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“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John3:16)
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 1549140308. Bratislava, Slovakia. 2019/10/20. Icon of Moses with the bronze serpent on a pole to protect the Israelites from dying. The Greek Catholic church of the Exaltation of the Venerable Cross. Editorial Use Only.Photo Contributor: Adam Jan Figel
PLEASE NOTE: THE FIRE ANT SCARE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES AND DECLARED NOT FIRE ANTS. PLEASE LET OTHERS KNOW WHO MAY BE CONCERNED.
PASTOR’S POST- Fr Anthony
This Sunday’s first reading from the second book of the Chronicles speaks about the temple in Jerusalem; how it has been defiled by bringing some of the shameful actions of the people of Israel into their hallowed ground. This was the same temple that Jesus cleared in last Sunday’s gospel from John’s account.
Who knows how long things had been done the wrong way in the temple before Jesus took the initiative to clear them out? The fact that things are done in a particular way for a long time, doesn’t necessarily mean it is the right thing to do or the right way.
Perhaps both readings seem to speak to some realities around us. We only need to look around, look at how things are been done and think again about whether it is right or wrong. Or maybe it may not particularly be about things, words, or actions but how we understand them and how we react to them. Think again dear brothers and sisters how the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross did change the concept and understanding of love, nay God’s love for us and the world.
Again, read from the account of John 3:14-21, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus: “… for God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life…” That is God’s intention for us dear brothers and sisters: eternal life, not easy life. It might sound a little bit off-pitch but that’s for a fact. Let me leave you with this excerpt from my reflection on Ash Wednesday: the season of Lent is not only about the penitential actions but also about the baptismal ones- the SIX “I DO’S.”
RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES:
Do you renounce Satan?
And all his works?
And all his empty show?
Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered death and was buried, rose again from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father?
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
May almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us new birth by water and the Holy Spirit and bestowed on us forgiveness of our sins, keep us by his grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord, for eternal life. Amen.
Many blessings of the Lenten Season.
Anthony
LOOKING FOR ACCOMMODATION:
During Gold Coast Marathon week for 7 days -
Bernadette O’Donnell 0427 922 804
SPECIAL RECONCILIATION TIMES -
Sunday 17th March
St Vincents (Surfers)- 7 am-7.30 am
St Vincents (Surfers)- after the 10 am Mass.
Monday to Friday - 18th to 22nd March (inclusive)
After the Sacred Heart (Clear Island Waters) 9 am mass.
Saturday 23rd March
Stella Maris (Broadbeach) 4-4.30 pm
Sacred Heart (Clear Island waters) 4-4.30 pm
Sunday 24th March
Stella Maris (Broadbeach) after the 7 am Mass.
Monday to Wednesday - 25th to 27th March (inclusive)
After the Sacred Heart (Clear Island Waters) 9 am mass.
Holy Thursday - 28th March.
Reconciliation will be held from 9 am -
(as there is no morning mass that day)
(No reconciliations scheduled on Holy Saturday or Easter Weekend.)
LENTEN GIVING - WITH PROJECT COMPASSION
2 Chronicles 36:14–16, 19–23 I Ephesians 2:4–10 I John 3:14–21
Written by Michael McGirr - From Project Compassion
We have all lived through great change. Even young people have seen plenty. ChatGPT is a recent development, and so are electric cars. Older people remember having a phone plugged into a socket you couldn’t carry around. Sometimes, we have discussions about the good old days. They are often tinged with nostalgia for things we miss and gratitude for improvements. We no longer need to buy film or change camera typewriter ribbons. Climate change is deeply troubling. Many medical improvements are inspiring.
Change can certainly be frightening. It can also be an occasion of great hope. Jesus seems to have understood this. Nicodemus comes across as a character looking for change in his life, but he is nervous about it, so he sees Jesus under the cover of darkness. Earlier in the chapter, Jesus uses the image of being born again. Of starting all over again. It is a dramatic description of change.
Jesus says that the light has come into the world and that people prefer the same old darkness. They are set in their ways.
Every Lent, through Project Compassion, Caritas Australia asks us to help bring light into the world and to make positive change. An example is presented to us this week in the story of Memory, a young woman from rural Malawi, the eldest child in a family living at the level of subsistence farming.
Listen to some of Memory’s words: 'Growing up in the village was not easy. My parents don’t have a job, so they depend on farming. When the season goes wrong, we suffer greatly and become food insecure. Sometimes we need to bathe without soap. Sometimes we need to walk without shoes.’
With the support of Caritas Australia and its partner the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM), Memory was able to enrol at a technical college where she learnt practical skills in carpentry. A new life became possible. She can now realise her full potential and offer more to her family and her community.
Today, the letter to the Ephesians reminds us that every person is ‘God’s work of art.’ God is the artist who never signs off on a painting but is always trying to make it better. Perhaps we can see the world in the same way.
NEXT WEEKEND AND BEYOND - ST PATRICK’S FEAST MOVED (FOR 2024)
Please note - to avoid surprise or disappointment, although the Feast of the Great Saint Patrick is usually celebrated on the 17th of March, There are solemnities and seasons listed by the Church as higher ranking - These override the usual feast day if they fall on the same day.
For example, the Sundays of Lent are regarded as a higher rank than almost every other Saint’s Day. Hence, Next weekend, the 17th will be the Celebration of the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Saint Patrick’s Day Mass will be celebrated here on the following day, usually the closest day to the usual date, and in this case, this is Monday, the 18th of March. Also, although the colour green is associated with Saint Patrick, the liturgical colour assigned for the Solemnity is actually White, which is for any saints whose Baptismal Robes were kept pure by following Christ. Saints whose blood was shed in witness to Christ, would be Red vestments, as are the Apostles (representing the fire of pentecost).
To tune in to The Weekend Mass (the sound podcast), please regularly visit the link below to listen to the Mass (including the homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish. Please see this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) - (It is updated at intervals just before the following Sunday or Feastday - https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Also found at - https://tinyurl.com/FHLpwk.
PILGRIMAGE WITH FR DAN RYAN - 15 MAY- 1 JUNE 2024.
**Bookings for Fr Dan’s trip to France are Closing**.
The beauty of a pilgrimage is, a Spiritual holiday, journeying to inspiring Christian locations touched by the grace of God, and home of many saints.
For more information, please contact Harvest Journeys at harvestjourneys.com or phone 1800 819 156.
-FRANCE, PARIS AND LOURDES 2024 -
(With Fr Dan Ryan, as he celebrates 50 years of priesthood).
Would you like to travel to France from mid-May to mid-June this year with me, Fr Dan Ryan, on a French Saints Pilgrimage, with a possible extension to Rome? It sounds like something beautiful and spiritual.
I have organised a pilgrimage with Harvest Journeys to travel through France and visit the Places of Saints.
The trip will include Paris (2nights), Rouen, Lisieux(2), Mont-Saint-Michel (2), Chartes, Nevers (1), Taize, Paray le Monial (2), Ars, La Salette (1), Avignon, Lourdes (3), Montserrat(1), and Barcelona (1), Optional Rome Extension (3).
For more information, contact Harvest Journeys on 1800 819 156 or https://bookings.harvestjourneys.com/pv2445. If you contact Harvest Journeys, mention Fr Dan Ryan’s name; the pilgrimage is the “French Saints Pilgrimage.” A copy of the brochure is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EuOjctr5PMLmUrxxhut9-IoMAI3OMQXQ/view?usp=sharing
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS
We welcome those Catechumens and Candidates who have commenced a journey of enquiry and faith towards Easter in 2024.
Catechumens – Kelly Friend, Cory Schumacher, Jacinta Andrews and her daughter Evie, Satoshi Tetsuo are seeking Baptism.
Candidates – Wendy Tetsuo is seeking Full Communion with the Catholic Church through Confirmation and First Holy Communion and
- Selina Moncrieff will be Confirmed and receive First Holy Communion
- Diana Vargas and Julian Rivers will be Confirmed .
We invite all Parishioners to pray for our Elect and Candidates during this journey to Easter as they come to know Jesus more deeply in their lives and to join us each week in celebrating the Mass.
We ask for many blessings on all who journey in faith and offer our support and prayers for you and your families during this time.
On Monday, 26th February, the Sacramental Team emailed all families with children enrolled in Preparation for First Holy Communion 2024. If you have not received your email, please email Cathy Anderson andersoncm@bne.catholic.net.au.
To begin or to continue the journey of faith with your child, please use the information provided in the table below.
