Week 12, Saturday.

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

20. This first chapter gives particular attention to this fundamental aspect of evangelization, because the responses to the Lineamenta reported a need to restate the core of the Christian faith which is unknown by many Christians. Consequently, the theological foundation of the new evangelization should not be overlooked, but forcefully and authentically stated, so as to give energy and a proper framework to the Church's evangelizing activity.
20, continued. The new evangelization must initially be seen as an opportunity to gauge the faithfulness of Christians to the mandate received from Jesus Christ. The new evangelization is also an auspicious occasion (cf. 2 Cor 6:2) to return, as an individual Christian and a community, to drink from the source of our faith, and so become more disposed to undertake the work of evangelization and testimony. Indeed, before becoming action, evangelization and testimony are two states-of-mind which, as fruits of a faith in a continual state of purification and conversion, result in our lives from an encounter with Jesus Christ, the Good News of God to humanity. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 1,” paragraph 20)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name through all the earth! Your majesty is set above the heavens. From the mouths of children and of babes you fashioned praise to foil your enemy, to silence the foe and the rebel. (Psalm 149:5-6, Liturgy of the Hours: Morning Prayer).

COLLECT

Grant, O Lord,
that we may always revere and love Your Holy Name,
for You never deprive of Your guidance
those You set firm on the foundation of Your love.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever. Amen.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

The state of Faith is bluntly expressed: “a need to restate the core of the Christian faith which is unknown by many Christians.” Naturally the question that arises, ‘what is the core of the Christian Faith?’ Wrong question! The proper question is ‘WHO is the core of the Christian Faith?’ Refer to yesterday’s citation of paragraph 19: the action of grace prepares us to be attracted to Jesus and the encounter with Him sparks metanoia – that radical transformation of mind, heart and body according to the selfless, sacrificial life of Jesus Christ. (As a short aside, the Instrumentum Laboris describes metanoia as “the state of conversion strongly urged by Jesus himself.” Metanoia in Mark 1:15 is not “strongly urged,” it is commanded by Jesus because “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Click here to read an earlier entry describing the Kingdom of God and click here to read an earlier entry describing metanoia.)

Hence, if the core of Christian Faith is a Person (Jesus Christ), and this Person draws each and all into an encounter that sparks metanoia, is this not then the ‘plan’ for Christian living? The difficulty is that the vast majority of Christians have been taught ABOUT Jesus, and never encountered him. Divine Revelation is quite clear – meeting the Person Jesus and permitting metanoia to occur, life - by definition - becomes different. One thinks differently. One speaks differently. One acts differently – and, all of these ‘different actions’ are first and foremost the result of an encounter, not study, reading or education. Study, reading, and education are good, but if the encounter has not led to a change of heart, no amount of study, reading or education will form a person in the Person Jesus Christ.

Consider:

• How can (or does) the Church provide an environment to encounter Jesus on the global, diocesan and parish level?
• How does the core of Christian Faith - encounter the Person Jesus leading to metanoia - address the present state of Christian living?

Week 12, Friday. Solemnity: Saints Peter and Paul: Apostles. Evangelizing Thought of the Day

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

18. The Christian faith is not simply teachings, wise sayings, a code of morality or a tradition. The Christian faith is a true encounter and relationship with Jesus Christ. Transmitting the faith means to create in every place and time the conditions which lead to this encounter between the person and Jesus Christ. The goal of all evangelization is to create the possibility for this encounter, which is, at one and the same time, intimate, personal, public and communal. Pope Benedict XVI stated: "Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction. [...] Since God has first loved us (cf. 1 Jn 4:10), love is now no longer a mere 'command'; it is the response to the gift of love with which God draws near to us."[19] In the Christian faith, the encounter with Christ and the relationship with him takes place "in accordance to the Scriptures" (1 Cor 15:3, 4). The Church is formed precisely through the grace of this relationship.
19. This encounter with Jesus, through his Spirit, is the Father's great gift to humanity. We are prepared for this encounter through the action of grace in us. In such an encounter, we feel an attraction which leads to our transformation, causing us to see new dimensions to who we are and making us partakers of divine life (cf. 2 Pt 1:4). After this encounter, everything is different as a result of metanoia, that is, the state of conversion strongly urged by Jesus himself (cf. Mk 1:15). In a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, faith takes the form of a relationship with him and in remembrance of him, especially in the Eucharist and the Word of God, and creates in us the mind of Christ, through the Spirit, a mentality which makes us recognize our brothers and sisters, gathered by the Spirit in his Church, and, in turn, see ourselves as witnesses and heralds of this Gospel. This encounter equips us to do new things and witness to the transformation of our lives in the works of conversion as announced by the prophets (cf. Jer 3:6 ff; Ez 36:24-36). (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 1,” paragraphs 18 and 19)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

For the LORD takes delight in his people; He crowns the poor with salvation. Let the faithful exult in glory, and rejoice as they take their rest. (Psalm 149: 5-6, “Morning Prayer,” Liturgy of the Hours).

COLLECT

Grant, we pray, O Lord our God,
that we may be sustained by the intercession of the
blessed Apostles Peter and Paul,
that, as through them You gave Your Church
the foundations of her heavenly office,
so through them You may help her to eternal salvation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

Chapter 1 of the Instrumentum Laboris marks a development from the Lineamenta. In the Lineamenta, Chapter 1 addressed the factors and concerns of present culture calling for this New Evangelization. The Instrumentum Laboris, which has briefly addressed the need for the New Evangelization in the “Introduction,” clearly shifts the focus in its first chapter to the Person Jesus Christ.

