Tag: All Things Catholic

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ATC 14 Pray for the Dead?

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C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Of course I pray for the dead. The action is so spontaneous, so all but inevitable, that only the most compulsive theological case against it would deter me. And I hardly know how the rest of my prayers would survive if those for the dead were forbidden. At our age, the majority of those we love are dead. What sort of intercourse with God could I have if what I love best were unmentionable to him?”

Happy Easter! Alleluia! Alleluia! Thank you for joining me for All Things Catholic. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we are going to explore what it means to be Catholic. I recently saw what struck me as an odd question on a discussion board. The question was, “Why do Catholics pray for the dead?” That’s an interesting question, isn’t it? As a Catholic, I don’t’ think I have ever thought twice about it. But it’s a good question to explore.

We lost a dear friend this week. Between COVID-19 and the fact that she is in Honduras, well, she might as well be on Mars. So, thinking about her and our all the souls she helped and all the souls she encountered around the world, I’d like to take on that question today. Don’t forget to send me your questions either through the comment form on the website, or by email to rudy@deaconrudysnotes.org.

First, and this is important, we pray for the dead because we are grieving. We pray for the dead out of love. We pray for the dead to help our families and friends and who are suffering from the loss – and we all suffer. When Jesus heard about Lazarus’ death, he wept, John 11:39. So comforting someone who is suffering is certainly in line with what St. Paul told the Corinthians. We are part of the Body of Christ, so when one of us suffer, we all suffer, 1 Corinthians 12:26-27.

But we also pray for our friends and family that God forgive their sins and that He receive them into the light of His face. Now, we are not the only ones who pray for the dead. The Jews pray for the dead as do the Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and at least half a dozen others. In 2 Maccabees, the Jewish leader Judas Maccabeus leads his army into battle. After the battle, they find some pagan amulets under the tunics of some of their soldiers. This was a sin against the Ten Commandments, so they pray that God shows these troops mercy (2 Maccabees 12:40, 42, 44).

Why pray for someone who is dead unless we know we will see them again? Our liturgies are designed to support us through this process. Our prayers and the liturgies of the Church recognize the spiritual bonds between the living and the dead. It affirms that all the faithful will be raised again and reunited, (Rites, 6).

But we don’t just gather to commiserate. The Easter season is a clear reminder! “The Church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life and that Jesus, the Son of God, by his death and resurrection, has broken the chains of sin and death that bound humanity,” (Rites, “Order of Christian Funerals”, 1). St. Paul tells us, “If we have died with Christ, we have faith that we shall also live with him,” (Romans 6:8). So, our prayers and our liturgies offer hope and consolation to the living. (Rites, 7).

This is important because first and foremost, our liturgies are about worshipping God. We worship God and we give thanks for the blessing of the life of the person who died and everyone they touched. We celebrate the life in Christ.

One of the most beautiful parts of the various liturgies we have for the dead is something we call the final commendation. This happens after the funeral and before the body is processed to the cemetery. In the final commendation, the entire, “community acknowledges the reality of separation and commends the deceased to God,” (Rites, 6). We give thanks for our deceased who is now returning to God. That’s a beautiful image, isn’t it?

Why do Catholics pray for the dead? We pray to thank God for the gift this person was in life. We pray to help console ourselves in our grief. And we pray for the soul of our deceased that God show them mercy for any unresolved sins in their life.

Does that make sense? Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to All Things Catholic. If you have a question you’d like me to discuss, please use the comment form on the website, or send me an email to rudy@deaconrudysnotes.org.

This episode was produced by deacon rudy’s notes. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join us again next time and don’t forget to check out the weekend edition where we break open the Word. He is RISEN! Alleluia! Alleluia!

References:
1. Johnson, Kevin Orlin, Ph.D. Why Do Catholics Do That? A Guide to the Teachings and Practices of the Catholic Church. New York: Ballantine Books, 1994.
2. Sheed, Frank. Theology for Beginners. Published by Beacon Publishing with permission of Servant Books, an imprint of Franciscan Media, © 1981.
3. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.
4. The Rites of the Catholic Church: the Roman Ritual Revised by Decree of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council and Published by the Authority of Pope Paul VI. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1990.

Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
1. I believe in the resurrection of the body, 988-91
2. Christ’s resurrection and ours, 992-1004
3. Dying in Christ, 1005-1019

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ATC 13 What’s in a Kiss

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What’s in a kiss? Everything!

Happy Easter! That’s right, we are still in the Easter season. Alleluia! Alleluia! Thank you for joining me for All Things Catholic on this Wednesday during the Second Week of Easter. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we are going to explore what it means to be Catholic. Here’s a question that’s been on the back burner for a while: why do priests and deacons kiss the altar? I’m so glad you asked! Don’t forget to send me your questions either through the comment form on the website, or by email to rudy@deaconrudysnotes.org.

Perhaps you’ve been at mass and seen the priest and deacon kiss the altar at the beginning of mass and at the end of mass. Or perhaps you’ve been watching a live-streamed mass during this time of social distancing and “remain home” initiatives and you’ve noticed the Pope, or your bishop kiss the altar. Either way, why do they kiss the altar at all? What’s in a kiss?

Well, as with so many things Catholic, the practice of kissing or venerating the altar has a long history in the Church, what we would refer to as “tradition” spelled with a little “t”. And there are some excellent articles out there that describe the history and even some of the current church practice or norms around kissing the altar. I will list some of these articles at the bottom of my podcast notes under “Further Reading”.

I don’t want to spend too much time repeating all this wisdom, but just a quick note about vocabulary. The intellectual tradition of the western world is deeply rooted in Greek thought. One of the effects of Greek thinking on us is that we in the west have this tendency to want to classify and name things and organize topics in like categories. The Church is no exception. For this reason, Church vocabulary can be a bit confusing. But just hang in there.

Suffice it to say, that very early in the life of the Church, perhaps within the first three hundred years, this practice began and gained in popularity among the clergy. Today, this practice is required in Church documents which we call “norms”. The primary document is called the General Instructions to the Roman Missal or the GIRM. In fact, in the GIRM for each type of mass, kissing the altar is all of one short sentence, (for example No. 49). Nothing more. No explanation or footnotes.

There are too many reasons to try to capture here. Let’s explore some of the reasons. The altar is the place of the “living sacrifice”. So, kissing the altar is a sign of veneration, which means an act of reverence and respect. The altar also symbolizes Christ the cornerstone of our faith – the stone rejected by the builders. So, kissing the altar shows unity between Christ and His church.

During the times of persecutions when Christians would hide and even hold mass in the catacombs, they worshipped literally on the bones of the martyrs. While it’s not always the case in newer churches, a custom developed in which the remains of martyrs were often entombed beneath the altar or even within the altar. Even a piece of the martyr or other saint might be placed in a small cavity within or beneath the altar. These small pieces of the bone of martyrs or saints are called “relics”. Well actually, because these are pieces of the martyr or saint, they are called “first class relics”. <1> So, kissing an altar with relics is also an acknowledgment of the great works of the martyr or other saint on behalf of Jesus Christ.

This is all important, of course, but in my opinion, these are tangential to the heart of matter. I can assure you that while it might be in the rules, the clergy do not kiss the altar because we are “required”.

Why is it important for a husband and wife to kiss before they run off for work in the morning or when they return home at the end of the day? I am no poet, so it’s difficult to put this into words, but at its core, a simple kiss – even a peck on the check while parting or returning – is so important. It’s an acknowledgment of course, and an affirmation. But there’s so much more to it that! In a healthy relationship, it’s all in a kiss!

In the brief seconds of that kiss, we step off the hamster wheel of life and we are present to each other. A kiss fosters bonding and contentment. It is a simple expression of profound belonging. A more passionate or intimate kiss breaks the routine of the day. Instead of saying “you’re never going to believe what happened today,” we shift to, “I’m crazy about and you so happy to be here with you! It’s all good!” It can reset all the emotions from our frenzied and over-scheduled day.

Now think about the incredible pressure on your priest. On top of pressures of running the parish, he has to deal with all sorts of telephone calls and emails – some quite petty, like, “with all the babies crying in mass I can’t hear a thing. What are you going to do about it?” Or, “the catechist reprimanded my kid. Who does he think he is? What are you going to do about it?” Or, “that crazy deacon’s homily ticked me off! Why do you let him preach?” And of course, there’s the ever popular, “fix it our I’ll go to the bishop!”

Think about your priest who might hear confessions before mass. What burdens from confession does he carry as he enters the church? For bishops and the pope, the pressure is exponential. If you think a priest or a deacon always enter mass unburdened, I’m sorry to tell you it’s not true. Our clergy are humans just like everyone else, and like everyone else they have good days and they have not so good days.

Yet, as they approach the altar – as the priest and deacon kiss the alter, everything resets. All the pressures of their roles which still exist are in that instant set to the side. We are totally present to Jesus Christ. We are totally present to His bride, the Church. And we are present to the entire community of believers – those who came before us, those yet to be born, and those here with us now. As mass comes to end, the priest and deacon kiss the altar before they process out. In that moment of goodbye, we are saying, “I love you and I’ll be back soon.”

Of course, openness and intention are everything. But in kissing the altar like a couple who kisses, we make ourselves vulnerable. It’s a reminder that I am not the center of the universe and the world does not revolve around me. It’s a reminder that I am not alone and even more importantly a reminder of my call to serve – a call to serve the Church and a call to serve my spouse. I know all that sounds like a tall order for a kiss, but if we allow it, a kiss can be transformative. What’s in a kiss? Everything!

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to All Things Catholic. If you have a question you’d like me to discuss, please use the comment form on the website, or send me an email to rudy@deaconrudysnotes.org.

This episode was produced by deacon rudy’s notes. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join us again next time and don’t forget to check out the weekend edition where we break open the Word. He is RISEN! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Notes:
<1> More on relics. A first-class relic is a piece of the physical remains of a martyr or other saint. A second-class relic is an item the saint owned and frequently used, like clothing, a rosary, a crucifix or a book. A third-class relic is anything which has been in contact with a first- or second-class relic. Today, most third-class relics are small pieces of cloth which might be attached to a prayer card.

References:
1. Catholic Church. General Instruction of the Roman Missal. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2003.
2. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

Further Reading:
1. For biblical examples of kissing as a greeting, see Michal E. Hunt, “Why Does the Priest Kiss the Altar.” AgapeBibleStudy.com, 1995. https://www.agapebiblestudy.com/documents/Why%20Does%20the%20Priest%20Kiss%20the%20Altar.htm.
2. Aaron, Shirley. “Why Do Catholic Priests Kiss the Altar at the Beginning of a Mass?” Catholic Online. September 24, 2018. Accessed April 22, 2020. http://francismary.org/why-do-catholic-priests-kiss-the-altar-at-the-beginning-of-a-mass/.
3. Chansky, Tamar. “How kissing can save your marriage, every day.” WHYY. November 30, 2015. Accessed April 22, 2020. https://whyy.org/articles/how-kissing-can-save-your-marriage-every-day/.
4. Kosloski, Philip. “This is why the priest kisses the altar at Mass.” Aleteia. July 26, 2017. Accessed April 22, 2020. https://aleteia.org/2017/07/26/this-is-why-the-priest-kisses-the-altar-at-mass/.
5. McNamara, Edward. “Deacons’ Hands on the Altar.” Zenit. August 29, 2017. Accessed April 22, 2020. https://zenit.org/articles/deacons-hands-on-the-altar/.
6. Plett, Cara. “8 tips for kissing toward a more passionate marriage.” Focus on the Family. 2013. Accessed April 22, 2020. https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/8-tips-for-kissing-toward-a-more-passionate-marriage.
7. “Practicing a Holy Kiss in Marriage.” Build Your Marriage. March 23, 2017. Accessed April 22, 2020. https://www.buildyourmarriage.org/practicing-a-holy-kiss-in-marriage/.
8. Rose Ezra. “The Catholic Tradition of a Priest Kissing the Altar.” Classroom. September 29, 2017. Accessed April 22, 2020. https://classroom.synonym.com/the-catholic-tradition-of-a-priest-kissing-the-altar-12087035.html.

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ATC 8 Spiritual Communion

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The churches were closed. Masses were offered at major intersections so that people could watch the mass from a distance. No, I’m talking about COVID-19. I’m talking about an outbreak of the plague in Milan in 1576 and the drastic measures taken by bishop St. Charles Borromeo to protect the people.