MASS TIMES: SURFERS PARADISE MASS TIMES
“TAP `N” GO CASHLESS DONATIONS -
AVAILABLE AT THE ENTRANCES OF THREE CHURCHES - tap once to donate $10, tap again (when it has re-set) for another $10, and so on.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: (Alphabetical)
Jack Barretto, Nellie Bellinger, Kevin Brennan, Tim Brown, Margaret Buckingham, Diana Castro, Cecily Cellinan, King Charles III, Doug Chester, Jo Clark, Leslie Clarke, Tina Conidi, Margaret & George Cook, Alfonso Covino, Margaret Cusack, Geraldine Daniels, Nia Falekakala, Eileen Farrell, John Fisher, Rosie May Fisher, Sally Gage, Lorraine Gallagher, Fred Grioli, Jacob Haddad, Jenny Haines, Dion Herft, Lena Hiscock, Louise Holmes, Kim Ingram, Anna Janiek, Brian Johnson, Pat Jones, Leona Kelly, Marianne Kennedy, Kath Kiely, Betu Kim, Jan Kristenson, Krystal, Bob Lahey, Diane & Steve Land, Sue Langham, Patrick Joven de Leon, Nathan Lepp, Joseph Ah Lo, Sarina Losurdo, John Nathaniel Maher, Maria Manuela, Andrew McPherson, Phil McWilliam, Fabiola Menzs, Joanne Mooney, Maryann Moore, Hugh Morand, Amy Elizabeth Morgan, Michael & Lesley Murtagh, Joanna Muthu, Lynn Nunan, Denis Mullins, Stephen O’Brien, Peter O’Brien, John & Pat O’Hanlon, Natalie O’Reilly, Letty O’Sullivan, Joanne Parkes, Kay Pitman, Rachel Raines, Gus Reeves, Patricia Roberts, Rogelio Rodriguez, Bob Rogers, Felipe S Cataquiz (Senior), Thor Skjaerbaek, Kathy Stevens, Brenda Stewart, Jim Stewart, Rose Stewart, Betty Taylor, John Thomas, Baby Samuel Timothy, Leonardo Torcaso, Denise Tracey, Rick Murphy (USA), Karen Vestergard, Billy Webb, Lois Wood.
RECENTLY DECEASED: (Chronological - Most recent first):
Lynette Mary Leonard, Rose Mary Booth-Crane, Noel Payne, Graham William Gibbons, Teresa Lisa (Hhih Ting) Teo, Laura Aprile, Michael Francis Dooley, Louise Antoinette Levi, Erzsebet Rigo, Minnie Ware, Beatriz Dos Santos, June Mitchell, Kevin Bathis, Robert Reed, George Beljak, Pavo Dronjic, Dudley Plunkett, Laurel Goddard, Chris Girvan, Franco Innocenti, Mirko Papak, Sybil Vos
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: (Alphabetical)
Kath Browning, Peter Butler, Racquel Leisa Carruthers, Ronald Patrick (Ron) Chapman, Rae Maree Colahan, Rev Fr Peter Hugh Conroy, Arkley Debnam, John Delich, Bernadette Marie Douwes, Paul Fitzgerald, Fr Patrick Flood, Mary Theresa Ford, Barry Geary, Jeannette Giblin, Rosina Grguric, Gloria Hart, Mary Madonna Hodge, Maureen Kennedy, Ferdinand Paul Kiely, Virgil Klaassen, Mario Di Martino, Elizabeth Mary McKinstry, Maurice James McNamara, Giorgia Teresa Micallef-Vinall, Dawn Milgate, Yvonne Helen Mitchell, Fr Ralph Mitchell, Josephine Nosti, Gerald Francis (Gerry) O’Reilly, Norma Claire Quinlan, Fr Kevin Ryan, Giovanni Scalcione, Iris Scharenguivel, Marija Vaculik, Margaret Eileen Young.
And Also: (Alphabetical):
Romano Del Bianco, Paul Bleakley, Joseph Caruana, Fr James Concannon, June Hilda Curtis, Monique Mary Felsman, Malcolm Leslie (Mal) Flannery, Raymond Fredricks, Michael Anthony Geoghegan, Shirley May Heath, Fr Brian Horton, Kathleen Jackson, Benjamin Anthony Kyle, Michael Maloney, Kathryn Matthews, Francis Vernon Maunder, Fr John McMonagle, Valerie Lorraine Meldrum, Margaret Mary Miller, Elizabeth (Betty) O'Hagan, Pamela Margaret Rawlings, Brenda Scantlebury, Millicent Dawn Shaw, Austin Smith, Kazimierz Tadeusz Ważny, Fr Raymond Wilson.
HOSPITAL CALLS - AROUND THE DEANERY -
HELP THE PRIESTS OF THE DEANERY RESPOND TO URGENT CALLS EFFECTIVELY BY CALLING THE FOLLOWING PARISHES' FIRST RESPONDERS TO NEEDS WITHIN THE HOSPITALS LISTED.
To efficiently and speedily deal with the pastoral needs around the Catholic parishes of the Gold Coast, the parishes within this Deanery have the practice of having the first call for emergencies go to the priests of the parish where the hospital is located. Here is a helpful guide to the hospitals and their attendant priests. A nursing home call also follows this procedure, where the first priest to call is a priest from the parish within which the Nursing Home is located. Please help us service the region effectively and help prevent delays in response by calling the nearest parish.
Robina Hospital - Burleigh Heads Parish. 5576 6466
Pindara Hospital - Surfers Paradise Parish. 56717388
John Flynn Hospital - Coolangatta-Tugun Parish. 5598 2165
University & Gold Coast Private Hosp.- Southport Parish. 5510 2222
ADVANCE NOTICE OF HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES IN OUR PARISH (2024)
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER MASS AND SERVICE SCHEDULE
Our Easter timetable is as follows:
HOLY THURSDAY: (March 28th 2024)
6 pm Mass is only at Sacred Heart Church, 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters, QLD 4226.
GOOD FRIDAY: (March 29th 2024) - Morning Stations -
10 am Stations of the Cross in all three Churches:
10 am Sacred Heart Church 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters, QLD 4226.
10 am Stella Maris Church, 254 Hedges Avenue, Broadbeach, QLD 4218.
10 am St Vincents Church. 40 Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise 4217.
+ GOOD FRIDAY - (March 29th 2024)- Afternoon Solemnities.
3 pm Reading of the Passion, Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion in all three Churches:
3 pm Sacred Heart Church, 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters, QLD 4226.
3 pm Stella Maris Church, 254 Hedges Avenue, Broadbeach, QLD 4218.
3 pm St Vincents Church, 40 Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise 4217.
HOLY SATURDAY: (March 30th 2024)
5 pm Full Vigil Mass with Baptism of Adults (longer ceremony). Sacred Heart Church 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters, QLD 4226.
5 pm Vigil Mass, Stella Maris Church, 254 Hedges Avenue, Broadbeach, QLD 4218.
5 pm Vigil Mass, St Vincent’s Church. 40 Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise 4217.
EASTER SUNDAY: (March 31st 2024)
7 am Mass Stella Maris Church, 254 Hedges Avenue, Broadbeach, QLD 4218.
8 am and 10 am Mass, St Vincent’s Church. 40 Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise 4217.
9 am and 6 pm Mass, Sacred Heart Church, 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters, QLD 4226.
MARKETS ON FAIRWAY (THE MARKETS ON FAIRWAY ARE SUSPENDED FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS DUE TO WORK ON THE ATRIUM SITE)
From Grace R. grace.flowers.art@hotmail.com
RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS - SACRED HEART AND ST VINCENT’S CHURCHES
Easter greeting cards in the shops until sold out
SACRED HEART ROSARY PRAYER GROUP
Please join us to pray the Divine Mercy and Rosary each day at the Sacred Heart Church before the 9 am Mass, at 8:15 am, Monday to Friday, including First Saturdays.
Stations of the Cross each Friday of Lent at 6 pm at Sacred Heart Church,
50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters. Up to and including the 22nd March 2024. (Also, special time for stations on Good Friday).
Walking a Sacred Path: Walking in God’s Loving Gaze:
Contemplative day for women. 10am – 3.30pm Saturday 23rdMarch, Mary Mother of Mercy Church. As we journey towards Easter, the invitation to contemplate the question “Whose am I?”, depthing the journey as we walk in the gaze of The-One-Who-Loves-Us. Creative reflective processes offered. Tea and coffee makings supplied. BYO food and beverage. Donation invited to cover cost of supplied resources. Contact sue@suethomas.net.au to RSVP by Monday 18th March.
ART AND CRAFT GROUP -
The Group meets in the Parish Hospitality Centre on Wednesdays from 9 to 12. Activities include
Art (watercolour, oils, acrylics, pen and ink drawing, etc.)
Various kinds of Craftwork (Knitting, Embroidery, Crocheting, Card making, Sewing, etc.)