Months ago, I was invited to a parish to offer a series of 3 presentations on the Lineamenta and how the New Evangelization might impact Catholic Christian living. I recall 1 person, who seemed uncomfortable with much of what I was presenting from the Lineamenta, standing up and saying: “This talk is not Catholic.” When I inquired what aspect(s) of the presentation was not Catholic, the person responded, “All this talk of encounter, person and relationship. Catholic is about going to Church on Sunday and that’s it!” There was silence in the hall and the person left.

Admittedly, that was an extreme response and I had hoped for an opportunity to talk with the person afterwards. It did get me thinking, though, that some are finding this ‘language’ somewhat new and challenging. Some are finding the ‘language’ a welcomed development, which technically is not a development. Such has been part of the Church’s rich Tradition that certainly has application today.

Consider:

• Has religious education missed the fact that “The Christian faith is a true encounter and relationship with Jesus Christ”?
• How does the fact that “The Christian faith is a true encounter and relationship with Jesus Christ” challenge the living of the Faith today?

Week 12, Thursday. Saint Irenaeus: Bishop and Martyr. Evangelizing Thought of the Day

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

15. “Synodal discussion is expected to result in a developed and heightened treatment of the work that has taken place in the Church in recent decades. The considerable number of initiatives and documents already produced on evangelization and its renewal indicates that many particular Churches were not so much awaiting word on what to do, as seeking a place to hear about all that has been done so far. More than one response reported that simply the announcement of the topic and that work had begun on the Lineamenta caused Christian communities to feel stronger and more committed to the urgent character today of the imperative of the new evangelization, and, as a further benefit, to enjoy a sense of communion which allowed them to approach everyday challenges with a different spirit.
16. Many responses do not overlook the problem the Church is facing in the challenge of the new evangelization, namely, that the changes previously discussed not only affect the world and culture, but also herself in the first person, that is, her communities, her activities and her conception of herself. This situation, therefore, calls for a process of discernment, which can also serve as a way of responding to the current situation with greater courage and responsibility. In keeping with this idea, the Instrumentum laboris was drafted in four chapters which are useful in providing the basic content and means for fostering this reflection and discernment.” Instrumentum Laboris, “Introduction,” paragraphs 15 and 16

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

Help us, O God our savior, for the sake of the glory of your name. Free us and forgive us our sins, because of your name. (Psalm 79:9, Mass).

COLLECT

O God, Who called the Bishop Saint Irenaeus
to confirm true doctrine and
the peace of the Church,
grant, we pray, through his intercession
that, being renewed in faith and charity,
we may always be intent on fostering
unity and concord.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

As the “Introduction” of the Instrumentum Laboris comes to a close, 2 points are worth pondering. First: in many areas of the world the work of Evangelization is already well underway. Responses to the Lineamenta that helped shape the Instrumentum Laboris indicate an eagerness to listen to everyone engaged in this work and share the ‘successes’ and ‘failures,’ humanly speaking, of evangelization. Second: responses to the Lineamenta appear to indicate that the Church has much to offer – not only the world, but herself as well.

Consider:

• Is there an ‘eagerness’ about evangelization in your life and in your parish?
• What factors contribute or harm ‘an environment’ conducive for evangelization?

Week 12, Wednesday. Saint Cyril of Alexandria. Evangelizing Thought of the Day

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

10. “The idea of renewing the Church's evangelizing activity, expressed most recently in the previously mentioned decisions of Pope Benedict XVI, has a long history. This same idea inspired the teaching and apostolic ministry of Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. In fact, the origin of the idea can be traced to the Second Vatican Council and its desire to respond to a sense of disorientation experienced by Christians facing powerful changes and divisions which the world was experiencing at that time. The Church's response was not characterized by pessimism or resignation, but the regenerating power of the universal call to salvation, desired by God for each individual.
12. In the wake of the Council, Pope Paul VI perceptively observed that the duty of evangelization needed to be proposed again with greater force and urgency, because of the de-Christianization of many ordinary people who, despite being baptized, live a life not in keeping with their Christian faith or express some kind of faith but have an imperfect knowledge of its basic tenets. An increasing number of people are sensing a need to know Jesus Christ in a different way from what they were taught as children. Faithful to conciliar teaching, Pope Paul VI added that the Church's evangelizing activity "must constantly seek the proper means and language for presenting, or representing, to them God's revelation and faith in Jesus Christ.” (Instrumentum Laboris, “Introduction,” paragraphs 10 and 12)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

My heart is ready, O God; my heart is ready. I will sing, I will sing your praise. Awake, my soul; awake, O lyre and harp. I will awake the dawn. (Psalm 108:2-3, Liturgy of the Hours, Morning Prayer).

COLLECT

O God, Who made the Bishop Saint Cyril of Alexandria
an invincible champion of the Divine Motherhood
of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary,
grant, we pray,
that we, who believe she is truly the Mother of God,
may be saved through the Incarnation of Christ Your Son.
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

Today’s selections from the Instrumentum Laboris trace the development of the New Evangelization since the time of Vatican II and through the pontificates of Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Note once again the acknowledgement of “disorientation experienced by Christians facing powerful changes and divisions which the world was experiencing at that time.” One might argue that those unnamed “powerful changes and divisions” have gotten only stronger since the close of the Council and have ramped up the need for an urgent response... the Council’s antidote: the universal call to salvation.

Consider:

• What do you consider to be powerful changes and divisions threatening the life of faith?
• How and why does the universal call to salvation [and holiness] address these changes and divisions?

