By: Bernadette Parrott
Welcome to our Faith Renewal Series that is exploring The ABCs of Being Catholic. We are invited on a journey through the alphabet to explore Catholic terms, beliefs, and traditions. In this post we focus on the letter “B”. Each day we will add another term beginning with “B” to this post.
If you missed our Introduction to this series <click here>. To go back to the letter “A” <click here>. To go forward to the letter “C” <click here>.
Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament
November 12, 2020
Every Wednesday and Friday in the Churches of the Catholic Parishes of Penticton we are offered this intimate opportunity to be in the presence of our Lord as He comes before us. We recall Jesus’ question to his Apostles – ‘….can you not watch with me one hour?’ (Matthew 26:40)
Following Adoration of our Lord, comes another moment of prayer led by our priest. During Benediction, while we kneel (during these uncertain times we are invited to sit or kneel in humility before our God), the monstrance may be incensed, an appropriate Eucharistic song may be sung, and prayers are offered and led by the priest. Following Benediction, the Divine Praises are recited.
Again, there is so much richness in the practices of our faith, I invite everyone to come and experience it for themselves and then, if necessary, to ask – why – why does Father do that?!
The Divine Praises were first composed to make reparation for blasphemy and profane language.
Following the Divine Praises, there is an appropriate song sung and Our Lord is returned to the Tabernacle.
I am not a scholar. Please permit, though to share my personal thoughts on the Divine Praises with you.
The Divine Praises
Blessed be God.
May every word I utter praise God, the Almighty, my Father, Creator of all things, and sustainer of my life
Blessed by his holy name.
May I always remember the name of God is holy and when I speak His name may it always be in reverence, for it is above all other names.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
May I always remember He was in the beginning, that His feet walked upon this earth, that He experienced all that I will experience and He is my brother. I am welcome through heaven’s doors because of his sacrifice.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
May I temper my words and receive blessings when I utter His Holy Name, the name that heals, performs miracles and calls to me. May my prayer always be ‘and Holy, Holy, Holy is His Name.”
Blessed be his most Sacred Heart.
May I remember that His Sacred Heart burns for love of me and that I am called to his tender mercy and forgiveness. This Sacred Heart was pierced because He loved me so very much, broken because I have sinned, and is open because he wants to always be united in His tender love with me.
Blessed be his most Precious Blood.
May I remember that His Blood was poured out for me. Blood poured out when He was pierced, blood that fell in the Garden, blood that fell at the Crucifixion, blood that fell at the whipping, beatings and placing of the Crown of Thorns. At the Sacrifice of the Mass, this Precious Blood becomes present before me. His Most Precious Blood.
Blessed by Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar
May I always remember that He comes to me as Sacrament. I relive His Sacrifice. I am united with all of Heaven at this Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. It is this gift that brings me to everlasting life. This precious gift of Jesus.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Sent to me by Jesus, gifting me with the graces I need to find my way through my life here on earth with fearless devotion and zeal for my God.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Immaculate Mary, thy praises I sing! You held the child in your arms when he was born and again when he died. May I always remember that I can turn to you and offer prayers for my children to your tender care.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
May I remember that God preserved you from sin, that you are pure and holy and that I can turn to you when I fall away from your Son.
Blessed be her Glorious Assumption.
May I see in your Assumption, a glimpse of the joy in heaven when I return to God.
Blessed be the Name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is With Thee. Blessed are you among women! You experienced the joy and the pain of motherhood. Yet, God was with you always. May I remember that you are Holy Mary, Mother of God.
Blessed be St Joseph, her most chase spouse.
May I remember that this holy man, the foster father of Jesus Christ was a model for fatherhood and for husbands. May I never take for granted the gift of my own husband, the sacrifices of own husband and the example of St. Joseph.
Blessed be God in his angels and in His saints.
May I quiet myself so I can walk with Angels and Saints. Angels who aid in my battle against evil and protect me as I journey through my life. Angels and Saints who intercede for me, who carry my prayers. Saints who have come before me and are models for me.
