December 3 - 4, 2011
Dear Cathedral Community,
In last week’s homily, I referred to the use of our spiritual gifts to assist us in keeping watch for the return of the Savior. One of those gifts is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I want to call your attention to the Intra-parish Penance Service (Cathedral, St. Mary and Holy Cross), on Tuesday, December 20 at 7:00 PM in St. Mary Church at the corner of Vermont and New Jersey. There will be a number of confessors available to you.
Don’t forget about our new times for Reconciliation here at the Cathedral: after the 5:15 PM Tuesday evening Mass and on every Friday from Noon to 1:00 PM. Recall that there will no longer be Confessions on Saturday afternoon due to very poor participation. Hopefully, the new times will be more “user friendly”.
I also encourage you to consult THE CRITERION for a complete listing of Penance Services throughout the season of Advent.
DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO CELEBRATE THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION.
While we are considering the Sacrament of Reconciliation, let’s reflect for a moment on the practice of Confession.
Preparation: It is important to spend some preparing for Confession. In the back of the Chapel, you will find a helpful guide in a holder in the back of the Chapel.
The Ritual: Begin with the words, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been ______ since my last confession.” Recognize the major stumbling blocks in your relationship with God and others. If you need help, let the Confessor assist you. At the conclusion of this, the Confessor will assign you a penance usually in the form of prayers.
Occasionally, I like to give printed cards with Psalms as a Penance. Then, the Confessor will invite you to pray aloud an Act of Contrition by memory or in your own words. We keep the form in the Reconciliation if you care to use it. The Confessor will then pray the words of Absolution at the end of which you will bless yourself. It is important to pray your Penance before you leave the Chapel.
Regularity: While it is not a law of the Church, I typically suggest that one comes to Reconciliation once each Liturgical Season. Clue: When we change the color of our vestments, it’s time for Confession! Habitual sin is best overcome by building habits of grace, and regular Confession provides a great assistance in our efforts of conversion.
This coming week we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8. Please note the following schedule of Masses for this Holy Day of Obligation: Wednesday evening, December 7 at 5:15 PM; Thursday, December 8 at 8:00 AM (Chapel), Noon (Cathedral), and 5:15 PM (Chapel).
Please remember this is the Patronal Feast of the United States. This Feast commemorates the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin without stain of original sin in preparation for her special and singular role in the history of salvation as the Mother of God. There are only two Dogmas declared infallibly, and both have to do with the Blessed Mother in her Immaculate Conception and her Assumption into Heaven.
Finally, don’t forget to join us for the cleaning of the church and creche set up next Saturday, December 10 at 9:00 am. We need all the cleaners we can assemble. We’ll have fun and something to share to eat for lunch. Thanks to Judy Cunningham for serving as coordinator of the Heavenly Dusters.
Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Father Noah