Week 12, Tuesday. Evangelizing Thought of the Day

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

7. All these changes are contributing to a widespread disorientation which leads to forms of distrust of all that has been passed down about the meaning of life and to an unwillingness to adhere in a total, unconditional manner to what has been revealed as the profound truth of our being. This detachment from the faith is increasingly being witnessed in societies and cultures which for centuries appeared instilled with the Gospel. Increasingly considered an intimate and individual matter, faith has become a presupposition, even for many Christians, who continue to be justly concerned about the social, cultural and political implications in preaching the Gospel, but have not been sufficiently trained to keep alive their faith and their community, a faith which, like an invisible flame with its charity, nourishes and gives life to all the other actions of life. This situation, running the risk of weakening the faith, and consequently, the ability to bear witness to the Gospel, has unfortunately become a reality in most of the countries where, for centuries, the Christian faith has contributed to the upbuilding of culture and society.
9. The convocation of the Synod on the new evangelization and the transmission of the Faith is part of a determined effort to give new fervour to the faith and to the testimony of Christians and their communities. The decision to focus the synod's deliberations on this topic is, in fact, one element in a unified plan, the most recent occurrences of which have been the establishment of a dicastery for the promotion of the new evangelization as well as the proclamation of The Year of Faith. Consequently, the celebration of the Synod is expected to enliven and energize the Church in undertaking a new evangelization, which will lead to a rediscovery of the joy of believing and a rekindling of enthusiasm in communicating the faith. The question is not simply devising something new or undertaking unprecedented initiatives in spreading the Gospel, but living the faith in the spirit of it being a divine proclamation: "Mission renews the Church, revitalizes faith and the Christian identity, and offers fresh enthusiasm and new incentive. Faith is strengthened when it is given to others!" Instrumentum Laboris, “Introduction,” paragraphs 7 and 9

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

I will walk with blameless heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes whatever is base. (Psalm 101:3, Liturgy of the Hours, Morning Prayer).

COLLECT

Grant, O Lord,
that we may always revere and love Your Holy Name,
for You never deprive of Your guidance
those You set firm on the foundation of Your love.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

Faith – a living trust in the Person Jesus Christ – is presented in the Instrumentum Laboris as vital in addressing the concerns of present times that challenge the very constitution and identity of the human person. The Church recognizes that many Christians are rightly concerned about rectifying the ills of the age, but do not see the role that Faith has in such a transformation. It is as if human ingenuity, human prowess and collective brainstorming to develop various programs will be sufficient to create a human utopia.

Consider:

• How integral do I view the Gift of Faith for day-to-day living?
• How does Faith assist in being put-in-communion-with the Person, Jesus Christ?

Week 12, Monday. Evangelizing Thought of the Day

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

4. Many responses stressed the urgency for all of us to consider how the Church today is responding to her fundamental call to evangelize and to assess her resources in meeting today's challenges and avoid any danger of a dispersion of energy or fragmented efforts. Many particular Churches (dioceses, eparchies, Churches sui juris) and various episcopal conferences and synods of the Eastern Churches have for the past several years evaluated their programmes in proclaiming and witnessing to the faith. The responses provided an impressive list of initiatives undertaken by various ecclesial realities. Over the last ten years, a number of particular Churches have documented and planned pastoral projects on evangelization and its renewal. Programmes on the diocesan, national and continental levels have been designed to raise awareness and offer support. Training centres were also created for Christians called to engage in these projects.
5. Given the considerable number of initiatives and their reported positive and negative aspects — since not all the initiatives undertaken have produced the desired results — the convocation of the Synod is seen as a timely opportunity for the entire Catholic Church to listen, discern and, above all, give a unified response to what we are called to do. Hopefully, the upcoming synodal assembly will be an event to energize Christian communities and, at the same time, provide concrete answers to the many questions facing the Church today and the resources available in her evangelizing activity. The Synod is expected to be not only a source of encouragement but also the place to compare experiences and share observations on situations and approaches for action. Instrumentum Laboris, “Introduction,” paragraphs 4 and 5

PSALM for TODAY

Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us. (Psalm 60:7, Week 12, Monday Mass).

COLLECT

Grant, O Lord,
that we may always revere and love Your Holy Name,
for You never deprive of Your guidance
those You set firm on the foundation of Your love.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

The phrase “Many responses” or phrases of similar words abound in the text of the Instrumentum Laboris giving clear evidence that much in this document has been culled from responses sent to Rome since the emergence of the Lineamenta in March 2011. Such should assist all members of the Church to come to a greater awareness of each person’s role in the urgent work of the New Evangelization. None of us in the Church can afford the luxury of being a spectator because “so-and-so,” who always volunteers for things in the parish, will take care of this as well.

Paragraph 5 raises another important point for the work of the New Evangelization. How unified are the efforts of the Church (global, diocesan, parish) in the Mission Jesus has entrusted to her? While much great work is done on so many levels in the Church, the Instrumentum Laboris is raising a question that perhaps we need to ask ourselves – in the light of prayer and fasting – who are we as a Church? What is our essential reason for existence?

Consider:

• What ‘stake’ do I have in the work of the New Evangelization?
• What can I concretely contribute to this mission?
• Make a list of the activities of your parish.
• Do all the actions of the parish express a single, unified purpose for being?
• Do all the actions of the parish serve to bring people into communion with the Person, Jesus?

