? Should it?
Each of us is called by Christ to follow in his footsteps, to live a life of Christ. He outlined what it means to live a life of Christ in the Beatitudes. Christ knows not all of us can easily leave our rich, luxurious lifestyles to follow him, but he calls us to give what we can. However, there are a select few who are called by Christ to follow him. These men join the clergy or become members of holy orders such as the Jesuits. There is also another group of the faithful which are not consecrated to Holy Orders known as the laity. These individuals "sanctify from within." They are the "front lines" of the Church's work towards salvation. They serve others in their daily lives, teach them, mentor them. They visit the elderly, they serve food to the homeless. They evangelize through their everyday family and professional activities.
Each of us is called by Christ to follow in his footsteps, to live a life of Christ. He outlined what it means to live a life of Christ in the Beatitudes. Christ knows not all of us can easily leave our rich, luxurious lifestyles to follow him, but he calls us to give what we can. However, there are a select few who are called by Christ to follow him. These men join the clergy or become members of holy orders such as the Jesuits. There is also another group of the faithful which are not consecrated to Holy Orders known as the laity. These individuals "sanctify from within." They are the "front lines" of the Church's work towards salvation. They serve others in their daily lives, teach them, mentor them. They visit the elderly, they serve food to the homeless. They evangelize through their everyday family and professional activities.
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