Blessed are you, O Lord, my God. Holy is your name. Great is your mercy that you show to me. I offer you my praise, my worship, my thanksgiving, the whole of my life.
Beatification (and Canonization)
November 11, 2020
God is watching us
I guess the question for today is, can I become a saint?
Well, we’ll save saints for “S”, but let’s touch on the process of becoming a Saint just a bit.
I would like to introduce you to Carlo Acutis. In October 2006, he died of leukemia. He was 15 years old.
This teenager and gifted computer programmer was a pious child, attended daily Mass, frequently prayed the rosary and went to confession weekly. In 2018 Pope Francis offered him as a model of holiness in a digital age.
His mother shared with the world that “Jesus was the center of his day,” and that “Carlo really had Jesus in his heart, really the pureness…When you are really pure of heart, you really touch people’s hearts.”
Carlo had a great devotion to the Eucharist and Eucharistic miracles and used his gifts and abilities to create a website that traced the history of Eucharistic miracles.
As his leukemia progressed, he offered his suffering for Pope Benedict XVI and for the church.
For one to be Beatified, there is a call made by the people. This petition was made shortly after his death. In February 2013, Cardinal Angelo Scola began the process of the examination of his life, his virtues, his call to holiness – every aspect of his life was examined. In May of 2013, the formal introduction to the cause took place and Carlo became titled a “Servant of God”. The investigation of his life concluded in November of 2016. On July 5, 2018, Pope Francis confirmed his life as one of heroic virtue and declared him Venerable.
The miracle that paved the way for his beatification involved the healing of a Brazilian child in 2013 through the intercession of Carlo Acutis. He was beatified October 10, 2020 in Assisi, Italy at 4:00 pm at the Basilica of Saint Francis and is known as Blessed Carlo Acutis.
Before he is elevated to Saint, one more miracle will need to be attributed through his intercession. Beatification allows veneration of the Blessed, canonization requires it. Canonization of a Saint is celebrated at St Peter’s.
I pray that as God watches me, he sees holiness and virtue and kindness, but I know he also sees me in my humanity with my faults and failings. May our loving God, forgive me my failings so I too may join the Saints in Heaven.
Bible
November 10, 2020
Speak Lord, for your servant is listening
1 Samuel 3:10
The word “Bible” comes from the Greek word “biblia” meaning “books”. Our Catholic Bible consists of 46 Books in the Old Testament and 27 Books in the New Testament. It is for us the Word of God, the principal author being the Holy Spirit who inspired human authors to write down in their own words and in the manner and style of the day, what He wanted them to write. He guided the authors to write faithfully what they had been taught of faith and morals.
Divided into two Testaments (covenants) between God and his people – Old and New distinguishing between the Jewish tradition and the Christian tradition.
I find it inviting that it is a collection of ‘books’. I may enjoy reading one ‘style’ of writing over another, and so this collection of writings will speak to me, if I open my heart to listen.
Written over a period of 1,000 years from 900 BC to 100 AD, it is believed to have been written in Palestine, Babylon, Egypt, Rome and Corinth, and in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.
So many years ago. Are these words still meaningful to me today? Yes, because God is still speaking to us. He is inviting us into a conversation with Him. He is inviting us into a Covenant. He is inviting us into a personal relationship with Him.
How much do you know about your best friend? I know for me, I can call them my “besties” because I trust them, I share my life with them, I laugh, cry, and celebrate with them. They know me, they know my secrets, they know my faults and failings and my strengths. And despite this, they love me. And so it is with God. Through Scripture, through the words of the Bible, we will get to know God, get to know how our friendship with Him can flourish. Through the opening of this Word we will be able to turn to Him in times of laughter, tears and celebrations. We can turn to the Word with all our faults and failings and strengths.
The Bible is the roadmap through our lives. We’ll find the way to live through law, history, poetry, instructions, prayer, lessons, encouragement and perhaps some gentle scolding.
