THE LANTERIAN
A Weekly Mass Supplement
December 9, 2018 – Second Sunday of Advent
Prayer Before Mass
Receive, O Holy Trinity, One God, this Holy Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which I, Your unworthy servant, desire now to offer to Your Divine Majesty by the hands of this Your minister, with all the Sacrifices which have ever been or will be offered to You, in union with that most Holy Sacrifice offered by the same Christ our Lord at the Last Supper and on the Altar of the Cross. I offer it to You with the utmost affection of devotion, out of pure love for Your infinite goodness, and according to the most holy intention of the same Christ our Lord, and of our Holy Mother the Church. O God, almighty and merciful, grant us through this Holy Sacrifice, joy and peace, a holier life, time to do penance, grace and consolation of the Holy Spirit, and perseverance in good works. Amen.
For the preparation I will think on what is about to take place on the altar between myself, the eternal Father, and his only begotten Son. I will form the intention and the application of the Mass.
Why Do We Do That?
Lord, have mercy — No Glory to God
One very recognizable feature of the Mass is the Gloria sung or recited right after the penitential rite (Lord, have mercy). “Glory to God in highest” was the refrain sung by the angels announcing the birth of Christ. We sing it together on Sundays and Solemn feast days to proclaim God’s greatness. During Advent and Lent, you may notice, the Gloria is omitted. The reason for this is to emphasize the penitential nature of the seasons, As the days leading into winter get darker and darker, so the season of Advent reminds us of life without God and how we must have hope in his coming to save us lest the final darkness of death overwhelm us, It is the unconscious dread of death that causes so much of the bad habits we form in life as an attempt to hide the inevitable from ourselves. But the season of Advent ultimately is a season to pull us out of the bad habits and into a true hope in the coming of Christ who destroys the darkness of death forever. Thus, we prepare our voices to sing the alleluia at Christmas with great joy and passion.
Catechesis: New Year of Grace
Advent begins the new year of grace. Time comes in two verities: Chronological (chronos) time represents the progression of events moving toward a particular point, namely, the second coming of Christ in glory. Quality time (Kairos) represents a deepening into the meaning of events. As chronos is represented by a straight line, Kairos is represented by concentric circles. The liturgical calendar represents both.
The 1st Sunday of Advent symbolizes Hope with the “Prophet’s Candle” reminding us that Jesus is coming.
The 2nd Sunday of Advent symbolizes Faith with the “Bethlehem Candle” reminding us of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.
The 3rd Sunday of Advent symbolizes Joy with the “Shepherd’s Candle” reminding us of the Joy the world experienced at the coming birth of Jesus.
The 4th Sunday of Advent symbolizes Peace with the “Angel’s Candle” reminding us of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”
Lectio Divina
“I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. ” — the Second Reading of the day
Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to receive the word of God with reverence and joy.
Notice the thoughts and emotions within you. As you prayerfully consider this passage, are you able to identify what thoughts and feelings are generated?
These are the word of God. Take time to consider them carefully. Clear from your mind all distractions. What do you suppose is the Day of Christ? Who began good work in you? What is this good work? Take time right now to let these words touch your heart.
Does this bring you comfort? What do you think he means? Why would his word be the only thing that does not pass away? Ask the Holy Spirit, in your heart, to help you to know what this means for you and how best to apply it in your life.
The Catholic Way
The initiation of the Christian life and salvation is Baptism. The great and holy sacrament removes the separation from God by original sin and makes one a child of the Holy One.
It is also the sacrament that enables one to worship God properly in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. To worship properly requires a “commission” from God so to speak. This commission or mark is received at Baptism. Being part of the family of God is not something one can give to oneself must it must be received as a gift gratefully. Gratitude is a fundamental Christian disposition. No child should be deprived of these marvelous gifts. To do so is to launch them into life with the idea that everything is “for the taking;” that is the disposition of the original sin. As a child of God through Baptism one discovers that real freedom happens within a community, within the Communion of Saints, not in isolation. We are called to a mutual dependence and affection with one another.
The Friends of God: St. John of the Cross
Patron saint of: Contemplatives and Mystics
Feast Day December 14
John helped Teresa of Avila to reform the Carmelites to return to their contemplative roots. He wrote extraordinary Spanish poems to describe his mystical experiences. He had the courage to pursue fully the life of deep prayer and to face the fire of purification. Thus he found union with God in this life and left a “map” behind for Christians to follow. John is considered one the greatest Spanish poets of all time. He described in his poetry the journey to God known as the dark night of the soul and the ultimate mystical marriage.
O Blessed Jesus, give me stillness of soul in You. Let Your mighty calmness reign in me. Rule me, O King of Gentleness, King of Peace. Amen.
Daily Offering
by Venerable Bruno Lanteri
Founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary
Almighty and Eternal God, I (name), although most unworthy in your sight, encouraged however by your compassion and infinite mercy, and by the desire of serving you, offer before the Most Holy Virgin Mary and all the Court of Heaven, to your Divine Majesty, this day and all my thoughts, words and actions in it. I humbly beg of your infinite goodness and mercy, by the Blood of Jesus Christ, that you choose to accept this offering in the odor of sweetness, and that as you have given me the grace to desire and to make this offering, so also you grant me the grace to fulfill it. Amen.
