In the first chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, we hear the account of the two disciples of St. John the Baptist who begin to follow Jesus.  Jesus turns to them and asks the question: “What do you seek?” (John 1:38) Another translation reads: “What are you looking for?”  It was this question of Jesus that arose in my heart as I watched the first episode of the Presence study on FORMED that we are doing as a parish this Lent.  It is a question that the Lord invites us to consider especially when it comes to our going to Mass.  

If you pause to consider that question for yourself, what is it that you seek when you come to Mass?  For some of us, we desire to hear a good homily.  We want to be fed by the Word of God and an explanation of it that helps us to see how it applies to our lives.  Others come to Mass to seek the peace their hearts long for, especially as they face the challenges and sufferings of everyday life.  Others seek reverence where the prayers and music of the Mass raise us to the heights of Heaven, where we journey each time we go to Mass.  Other seek the joy of being with others to worship God, finding in the Mass a family gathered together, giving some hope and light to a life that is otherwise lonely and empty feeling.

As a priest who celebrates Mass every day, I have noticed a shift in what I seek when I celebrate Mass.  As a younger priest, I was much more focused on trying to get the homily just right, such that it would encourage, inspire, and challenge the congregation.  If I felt a homily was a little flat or off the mark, I would let it discourage me, as though I had somehow let the people down.  But as I matured a little, I began to realize how I was drawn to something deeper than preaching when celebrating Mass.  I found that I sought to enter more into the mystery of the Mass, the praying of the Eucharistic Prayer, and the remarkable gift of being chosen by God to bring Christ present on the altar in the Eucharist.  With that primary focus, I was able not to get so caught up in the quality of the preaching, but I could rejoice in the gift of the Eucharist, Jesus coming to be among us, and becoming our food.

With all of that said, I am not saying I do not take preaching seriously, but I understand better how it must be at the service of preparing our hearts to more fully embrace the gift of the Eucharist at each Mass, for this gift will surpass even the greatest homily ever preached.  We have many options for places to go to Mass, and we are often drawn to those places or those priests which resonate with our preferences, but we must never forget that the greatest gift is always the Eucharist, God with us, sharing His very life with us.  When that is our primary focus, even if we did not like the homily, even if we did not like the music, or whatever thing we may have found lacking (and believe me, we are good at finding things that are lacking with Mass), one thing is NEVER lacking at any Mass, and that is the fact that God becomes present and feed us, His children, with His very being, body, blood, soul, and divinity.  When we can grasp this and make this the one thing above all others that we seek at Mass, we will never walk away from Mass being disappointed.  For even if all of those other elements of our experience at Mass disappoint us, God giving Himself to us will never disappoint us.  

If you have not watched Episode 1 of Presence yet, please do so, and go ahead and watch Episode 2, taking special note of the weekly question on the bottom right of this page.

Father Alford     

I hope that all of us have experienced the Stations of the Cross at some point during our formation as Christian disciples. The Stations are a prayerful way to share in Christ’s walk to Calvary, from his sentencing to death by Pontius Pilate until he is laid in the tomb. A common hymn to accompany the praying of the Stations is called the “Stabat Mater,” or in English, “At the Cross her Station Keeping.” This hymn has been associated with Mary as Mother of Dolors (sorrows) since the 13^th century. It imagines how Mary must have felt during her Son’s suffering and death. Jesus suffered the utmost physical pain while he died for our sins, but Mary suffered the utmost emotional pain as she witnessed her Son experience this. 

Many of us have been asked by God to suffer with Jesus physically. Some people seem to never be able to escape physical suffering or illness, and in a mysterious way, Christ’s cross can be present through these illnesses. However, a suffering that can be more deeply felt is emotional suffering. Some people suffer not from their own physical pain, but from witnessing people around them making bad choices or suffering from their own illness. Both of these sufferings can be a share in the cross of Jesus, if we respond with faith and ask Jesus for healing and to carry our cross with us.  It is significant that Mary stood at the foot of the cross. I recently noticed in the Cathedral’s stations of the cross that Mary is depicted as standing by the cross, looking up at Jesus. Other characters in common depictions of the crucifixion scene often show Mary Magdalene lying on the ground or leaning against the cross, overcome with grief. However, even though Mary suffered immensely because of her great love for her Son, she also had a great hope – even the hope that he would rise from the dead. This same faith is what allowed Abraham to be willing to sacrifice his son Isaac in Genesis. And this hope seems to give Mary the confidence to stand by her Son as he died for our sins. I invite you to join us at the Cathedral at 5:45 for the Stations of the Cross on Fridays during Lent. The time of prayer is simple yet profound, as we reflect more deeply during this Lenten season on our need for a Savior. Here are a few verses of the beautiful hymn Stabat Mater for your consideration. 