Week 12, Sunday. The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPT from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

This renewed dynamism in the Christian community will lead to renewed missionary activity (missio ad gentes), now more urgent than ever, given the large number of people who do not know Jesus Christ, in not only far-off countries but also those already evangelized.
By allowing themselves to be animated by the Holy Spirit, Christians will then be more attuned to their brothers and sisters who, despite being baptized, have drifted from the Church and Christian practice. The new evangelization is primarily directed to these people so that they can rediscover the beauty of their Christian faith and the joy of a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus in the Church and the community of the faithful. This Instrumentum laboris treats the afore-mentioned subjects and will serve as the agenda for the upcoming synodal assembly. The document is a summary of the responses to the questions in the Lineamenta, which were submitted by the synods of bishops from the Eastern Catholic Churches sui iuris, the episcopal conferences, the departments of the Roman Curia and the Union of Superiors General as well as other institutions and communities of the faithful, who wished to participate in the Church's reflection on the synod topic. Assisted by the Ordinary Council and the valuable contribution of experts, the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops prepared this document which describes many promising aspects of evangelization reflected in the Church on all five continents. At the same time, it proposes various topics for consideration so that the Church may continue to perform adequately her work of evangelization, while taking into account the many challenges and difficulties of the present moment. Encouraged by the Lord's words, "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me." (Jn 14:1) and clearly guided by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, the synod fathers are preparing themselves to reflect on these matters in an atmosphere of prayer, listening and affective and effective communion. They will not undertake this work alone; they will be accompanied by those continuing to pray for the synod. Looking to the communion of the Church Triumphant, the members of the XIII Ordinary General Assembly trust in the intercession of the saints, in particular the Virgin Mary, who is blessed because "she believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord" (Lk 1:45). The All-Good and Merciful God is constantly extending his hand to humanity and the Church and is always prepared to do justice for his elect, who are invited to grasp his hand and, in faith, seek his assistance. This situation should not be presupposed, as indicated by the forceful words of Jesus: "When the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Lk 18:8). Therefore, at the present time, the Church and all Christians need to repeat the following prayer over and over again: "I believe, help my unbelief!" (Mk 9:24). To ensure that this synodal assembly meets these expectations and the needs of the Church in our time, we invoke the grace of the Holy Spirit, whom God "has poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour" (Titus 3:6), and again call out to the Lord Jesus, "Increase our faith!" (Lk 17:5). Instrumentum Laboris, paragraphs 7 through 11

PSALM for TODAY

O God, you are my God; at dawn I seek you; for you my soul is thirsting. For you my flesh is pining, like a dry, weary land without water. I have come before you in the sanctuary, to behold your strength and your glory. (Psalm 63:2-3, Morning Prayer, Liturgy of the Hours).

COLLECT

O God, Who raised up Saint John the Baptist
to make ready a nation fit for Christ the Lord,
give Your people, we pray
the grace of spiritual joys
and direct the hearts of all the faithful
into the way of salvation and peace.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

The plea of the disciples to Jesus that opened this Preface, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5), is the same plea that brings the Preface to a close and expresses a core of the New Evangelization. In doing so, the Instrumentum Laboris expresses a particular approach to “faith” that may be ‘new’ to many ‘cradle Catholics:’ “a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus in the Church and the community of the faithful.” Faith is the Gift of relational living that flows from an encounter with the Person, Jesus Christ. Faith is not some-THING that I engage when I cannot explain various dimensions of Christian teaching. Faith is not a crutch that suspends intellectual curiosity or deeper probing into the heart of Divine Life and Mystery.

Consider:

• How does “Faith” – the relationship with the Lord Jesus in the Church affect and effect daily living?
• How might this approach to Faith alter the Church’s approach to religious formation for children and adults?
• What are the dangers of knowing about the Lord and His Church and not encountering Him as Person?

Week 11, Saturday

DAILY EXCERPT from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

These brief reflections on faith in the Gospels can help illustrate the topic of the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: "The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith". The importance given to the faith is further emphasized by the decision of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI to celebrate a Year of Faith, beginning on 11 October 2012, to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the twentieth anniversary of the publication of The Catechism of the Catholic Church. Both observances will take place during the celebration of the synod. Once again, the Lord's words to St. Peter the Apostle, the rock on which he built his Church, have particular meaning (cf. Mt 16:19): "But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren" (Lk 22:32). "The door of faith" (Acts 14:27) will again be open to all of us.
The goal of evangelization today is, as always, the transmission of the Christian faith. This task primarily concerns communities of Jesus' disciples which are organized into particular Churches, diocesan and eparchial, whose worshippers gather regularly for liturgical celebrations, hear the Word of God, celebrate the sacraments - especially the Eucharist - and look to pass on the treasure of faith to the members of their families, communities and parishes. They accomplish this task by proclaiming and bearing witness to the Christian life through the catechumenate, catechesis and works of charity. Evangelization in general is the everyday work of the Church. With the assistance of the Holy Spirit, this so-called ordinary evangelizing activity can be endowed with renewed vigor. New methods and new forms of expression are needed to convey to the people of today the perennial truth of Jesus Christ, forever new and the source of all newness. Only a sound and robust faith, witnessed in a poignant manner in the lives of the martyrs, can give impetus to many short-term or long-range pastoral projects, breathe new life into existing structures and spur a pastoral creativity to meet the needs of people today and the expectations of present-day society. Instrumentum Laboris, paragraphs 5 and 6

PSALM for TODAY

I call with all my heart; LORD, answer me. I will observe your statutes. I call upon you; save me, and I will keep your decrees. (Psalm 119:145-146, Morning Prayer, Liturgy of the Hours).