December 2, 2018 – First Sunday of Advent
Prayer Before Mass
Receive, O Holy Trinity, One God, this Holy Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which I, Your unworthy servant, desire now to offer to Your Divine Majesty by the hands of this Your minister, with all the Sacrifices which have ever been or will be offered to You, in union with that most Holy Sacrifice offered by the same Christ our Lord at the Last Supper and on the Altar of the Cross.
I offer it to You with the utmost affection of devotion, out of pure love for Your infinite goodness, and according to the most holy intention of the same Christ our Lord, and of our Holy Mother the Church.
O God, almighty and merciful, grant us through this Holy Sacrifice, joy and peace, a holier life, time to do penance, grace and consolation of the Holy Spirit, and perseverance in good works. Amen.
For the preparation I will think on what is about to take place on the altar between myself, the eternal Father, and his only begotten Son. I will form the intention and the application of the Mass.
Why Do We Do That?
Lord, have mercy — Kyrie Eleison
Every Holy Mass begins with the sign of the Cross because the Mass is out participation in that supreme event of God’s love. We pledge that we are acting now, not in our own name, but in the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.
Then we acknowledge our sins and ask for pardon and peace. This is a crucial moment when we humbly admit that we do not live up to our mission of sacrificial love. We submit ourselves to our true judge, confident that God is reconciling us to Himself right now in Jesus Christ. We should, at this moment, pause and truly consider our particular sins and how they block us from proper love of God and neighbor. When we cry out, “Lord, have mercy,“ we are placing ourselves entirely into the Father’s hands. Our venial sins are forgiven at this part of the Mass. Do not miss the opportunity. Thus, we are prepared for the worship now to come.
The Mass is the celebration of God’s triumph over sin in the life, suffering, death and rising of Jesus. We call this the Paschal Mystery.
Catechesis: Advent
Advent is the first season of the Church year. We prepare for the coming of Christ in three ways: The first part of Advent is a focus on the second coming of Jesus at the end of time to usher in the fullness of the Kingdom of God. This is the goal of all of history — to be with God forever. It constitutes the first part of Advent because as the goal of history, it shapes everything else in the calendar.
The next way prepare for the coming of Christ is by grace. He comes to us in the sacraments and in the whole life of the Church throughout the calendar in the feast days and seasons of the year.
The final part of Advent (beginning December 18th) is the preparation for the coming of Christ in nature at his birth. Christmas is an entire season of the Church year where we celebrate the beginning of grace in our world due to the birth of Jesus.
It is important to fully embrace Advent as a time of renewal, penance and deep longing for God. We are meant to wait for God, not leap ahead. It’s not Christmas yet.
Lectio Divina
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy.” — the Gospel of the day
Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to receive the word of God with reverence and joy.
Notice the thoughts and emotions within you. As you prayerfully consider this passage, are you able to identify what thoughts and feelings are generated?
These are the words of Jesus. Take time to consider them carefully. Clear from your mind all distractions, for Jesus says that all of those things will pass away in the end. Only his words remain forever. Take time right now to let these words touch your heart.
Does Jesus bring you comfort with these words, or are you unsettled? What do you think he means? Why would his word be the only thing that does not pass away? Ask Jesus, in your heart, to help you to know what this means for you and how best to apply it in your life.
The Catholic Way
Christ’s coming in glory at the end of history will usher in the last judgment. We are called by Jesus to be prepared, to be vigilant. As we consider all the ways to be prepared we should remember the Last Rites of the Church for ourselves and our loved ones. These rites provide the sacraments to strengthen us in the most important moment of our lives, namely, our death.
The last indulgence provided by the Church during the Last Rites is the Apostolic Pardon. This is given by the priest at the time of anointing and removes all stains of sin that may remain in a person. All the usual conditions for any plenary indulgence remain. This pardon can even remove the need for Purgatory.
The Church is so eager to aid every person in the journey of salvation that the Apostolic Pardon is available even when a priest is not available as long as a person has maintained some kind of minimal prayer throughout life. Two Hail Marys a day means a lot!
The Friends of God: St. Ambrose
Patron saint of beekeepers, beggars, learners, the city of Milan. Feast Day: December 7
In 390 AD, Ambrose confronted Roman Emperor Theodosius about the massacre of 7,000 people ordered in Thessalonica; refusing him entrance to the Cathedral and denying him Communion, Ambrose demanded the emperor repent publicly. His deep desire for the Eucharist brought Caesar to his knees in repentance. From that time on, the emperor stood with the people in the cathedral and no longer in the sanctuary with the priests as was custom. The courage of Ambrose brought about the first separation of Church and state.
O Lord, who hast mercy upon all, take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of thy Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore Thee, a heart to delight in Thee, to follow and enjoy Thee, for the sake of Christ. Amen.
Entrustment to the Virgin Mary
by Venerable Bruno Lanteri, Founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary
O Mary, I choose you as my loving Mother, and choose to depend on you in all my actions. I wish to discern at every moment what is most pleasing to you that I may fulfill with all my strength what you chose for me. I desire to be totally available to your desire, and that my only desire be what you desire. I declare above all, that my firm purpose is to adore, love and praise Jesus Christ, the fruit of your most pure womb, with that spirit, that heart, and in that perfect way that you, most blessed Virgin, adore, love and praise him in heaven, with the intention of giving him the same glory that you constantly give him in heaven.
Be pleased, my sovereign Lady and most loving Mother, to accept me as your unworthy servant and son/daughter, and grant me the grace to imitate the angels in my readiness to follow your desires, and to love Jesus with your own most ardent heart. Amen.
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
of Our Lady: December 8