Recent Comments
Todd on Sacramentum Caritatis 24: The… Liam on Sacramentum Caritatis 24: The… Todd on Laudato Si 237: Sunday Rick on Laudato Si 237: Sunday Debra on Funeral Lectionary: Psalm 116:… Todd Flowerday on Cardinal Sarah on Traditionis… Steven Harpin on Lumen Gentium 12 freddie stewart on Cardinal Sarah on Traditionis… Figment of Your Imag… on Greetings for Lent? Liam on The Human to Angel Condui…
Monthly Archives: October 2008
A Nebula For Halloween
Here’s an astro-image for the holiday: the Witch Head Nebula lit up by blue supergiant Rigel. The Star Shadows Remote Observatory has a really nifty version on the Astronomy Picture of the Day site. Just to give some perspective, this … Continue reading
Posted in Astronomy
2 Comments
PCS 66-70: Ritual for the Visit to a Sick Child
I won’t relay the entire wording of these sections, but just cover a few highlights. The pattern is the same as it was for a non-sacramental visit: reading, response, Lord’s Prayer, concluding prayer, blessing. How to adapt for kids? Shorter … Continue reading
PCS 62-65: Visits To A Sick Child
One of the Vatican II reforms was to address sacramental rituals to children. Prior to the council, adult rites were not only the norm, but the only pattern available for the ministers of the Church. The rites for Pastoral Care … Continue reading
Snacking on the Word: Psalm 43:3-4
Today’s Word snack leaps ahead one counted psalm from yesterday. Some might say it concludes the experience of longing for God: finding the light and following it with faith. Let’s read: Send your light and fidelity, that they may be … Continue reading
Posted in Scripture
Leave a comment
How Many Committees?
CNS reports another assignment for Cardinal George: the committee that oversees follow-up to the synod on the Word just completed plus prepares the next synod. I don’t mention this as an indictment of him because of his softness on sex … Continue reading
Posted in Ministry
4 Comments
PCS 57-61: Visiting the Sick
The Church considers the visit to the sick, or a significant part of it, to be liturgical. As such, when there is no sacrament to be celebrated, the minister, the sick person, and the family and friends will celebrate according … Continue reading
Snacking on the Word: Psalm 42:6 (or :12 or 43:5)
Scripture scholars think Psalm 42 and 43 are one unit, given the common refrain that appears twice in the 42nd numbered psalm and once at the end of the 43rd. While the romantics among us are attracted to the deer … Continue reading
Posted in Scripture
Leave a comment
PCS 55-56: Ministry of the Sick
What the sick can do to serve the community and the world, rather than just what people can do for them. Many pastoral care ministers invite ill people to the ministry of prayer as described in these paragraphs: 55. The … Continue reading
The Armchair Liturgist: Souls and Saints
The liturgical day that offers the priest or liturgist the most choices, the Commemoration of All The Faithful Departed, aka All Souls’ Day, arrives on Sunday this liturgical year. Is next weekend’s preacher prepared? Have you informed your parish lectors? … Continue reading
Posted in The Armchair Liturgist
1 Comment
PCS 54: Visits to the Sick, A Pattern
Now we get into the meat of the rites of pastoral care. Visits to the Sick are a basic beginning and the rite gives three sections/paragraphs of explanation/introduction before delving in to the actual readings and prayers. Today and tomorrow … Continue reading
Use That Bible
The final synod statement also included this item: Every home should have its own Bible and safeguard it in a visible and dignified way, to read it and to pray with it. I’ve had a neglected series on this site, … Continue reading
Posted in Scripture
Leave a comment
Office of Lector
As Chase in the comments and CNS reported this morning: The issue was raised in Proposition 17 on “The ministry of the word and women,” and on Saturday morning it passed with 191 votes in favor, 45 opposed and three abstentions, according … Continue reading
Posted in Church News, Liturgy
6 Comments
PCS 51-53: Communion & Anointing of the Sick
The specific introduction for anointing of the sick concludes with these three sections, the first of which promotes the Communion service. Note the value for both union with Christ and the “eucharistic community.” 51. Because the sick are prevented from … Continue reading
Synod Summary
Zenit has the synod’s final address to the world. There are some general pieces about liturgy. Section 7 deals with preaching and catechesis. Let’s take a look first at the two movements of preaching: Preaching, catechesis and the homily therefore … Continue reading
Posted in Church News, Scripture
2 Comments
PCS 47-50: Sick Children
Children receive special attention in many of the post-conciliar rites. Four sections address the liturgical and pastoral situation of sick children. 47. What has already been said about visiting the sick and praying with them (see. no. 46) applies also … Continue reading
Catholic Sensibility 