COLLECT

O God, strength of those who hope in You,
graciously hear our pleas,
and, since without You mortal frailty can do nothing,
grant us always the help of Your grace,
that in following Your commands
we may please You by our resolve and our deeds.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

Week 11, Friday. Memorial of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More

DAILY EXCERPT from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

Matthew's Gospel gives special attention to the account of Jesus' walking on the water and reaching the Apostles in the boat. After calming the Apostles' fear, he accepts the challenge of St. Peter: "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water" (Mt 14:28). At first, St. Peter walks towards Jesus on the water without any difficulty. "But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, 'O man of little faith, why did you doubt?'" (Mt 14:30-31). Afterwards, Jesus and St. Peter together get into the boat and the wind ceases. The disciples, witnesses to this great happening, prostrate themselves before the Lord and make a full profession of faith: "Truly you are the Son of God!" (Mt 14:33).
In our times, St. Peter's experience can be reflected in many of the faithful as well as entire Christian communities, especially in traditionally Christian countries. In fact, because of a lack of faith, various particular Churches are witnessing a decline in sacramental and Christian practice among the faithful to the point that some members can even be called "non-believers" (άπιστοι; cf. Mt 17:17; 13,58). At the same time, many particular Churches, after initially displaying a great enthusiasm, are now showing signs of weariness and apprehension in the face of very complex situations in today's world. Like St. Peter, they grow fearful of opposing forces and temptations of various kinds as well as challenges that surpass their human capabilities. But, just as salvation came to St. Peter from Christ alone, so too the faithful, when they become personally involved as members of an ecclesial community, can experience Christ's saving grace. Only the Lord Jesus can extend his hand and indicate the sure path in the journey of faith. Instrumentum Laboris, paragraphs 3 and 4

PSALM for TODAY

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your merciful love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me completely from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51:3-4, Morning Prayer, Liturgy of the Hours).

COLLECT

O God, Who in martyrdom
have brought true faith to its highest expression,
graciously grant
that, strengthened through the intercession
of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More
we may confirm by the witness of our life
the faith we profess with our lips.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

Today’s selection from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris sets us on the turbulent sea of Galilee and the changing times of contemporary society. On the Sea of Galilee and in the boat, Peter and his companions move from a vague grasp of Who Jesus is to a confession of faith. In our day, we are experiencing many who have moved from faith to a vague indifference that threatens both the relationship with Jesus and living His way of life. This relationship and unique way of living is the Gift of Faith, a Gift that is threatened by much in society, especially sin that is manifested, among other ways, as apathy and indifference. Such apathy and indifference often becomes the seed-bed of hostility.

1. The Instrumentum Laboris speaks about a “lack of Faith” causing a decline in Sacramental and Christian practices. What connection do you see between Faith and Sacraments and other aspects of Christian living?

2. How, with the Grace of the Holy Spirit, can we re-capture Sacraments as living encounters with the Person, Jesus Christ?

ETD - 21 June 2012

Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD): ““Increase our faith!” (Lk 17:5) is the Apostles' prayer to the Lord Jesus, when they realize that faith, which is a gift from God, is the only way of having a personal relationship with him and fulfilling their vocation as disciples. Their plea arose from an awareness that their limitations kept them from forgiving others. Faith is also needed in performing signs which illustrate the presence of the Kingdom of God in the world. Jesus used the fig tree, withered to its roots, to encourage his disciples. "Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" (Mk 11:22-24). St. Mark the Evangelist also emphasizes the importance of faith in accomplishing great works. "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and never doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea', it will be done" (Mt 21:21).

On various occasions, the Lord Jesus admonishes "the Twelve" for their lack of faith. To the question of why they were unable to cast out a demon, the Master responds: "Because of your little faith" (Δια την όλιγοπιστίαν ύμών) (Mt 17:20). On the Sea of Tiberias, before calming the storm, Jesus reproves his disciples: "Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?"(όλιγόπιστοι) (Mt 8:26). They were to entrust themselves to God and to Providence, and not worry about material things. "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?" (Mt 6:30; cf. Lk 12:28). A similar situation takes place before the multiplication of the loaves. Faced with the realization that the disciples had forgotten to take bread in crossing to the other side of the lake, the Lord Jesus says: "O men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?" (Mt16:8-9). Instrumentum Laboris: The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith (June 2012), Preface, paragraphs 1 and 2.”

When the Lineamenta: The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith (March 2011) was published, the document’s Preface began with the “Great Commissioning (Mt. 28:16-20)” and the imperative “Go into the whole world.” The Instrumentum Laboris begins with the disciples’ request for an increase of faith.

1). How do you describe faith?

2). What is significant about the Lineamenta beginning with the “Great Commissioning” and the Instrumentum Laboris beginning on the note of faith?

(Please share your responses via the Comment option).

Something new: “Evangelizing Thought of the Day” (ETD) and EADs

At the risk of adding another meaning to the abbreviation ETD (by some accounts, there are already 31), it seems a worthwhile undertaking to add another one. ETD, also known as “Evangelizing Thought of the Day,” will be a few tweets that link to a short blog entry, hopefully on a daily basis. The tweets will be short excerpts sequentially taken from the Instrumentum Laboris: New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith (19 June 2012), and a quote or two from the Scriptures proclaimed at Mass or prayed in the Liturgy of the Hours. Having studied (and continue to do so) the Lineamenta: New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith and worked with a few groups including a great group of seminarians from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary (Philadelphia), there is still much work to do in getting this message of evangelization out to the world, beginning with the evangelizing work the Holy Spirit wants to do in each of our lives that we may live the life of Jesus Christ Crucified more faithfully Whose life and love reveals the Father to us.

A point that has become crystal clear in studying the Lineamenta and now the Instrumentum Laboris is that everyone is tired of good words, meetings, and study that have not translated into transforming action. A character that I often appeal to in teaching theology to undergraduate is the “adult in a Charlie Brown” cartoon: blah, blah, blah; wah, wah, wah! The work of the New Evangelization cannot be about another vocabulary set of buzzwords and theology that only sounds great without any connection to life, especially the Life of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

A group I am part of presently is wonderful – they participate selflessly to learn something to help family and friends back to the Lord in His Church. They are reading, studying, praying and honestly discussing BUT – and it is a big BUT – they want something concrete to do that will make a difference in people’s lives, especially those who have drifted away from the Lord’s Body, His Church.

