BISHOPS URGE CATHOLICS TO PRAY FOR LIFE, MARRIAGE, RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

By e December 6, 2012 Jesus Stuff No Comments

BISHOPS URGE CATHOLICS TO PRAY FOR LIFE, MARRIAGE, RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

December 6, 2012

  • Not another program but part of a movement for life, marriage and religious liberty
  • Invitation to ‘prayer and penance,’ Archbishop Cordileone says
  • Second Fortnight for Freedom June/July being planned

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Catholic bishops have launched a pastoral strategy addressing critical life, marriage and religious liberty concerns. The five-part strategy or call to prayer was approved by the bishops in November and is set to begin after Christmas. The overall focus is to invite Catholics to pray for rebuilding a culture favorable to life and marriage and for increased protections of religious liberty.

Campaign components include monthly Eucharistic holy hours in cathedrals and parishes, daily family rosary, special Prayers of the Faithful at all Masses, fasting and abstinence on Fridays, and the second observance of a Fortnight for Freedom.
The call to prayer is prompted by the rapid social movements and policy changes currently underway, such as the mandate by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that coerces employers, including heads of religious agencies, to pay for sterilizations, abortion-inducing drugs and contraceptives, as well as increased efforts to redefine marriage.
“The pastoral strategy is essentially a call and encouragement to prayer and sacrifice—it’s meant to be simple,” said Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage. “It’s not meant to be another program but rather part of a movement for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty, which engages the New Evangelization and can be incorporated into the Year of Faith. Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty are not only foundational to Catholic social teaching but also fundamental to the good of society,” he said.
Details of the strategy follow:

  1. Starting with the Sunday after Christmas (Feast of the Holy Family) and continuing on or near the last Sunday of every month through Christ the King Sunday, November 2013, cathedrals and parishes are encouraged to hold a Eucharistic Holy Hour for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty.
  2. Families and individuals are encouraged to pray a daily Rosary, especially for the preservation of Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty in the nation.
  3. At Sunday and daily Masses, it is encouraged that the Prayers of the Faithful include specific intentions for respect for all human life from conception to natural death, the strengthening of marriage and family life, and the preservation of religious libertyat all levels of government, both at home and abroad.
  4. Abstinence from meat and fasting on Fridays are encouraged for the intention of the protection of Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty, recognizing the importance of spiritual and bodily sacrifice in the life of the Church.
  5. The celebration of a second Fortnight for Freedom at the end of June and the beginning of July 2013 is being planned. This Fortnight would emphasize faith and marriage in a particular way in the face of the potential Supreme Court rulings during this time. The Fortnight would also emphasize the need for conscience protection in light of the August 1, 2013 deadline for religious organizations to comply with the HHS mandate, as well as religious freedom concerns in other areas, such as immigration, adoption, and humanitarian services.

A website with resources from the USCCB is available at: http://www.usccb.org/life-marriage-liberty.

“With the challenges this country is facing, it is hoped that this call to prayer and penance will help build awareness among the faithful as well as spiritual stamina and courage for effective witness. We also hope that it will encourage solidarity with all people who are standing for the precious gifts of life, marriage, and religious liberty,” Archbishop Cordileone said.

Yes, we attend mass twice this weekend to satisfy both our Sunday and Immaculate Conception obligations!

By e December 6, 2012 Deacon Formation, Jesus Stuff No Comments

Many people incorrectly assume that when the Feast of the Immaculate Conception falls on a Saturday, attending the vigil mass that evening will satisfy the obligation for both the Immaculate Conception and the regular Sunday obligation. Opinions on either side of the discussion are offered with varying degrees of logic, evidence, rhetorical effectiveness, and charity.

Fortunately, our opinions are irrelevant.

Only the regional conference of Bishops (the USCCB) has the authority (since 1983) to move holy days or remove them as a day of obligation. While the competent authority in the United States has provided that when the solemnities of Mary the Mother of God (January 1), Assumption (August 15), or All Saints (November 1) fall on a Saturday or a Monday, the day of obligation may be fulfilled by attending the Sunday Mass, no such allowance is made for the December 8 Immaculate Conception.

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is always a day of obligation, even when it falls on Saturday, because it is the patronal feast of the United States of America. As the following day is the Second Sunday of Advent, and is a higher date in the calendar, the evening masses on Saturday, December 8 are celebrated as the anticipated mass of the Second Sunday of Advent. The obligation for the Immaculate Conception may be fulfilled by attending either the Friday evening or Saturday morning masses.

The USCB further reinforced this in their December newsletter.
http://www.usccb.org/about/divine-worship/newsletter/upload/newsletter-2012-07.pdf

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 2012

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 2012 is celebrated on Saturday, December 8. As the Patronal Feastday of the United States, this solemnity is always a holyday of obligation (except when transferred to Monday, December 9, as it will be in 2013). The obligation is fulfilled by attending a vigil Mass on Friday evening, December 7, or Mass during the day on Saturday morning.

In the Table of Liturgical Days, a solemnity of the Virgin Mary ranks lower than a Sunday of Advent; therefore, the Immaculate Conception will end on the afternoon of Saturday, December 8. On Saturday evening, Evening Prayer I of the Second Sunday of Advent is celebrated instead of Evening Prayer II of the Immaculate Conception, and Masses are that of the Second Sunday of Advent.

There is, however, one other option for anyone who might have another mass that Saturday (for a Marriage, Funeral, etc). More on that here: http://canonlawblog.wordpress.com/2012/12/02/two-mass-obligations-means-two-masses-but/

Cardinal Dolan calls for personal conversion first

By e November 12, 2012 Jesus Stuff, Leadership and Management No Comments

“With all the controversies and urgent matters for the Church, Dolan spoke of conversion of heart through the Sacrament of Penance. Can you believe it?”

To which I reply, “You better believe it!”

First things first!

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York,
president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
Address given at the USCCB General Assembly Fall meeting on November 12, 2012.

Read the rest @ http://www.usccb.org/about/leadership/usccb-general-assembly/2012-november-meeting/presidential-address-cardinal-dolan.cfm