On FIRE about our Catholic Faith - The Church of the Blessed Sacrament

On FIRE about our Catholic Faith - The Church of the Blessed Sacrament

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Eph 2:8-9

I don’t know about you, but I was really disappointed with the NCAA championship game. Yes, I was a little jaded, and no I didn't watch much after the last Kansas team was eliminated, but I thought I could turn on the last game and see some fireworks, the culmination of a hard road. It made me think of my lent. Moments of brilliance in a long unimpressive performance. It can be easy to stay frustrated, to look back and wish you had done something differently. But we are a people of the present, and we have a God of the present. You will notice that even though the game wasn’t great, the celebration held the same joy. It still ended with a national championship, there was still reason for exuberance. Easter approaches, and we can still feel that joy.  If nothing else a poor performance is opportunity for growth and humility. A recognition that without God we are lackluster.  I encourage you, if you have not made a good confession, get there. There is still the Easter Triduum, and there are still boundless graces waiting to be poured upon you the moment you allow it. You could almost say Palm Sunday is halftime, and we have the buzzer beater, Good Friday, still to come. Let God draw up your play, and follow through, nothing is more glorious than the Resurrection.

“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40

-Fr. Benjamin Green

Penance Service - Thursday, April 10, 2014, Church of the Blessed Sacrament

Vatican City, Feb 19, 2014 / 04:57 am (CNA).- During his Wednesday audience, Pope Francis encouraged the pilgrims filling St. Peter's Square to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.

"Everyone say to himself: ‘When was the last time I went to confession?’ And if it has been a long time, don’t lose another day! Go, the priest will be good. And Jesus, (will be) there, and Jesus is better than the priests – Jesus receives you. He will receive you with so much love! Be courageous, and go to confession,” urged the Pope on Feb. 19.

Acknowledging a popular objection to the sacrament, Pope Francis noted, “someone can say, ‘I confess my sins only to God.’ Yes, you can say to God, ‘forgive me,’ and say your sins. But our sins are also against our brothers, against the Church. This is is why it is necessary to ask forgiveness of the Church and of our brothers, in the person of the priest.”

"While the celebration of the sacrament is personal, it is rooted in the universality of the Church," which "accompanies us on the path of conversion," he explained.

“Forgiveness is not something we can give ourselves,” cautioned the Pope. “One asks forgiveness, one asks it of another person, and in confession, we ask forgiveness from Jesus.”

“Forgiveness is not a result of our efforts, but is a gift. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit who showers us with mercy and grace that pours forth unceasingly from the open heart of Christ crucified and risen.”

The Pontiff went on to recognize that many people feel ashamed at the idea of confessing their sins and might say, “but Father, I am embarrased!”

“Even embarrassment is good. It’s healthy to have a bit of shame… it does us good, because it makes us more humble.”

“Don’t be afraid of confession,” Pope Francis stressed. “When someone is in line for confession he feels all these things – even shame – but then, when he finishes confessing, he leaves (feeling) free, great, beautiful, forgiven, clean, happy.”

“The sacrament of reconciliation is a sacrament of healing,” he pointed out.

“When I go to confession, it’s for healing: healing the soul, healing the heart because of something that I did to make it unwell.”

The Pope pointed to the biblical story of Jesus healing a paralyzed man, which expresses the “profound link” between “forgiveness and healing,” since “the Lord Jesus is revealed at the same time as the physician of soul and body.”

He also recounted the parable of the prodigal son, who sought his father’s forgiveness and was welcomed home with open arms.  

“But I say to you,” he stressed to the many pilgrims, “every time we go to confession, God embraces us.”

April 6, 2014 - The Fifth Sunday of Lent

Greetings!

For many years, the rate of Mass offerings, sometimes referred to as Mass stipends, was five dollars. On January 17, 1014, the Bishops of the province of Kansas, decided to increase the offering to ten dollars. The new rate will start on May 1st and is in conformity with most dioceses around the United States.

This is a good opportunity to consider the practice of Mass offerings in the Church as there are many misunderstandings. The canonical history of Mass stipends is both extensive and complicated. The legitimacy of Mass stipends has been sustained from at least the 8th century. It was at this period of history that Mass stipends took the form in which they have been practiced during the past century. Since their origins, even in the midst of abuse and misunderstanding, the magisterium has continued to defend their legitimacy. The history of the special benefits received from the offering of a Mass has a long and extensive history, which, due to the confines of this article, will not be treated here. Suffice it to say that since their origin in the 8th century, Masses applied to a specific intention were deemed to be effective means for obtaining a special grace. However, what exactly that grace is has been greatly contested. The Church has not officially characterized the nature of this special grace.

The 1983 Code of Canon Law does not clarify the issue. In fact, renowned canonists derive somewhat different conclusions regarding the fruits of the Mass. John Huels in reference to both Paul VI’s motupropio on Mass offerings and the 83 code states that neither of these “claims that the offering of Mass for a certain intention produces any benefit at all for that intention.” On the contrary, Julio Manzanares notes the practice of Mass stipends demonstrates an expression of faith in the power of the Church to mediate on behalf of the 

faithful. In regards to c. 945, Joaquin Calvo-Alvarez commented that the canon implies the traditional special fruits of the Mass. It was noted in the committee reports studying the draft De Sacramentis for the revision of the Code of Canon Law that canons 109-129 were based upon a “theory of merit and the fruits of the Mass.” 

One can be confident that the Church’s long-standing tradition of priests offering the sacrifice of the Mass for a particular intention does produce a special fruit directed to the donor’s intention.

You can schedule a Mass to be offered for a specific intention by contacting the parish office. A priest can apply the Mass to anyone, living or dead (c. 901). And, yes, the person for whom the Mass is offered does not have to be Catholic.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,

Fr. John F. Jirak

Spring Cleaning Fundraiser!

Help us raise funds for TWO LOCAL CHARITIES!!!

Goodwill is providing a truck from 10AM-2PM this Saturday at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Wichita. See below the list of what will be accepted.  Goodwill has agreed to give us TEN CENTS for every pound we collect to go the St. Vincent de Paul Society.  Consider donating what you don't use any more that will help others.  If you can't get to the church Saturday, please call John at 316-208-6773 to arrange for a pick up at your home.  Additionally, there are collection bins in the Commons and the school entry way.  Thank you for all that you do to help us.  Please spread the word!