So … I propose that an ETD (Evangelizing Thought of the Day) become in the end an EAD: “Evangelizing Action for the Day.” This is not action for the sake of action, but action that flows from the prayer of the Church and good theology to serve the needs of fellow human beings. While I may offer a question for reflection that could lead to action, I invite members of the blog to offer comment. There are great, solid ideas that the Holy Spirit is stirring in ALL our hearts. One example from a parish group occurred at Christmas time when some parishioners sent specially worded prayer/Mass ‘Christmas’ cards inviting a few neighbors to Mass on Advent IV, followed by brunch at home and a willingness to accompany them to the communal Sacrament of Penance later that week. When asked “did it work?” and “how many came back?” she smiled and said, “I don’t know. That’s not my job to worry about the numbers. My home was full for brunch and I have been able to plant through His grace and the Lord will do the rest!” That is great wisdom and great action. I am hoping the comment section can be a great resource for all of us.

Synod of Bishops: New Evangelization

The Instrumentum Laboris (“working document”) for October’s Synod on the New Evangelization was released this morning in Rome. World-wide reflection on the Lineamenta released in March 2011 and responses sent to Rome have yielded quite an impressive document.

While the Instrumentum Laboris is a wonderful theological document that will give all who read it a deeper exposure to good theology, it is a document well worth spiritual reading AND pondering for these summer days.

As I have worked and continue to work with groups of people studying the Lineamenta, I have been most impressed with everyone's concern about not only their own spiritual life, but how to effectively witness to the life of Jesus Christ and help to bring people back to communion, encounter and relationship with Him.

Vatican news coverage of the release:
http://www.news.va/en/news/synod-2012-the-new-evangelization-for-the-transmis

Document itself: 
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/synod/documents/rc_synod_doc_20120619_instrumentum-xiii_en.pdf

Here is the Table of Contents/Outline:

Index

Preface iii

Introduction 1

The Point of Reference, 1

Expectations from The Synod, 2

The Topic of the Synodal Assembly, 3

From the Second Vatican Council to the New Evangelization, 4

The Format of the Instrumentum Laboris, 8

Chapter I

• Jesus Christ, The Good News Of God to Humanity, 11
• Jesus Christ, The Evangelizer, 12
• The Church, Evangelized And Evangelizing, 14
• The Gospel, A Gift for Every Person, 16
• The Duty to Evangelize, 18
• Evangelization and Church Renewal, 20

Chapter II

• Time for a New Evangelization, 23
• The Question of a “New Evangelization”, 24
• The Sectors of the New Evangelization, 27
• The New Frontier of the Communications Sector,  30
• Changes in the Religious Sector, 32
• Christians within these Sectors, 33
• Mission Ad Gentes, Pastoral Care and a New Evangelization, 37
• Parish Transformation and the New Evangelization, 38
• A Definition and Its Meaning, 40

Chapter III

• Transmitting the Faith, 45
• The Primacy of Faith, 46
• The Church Transmits the Faith Which She Herself Lives, 48
• The Pedagogy of the Faith, 49
• The Persons Involved in the Transmission of the Faith, 52
• The Family, The Model – Place for Evangelization, 54
• Called To Evangelize, 55
• Giving an Account for One’s Faith, 57
• The Fruits of The Faith, 59

Chapter IV

• Revivifying Pastoral Activity, 63
• Christian Initiation, an Evangelizing Process, 64
• The Demands of Initial Proclamation, 66
• Transmitting the Faith, Educating the Person, 70
• Faith and Knowledge, 71
• The Basis for an Evangelizing Pastoral Programme, 73
• The Centrality of Vocations, 74

Conclusion

• Jesus Christ, the Gospel Engendering Hope, 78
• The Joy of Evangelizing, 79

Here is the text from this morning’s statement given in the Vatican:

Vatican City, 19 June 2012 (VIS) - A press conference was held this morning in the Holy See Press Office to present the "Instumentum laboris" of the thirteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which is due to be held in the Vatican from 7 to 28 October on the theme: "The New Evangelisation for the Transmission of the Christian Faith". The document was presented by Archbishop Nikola Eterovic and Bishop Fortunato Frezza, respectively secretary general and under secretary of the Synod of Bishops.


The Synod Fathers, Archbishop Eterovic said, "will reflect upon the transmission of Christian faith, one of the great challenges facing the Church which will be examined in the context of new evangelisation. ... The work of the Synod will be enriched by its association with the Year of Faith", which begins on 11 October.


The secretary general of the Synod explained that the "Instumentum laboris" includes a preface, an introduction, four chapters and a conclusion. The Introduction brings together the views of episcopal conferences, which concur "on the need for new tools and new forms of expression to make the Word of God more understandable in the life of modern man. The Synod will hopefully be an opportunity to discuss and compare points of view and practical experiences, to be shared in order to provide encouragement to pastors and particular Churches".


The first of the four chapters, entitled "Jesus Christ the Good News of God to Humanity", reiterates "the central nucleus of Christian faith, of which many people are unaware, and presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the Good News for modern man. ... New evangelisation is an expression of the internal dynamism of Christianity, which wishes to make men and women of good will know the 'depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge' of the mystery of God revealed in Jesus Christ; it is not a weary response to the crisis of faith and the challenges facing the Church in the modern world".


