The iPadre Catholic Podcast

Cardinal Sarah has sounded the trumpet for all priests to begin celebrating Mass ad orientem beginning on the 1st Sunday of Advent this year. Something that Cardinal Ratzinger wrote about in many of his Liturgical publications, and Fr. Uwe Michael Lang devoted an entire book, Turning Towards The Lord.

It is as if Cardinal Sarah took a defribulater to the New Liturgical Movement. Something that many had thought died in the last few years. However, Cardinal Sarah stated that he is following the directives of Pope Francis in continuing the Liturgical vision of Pope Benedict XVI.

So, you know what the Cardinal is asking, but how do you go about it?

First, it is necessary to teach. Begin by publishing all of the recent statements of Cardinal Sarah, and Pope Benedict wrote about this important Liturgical praxis, in your weekly bulletin. Don’t just do it one week, do it as the media does, oversaturate the market.

Secondly, spread the news by word of mouth among your parishioners. Help them to get a mindset. Let it be something they begin to get excited about. And, with these recent statements of Cardinal Sarah, we can easily created some excitement.

Thirdly, don’t allow priests to negatively affect your parish. When I began ad orientem at my daily Masses some 7 plus years ago, there was one priest in particular who would make a big deal and have my adult server move the candles back so he could face the congregation. Don’t let it happen. I had to stop seeking his help, but it was well worth it.

Fourthly, pray. Make Holy Hours. Pray rosaries. Ask parishioners who support you to pray. Pray that the guardian angels will open the hearts of your parishioners to make this move.

Finally, have a last ditch effort with three or four weeks in the parish bulletin and give a positive and zealous homily of what a beautiful step the Church is asking us to take. It will renew the life of our parishes and the Church.

If you need some resources, here are the ones I used to prepare my parish. When I began at weekday Mass, I only gave a homily or two, but when I made the move on Sundays and all other Masses, I gave the big push. Here is my info, fell free to use it for your parish.

My announcement of the implementation

Brochures:

•  “We go to the Lord, who comes to us“
• “Eucharist: Source & Center“
• “Conversi ad Dominum“
• “Ad Orientem: Toward the East” updated 9/2013
• “Ad orientem – by whose authority?” 11/10/2013

Feel free to print and share the brochures.

Popes celebrating the Ordinary Form (Novus Ordo) ad orientem here.

In 1981, the whole Northeast had a massive infestation of Gypsy Moths. There were places that the sides of buildings would be covered and you could hear them popping as you drove down the street.

I think this is going to be another one of those years. I noticed them all over the walk when I arrived home on my day off. As I was working in the woods, I could actually hear them eating the trees. You might think that is an exaggeration, but if you stand still for a moment and listen, you can hear them eating away at the trees. It almost sounds like soft raindrops hitting the leaves.

Here are a few pictures.

Gypsy Moths having a feast on the trees.

Another week and all the leaves will be gone

As you know, the old MacBook that was used for the iPadre.TV stream died. However, some generous benefactors came along to help me with that problem. Tomorrow is the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. I will celebrate a Low Mass at 5:00 pm for those who were so generous.

• J & T D – donation toward MacBook Air
• S.B. – donation toward MacBook Air
• S.N. – donation toward MacBook Air
• M.C – Logitech Webcam C930e
• Fr. J.T – Old MacBook Air for use in Adoration Chapel

Thank you all for your great generosity! May Our Lord bless you with manifold graces and blessings.

Fr. Nicholas Fleming giving Holy Communion at his 1st Mass of Thanksgiving.

Today, we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi. This is a day to thank God we are Catholic. We have the fruit of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Most Blessed Sacrament. As little children, fed by their mother, we are fed and nourished with the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

What kind of God is He that becomes our food? He lowered Himself to take on our human nature, but lowers Himself even more to become our food. Our Divine Savior transforms a little host so that He can enter into our bodies. He promised: “I will be with you until the end of the ages.” Our Lord keeps His promise through His divine command to His priests “Do this in memory of Me.”

This great truth of the real presence should inspire both love and awe. Love for Our Lord, Who willing offerers Himself as a Sacred Banquet, the “Living Bread come down from heaven.” It has been repeated endlessly of the Protestant who said: “If I believed what you believe, I would crawl up to the altar on my hands and knees to receive what you believe is Jesus.” The Eucharist Lord should also inspire great love. Bless Mother Teresa of Calcutta put it simply when she said: “We all know, when we look at the cross, how Jesus loved us. When we look at the Eucharist we know how much He loves us now.”

Let us never take for granted and always reverence with great love, the Little White Guest, Our Lord Jesus in the consecrate host.

The Little White Guest

To listen, click here and go down to the fourth song.

You have come to my heart, dearest Jesus,
I’m holding You close to my breast;
I’m telling You over and over,
You are welcome, my Little White Guest.

And now that You’ve come dearest Jesus
To nestle so close to my breast
I whisper I love You my Jesus
You are welcome my Little White Guest.

I love You, I love You, my Jesus,
O please do not think I am bold;
Of course, You must know that I love You,
But I am sure that you like to be told.

And when I shall meet You in Heaven,
My soul then will lean on Your breast;
And You will recall our fond meetings,
When You were my Little White Guest.

I’ll whisper, “I love You, my Jesus,”
And ask that we never may part;
I love You, O kind, loving Jesus
And press You still nearer my heart.

author: Sister Myra, CSJ
publ: McLaughlin & Reilly, Boston

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