Feast Day: March 7th| Mother and Martyr | Patronage: Mothers, Expectant Mothers, Mothers who have lost Sons, Ranchers, Butchers, Carthage, Widows | Attributes: Women standing side by side; Holding Palm of Victory, Cross of Martyrdom; Praying and Singing, Embracing and Giving Kiss of Peace; Attacked by Wild Cow; Halo’s Intertwined; Felicity Pregnant, Dressed as a Servant

We continued to recall St. Perpetua’s Passion, now reading from the final paragraphs added after their martyrdom by a person who, though anonymous here, may have been as famous an early-Christian character as Tertullian.

As for Felicity, the Lord’s favor touched her in this way. She was now in her eighth month (for she was pregnant when she was arrested). As the day of the games drew near, she was in agony, fearing that her pregnancy would spare her (since it was not permitted to punish pregnant women in public), and that she would pour forth her holy and innocent blood afterwards, along with common criminals. But also her fellow martyrs were deeply saddened that they might leave behind so good a friend, their companion, to travel alone on the road to their shared hope. And so, two days before the games, they joined together in one united supplication, groaning, and poured forth their prayer to the Lord. Immediately after their prayer her labor pains came upon her. And when—because of the natural difficulty associated with an eighth-month delivery—she suffered in her labor, one of the assistant jailers said to her: “If you are suffering so much now, what will you do when you are thrown to the beasts which you scorned when you refused to sacrifice?” And she replied: “Now I alone suffer what I am suffering, but then there will be another inside me, who will suffer for me, because I am going to suffer for him.” And she gave birth to a baby girl, whom a certain sister brought up as her own daughter. [Passion of Perpetua and Felicity, XV,Translation by Thomas J. Heffernan, 2012].

I make note, first of all, that Roman Law – even when entirely comfortable with hurling young men and women, naked, to be torn by beasts as public entertainment, and, when still casting a blind-eye towards fathers who would expose until death unwanted infant children – still held that a pregnant woman could not be executed because of the innocence and individual-dignity of the child in her womb. Yet though much could be said on the inconsistency of Roman Law as regards human life and dignity (not to mention the laws of our own country), I choose instead to dwell again on one important word here used for the first time in Christian literature: “fellow-martyrs” (conmartyres). 

Notice that Felicity has also chosen to hold her Christian identity as even more important than her motherhood. She, with all the longings and hopes of a pregnant mother, still yearns for the grace of martyrdom even more. Yet her and Perpetua’s desire is not simply to die for Christ, but to die together for Christ. So many words in these their final moments depict their union: “fellow martyrs … so good a friend, their companion, … shared hope … joined together in one united supplication … a certain sister.” Remarkably, these two saints who died on March 7^th have trumped no less a saint than St. Thomas Aquinas, who also died on March 7^th (we celebrate him instead on his earthly birthday, January 28^th). The Angelic Theologian tells us of the splendor of Christian Friendship: “thus there is a twofold grace: one whereby man himself is united to God, and this is called sanctifying grace; the other is that whereby one man cooperates with another in leading him to God, and this gift is called gratuitous grace.” [Summa Theologicae, I.II, 111.1.Respondeo].  BUT, it is Perpetua and Felicity who show us the splendor of Christian friendship, emboldening each other all the way to their final self-gift!