It’s my pleasure to welcome you to All Things Catholic. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and I’m so glad you’re here! Together we are going to explore what it means to be Catholic. Extraordinary measures are being taking to slow the spread of COVID-19. Participation in the mass for many is not currently an option. But that hasn’t stopped the great heroism or our priests who continue to offer mass daily and many of those masses including the Pope’s masses are being live-streamed to Catholics worldwide. The faithful are asked to make a spiritual communion. Before we unpack what that means, let’s talk about the Eucharist for a minute.

Now, I realize this will offer little comfort, but I think it’s important to know that frequent reception of the Eucharist which is a wonderful blessing is a relatively new phenomenon in the life of the Church. Between 1905 and 1910, Pius X issued a number of decrees encouraging the frequent reception of the Eucharist. He lowered the age of children to receive the Eucharist as long as they understood the difference between ordinary bread and the Eucharist. In contrast to his contemporaries, Pius believed that the Eucharist is nourishment for those struggling to lead a Christian life. He put in a requirement that as long as you were free from mortal sin, then you are free to receive the Eucharist daily.

Most of us have been raised with this idea that we should receive the Eucharist as often as possible. So, to find ourselves in these extraordinary circumstances where access to the Eucharist is almost nonexistent in light of the pandemic can be worrisome. But, my brothers and sisters, now is not the time for panic.

Look who’s panicking. It’s those people around us who put their trust in themselves, their paychecks, the government, in this world. And now they’re coming to realize that none of the things of this world can bring them peace. For the Christian, our faith is in Christ Jesus. We have already been saved by his most precious blood. We believe that death in not the end, but only a transition. So, we cannot panic.

We may find ourselves cutoff from the Eucharist, but that doesn’t mean that we are cutoff from Jesus Christ. What happens when we receive the Eucharist? No one forces us to receive the Eucharist, right? We willingly receive the Eucharist and then we pray. We might thank God for his gifts. We might pray for our loved ones. We might pray that our family and friends convert, as well as the conversion of all souls. Maybe we pray for our friends and family who have passed away and all the souls in purgatory. And we might pray that God help us in the coming days or weeks as face challenging circumstances at work or in the home, for example. In short, we pray for God’s graces to rain down upon us.

In spiritual communion we do something very similar. There’s quite a long history of spiritual communion and it’s good for us to learn about it because there may be other occasions when we are not physically able to attend mass long after COVID-19 is just a memory. Let’s walk through the process together.

First, let’s try to quiet the noise around us and the noise in our minds.
Next, it’s important to have the intention to be united to Jesus Christ. Do you love Jesus Christ and have a real desire to be united to Him?
Now, we need to call to mind our sins. In what ways are we not living the way we should? Ask God’s forgiveness. Try to feel God’s goodness and mercy maybe the way, with your eyes closed, you might feel sunlight dance across on your face.
Offer in prayer an act of spiritual communion: My Jesus, I believe You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive the Eucharist, I invite You to come into my heart. I embrace You and unite myself to You. Never permit me to be separated from you. +Amen!
As you make an act of spiritual communion, invite Jesus into your soul. Receive Him. Welcome Him. Picture yourself embracing Him and feel His strong embrace.
Now, offer an act of thanksgiving, like a sacrificial gift to help Christ’s ministry on earth, or to help those among us who might be in need of a home cooked meal, or help with errands, or some other tangible example of Christian charity.
Finally, ask Jesus to bless you, all your family and friends. Ask for the conversion of all souls. Pray for all your family and friends who have passed away and all the souls in purgatory.
You may stay in this moment as long as you’d like. When you are ready, you may move on.

What did you think? There is no one prescribed format for a spiritual communion. There are many out there. Find one that works for you. Look, we are all part of the Body of Christ. Christ wants to draw all of us together – the community of believers – into Himself. United with Christ, we become God’s glory. United with Christ we become part of true liturgy – that cosmic liturgy which strives to draw all of us to God. We may be isolated, but we are not alone!

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

This episode was produced by deacon rudy’s notes. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. You’re listening to All Things Catholic. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join us again next time and don’t forget to check out the weekend edition where we break open the Word. Peace!