Making Rosary Beads (later sent to the missions)
And any other activities that individuals may have an interest in or you can bring in your ideas
A very relaxing and social environment - meet new friends! You are most welcome to join.
For further information, phone John 0412 759 205 or the Parish Office.
THE SACRED HEART BRIDGE CLUB-
Meets at the Sacred Heart - Parish Hospitality Centre, Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters.
Playing Bridge keeps your brain active and increases your social network! So why not give us a try? Learn to play Bridge at “Our Friendly Club” - Free Lesson. “Introduction to Bridge” - It is Easy to learn the format. No previous card-playing experience is necessary. All are welcome. For more information and to enrol, please phone Cheryl at 5538 8821 or Mob at 0417 772 701.
MARIAN VALLEY PILGRIMAGE
Please come and join us at the Marian Valley for the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima's Feast on 13.03.2024. The bus will pick up Sharp at 8.15 am at the Sacred Heart Church Clear Island Waters. The Cost for the bus fare is $25.00 return. You can secure your seat with a contact name and phone number with Xavier Solomon at 0404 843 260, Madeleine at 0405 252 367 or 5529 1573. All are welcome. If You need further information, please contact Xavier on 0404 843 260.
YOGA AT THE PARISH HOSPITALITY CENTRE -
Join us for our social class in the Parish Hospitality Centre next to the Parish Office. Classes run every Tuesday at 10:45 a.m. Learn to relax yet gain greater flexibility, inner strength, body awareness and concentration while increasing your breath support and general well-being. Ruth is an IYTA-accredited instructor with wide experience and runs a caring, carefully monitored one-hour session costing $10 (new attendees, please arrive by 10:30 a.m. to prepare adequately for class). For more information, call Ruth on 0421338110.
OUR LADY’S STATUE -
Praying the Rosary - Our Lady’s Statue in the Parish -
Details of the Statue of Our Lady are going around the Parish.
If you want her in your home and say the Rosary,
Please contact Maxine or Pat on 0412 519 404.
Our Lady’s Statue details for the next several weeks are
11/03/2024 Eilleen & Julio Camera Nerang
18/03/2024 Maria Filo Paradise Waters
25/03/2024 Maria Filo Paradise Waters
Please phone Maxine Sela on 0421 051 193 if you want the Statue.
EXERCISE CLASS - LOW IMPACT - FOR HEART HEALTH -
Join Rochelle for a fun, functional exercise class at Casey Hall. Low-impact cardiovascular exercises for heart health, improve strength and balance- an all-around fitness class for over 65’s. Stretch and strengthen the whole body, make new friends and feel great. Tuesday mornings @9.30 Beginners welcome. Contact Rochelle for further information on 0438 333 308.
BIBLE STUDY/PRAYER GROUP - ST VINCENT’S CHURCH, SURFERS PARADISE.
The Bible Study Prayer Group Thursday from 5-6 pm at St Vincent’s Church, 40 Hamilton Ave Surfers Paradise. Come along and read/study Break Open the Word once a week on a Thursday evening from 5 to 6 pm—For further enquiries, Ashley at 0409840693.
MEDITATION PRAYER GROUP
In the Morris prayer room, Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The Meditation Group would very much like to welcome new members. Please phone Pam Egtberts at 0493742670.
LENTEN PROGRAM starts on the 13th of February after meditation - from 10.45 am to 11.45 am with the Living In Harmony Program from Garratt Publishing as the resource material.
Everyone is welcome to attend both or just the Lenten program.
PRAYER GROUP - SPANISH SPEAKER
Jesus de la Misericordia. Invites you to participate every 2nd Saturday of the month from 11 am to 2 pm. Place: Hospitality Room. Sacred Heart Church. “We praise, We praise, We grow spiritually from the Word of the Lord.” For more information, please ring Grace: 0410 006 484.
LENT 2024 WITH THE CATHOLIC GUY, BRUCE DOWNES
Lent is a time when we can grow closer to God and prepare our hearts for the true meaning of Easter. Be inspired, be refreshed, and be renewed!
For 40 days, you will receive a short, practical and inspiring video in your inbox every morning to help you make this Lenten journey more powerful and prayerful. This program is FREE, and you can sign up here: https://BruceDownes.org/Lent
Go to BruceDownes.org for more information.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD - (CLOW) AT SACRED HEART CHURCH
Helpers are needed also to assist with our Children’s Liturgy of the Word
(also known as CLOW) on a Sunday morning during the 9 am Mass at Sacred Heart.
The children leave the congregation at the start of Mass and go to the Atrium to celebrate and reflect on the Sunday Gospel reading in an age-appropriate way. The children are led through prayers, songs, and readings adapted to their understanding level.
Attending Mass together is a part of being a Catholic Family, while Children’s Liturgy of the Word allows children to enter the celebration more fully by catering to their needs.
Interested volunteers are invited to contact the Parish Office.
One of the requirements will be to have or apply for a Blue Card. Staff will be able to help you apply if necessary.
Archdiocesan Centre for Catholic Formation - Module Three: Being Sacramental
An invitation is now extended for people to participate in the third unit offering from the Archdiocesan Centre for Catholic Formation.
This module, Being Sacramental, will explore with participants what it means to live in a sacramental world. It will address the broader notion of sacramentality, the importance of signs and symbols in the liturgy and the character of each of the seven sacraments of the Church. The module will also focus on the approach of the participant to the sacraments, recognising that our relationship with God fundamentally influences how we experience the sacraments. Participants will develop their ability to listen to the voice of God in and through the sacraments, seeing more clearly the grace received in each rite and moving closer to full, active, and conscious participation in the liturgy.
I am asking Parish Priests and Chaplains to promote this formation opportunity in their parish or community and personally to invite people to register. Enclosed are a number of brochures you might provide to those you invite to attend. More information can be found at www.catholicformation.au.
(Brochure can be accessed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XQ21axAypwcmomoZJuGlSX9wAPtkm12l/view?usp=sharing).
The module will run for ten consecutive Monday, commencing on Monday 15 April, at Holy Spirit Seminary, and the chief presenter will be Deacon Peter Pellicaan.
For those who live beyond the Brisbane region, there is an option to register as a regional hub where you can gather locally and participate together via an online link. If you are interested in hosting a regional hub, you might contact Evangelisation Brisbane.
May this offering lead to a deeper knowledge and love of the sacraments in the minds and hearts of our people.
As always in the Lord,
+ The Most Reverend Mark Coleridge
Archbishop of Brisbane
LENTEN IDEAS FOR CHILDREN:
https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/careers/
The Archdiocese of Brisbane has standards of conduct for workers to maintain a safe and healthy environment for children. Our commitment to these standards requires conducting working with children checks and background referencing for all persons who will engage in direct and regular involvement with children and young people (0 - 18 years) or vulnerable adults. The organisation is fully committed to child safety and has zero tolerance for abusing children or vulnerable adults.
YEAR OF PRAYER - RESOURCE
The Eucharist - The Greatest Prayer
Catholics often say that the Mass is the greatest prayer that we can offer. This is true for many reasons, and especially so because it is Christ’s prayer, Christ’s saving sacrifice offered to the heavenly Father for his glory and for our salvation. At every Mass, Christ unites us to himself in the offering of this prayer, of this sacrifice. For the priest, though, his union with this offering is even more profound, more particular, more personal.
The Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy summarizes the traditional faith of the Church about the Eucharist.
“At the Last Supper, on the night when He was betrayed, our Savior instituted the eucharistic sacrifice of His Body and Blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the centuries until He should come again, and so to entrust to His beloved spouse, the Church, a memorial of His death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is eaten, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, No. 47; cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1323).
At this same Last Supper, with the institution of the Eucharist, the Lord turned to the gathered apostles and said, “Do this in remembrance of me” (cf. Lk 22:14-20; 1 Cor 11:23-26). Thus Jesus commands his apostles, his priests, to celebrate the Eucharist until his return (cf. CCC, No. 1337). This same command of the Lord to his apostles directs them uniquely to repeat his words and actions from the supper “to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the centuries” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, No. 47). In this way, the priest, as he keeps the command of the Lord in every age, on behalf of all the members of the Church, is intimately united with the very event of the Lord’s Sacrifice, the memorial of [Jesus’] death and resurrection.
One way to see and encourage priests to have a new regard for praying the greatest prayer, the holy Mass, is to look at how the Church describes their role concerning the Last Supper command and the celebration of the Eucharist. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal succinctly identifies this role.