Chapter two is entitled: "Time for a New Evangelisation". It focuses chiefly on "identifying the challenges evangelisation currently faces", and on "describing the new evangelisation. ... The new challenges to evangelisation in the contemporary world are described in various different scenarios. The Church is called to discern those scenarios, so 'that they might be turned into places for proclaiming the Gospel and experiencing the Church'. ...The work of new evangelisation aims at a renewal of the ordinary pastoral activity of particular Churches while, at the same time, seeking to arouse a new sensibility towards people who have left the Church. This requires a measure of evangelical creativity and boldness". The archbishop pointed out that almost all the responses received when preparing the document "highlighted the lack of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. This requires, among other things, strong pastoral care of vocations", he said.


Turning then to consider Chapter three, "Transmitting the Faith", Archbishop Eterovic noted that "the purpose of new evangelisation is the transmission of faith. The Church transmits the faith from which she herself lives, and all Christians are called to make their contribution. ... The obstacles to the faith can be within the Church (faith lived passively or privately, refusal to be educated in one's faith, separation between life and faith) or outside Christian life altogether (secularisation, nihilism consumerism, hedonism). ... The Year of Faith is a pressing appeal to conversion so that, transformed by grace, each individual Christian and each community may produce abundant fruits. This may include ecumenical commitment, the search for truth, inter-religious dialogue, and the courage to denounce infidelity and scandals within the Christian community".


The last chapter of the "Instrumentum laboris" is entitled "Revivifying Pastoral Activity" and focuses on "the transmission of faith ... by again emphasising the instruments developed through Tradition - in particular the first proclamation, Christian initiation and education - while seeking to adapt them to current cultural and social circumstances. ... From a theological point of view, we must better understand the sequence of the Sacraments of Christian initiation, which culminates in the Eucharist, and reflect on models to be translated into deeply meaningful pastoral practices".


The Conclusion of the document reaffirms that "new evangelisation means giving the reason for our faith, communicating the Logos of hope to a world which seeks salvation".

Ordinary Time, Week 11

ANTIPHON

O Lord, hear my voice, for I have called to You; be my help. Do not abandon or forsake me, O God, my Savior! (Psalm 27:7, 9)

COLLECT

O God, strength of those who hope in You,
graciously hear our pleas,
and, since without You mortal frailty can do nothing,
grant us always the help of Your grace,
that in following Your commands
we may please You by our resolve and our deeds.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Lord, it is good to give thanks to you. (Psalm 92:2).

GOSPEL EXCERPT

Jesus said to the crowds:
“This is how it is with the kingdom of God;
it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land
and would sleep and rise night and day
and through it all the seed would sprout and grow,
he knows not how.
Of its own accord the land yields fruit,
first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,
for the harvest has come.”

He said,
“To what shall we compare the kingdom of God,
or what parable can we use for it?
It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,
is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants
and puts forth large branches,
so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”
With many such parables
he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.
Without parables he did not speak to them,
but to his own disciples he explained everything in private (Mark 4:26-34).

REFLECTION

In a week that saw increased unemployment here in the United States, more threating economic instability in Europe, Catholic Bishops concluding a meeting and a dire walk that not only inspired but painted a new image for Saint Paul’s often quoted, “we walk by faith and not by sight,” we listen today to Gospel parables reflecting on how scattered seed grows and the perplexing fact of a small seed yielding a large shrub as many in the world honor Dad on a day that bears his name.

It is helpful to review previous posts concerning parables and the Kingdom of God particularly as they are used in the Gospels. That information helps us once again to focus on the lessons essential to “walk by faith and not by sight.” Also important by way of review are the previous 25 verses of this chapter in the Gospel according to Saint Mark. Jesus’ teaching in those verses and the text of this Sunday form an important foundation for the concluding episode of this chapter that asks a most haunting and elemental question of Christian living, “Who do you say I AM?”

As for the parables at hand, questions concerning ‘how’ and ‘quantity’ frame the presentation and invite pondering minds and hearts to reflect on the message of the Kingdom of the God. ‘How something works’ and ‘how big it is – or – how much of that item one has on hand’ are characteristics of a contemporary approach to life. When I can solve the enigma of how something works, I have a certain mastery over that given reality. I can then play with it, tweak it, adjust it, manipulate it according to my own whim or agenda. In contrast, the one who scattered the seed is oblivious to how the seed grows. He sleeps and the seed grows – not that there is a direct causal connection here but the fact is that in terms of the Kingdom, something happens even though I or others can not explain the how.

Consider the Parable of the Mustard Seed: in contemporary culture, especially Western cosmology ‘might makes right.’ If 1 is good, 2, 3 or 4 are even better. Statistics, actuary studies and numbering crunching often rule the day in terms of decision-making. Sadly, even the institutional Church from time to time falls prey to this way of thinking when decisions are made devoid of human interaction, contact and the light of the Gospel. Life according to brute facts or seemingly ‘objective’ numbers is not Kingdom living. This is not to say that one throws caution, prudence and stewardship to the wind. The reality of the Kingdom demands a different approach to life because as Kingdom living unfolds - the least significant is often the most significant, the little is great.

‘How’ and ‘quantity’ are just two aspects of these parables that Jesus casts within the context of mystery (see Mark 4:11). What is important here is that mystery is not a synonym for unknowable, even though this is the popular meaning of mystery. Within a Christian context or the context of Kingdom living, mystery is the approach one takes to living. Far from being primarily concerned about the unknowable, mystery in early Christianity and certainly later in the age of the Fathers of the Church is primarily about ‘the unfolding of life.’ Christian teachers ‘baptized’ the Greek approach to mystery which held that it was a term that best expressed being formed to live in a particular way. Christian Mystery expressed adventure, surprise and freedom because one approached life not as a reality to be controlled or quantified, but to be made known – hence the often used English word ‘unfolding’ to describe mystery in its most primal and essential meaning. True, even the early Christians knew there were dimensions of Kingdom living that they could not intellectually articulate. But this was not the reason for using the word mystery. They held, as we need to recapture, that mystery is a way of living the Kingdom where I am not in control. Life is lived in the mode of response free from the pressure to break it down and figure it out or to quantify it into managerial segments that I orchestrate. The Mystery of the Kingdom is to sleep in the Lord and rejoice gratefully in the growth and life that unfolds to build-up the Body of Christ here-and-now.

Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

ANTIPHON

He fed them with the finest wheat and satisfied the with honey from the rock (Psalm 80:17).

COLLECT

O God, Who in this wonderful Sacrament,
have left us a memorial of Your Passion
grant us, we pray,
so to revere the Sacred Mysteries of Your Body and Blood
that we may always experience in ourselves
the fruits of Your redemption.
Who live and reign with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

SCRIPTURE

Brothers and sisters:
When Christ came as high priest
of the good things that have come to be,
passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle
not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation,
he entered once for all into the sanctuary,
not with the blood of goats and calves
but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
For if the blood of goats and bulls
and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes
can sanctify those who are defiled
so that their flesh is cleansed,
how much more will the blood of Christ,
who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God,
cleanse our consciences from dead works
to worship the living God.
For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant:
since a death has taken place for deliverance
from transgressions under the first covenant,
those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:11-15).

REFLECTION

Where do we begin on this Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ? Is there anything we can comprehend about Jesus’ complete gift of Himself to us? Deep, mind-spinning questions often flood our minds when we ponder the Mystery of Christ’s Body and Blood even momentarily. We get ‘stuck’ on questions such as “How can this be (remember somebody else early in Luke's Gospel asking this question)?” How can can I comprehend and explain transubstantiation? If this is true, why do so few participate in the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist? Since the Holy Eucharist is a mystery and therefore I will never understand completely, why waste time talking and reading about this?

The questions are not necessarily bad or wrong, just misdirected. Theological questions are good provided they keep us responding to the Living, Loving God with lives that give evidence of charity and service. The difficulty is that many of our questions want ‘to figure things out’ and once we ‘think’ we have figured things out, we stop searching for meaning because we think we have mastered the mystery of the unknown.

Wonderfully, Church’s rich heritage of liturgical music offers us an insight from the experience of worship and devotion. Our repertoire of sacred chant and music stirs the mind and heart, creating an environment ready to receive and to cooperate with the abundance of life and love the Holy Spirit showers upon us daily. Take, for example, the hymn Ave verum corpus. Even though historians debate the author, (some say Saint Thomas Aquinas, others Pope Innocent III, IV or perhaps even V), the text offers some points for reflections appropriate for today’s Solemnity.

“Ave, verum corpus natum de Maria Virgine,” - Hail, true body born of the Virgin Mary: Jesus is a real Person, period. He is not a myth. He is not a fictitious person of an imaginary story. Even before pondering His Presence in the Most Holy Eucharist, we have to ask ourselves, ‘do I (and we as a community of faith) believe that Jesus Christ is a real Divine Person Who once lived among us at a particular time and in a particular place with both divine and human natures (the Mystery of the Incarnation)?’ Do I believe this Person preached and lived a new way of life called the Kingdom of God that called one to daily conversion and belief? Do I adore Him as the God-man, the High Priest Who, in the words from Hebrews "cleanses our consciences from dead works to worship the living God?"

“Vere passum immolatum in Cruce pro homine,” - Who truly suffered, sacrificed on the Cross for man: Jesus’ message of Kingdom living cost Him His human life as an innocent victim. His life among us was eminently self-less. Do I (and we as a community of faith) live sacrificially or is life on my terms? Do I project and live an attitude of entitlement? Do I charitably serve the needs of others as Jesus did in His ministry?

“Cujus latus perforatum unda fluxit et sanguine,” - Whose pierced side overflowed with water and blood: Even in death, Jesus gives life and blesses us with His Presence: water (the Gift of Baptism) and blood (the Gift of the Most Holy Eucharist). How often have I considered the 'price' Jesus paid for our salvation? Do I recognize and reverence His Presence in the people around me?

“Esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine.” - Be for us a foretaste in the test of death: Jesus teaches with His life that there is more to life than what we see around us. The goodness of life in the here-and-now is temporary. We live fully in the present knowing that our lives are being drawn to an eternity of life and love, or as Hebrews states, "the promised eternal inheritance." Hence, do I live with a view towards the eternity of life with Father, Son and Holy Spirit – OR – do “I want it all, and I want it now?” Do I assist others in helping them to live Jesus’ life?

In the end, this Solemn Day reminds us that the Gift of the Most Holy Eucharist, similar to last week's celebration of the Most Holy Trinity, is not a thing to be figured out, but a Person Who calls us as His Body to be in communion with Him as we joyfully, charitably and selflessly serve Him in one another.

PREFACE: THE FRUITS OF THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation
always and everywhere to give You thanks,
Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.

For at the Last Supper with His Apostles,
establishing for the ages to come the saving
memorial of the Cross,
He offered Himself to You as the unblemished Lamb,
the acceptable Gift of perfect praise.
Nourishing You faithful by this Sacred Mystery,
You make them holy, so that the human race,
bounded by one world, may be enlightened by one faith
and united by one bond of charity.

And so, we approach the table of this wondrous Sacrament,
so that, bather in the sweetness of Your grace,
we may passover to the heavenly realities here foreshadowed.

Therefore, all creatures of heaven and earth
sing a new song in adoration, and we,
with all the host of Angels, cry out,
and without end end we acclaim: