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. Last week we had a special post that reflected on “Holy Week”. In this post we focus on the letter “L”.
If you missed our Introduction to this series <click here>. To go back to the “Holy Week” post <click here>. To go to the letter “M” post <click here>.
Litany
April 15, 2021
This beautiful form of prayer consists of a series of petitions that are sung or said by a priest, deacon, or leader, and to which we respond.
They have a definite structure:
- first the invocation of the persons of the Trinity,
- second the petitions are sung or said,
- three invocations of the Lamb of God
- closing prayer that summarizes the petitions.
Let’s take a look at the most common of the Litanies.
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This beautiful Litany was approved by Pope Sixtus V in 1587 and again by Pope Clement VIII in 1601. As time has progressed, other titles of Mary have been added by other Popes. Our response is: Pray for us.
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/litany-of-the-blessed-virgin-262
Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus. This moving Litany includes invocations expressing the attributes of our Savior. It is commonly ascribed to St. Bernardino of Siena and St. John Capistran and was approved in 1862 by Pope Pius IX and again 1886 by Pope Leo XIII. Our responses include: Have mercy on and deliver us.
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/litany-to-the-most-holy-name-of-jesus-268
Litany of St. Joseph. This Litany is a series of invocations of the foster father of Jesus. It was approved by Pope St. Pius X in 1909. It is composed of 21 invocations expressing the virtues and dignity of St Joseph. Our response is: Pray for us.
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/litany-of-st-joseph-247
Litany of the Precious Blood. This humbling Litany is a series of invocations of the Savior, through His Precious Blood. It was approved by Pope John XXIII in 1960. There are 24 petitions, each beginning with the term “Blood of Christ”. Our response is “Save us.”
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/litany-of-the-most-precious-blood-of-jesus-248
Litany of the Sacred Heart. This prayerful Litany calls upon the Sacred Heart of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. It was approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1899. It contains 33 invocations of the Heart of Jesus each of them reflecting on an aspect of God’s love symbolized by the physical Heart of Christ, the Son of God, who became man and died out of love for sinful mankind. Our response is Have Mercy on Us.
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/teachings/litany-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus-270
Litany of the Saints. This beautiful Litany is believed to the most ancient of the litanies used in the Church. It was prescribed by Pope Gregory the Great in 590 in thanksgiving at the end of a plague that had devasted Rome. It includes petitions addressed to various saints of different classes and to Mary, the Queen of the Saints. It invokes 48 individual saints and 13 groups of saints and includes 30 intercessions. Our responses include: “Pray for us, Lord, save your people and Lord, hear our prayer.”
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/litany-of-the-saints-250
In the moments that I allow myself to melt into these prayers I find peace, humility, and an intimacy with my God. These are the times that I permit myself to quiet my life and spend it in prayer.
What do you find in moments of prayer especially with the Litany prayers of the Church?
Last Supper
April 12, 2021
Again, we take time to look back, but not too far back. Just to Holy Thursday. Still fresh in our minds.
It saddens me a little to know that only a few people really recognize the incredible holiness of this first day of Triduum. We see that reflected somewhat in the number of parishioners diocese wide that participate in this most Holy Mass.
Yet, it is during this Last Supper of Our Lord that he gives us the gift of Holy Eucharist – of Himself. It is during the Last Supper of Our Lord that he institutes the priesthood. It is during the Last Supper of Our Lord that He shares with His Apostles and with us, the teaching on the Holy Trinity and Christian charity. And it is after this Last Supper of Our Lord that he goes to the Garden of Gethsemane and to His Agony in the Garden.
Let’s take a look at the Last Supper. Commemorating and recalling the Exodus, the Passover meal is deeply rooted in Jewish Tradition. It is because of this communal celebration that Jesus gathers with his friends and family in Jerusalem. For us, the Eucharist, given to us at the Last Supper, is an extension of the communal sharing of a meal. Yet, it is far more than just us sharing a meal – it is all of us coming together sharing our belief in the Kingdom of God, remembering Jesus’ life and sacrifice and then, at the end of the meal, making a commitment to go forth. Jesus becomes the lamb sacrificed and eaten.
As always, let’s put ourselves in the story. I like to imagine what really was going through the minds of the Apostles. Coming into Jerusalem, although they entered with fear in their hearts for Jesus’ life, (what were the Apostles thinking at this time?) The Apostles have asked Jesus where he would like to go and eat the Passover Meal. Jesus instructs them and the “Upper Room” is prepared for them according to the rites associated with the Passover Meal. They gather together say the prayers, drink the wine, break the bread. Not eaten is the lamb, for it will be sacrificed the next day at 3:00 pm. (What were the Apostles thinking about eating early without the lamb?)
Remarkably during this meal, Jesus steps outside of the expected. Traditionally there are four cups that are shared during the Passover meal. Yet, Jesus again steps out of the expected with the third cup, the cup of blessing: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you” (Lk. 22:20) (What were the apostles thinking about?)
The command of Our Lord is the command of the Last Supper that must have had the Apostles thinking again!
Take this all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body…
Take this all of you, and drink from it for this is the chalice of my blood…
Do this in memory of me.’ (Roman Missal, Eucharistic Prayers)
And this we do at every Mass which he instituted for us this very night.
This farewell meal – this Last Supper of Our Lord, was not meant to be the old Passover meal. It was meant to be a new one. Through it, Jesus fulfills and completes the Old Testament prophesies. The old Passover meal was not celebrated in its fullness for the Jews, yet it clearly gives us a glimpse into the sacrifice of Jesus – the death of the first-born son, as it was at the time of Exodus. Yet, this time, the blood did not spare the Son, it has spared each of us.
Who will you want to celebrate your last supper with?
By the grace of God, it will be Jesus.
He indeed is our Viaticum. Our food for the journey.
Here’s the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci I took at our recent visit to Milan.
Laity
April 9, 2021
Here we are. Called to be priests, prophets and kings. How can that be? It is because of our baptism.
The faithful, you and I, not called to Holy Orders, and not belonging to a religious state approved by the Church, go about our daily lives. Each of us is called to the common priesthood, called to worship. Each of us are called to speak God’s words, by our deeds and actions, to be a witness of Christ. Each of us have redemption in Christ and are called to continue His ministry of service and love. This is the call of our common baptism – priest, prophet and king.
Because of our Baptism and Confirmation, we have the right and duty to preach the Gospel. That doesn’t necessarily mean we stand on the street corner holding signs and placards and using a microphone (although we certainly could!). It does mean that our lives should reflect the Gospel. That our words, our actions preach for us.
We, as laity, are called to use the Gifts of the Holy Spirit for the betterment of the world we live in. We are called to consecrate the world to God by living a holy life – daily. We are invited to become active participants in the ministries of the Church – a Lector, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, a Greeter, a Sacristan, serving at the Altar of the Lord. Perhaps we are being called to be a catechist, sharing our faith with those who are seeking it. Perhaps we look for assisting in Parish Council, Finance Committee, or Pastoral Councils. All that we need to do is ask – “Can I help?”
Our vocation in life sets the stage – single, married, working, unemployed, mother, father, brother, sister, friend. Each physical relationship we have on earth is an extension of the spiritual relationship we have with God. Each relationship is an invitation to evangelize, to share God’s holiness, God’s love for us.
Beyond all this we are called to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Today, this may mean to you coming to Mass in our cars, or sitting in chairs outside, braving the weather, or, as a last resort, participating by watching a live-streamed Mass. Each of these encounters tells the world “I am a Catholic – it’s Sunday – and I’m going to celebrate the Holy Mass!”
As laity, our example is a powerful witness.
Go – be a witness – to the ends of the earth!
Laetare Sunday
April 5, 2021
Father Obi briefly spoke about its significance during the Season of Lent as he celebrated Mass. With our Lenten Observance now over and our joy of Easter filling our lives, I still thought it good to look back.
Laetare Sunday is indeed the Fourth Sunday of Lent. Laetare meaning “Rejoice. (Much like its Advent counterpart Gaudete Sunday). As it is mid-Lent rose coloured vestments can replace the traditional purple ones, flowers are permitted on the altar (did you notice them!) and the organ can be played.
Our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving bring us into the presence of God, as we reach for God, reach within ourselves and reach out to our brothers and sisters. Lent is a time of intensity as we recall the extreme sacrifice of Jesus and our salvation. Strictly speaking, the Thursday before Laetare Sunday is the middle of Lent. Recognized now universally on Sunday, it is a time of joy during a time of penance. It is meant as a reminder that God is our joy.
Our Catholic faith is so rich is traditions and customs. We look back on this Lenten Season we have journeyed through. We have offered up to God our prayers, fasting and almsgiving so that our sacrifices may well up in us the desire to seek Him more deeply. Our RCIA candidates have celebrated their Rite of Election and Rite of Lenten Renewal. They have celebrated their Scrutinies which aid them in their battle against sin and they now wait in God’s loving arms to receive their Sacraments of Initiation. We have prayed the Litany to St. Joseph and now pray together the Divine Mercy Novena. We have reflected upon and prayed the Stations of the Cross. We have exposed our Blessed Lord on the Altar for adoration. We have come to God asking for forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
As we look at our parish churches, the colour purple – the colour associated with penance -the colour of the robe that Our Lord was forced to wear as He suffered through His Passion has now been replaced with white for He has RISEN – He is ALIVE.
How has your Lent changed your heart? How will this Easter Season change your heart? Our journey through Lent and our brief moment of joy at Laetare Sunday during the season prepares us for this one truth – we are Easter children of God.
If you missed our Introduction to this series <click here>. To go back to the “Holy Week” post <click here>. To go to the letter “M” post <click here>.