“A Priest, also, who possesses within the Church the sacred power of Orders to offer sacrifice in the person of Christ, presides by this fact over the faithful people gathered here and now, presides over its prayer, proclaims to it the message of salvation, associates the people with himself in the offering of sacrifice through Christ in the Holy Spirit to God the Father, and gives his brothers and sisters the Bread of eternal life and partakes of it with them. Therefore, when he celebrates the Eucharist, he must serve God and the people with dignity and humility, and by his bearing and by the way he pronounces the divine words he must convey to the faithful the living presence of Christ” (GIRM, No. 93).
This theologically and liturgically rich paragraph from the front matter of the Roman Missal provides four points for consideration for the priest to deepen his praying of the mystery of Christ in the Eucharist, the greatest prayer. As he prays holy Mass, he does so in the person of Christ, he presides over the faithful and proclaims the word of salvation, he associates the faithful with himself in the offering of Christ’s sacrifice and he carries out the rites with humility.
A VOCATION VIEW:
When we are ‘born again’ in baptism, we become a new creation, fired with a new love, and aimed in a new direction – heaven. Let Jesus talk with you. Let Jesus challenge you. To be cut off from the treasures of the Church is to be cast away from life itself. As the Israelites longed to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem, so must we long to continue to build up the Church today. (Psalm 137).
To talk to someone about your vocation, contact Vocation Brisbane: 1300 133 544. vocation@bne.catholic.net.au and www.vocationbrisbane.com
STEWARDSHIP -
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” - John 3:16
Of all the wonderful gifts that God has given to us, the gift of His own Son is truly the greatest. How can we ever thank God for a gift like that? God does not ask us to sacrifice our own precious firstborn, but He does ask that we be grateful and generous with our God-given gifts. We nurture and develop our gifts, and in gratitude, generously give back with an increase in our time in prayer, our talent in charitable works and our treasure to support the mission and ministry of our parish and greater Church.
The vision of Stewardship speaks in every aspect of life, inviting everyone to be thankful, generous, and accountable for what each has been given.
Take Five For Faith -
WORD OF THE WEEK
“Joy” -
A fruit or mark of the activity of the Holy Spirit in the life of the faithful. While pleasure comes through the senses and happiness from human interaction, Christian joy is experienced in loving God and neighbour.
CONTEXT
Joy is the fishing net of love by which we catch souls. —Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Joy, with peace, is the sister of charity. Serve the Lord with laughter. —Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
The gospel is a proclamation of joy. Ideologies don't make people smile, but the gospel is a smile. It makes you smile because it touches your soul with the Good News. —Pope Francis
WHY IT MATTERS
Venerable Fulton J. Sheen once divided the world into those who have found God and those who are still hungering, thirsting, and seeking. Religious practices in themselves may or may not bring a person to genuine holiness. But the life that exhibits true joy proves to be radiant with the life of God.
From “Gaudium et Spes,” the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World: “The Lord is the goal of human history, the focal point of the longings of history and of civilization, the centre of the human race, the joy of every heart and the answer to all its yearnings.”
RELATED WORDS
Rejoice | Alleluia | Fruits of the Spirit
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Will my faith make me happy?
The biblical idea of happiness is linked to beatitude (Latin for “bliss”). Jesus offers beatitudes in his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s gospel. Often the primary word of each beatitude is translated as blessed. A more literal rendering might be the cry, "Happy you!" who are just, pure of heart, merciful, a peacemaker, and so on. God is the source of happiness, therefore doing as God does brings bliss.
So, the short answer to the question is, yes, living according to God's will makes you happy. It's the only thing, in fact, that does; or as Saint Thomas Aquinas declared, "God alone satisfies." Saint Paul lists joy as one of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. Saint Francis de Sales went so far as to warn against giving in to excessive sadness as it's a counter-witness to the joy that comes in the life of faith.
—Alice Camille, from Questions Catholics Ask:
REFLECTION OF THE WEEK
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT, LAETARE SUNDAY (MARCH 10)
Rejoice and be glad
Most of us aren’t crazy about being told to “cheer up.” Yet today is called Laetare (“rejoice”) Sunday because even though it’s Lent, the church urges us to cheer up in the words of Isaiah 66:10: “Rejoice with Jerusalem all you who love her.” We may feel affection for the memory of biblical Jerusalem or concern for the current sorrows of the city. But it’s the heavenly city, where justice and peace reign, that gives us reason to rejoice.
“Whoever lives the truth comes to the light.” John 3:14-21
FAITH IN ACTION
Remember our joy and hope lies in the land where Christ rules.
THIS WEEKEND’S GOSPEL -
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Homily: Fourth Sunday of Lent.Year B - Sunday, 10 March 2024
* (Prologue: Fr Paul Kelly)
We are now at the three-quarter mark of Lent….. our Lenten journey does not have long to go before Holy Week is upon us……
So, during this week, it is a good time to take stock and see how we have been going in the area of "Prayer, Penance and acts of kindness and works of loving and practical charity…."
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The gospel this weekend gives us a very helpful test to assist us in our taking stock of ourselves… ……. "The daylight test"…. How do our actions, behaviours, and priorities stand up to the bright light of day; - to the searching light of clarity…..
To see how closely we are really adhering to the values of the gospel…. Just let us ask ourselves… how would it really appear, if my secret words, actions and behaviours were revealed in plain sight…
In the clear glare of the bright light of day… would I be at peace with what I have done..??
As I said last week… take a look at any difference between how we drive when people can recognize us, and how we might drive if we believe we are anonymous, in the dark… unrecognized. or when no one seems to be looking… How do we act when no one can see us…? Are we consistent?
I was visiting the hospital the other day, and I was parking my car and walking up to the hospital, humming a little tune. I noticed a pedestrian just in front of me, walking quietly and calmly back to his car and getting into it.. perfectly sedately, but then I was surprised; because as soon as he got into it. It is like he turned into something else… he reversed quickly… revved the car loudly and sped out of the 40km car park area at a really fast rate… it is as if merely getting into that car turned him into a completely different (and a lot crazier) person….// I could not believe the difference or the transformation!! Is it possible that most of those revving, impatient, impulsive, aggressive, angry drivers we see on the road… get out of their cars and turn back from crazy Mr Hyde… into mild-mannered and friendly Dr Jekyll ??… I think, sometimes YES.
The thing about that is, even if being a crazy and impulsive driver is not who we are 99 % of the time; it is still, according to the scriptures today, a really important test of how integrated we are, as a whole person… and those acts of craziness when we are not identified or fairly anonymous" say more about the true state of our inner hearts and dispositions than we might care to admit. But lent is a time for seeing admitting and submitting these contradictions, to our merciful, loving God.
It's the same in those situations where we all gather for a beautiful mass and we sing and we pray and we greet each other, as brothers and sisters in Christ…. And then we go back to our cars and the next minute we hear beeping and yelling and abuse… whoops?? What's happened there… peace be with you indeed!! These are the contradictions we must lay before the Lord, and ask him to pour his healing love upon… to make us more and more consistent and loving and compassionate inside and out… in public and private.. a holy person is a whole person, who is consistent inside and out… this is what Our Lord is calling us towards… and we need his mercy and love to attain it. Slowly but surely.
God invites us to always and everywhere strive to be people of the light.. whose behaviour and choices are wrought in the light… and not in the shadows of darkness, concealment or double standards.
All we have to do is respond in faith, humility and trust to Jesus' invitation… how we respond to Jesus is decisive…
++
References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
**Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of John. Part I. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press.
DeBona, G. (2014). Between the Ambo and the altar. Year B. 1st ed. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press.
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. stock photo ID: stock photo ID: 1191951055. hiding in the dark. By ozrimoz
A Sermon by Saint Francis de Sales, on Lent, and Temptation.
Temptation
Sermon for the First Sunday of Lent, February 13, 1622, concerning the universality of temptation, the spiritual danger of idleness, faith as a prime weapon against temptation, slothful souls, presumptuous reliance of beginners on the strength from their sensible fervour, attachment to the consolations of God, Our Lord's example in undergoing temptation from the devil, battling one's faults with patience and perseverance, vain hopes which distract the soul from practising solid virtue, the folly of avariciously chasing after a multiplicity of devotions, and vain complacency in God's consolations.
"My son, when you come to serve God, prepare your soul for temptation." [Ecclus.(Sirach) 2:1]
This is an admonition of the Sage: "My son, if you intend to serve God, prepare your soul for temptation," for it is an infallible truth that no one is exempt from temptation when he has truly resolved to serve God. This being the case, Our Lord Himself chose to be subjected to temptation in order to show us how we ought to resist it. Thus the Evangelists tell us: He was led into the desert by the Spirit to be tempted [Matt. 4:1; Mk. 1:12; Lk. 4:1]. I shall draw lessons from this mystery for our particular instruction, in as familiar a manner as I am able.
In the first place, I note that although no one can be exempt from temptation, still no one should seek it or go of his own accord to the place where it may be found, for undoubtedly he who loves it will perish in it [Ecclus. (Sirach) 3:27]. That is why the Evangelist says that Our Lord was led into the desert by the Spirit to be tempted; it was not then by His choice (I am speaking with regard to His human nature) that He went to the place of temptation, but He was led by the obedience He owed to His heavenly Father.
I find in Holy Scripture two young princes who furnish us with examples on this subject. One sought temptation and perished in it. The other, without seeking it, encountered it but left the combat victorious.
At the time when kings should go to war, as his own army faced the enemy, David strolled about on the roof of the king's house, idling his time away as though he had nothing to do. Being idle in this way, he was overcome by temptation. Bethsheba, that inconsiderate lady, went to bathe in a place where she could be seen from the roof of the king's house. Certainly, this was an act of unparalleled imprudence which I cannot excuse, even though several modern writers wish to render it excusable by saying that she did not think of that. To bathe in a place where she exposed herself to view from the roof of the royal palace was a very great indiscretion. Whether she thought of it or not, young Prince David began by allowing himself to gaze on her, and then perished in the temptation which he had sought by his idleness and sloth [2 Kgs. (2 Sam.) 11:1-4]. You see, idleness is a great help to temptation. Never say: "I do not seek it; I am not doing anything." That is enough in order to be tempted, for temptation has a tremendous power over us when it finds us idle. Oh, if David had gone out on campaign at the time that he should have gone, or if he had been engaged in something good, the temptation would not have had the power of attacking him, or at least of overcoming and vanquishing him.
In contrast, young Prince Joseph, who was later viceroy of Egypt, did not seek temptation at all, and so upon meeting it he did not perish in it. He had been sold by his brothers [Gen. 37:28], and his master's wife exposed him to danger. But he had never indulged or heeded the amorous glances of his mistress; rather, he nobly resisted her advances and was victorious, thus triumphing not only over the temptation but also over her who had been the cause of it [Gen. 39:7-12].
If we are led by the Spirit of God to the place of temptation, we should not fear but should be assured that He will render us victorious[1] [1 Cor. 10:13]. But we must not seek temptation nor go out to allure it, however holy and generous we may think ourselves to be, for we are not more valiant than David, nor than our Divine Master Himself, who did not choose to seek it. Our enemy is like a chained dog; if we do not approach, it will do us no harm, even though it tries to frighten us by barking at us.
But wait a little, I pray you, and see how certain it is that no one who comes to serve God can avoid temptations. We could give many examples of this, but one or two will suffice. Ananias and Saphira made a vow to dedicate themselves and their possessions to the perfection that all the first Christians professed, submitting themselves to obedience to the Apostles. They had no sooner made their resolution than temptation attacked them, as St. Peter said: Who has tempted you to lie to the Holy Spirit? [Acts.5:1-3]. The great Apostle St. Paul as soon as he had given himself to the divine service and ranged himself on the side of Christianity, was immediately tempted for the rest of his life. [2 Cor. 12:7]. While he was an enemy of God and persecuted the Christians he did not feel the attack of any temptation, or at least he has given us no testimony of it in his writings. But he did when he was converted by Our Lord.
Thus, it is a very necessary practice to prepare our souls for temptation. That is, wherever we may be and however perfect we may be, we must rest assured that temptation will attack us. Hence, we ought to be so disposed and to provide ourselves with the weapons necessary to fight valiantly to carry off the victory since the crown is only for the combatants and conquerors [2 Tim. 2:5; Jas. 1:12]. We ought never to trust in our own strength or in our courage and go out to seek temptation, thinking to confound it; but if in that place where the Spirit of God has led us we encounter it, we must remain firm in the confidence which we ought to have that He will strengthen us against the attacks of our enemy, however furious they may be.
Let us proceed and consider a little the weapons that Our Lord made use of to repulse the devil that came to tempt Him in the desert. They were none other, my dear friends, than those the Psalmist speaks of in the Psalm we recite every day at Compline: "Qui habitat in adjutorio Altissimi" ("Who dwells in the aid of the Highest") [Ps. 90 (91)]. From this Psalm, we learn an admirable doctrine. He speaks in this manner as though addressing Christians or someone in particular: "Oh how happy you are, you who are armed with the truth of God, for it will serve you as a shield against the arrows of your enemies and will make you victorious. Therefore, do not fear, O blessed souls, you who are armed with this armour of truth. Fear neither the terrors of the night, for you will not stumble into them; nor the arrows that fly in the air by day, for arrows, will not be able to injure you; nor the business that roams in the night; much less the devil that advances and reveals himself at noon."
O how divinely well armed with truth was Our Lord and Master, for He was truth itself [Jn. 14:6]. This truth the Psalmist speaks is nothing other than faith [1 Thess. 5:8]. Whoever is armed with faith needs fear nothing; this is the only armour necessary to repel and confound our enemy; for what can harm him who says Credo, "I believe" in God, who is our Father, and our Father Almighty? In saying these words we show that we do not trust in our own strength and that it is only in the strength of God, "the Father Almighty," that we undertake the combat, that we hope for victory [Ps. 17 (18):30; 43 (44):6-7; Heb. 11:33-34; 1 Jn. 5:4]. No, let us not go on our own to meet temptation by any presumption of spirit, but only rebuff it when God permits it to attack us and seek us out where we are, as it did Our Lord in the desert. By using the words of Holy Scripture our dear Master overcame all the temptations the enemy presented to Him.
But I want it to be understood that the Saviour was not tempted as we are and that temptation could not be in Him as it is in us, for He was an impregnable stronghold to which it did not have access. Just as a man who is vested from head to foot in fine steel could not be injured in any way by the blows of a weapon since it would glance off on either side, not even scratching the armour; so temptation could indeed encompass Our Lord but never enter into Him, nor do any injury to His integrity and perfect purity. But we are different. If, by the grace of God, we do not consent to temptations, and avoid the fault and the sin in them, ordinarily we are nevertheless wounded a little by some importunity, trouble, or emotion that they produce in our heart.
Our Divine Master could not have faith since He possessed in the superior part of His soul, from the moment that He began to be, a perfect knowledge of the truths that faith teaches us; however, He wished to make use of this virtue to repel the enemy, for no other reason, my dear friends, than to teach all that we have to do. Do not then seek other arms nor other weapons in order to refuse consent to a temptation except to say, "I believe." And what do you believe? "In God" my "Father Almighty."
St. Bernard, referring to these words of the Psalm which we have cited, said that the terrors of the night of which the Psalmist speaks are of three kinds. From this, I will draw my third lesson. The first fear is that of cowards and slothful souls; the second, that of children; and the third, that of the weak. Fear is the first temptation that the enemy presents to those who have resolved to serve God, for as soon as they are shown what perfection requires of them they think, "Alas, I shall never be able to do it." It seems to them that it is almost an impossibility to attain to that height, and they readily say, "O God, what perfection is needed to live in this house, or in this way of life and in my vocation! It is too high for me: I cannot attain it!"[2] Do not trouble yourself and do not frame these idle fears that you are not able to accomplish that to which you have bound yourself since you are armed and encompassed with the truth of God and with His word. Having called you to this manner of life and to this house, He will strengthen you and will give you the grace to persevere [1 Cor. 1:7-8; 1 Thess. 5:24] and to do what is required for His greater glory and for your greater welfare and happiness, provided you walk simply in faithful observance.
Do not be astonished, therefore, and do not do as the slothful, who are troubled when they wake at night by the fear that daylight will come very soon when they will have to work. The slothful and cowardly fear everything and find everything difficult and trying because they amuse themselves in thinking, with the foolish and slothful imagination that they have created for themselves, more about future difficulties than what they have to do at present. "Oh," they say, "if I devote myself to the service of God, it will be necessary for me to work so much in order to resist the temptations which will attack me." You are quite right, for you will not be exempt from them since it is a general rule that all the servants of God are tempted, as St. Jerome wrote in that beautiful epistle which he addressed to his dear daughter, Eustochium.
To whom do you wish, I pray, that the devil should present his temptations if not to those who despise them? Sinners tempt themselves; the devil already regards them as his own; they are his confederates because they do not reject his suggestions. On the contrary, they seek them and temptation resides in them. The devil does not work much to set his snares in the secular world but rather in retired places where he expects a great gain in bringing about the downfall of souls who are secluded there serving the Divine Majesty more perfectly. St. Thomas used to marvel greatly at how the greatest sinners went out into the streets, laughing and joyful, as though their sins did not weigh on their consciences. And who would not be astonished at seeing a soul not in God's grace making merry? Oh, how vain are their joys, and how false their gaiety, for they have gone after anguish and eternal regrets! Let us leave them, I pray you, and return to the fear of the slothful.
They are always lamenting—and why? Why, you ask? "Alas, we must work, and yet I thought that it would be enough to embark on God's way and in His service to find rest." But do you not know that sloth and idleness made poor David perish in temptation? You perhaps would wish to be among those garrison soldiers who have everything they wish in a good town; they are merry, they are masters of their host's home, they sleep in his bed and live well; nevertheless, they are called "soldiers," feigning to be valiant and courageous while they go neither to battle nor to war. But Our Lord does not want this kind of warrior in His army; He wants combatants and conquerors, not sluggards and cowards. He chose to be tempted, and Himself attacked to give us an example.
Ah, fear nothing, I pray you, since you are encompassed with the armour of truth and faith [Eph. 6:11-16J. Rise from your bed, indolent, for it is time [Cf. Prov. 6:9; Rom. 13:11], and do not be frightened by the day's work, for it is natural that the night is given for rest and the day following for work. Rise, for mercy's sake, from your cowardice, and keep clearly before your mind this infallible truth: all must be tempted, and all must keep readied for combat in order to win the victory. Since temptation has a remarkable power over us when it finds us idle, let us work and not grow weary, for we do not wish to lose the eternal rest which has been prepared for us as a reward for our labours. Let us trust in God who is our "Father Almighty." By virtue of this fact, all things will be rendered easy, although they may initially frighten us a little.
The second terror of the night, according to St. Bernard, is that experienced by children. As you are aware, children are very much afraid when they are out of their mother's arms. If they see a barking dog, they suddenly begin to cry, and will not stop until they are again with their mamma. In her arms, they feel secure. They feel that nothing can harm them provided they are holding her hand.[3] Ah, then, the Psalmist says, why do you fear, you who are encompassed with truth and armed with the strong shield of faith which teaches you that God is your "Father Almighty"? Hold His hand and do not be frightened, for He will save you and protect you against all your enemies. Consider how St. Peter, after he made that generous act of throwing himself into the sea and began walking on the water in order more quickly to reach our Divine Saviour who had called to him, suddenly began to fear and at the same time to sink down, and cried out, "Lord, save me!" And at once his good Master stretched out His hand and took hold of him, thus saving him from drowning [Matt. 14:29-31]. Let us do the same, my dear friends. If we feel that we lack courage let us cry out in a loud voice full of confidence, "Lord, save me!" Let us not doubt that God will strengthen us and prevent us from perishing.
There are some who, feigning courage, go someplace alone at night. When they hear a little stone fall from the ceiling or just hear a mouse running, they cry out, "O my God!" We say to them, "What has happened?" "I heard something." "What?" "I do not know." We meet others who, when they go into the fields and from a distance see the shadow of trees, are very much frightened indeed, believing that it is someone waiting for them. Such great chimeras and childishness! Often persons who have just come into God's service are like these people. They affect fearlessness and seem never to feed enough on the crucifix. Nothing can satisfy them. They think of nothing but living always in tranquil rest. Nothing can overcome their courage and generosity.
This is what happened to poor St. Peter. Being but a mere child in the spiritual life, he made this act of generosity of which I just now spoke. But he made still another later on, and it cost him dearly. When Our Lord announced to His Apostles how He was to suffer death, St. Peter, quick to speak but fainthearted and cowardly in acting, boasted: "For my part, I will never abandon You!" [Matt. 26:31-35; Mk. 14:27-31; Lk. 22:33; Jn. 13:37]. And Our Lord went on, "... I shall be scourged." "And I too, for love of Thee." "I shall be crowned with thorns." "And I as well." In short, he would yield nothing to his good Master. The more Our Lord expounded on the greatness of His afflictions, the more St. Peter passionately insisted that he would do as much. But how well he realised how completely he had been deceived when he found himself, at the time of his Saviour's Passion, so fainthearted and timid in the execution of his promises. It would have been much better for poor St. Peter to keep humble, relying on the power of Our Lord, than to trust vainly in the fervour which he felt at the time.
Thus it happens to those young souls who testify to so much ardour in their conversion. While these first sentiments of devotion last, they do wonders. It seems that in the way of perfection, nothing is too difficult for them; nothing can lessen their courage. They greatly desire to be mortified, to be tested, to show their generosity and the fire that burns in their breast! But just wait a little. For if they hear a mouse, by which I mean if the consolation and sentiments of devotion which they have had until then happen to be withdrawn and if some little temptation attacks them, "Alas," they say, "what is it?" They begin to fear and to be troubled. Everything seems hard to them if they are not always in the Heart of their heavenly Father if He does not give them consolation and speak sweetly to them. They simply cannot live in peace and contentment unless they receive endless consolations and no pain. "Oh, how miserable my condition is!" they say; "I am in the Lord's service where I thought 1 would live in peace, and yet all different sorts of temptations have come and only agitate me. My passions so annoy me that I do not have so much as an hour of real peace."
One could answer them, "My dear friends, do you really think that one never encounters temptations in solitude and retreat? Oh, how greatly mistaken you are! Our Divine Master was not attacked by the enemy while He lived among the Pharisees and publicans but only when He retired to the desert. There is no place where temptation does not have access. Yes, even in heaven,[4] where it was born in the heart of Lucifer and his angels, and at the same moment cast them forth into damnation and perdition. The enemy brought it to Eden and with it made our first parents forfeit the original justice with which God had gifted them. Temptation entered the very ranks of the Apostles themselves. Why, then, are you astonished if it attacks you?"
Had you lived in Our Lord's time, during His mortal life, and met His very holy Mother, our glorious Mistress, and had she allowed you to live anywhere you wanted, you would no doubt have questioned her in this manner: "My Lady, where is your Son?" She would have replied, "My Son is in the desert, where He must remain for forty days, continually fasting, watching, and praying" [Matt. 4:2]. "O my Lady," you might have answered, "I wish to live in no other place but the desert where my Saviour is." But if the holy Virgin asked you, "Why do you desire to dwell there?" you would have replied, "Because where Our Lord is, all good things abound; consolation is never lacking there and temptation cannot find entrance."
Oh how completely mistaken you are! It is precisely because our Divine Saviour is there that temptation is found there too. We might indeed have found it terribly frightening, for the devil came there completely undisguised. He did not act with Our Lord as he did with St. Pachomius and St. Antony. He frightened them by the hellish noise with which he surrounded them, pretending to rend Heaven and earth before their very eyes. He did this to make them fear and tremble like children. Nevertheless, these holy Fathers fought him, mocking him and his antics by reciting scriptural passages. But seeing such strength, constancy, generosity, and confidence in the face of our dear Saviour, the devil thought he would gain nothing by treating Him in this way. Therefore he came visibly to Him, presenting his temptations with unparalleled impudence. This he did not only those three times of which the Gospel makes mention, but at other times during those forty days that He dwelt in the desert. The Evangelists were simply content to single out these three [Matt. 4:3-10; Lk. 4:2-13] as being the greatest and most remarkable.
These young apprentices of perfection ask, "What shall I do? The passions which I thought I had mortified by my fervent resolution to follow them no more torment me greatly. Alas! It is so true that I become so disappointed that in a short time, I feel there is no possibility of going on, and discouragement overcomes me." What a great pity that the desire for perfection is not itself sufficient for having it, but that it must be acquired by the sweat of our brow and hard work! Do you not realise that Our Lord willed to be tempted during the forty days He was in the desert precisely in order to teach us that we shall also be tempted during the entire time that we dwell in the desert of this mortal life, which is the place of our penance? The life of the perfect Christian is a continual penance. Console yourself, I pray and take courage. Now is not the time for rest.
"But I am so imperfect," you say. I believe it, indeed! Therefore do not hope to be able to live without committing imperfections, seeing that this is impossible while you are in this life. It is enough that you do not love them and that they do not remain in your heart. That is, you do not commit them voluntarily, and you do not want to continue in your faults.[5] That being so, remain in peace and do not trouble yourself about the perfection you so much desire. It will be enough if you have it in dying. Be not so timid! Walk confidently! If you are armed with the armour of faith, nothing can harm you.
The third terror of the night is that of the weak. These fear not only what can bring evil but what can in any way disturb or trouble their peace. They do not want any little noise whatever to come between God and them since they have convinced themselves that there is a certain quiet and tranquillity which maintains those who have it in uninterrupted peace and happiness. Therefore, they want to enjoy it at Our Lord's feet like Magdalene, to savour without interruption the comfort, the pleasure, and every sweetness that falls from the sacred lips of their Master, without Martha ever coming to rouse them or murmur against them, entreating Our Lord to make them work [Lk. 10:39-40]. This spiritual comfort makes them so able and so courageous, it seems to them, that nothing is comparable to their perfection. Nothing is too difficult for them. In short, they would like to melt away in order to please their Beloved, whom they love with so perfect a love.
Yes, indeed, provided He continues with His consolations and treats them tenderly! If He ceases to do so, all is lost: there is no one so afflicted as they are, their misery is insufferable, and they never stop complaining. "O my God[6] [we say to them], what has happened?" [They answer:] "What is wrong? I have reason indeed to complain." "But what is it that torments you so?" "It is because I am not holy." "You are not holy! And who has told you that you are not? Perhaps you think you have returned to some fault again. If it is that, do not make yourself so uneasy. Perhaps you have, and someone has corrected you for it to aid you toward perfection. You ought to know that those who have true charity cannot endure to see any fault in their neighbour. They try to remove it by correction, and especially in all those whom they consider holy or very much advanced in perfection because they think them more apt to welcome the correction. They also desire by this means to make them grow more and more in self-knowledge, which is so necessary for everyone."[7]
"But that disturbs my peace." That is indeed well said! Do you think that in this life you can have a tranquillity so permanent as never to meet with disturbance? One must not desire graces which God does not commonly give. What He has done for Magdalene, for instance, ought not to be desired by us. Happy indeed shall we be if we have this peace of soul at the time of death, or even only after our death![8] Do not imagine that the Magdalene enjoyed this special contemplation, which kept her in so sweet a peace, without first passing through thorny difficulties and severe penance and enduring the bitterness of a very great confusion. For when she went to the Pharisee's house to weep over her sins and to obtain pardon, she suffered the murmuring they uttered against her. They despised her and called her a sinner and a woman of evil life [Lk. 7:37-39]. Do not imagine that you can become worthy of receiving these divine sweetnesses and consolations, of being lifted up by angels as she was several times a day if you are not first willing to suffer together with her the confusions, contempt, and reproofs which our imperfections very much deserve and which will disturb us from time to time, whether we desire them or not. This rule is general: no one will be so holy in this life as not to be always subject to committing some imperfection or other.[9]
We must keep ourselves constant and tranquil in the knowledge of this truth if we will not be troubled by the unrealistic expectation of never committing any imperfection at all. We should have a strong and constant resolution never to be so cowardly as to commit any imperfection voluntarily. But we ought also to be unshaken in this other resolution: not to be astonished or troubled at seeing that we are subject to fall into these imperfections, even often. We must rather confide ourselves to the goodness of God who, for all that, does not love us less. "But I shall never be capable of receiving the divine caresses of Our Lord while I am so imperfect; I shall not be able to approach Him who is so sovereignly perfect." What relation, I pray you, can there be between our perfection and His, between our purity and His, since He is purity itself? In short, let us for our part do what we can and remain in peace about the rest. Whether God gives us a share in His consolations or not, we must keep ourselves submissive to His very holy will. That should be the mistress and guide of our life. After this, we have nothing to desire.
The Psalmist, as interpreted by St. Bernard, assures us that he who has faith and is armed with truth will not fear these terrors of the night, nor the fears of the slothful, nor of children, much less the fears of the weak. But he goes further and says that he will no longer fear the arrow that flies by day, and this is the fourth lesson that I take from the Psalm quoted above.
These arrows are the vain hopes and expectations of which those feed who aspire to perfection. We find those who hope for nothing so much as to be Mother Teresa [of Avila] very soon, and even Sts. Catherine of Siena and Genoa.[10] That is good; but tell me, how long do you give yourself for this task? "Three months," you reply, "even less, if it is possible." You do well to add, "if it is possible," for otherwise you would be much deceived. Do not those fine hopes, notwithstanding their vanity, greatly console those who have them? But the more these hopes and expectations bring joy to the heart, while there is reason for hope, so much more the contrary condition brings sadness to those fervent souls. Not finding themselves the saints they had hoped to be, but, on the contrary, very imperfect creatures, they are very often discouraged in the pursuit of the real virtue which leads to sanctity. "Gently," we say to them. "Do not hurry on so fast! Begin to live well, according to your vocation: sweetly, simply, and humbly. Then trust in God, who will make you holy when it pleases Him."
My dear friends, there are still other kinds of vain hopes, one of which is to desire continual consolation, sweetness, and tenderness in prayer throughout this mortal and fleeting life. This is surely a futile and foolish hope. As though our perfection and happiness depended upon that! Do you not realise that ordinarily Our Lord gives these "sweets" only to allure and gain us over, much as one does with little children in giving them sweets?[11] But let us go on, for we must finish.
In discussing what this business is which takes place in the night and of which the Psalmist speaks, St. Bernard observes that those armed with truth will not fear it. For my part (and this is the fifth lesson that I offer you), I consider that this business which takes place in darkness represents avarice and ambition, vices which traffic in the night, that is, in an underhand manner, and secretly. You see, ambitious people have no desire to be obvious in their pursuit of honours, prominence, charges or high offices. They proceed in secret, fearing to be discovered. Misers cannot sleep because they are always thinking of ways to increase their goods and fill their purses. But it is not of temporal misers that I wish to speak, but of spiritual avarice.
Regarding the spiritual danger of ambition, those who seek to be promoted to high office or authority and obtain them through their pursuit of them, or embrace them by their own choice—woe betide them, for they are seeking temptation! They will surely perish if they are not converted and, with humility, make use of that which they have embraced in the spirit of vanity. Of course, I am not speaking of those who have been raised up not by their own choice, but by their submission to the obedience they owe to God and to their superiors. They have nothing to fear any more than did Joseph in the house of Potiphar. If they are indeed in a place of temptation, they will not perish there. Wherever we may be, provided we have been led there by the Holy Spirit, as Our Lord was into the desert, we shall have nothing to fear.
The spiritually avaricious are those who can never have enough of embracing and seeking after countless exercises of piety, hoping thereby to attain perfection all that much sooner, they say.[12] They do this as though perfection consists in the multitude of things we do and not in the perfection with which we do them! I have already said this very often,[13] but it is necessary to repeat it: God has not placed perfection in the multiplicity of acts we perform to please Him, but only in the way we perform them, which is simply to do the little we do according to our vocation, in love, by love, and for love. One could well reproach these spiritually avaricious with that reproach which the prophet made to the temporally avaricious: "What do you want, poor men? You want to have this mansion now because you say it faces yours. After that, there will be another which adjoins it and because it is convenient for you, you will want that one too. This will go on and on. What! Do you want to become the sole master of the entire earth, with no one but yourself owning property?" [Is. 5:8].
Please consider the spiritually avaricious. They are never content with the spiritual exercises presented to them. If they think of Chartreuse, they say, "That, indeed, is a holy life, but they never preach." One must preach then. The life of the Jesuit Fathers may be filled with perfection, but they do not have the blessing of solitude from which one receives so much consolation. The Capuchins, as well as all religious orders, are very good, but they do not have everything that such people are looking for,[14] namely, the spiritual exercises of all mixed together into one. They ceaselessly struggle to find new ways of joining the sanctity of all the various saints into the one they would like to have. As a result, they are never content, since they cannot possibly embrace all they hope to. Whoever embraces too much enchains himself therein. They would always want to wear a hairshirt, take the discipline, pray continually on bare knees, live in solitude, and God knows what else! Still this would not satisfy them. You poor people! You do not want anyone to be holier than yourselves. You are not satisfied with the available sanctity, that gained not by making such a multiplicity of exercises, but by practising well and as perfectly as possible those to which your condition and vocation oblige you. Enough cannot be said about how much this spiritual avarice impedes perfection, since it takes away the sweet and tranquil attention we ought to have in doing well what we do for God, as I have already said.
The sixth lesson is drawn from the same Psalm, where the prophet asserts that those so armed will not fear the noonday devil, that is, that spirit which comes to tempt us in broad daylight. I am very familiar with how St. Bernard explained this passage, but I wish to speak only on what is more to my purpose. This spirit which walks in broad daylight is that which attacks us in the fair noontide of interior consolations, at the time when the divine Sun of Justice [Mal. 4:2] so lovingly sends forth His rays upon us and fills us with so agreeable a warmth and light, a warmth which inflames us with so delightful and tender a love that we die to almost everything else so as better to enjoy our Well-Beloved. This divine light so illumines our heart that it feels entirely open to the Saviour's Heart, a Heart which, drop by drop, gives so sweet a liquid and so fragrant a perfume that it cannot be appreciated enough by this lover who is always languishing for His love [Cant. 5:8]. She does not want anyone to come and trouble her in her repose which, in the end, terminates only in the vain complacency she takes in it. For she admires the goodness and sweetness of God, but in herself, and not in God. To her, solitude is very desirable at this time so as to enjoy the Divine Presence without any distractions. Yet she does not really desire it for the glory of God, but only for the satisfaction which she herself experiences in receiving these sweet caresses and holy delights issuing from this well-beloved Heart of the Saviour.