If you choose to read through the Bible, I encourage you to read it with a good Bible companion guide. It will help with understanding the terminology, the time it was written at, who it was written to and will help to put it into context for you.
Of course, come to Mass – experience the Word proclaimed aloud and experience the opening of the Word through the Homily of the priest saying Mass.
I invite you to have in your home a “Family Bible”. I invite you to open it, read from it, pray through it. One practice that is surprisingly inspiring is on any given day to randomly open it to a page, close your eyes and point. Where you finger lands,
Exclaim aloud “speak Lord, for your servant is listening”
Then, read, reflect and pray. What is God saying to you?
Basilica
November 8, 2020
Please permit me to bring you back to August 2017, and our three day visit to Rome. It was the summer of ‘hell’ – the temperatures ranged from 37-45 throughout Europe, and we were there!
After visiting the sites of the city, we were excited for our day at Vatican City: A visit with the Pope for his weekly address and then a tour of St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums. Of course, as a travel professional, I had done my research and thought I was prepared for the day ahead of us. I was mistaken. Although, always present in my life, I was not prepared for the extraordinary spiritual nature of this day.
A basilica is a church designated by the Pope carrying the highest permanent designation for a church building. Its width is never greater than one half of its length. It’s divided into three parts by columns with a well-lit central part that rises higher than the rest of the floor. At its entrance is the lobby area, called the narthex. Oh, it’s so much more than this clinical description.
In St Peter’s Square you will find a large obelisk that was brought from Egypt. In AD 67, St Peter was executed in the Circus of Nero near the foot of this obelisk.
The grounds are sweeping, the basilica marked with 126 statues of saints each standing 12 feet high, each welcoming us to enter. The large brass doors depict the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary. There are five main doors. Over the front entrance is the Loggia della Benedizione, from which the Pope imparts benediction. The first of the five entrances is the Porta Santa, opened only during the Holy Year. Its nave (the main body of the church) is the longest in the world. I felt small, yet still a part of this place. Looking at St Peter’s Basilica for me was looking at the Rock that Jesus left here on earth, a real part of this universal Catholic Church I belong to.
When you enter the basilica, it is sparse, save for the people. Along the side aisles are small chapels, tombs and relics and statues. Seeing the tomb of John Paul II, St Peter and so many more, was a moment of clarity for me. Here are the tombs of ordinary people, chosen to be extraordinary in their own way. They answered ‘yes’ the call of our Lord. It was reminder to me that I too am being called in the ordinary of my life to be extraordinary: to be a disciple of our Lord.
One can simply ignore this truly beautiful church and ‘tour’ through it in about one hour, or one can choose to spend time with the saints, martyrs and with our Lord. At one far end is Michelangelo’s breathtaking and heartbreaking Pieta. It’s tough to get close to as so many people clamour to get the picture and then leave. We stopped as long as we could but couldn’t get very close. The warmth and tenderness of Mary as she holds the body of her Son is compelling and brought tears to my eyes.
The High Altar is covered by an ornamented canopy which was completed in AD 1633. If you take the time to look up, you find a depiction of the Holy Spirit hovering above the Altar. I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. Beneath this High Altar is the tomb of St Peter.
There’s large bronze statue of St Peter and if you look closely you will see that his foot has been worn down and polished by the millions of people who have passed by and kissed the foot of St Peter.
95 lamps burn night and day leading below to the sarcophagus of the Popes, Saints and Martyrs of the Church.
Today, as I come to Mass at our local Parish church, I am reminded that I am not just a parishioner here, I belong – I belong to all the Catholic Churches of the world for I am a Catholic.
There are four major basilicas – all in Rome:
- St John Lateran, the oldest and highest ranked basilica in Rome. The Altar of the Holy Sacrament contains the table that is said to have been used by Jesus and his Apostles for the Last Supper.
- St Peter’s, the largest church in the world. Most of its façade was made from stone which came from the Colosseum. The tomb of St Peter is located directly below the High Altar
- St Paul Outside the Walls, stands over the burial place of St Paul.
- St Mary Major, the largest Catholic Marian Church of Rome. The “Crypt of the Nativity”, or “Bethlehem Crypt” located beneath the High Altar, holds a crystal reliquary which is said to contain wood from the Holy Crib of Jesus Christ.
I thought I would also just take a quick moment to mention the difference between a basilica and a cathedral. A cathedral is the home church for the bishop or archbishop of a Catholic diocese. It takes its name from the bishop’s chair, called a cathedra in Latin.
“All the world’s a stage” (William Shakespeare)…perhaps. “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” (Laurie London) – definitely. And I live in this beautiful world and worship my God in this beautiful world. And contained in it are opportunities to be a witness, to experience the richness of our faith. Where do you find your inspiration – your desire to worship?
Beatitudes
November 7, 2020
These eight blessings are the promise of happiness if we faithfully accept the teaching of Jesus and follow his divine example. Jesus never promised that entry into the Kingdom of Heaven would be easy, but he did promise great joy.
Let’s go to Galilee, to a hill in northern Israel. There is a large crowd following Jesus and I find myself drawn to this man, to His Word. I walk with this crowd trying to catch a glimpse of Jesus, to hear Him speak His Word of Love, His Word of Peace. I notice he ascends a mountain and has sat down; I strain to listen – He is speaking to all of us – to me!
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
- Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
- Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
- Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
- Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
- Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Oh my – I like what He’s saying with Blessed am I, but He’s asking a lot of me. How am I to respond to this? Will I stay and follow Him, or will I leave after hearing this message?
The Beatitudes are a set of guides, attitudes necessary to live an authentic Christian life. They share with us how to deal with poverty, hunger, sorrow and oppression. Through them, we rely again, on the gifts of the Holy Spirit within us, for we cannot take this journey without them, and the reward is: Heaven – life everlasting.
We are invited to draw closer to God, to confront moral choices, to purify our hearts and to seek the love of God above all else. As you can see, they are not law, as the 10 Commandments are, but they do require a self-sacrificing love on our behalf. It is through the Beatitudes that the Law truly is written on our hearts. If we respond, then we are assured authentic fulfillment and lasting happiness.
Each Beatitude stresses a different aspect of Christ’s saving mission from the Father. In effect they give us a fresh interpretation of how the Commandments are to be understood. We are promised the Kingdom of God.
- Poor in sprit – kingdom of heaven
- Everything we have comes from our Creator. We are called to depend on Him and turn to him for all our needs. Physical wealth will find no meaning here.
- Meek – inherit the earth
- I am challenged to be gentle and humble. To have the strength and courage to be gentle and to suffer out of love as Jesus did.
- Mourn – comforted
- Jesus wept. When we truly love others, their sorrows sadden us to the point when we reach to them in comfort, in love and in prayer. We feel their pain as if it was ours.
- Hunger and thirst for justice – satisfied
- We are called to action. We are called to bring God’s kingdom to our world, to live by the values Jesus taught so that the desire for friendship with God drives us to seek justice and righteousness for those who are suffering injustice.
- Merciful – obtain mercy
- “Forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). We are called to imitate Jesus and to have a heart for others. We are called to live the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
- Clean of Heart – see God
- We are called to bring Jesus to the center of our lives so that every action, every word, every thought spring from Him. Our heart is pure, and we shall see God.
- Peacemaker – children of God
- “My peace I leave you, my peace I give to you” (John 14:27-28). Take a deep breath and let that one consume you. If the peace of Jesus is with us, then we too can bring peace into our homes, into our community and we become children of God.
- Suffer persecution for the sake of justice – Kingdom of Heaven
- If we live the Gospel seriously and our faith unfailingly, we will be persecuted. We will be hurt by the words and the actions of others. Yet, when done with love, God is watching us and will welcome us into His Kingdom.
