Bulletin Week April 18, 2021

click here for full bulletin

From the Pastor’s Desk

 

In the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council, the bishops stated:

“The two parts which, in a certain sense, go to make up the Mass, namely, the Liturgy of the Word and the Eucharistic liturgy, are so closely connected with each other that they form but one single act of worship. Accordingly this sacred Synod strongly urges pastors of souls that, when instructing the faithful, they insistently teach them to take their part in the entire Mass, especially on Sundays and feasts of obligation.”

This teaching had to be made because Catholics for too long had been taught that it was okay to be late for Mass as long as you arrived by the time of the Offertory which began the “Mass of the Faithful.” The Council Fathers taught instead that the whole action of the Mass – Word and Eucharist – “forms one single act of worship.”

This is why it is considered improper to regularly arrive late to Mass or even to leave early, except for a very serious reason. As one act of worship we come to be nourished with the proclamation of the God’s Word and with the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist in Holy Communion. Easter celebrates and acknowledges the new life that we have been given by Christ’s Death and Resurrection. Maybe one of the things we can try to work on is getting out of those bad habits – including coming late for and/or leaving early from the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Love,

Fr. Tom