That is how the noonday devil deceives souls, transforming himself into an angel of light and causing them to stumble [2 Cor. 11:14]. For they entertain themselves with these consolations and vain delights, in the complacency they draw from these tender feelings and spiritual delights. Yet whoever will be armed with the shield of truth and of faith will overcome these enemies as courageously as all the others, as David promises[15] [Ps. 90: (91)5-6].
I doubt not that many prefer the end of today's Gospel to its beginning. It is said there that after Our Lord had overcome His enemy and rejected his temptations, angels came and brought Him heavenly food. [Matt. 4:11]. What joy to find oneself with the Saviour at this delicious feast! My dear friends, we shall never be capable of keeping company with Him in His consolations, nor be invited to His heavenly banquet, if we are not sharers of His labours and sufferings [2 Cor. 1:7]. He fasted forty days, but the angels brought Him something to eat only at the end of that time.
These forty days, as we said just now, symbolize the life of the Christian, of each one of us. Let us then desire these consolations only at the end of our lives, and let us busy ourselves in steadfast resistance to the frontal attacks of our enemies. For whether we desire it or not we shall be tempted. If we do not struggle, we shall not be victorious, nor shall we merit the crown of immortal glory that God has prepared for those of us who are victorious and triumphant. Let us fear neither the temptation nor the tempter, for if we make use of the shield of faith and the armour of truth, they will have no power whatsoever over us. Let us no longer fear the three terrors of the night. And let us not entertain the vain hope of being or wishing to be saints in three months! Let us also shun both spiritual avarice and the ambition that occasion so much disorder in our hearts and so greatly impede our perfection. The noonday devil will be powerless in causing us to fail in our firm and steadfast resolution to serve God generously and as perfectly as possible in this life so that after this life we shall go to enjoy Him forever.
May He be blessed! Amen.
Francis de Sales.
POPE FRANCIS: Continuing the summary on Session One of the Synod on Synodality. +
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13. The Bishop of Rome in the College of Bishops
Convergences
a) The synodal dynamic also sheds new light on the ministry of the Bishop of Rome. Indeed, synodality articulates symphonically the communal ("all"), collegial ("some") and personal ("one") dimensions of the Church at the local, regional and universal levels. In such a vision, the Petrine ministry of the Bishop of Rome is intrinsic to the synodal dynamic, as is the communal aspect that includes the whole People of God and the collegial dimension of the exercise of Episcopal ministry. Therefore, synodality, collegiality, and primacy refer to each other: primacy presupposes the exercise of synodality and of collegiality, just as both of them imply the exercise of primacy.
b) Promoting the unity of all Christians is an essential aspect of the ministry of the Bishop of Rome. The ecumenical journey has deepened understanding of the ministry of the Successor of Peter and must continue to do so in the future. Responses to the invitation made by St. John Paul II in the encyclical Ut unum sint, as well as the conclusions of ecumenical dialogues, can help the Catholic understanding of primacy, collegiality, synodality, and their mutual relationships.
c) The reform of the Roman Curia is an important aspect of the Catholic Church's synodal journey. The Apostolic Constitution Praedicate evangelium insists that "the Roman Curia does not stand between the Pope and the Bishops, rather it places itself at the service of both in ways that are proper to the nature of each" (EP I.8). It promotes reform based on a "life of communion" (EP I.4) and "healthy decentralization" (EP II.2). The fact that many members of the Roman dicasteries are diocesan Bishops expresses the catholicity of the Church and should foster the relationship between the Curia and local churches. The effective implementation of Predicate evangelium may foster greater synodality within the Curia both among the different dicasteries and within each of them.
Matters for Consideration
d) There is a need for more insight into how a renewed understanding of the Episcopate within a synodal Church affects the ministry of the Bishop of Rome and the role of the Roman Curia. This issue has significant implications for the way co-responsibility in Church governance is lived out. At the universal level, the Code of Canon Law and the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches offer provisions for a more collegial exercise of papal ministry. These could be further developed in practice and strengthened in a future update of both texts.
e) Synodality can shed light on ways in which Cardinals can collaborate in the Petrine ministry and the ways in which their collegial discernment can be promoted in ordinary and extraordinary consistories.
f) It is important for the good of the Church to study the most appropriate ways to foster mutual acquaintance and bonds of communion among the members of the College of Cardinals, taking into account also their diversity of origin and culture.
Proposals
g) The Visits ad limina Apostolorum is the highest moment of the relationships of the pastors of the local churches with the Bishop of Rome and his closest collaborators in the Roman Curia. It is necessary to review the form in which they are carried out so that they become always more the occasion for open and mutual exchange that fosters communion and a true exercise of collegiality and synodality.
h) In light of the synodal configuration of the Church, it is necessary for the dicasteries of the Roman Curia to enhance the consultation of bishops, for greater attention to the diversity of situations and a more attentive listening to the voices of local churches.
i) It seems appropriate to establish forms of evaluation of the work of the Pontifical Representatives by the local churches in the countries where they carry out their mission to facilitate and perfect their service.
j) It is proposed to enhance and strengthen the experience of the Council of Cardinals (C-9) as a synodal council at the service of the Petrine ministry.
k) In light of the teaching of Vatican II, it is necessary to carefully evaluate whether it is opportune to ordain the prelates of the Roman Curia as bishops.
Source: https://www.synod.va/en/synodal-process/the-universal-phase/documents.htm
NEXT WEEKEND AND BEYOND - ST PATRICK’S FEAST MOVED (FOR 2024)
Please note - to avoid surprise or disappointment, although the Feast of the Great Saint Patrick is usually celebrated on the 17th of March, There are solemnities and seasons listed by the Church as higher ranking - These override the usual feast day if they fall on the same day.
For example, the Sundays of Lent are regarded as a higher rank than almost every other Saint’s Day. Hence, Next weekend, the 17th will be the Celebration of the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Saint Patrick’s Day Mass will be celebrated here on the following day, usually the closest day to the usual date, and in this case, this is Monday the 18th of March. Also, although the colour green is associated with Saint Patrick, the liturgical colour assigned for the Solemnity is actually White, which is for any saints whose Baptismal Robes were kept pure by following Christ. Saints whose blood was shed in witness to Christ, would be Red vestments, as are the Apostles (representing the fire of pentecost).
Commitment To Child Safety and Vulnerable-Adult Safety
……………..See overleaf …..
ELDER ABUSE STUDY - FROM UNITING CARE
Please see the link below to a report from the UnitingCare Elder Abuse Prevention Unit and Key Findings (below). The report analyses data collected from calls to the Elder Abuse Prevention Unit Helpline in Queensland. The Unit is funded by the Queensland Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services to respond to elder abuse.
FULL REPORT HERE:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WSy31f40tEtpt5kRPibmzEsecX3mlXuU/view?usp=sharing
Elder abuse, as with other forms of abuse, can be any one of the following (or a combination of some or all of these). Abuse does not only mean physical violence. Abuse is happening even if no physical violence - if other forms are being used. Psychological, Social, financial, neglectful, sexual and of course any kind of Physical abuse or violence.
The contact details for the Elder Abuse Prevention Unit are
Helpline: 1300 651 192 Web form: https://eapu.com.au/contact-us/
Website: https://eapu.com.au/
St Kevin’s Catholic School, Community business directory: https://www.sk.qld.edu.au/Pages/Rainbow-Connection.aspx
Acknowledgement of Country - This is Kombumerri Country - The Traditional Custodians of this region.
We respectfully acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First People of this country. We pay our respects to the Kombumerri people, the traditional custodians of the land, waterways and seas upon which we live, work and socialise throughout this Catholic Parish of Surfers Paradise. We acknowledge Elders, past and present and emerging, as they hold our Indigenous people's memories, traditions, culture and hopes. We pay tribute to those who have contributed to the community's life in many ways. We affirm our commitment to justice, healing, and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. (See further: The Kombumerri People and https://kombumerritogetherproject.com/digital-resources/yugambeh-language/)
** The significance of the ancient Catholic Blessing Symbol. “20 C+M+B 24”
An ancient medieval practice that developed in the Catholic Church was to bless one’s home with blessed chalk at the epiphany each year. On the door or the lintel will be this symbol:
Meaning that 2000 years ago, after Christ’s birth, Wise Men visited and gave homage to the Lord and were welcomed into the hospitality of the Holy Family’s abode. We dedicate the present year of this century, ‘24, to the protection of the Lord. May the Lord bless this abode.
The letters C+M+B represent Caspar, Bathasar and Melchior; the three Wise Men. CMB is also the initials of the Latin phrase “Christus Mansionem Benedicat” - “May Christ Bless this dwelling-place.”
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