The Beatitudes – Open my heart to your love, O Lord.
Baptism
November 6, 2020
I took into consideration several ideas as to where to begin…and just as we started “A” with Adoration, I believe a good way to begin “B” at the beginning with Baptism.
This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
(Matt 3:17)
Matthew 3:13-17 brings us to the Baptism of Jesus. Jesus comes to His cousin John seeking baptism at the Jordan River. Immediately, John recognizes Him and after speaking with Jesus, agrees to baptize Him. We are told that the “heavens were opened” and a voice came from the heavens. I love this image and this story of the Baptism of Jesus. Imagine yourself in two situations:
- First you are standing on the shore of the Jordan River, witnessing the Baptism so many people that came to John for the repentance of their sins through baptism: a response to the call of God for a change of heart and conduct; a call to turn their lives away from sin and towards God. As you are there, a single man comes forward, works his way through the crowd and stands at the shore. John stops. What did he experience at that moment – great joy? Great hesitation? Great relief? Great humility? Why are you coming to me, he asks and Jesus’ reply “allow it now, for it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness”….Jesus enters the water, and is baptised. This crowd witnesses this event, and Jesus is accepted by them through it. But something extraordinary happens – a voice is heard “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
- Secondly, imagine yourself standing in the Jordan River. You have been welcoming and baptizing a large crowd of people for many days. Over that time, did those faces blend into one endless stream or were you able to see the joy in each face and rejoice in God’s great mercy? Then, suddenly, one man, one face, becomes so clear, so in focus, it is all you can see. It is your Lord. All you want to do is to change places with Him, and yet He asks of you to submit to His will and to baptize him. And then, you hear this voice “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Then, just as quickly, without anything further, this one man after he has risen from the water, leaves and goes into the desert, and you are left there.
Jesus’ baptism was a moment of decision, a moment of identification, a moment of approval and a moment of empowerment.
He had been living a quiet life and yet a time had to be chosen for Jesus to answer God’s call. This was His moment. Part of Jesus’ mission was to be identified with the needs of God’s people: you and I; to return to God. He could only accomplish this by merging His will to the purpose of God’s. This is His moment of identification. At His baptism, Jesus hears His Father’s loving voice as He submits to God’s will. “This is my beloved Son…” This is the moment of His approval. Jesus did not enter into His ministry alone. We are told in Matthew 3:16, that “Jesus saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon Him”. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. From that moment the Spirit directed Jesus’ will and purpose. He was His strength and power. This was Jesus’ moment of empowerment.
Just as Jesus began His ministry after His baptism, so we too are called at our Baptism. For us this is a Sacrament, instituted by Christ (Matthew 28:19-20). The first of the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church, we are cleansed of all sin and reborn and sanctified in Christ to everlasting life.
The symbols of Baptism – water, oil, fire, white garment and godparent are part of the richness of this Sacrament. Through the water, we emerge with a new life, a child of God. Through the oils we are anointed as part of the priesthood – a witness called, of healing, of holiness. Through fire we are reminded that we live in the light of Christ. Through the white garment we put on the outside sign of that new life, of that purity, for we are putting on Christ. Through our godparents we are connected to the family of God – through those members of God’s Church.
Our Baptism removes all guilt of sin, removes all punishment due to sin, infuses us with sanctifying grace as we are freely given the virtues of faith, hope and charity. The gifts of the Holy Spirt descend upon us. We are marked as a child of God. A mark left forever on our souls.
This incredible moment of our Baptism lays the foundation for the whole of our Christian life. With a few words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”, we have answered God’s call, we have identified our need to return to the Father, we have heard the voice of God welcoming us as a beloved child, and we have opened our hearts to allow the Holy Spirit to work within us, to be our constant guide and companion on the journey.
Baptism – what joy must fill Heaven with every one of them!
If you missed our Introduction to this series <click here>. To go back to the letter “A” <click here>. To go forward to the letter “C” <click here>.