But they are not only a twosome enduring the arena: “Now I alone suffer what I am suffering, but then there will be another inside me, who will suffer for me, because I am going to suffer for him.” It seems that St. Paul’s words have transfigured these women’s courageous hearts: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” [1 Cor 13:1-3] These women speak eloquently; they understand the scriptures and have received baptism and faith; they have converted the hearts of their intransient jailers and have even given up their bodies and every human relationship … but all of this would be vain without love, without Christ within them. Truly, at the end, these two were joined by Christ in their final sufferings. “Then [Perpetua] got up; and when she saw Felicity crushed to the ground, she went over to her, gave her hand and helped her up. And the two stood side by side.” [XX] 

– Fr. Dominic Rankin cannot help but remind all of us these women, though recently baptized, had not yet received Holy Communion. They were imprisoned for the entirety of their Christian lives, and can only describe their yearning for Christ’s self-gift as food. Perpetua recounts for us a dream she had while in prison: “And I saw an enormous garden and a white-haired man sitting in the middle of it dressed in shepherd’s clothes, a big man, milking sheep. And standing around were many thousands dressed in white. And he raised his head, looked at me, and said: ‘You are welcome here, child.’ And he called me, and from the cheese that he had milked he gave me as it were a mouthful. And I received it in my cupped hands and ate it. And all those standing around said: ‘Amen.’ And I woke up at the sound of their voice, still eating some unknown sweet. And at once I told this to my brother. And we knew we would suffer, and we ceased to have any hope in this world” [IV].

The First Sunday of Lent always presents us with the account of the temptation of Jesus by Satan in the desert.  Although the Scriptures do not explicitly state that He was alone, that is what we sometimes think.  It was only after 40 days that the devil showed up and began his attempts to throw Jesus off His path.  The fact of this matter is that Jesus was indeed not alone in the desert.  For as the Second Person of the Trinity, He was always united with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  Furthermore, St. Mark’s Gospel recount that during His time in the desert, “the angels ministered to Him.” (Mk 1:13)

Why is this important to point out?  Because I think we can sometimes fall into thinking that Lent is a time for us to be alone in the desert.  I have even heard people recommend that we not tell others what we are doing for Lent.  Perhaps the intention is good, to help us avoid drawing attention to ourselves.  But that can also foster a sense that Lent is about ourselves, our personal journey to conversion, our trying to become the best version of ourselves.  I do not dispute that we should desire to grow in holiness during Lent, but I challenge the notion that it is something we do primarily by ourselves.  Thus the reference to Jesus not being alone in His 40 days in the desert.  We stand to benefit more from Lent when we make this journey with others, not simply seeing it as a desert journey we make alone.  Let me offer some suggestions on how to do this.

First of all, do not conclude that I am telling you not to do those things that are often staples for Lent – giving up candy, going without coffee, giving up social media, etc.  We can still choose these things for ourselves, but let us always be aware that others are on the journey with us.  The people you live with, the people you see at Mass on Sunday, the random person you see at the fish fry on Friday evening – all are part of the journey.  It can be a good practice to make it a habit to pray for our fellow travelers making this desert journey with us.  Ask God to bless their efforts, ask Him to support them and encourage them, to help them grow in love of God and of their neighbor through the practices that they choose for Lent.  It is a good way of reminding us that we are not alone, and we can be consoled in knowing how we are all united in prayer with and for one another as we journey together.

It can also be helpful to choose to do something with somebody else during Lent.  It is like working out at the gym.  It is often easier to be motivated to go when we know somebody is there with us.  In that regard, we are giving you an opportunity to do just that.  Later on in the bulletin, you will see information about joining us for a parish-wide study through FORMED on the Eucharist called Presence.  Each week there is a video to watch and a reflection question.  I therefore challenge you to identify at least one person (and it can be more, like an entire family) to go through this program with, checking in once a week to discuss the video and the question.

Finally, I would like to invite you to consider joining us on Sunday afternoons during Lent at 4:00 pm for Eucharistic Adoration.  At 4:30 pm, we will pray Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours together.  If you have never prayed the Liturgy of the Hours, this would be a great opportunity to be exposed to it.  In addition to the Mass, it is an official prayer of the Church.  Priests and deacons have an obligation to pray these prayers each day, and the lay faithful are certainly encouraged to join in, for this prayer belongs to every member of the Church.  It is another opportunity for us to do something together as we all journey together during this sacred season.

Father Alford     

As we embark on a new journey of faith, and renew our conviction to remain faithful to God, as we are about to enter into the season of Lent this Wednesday with the Ash Wednesday. Lent  season, is a time of conversion, a time for Change, and a time to purify ourselves Let us all renew our conviction to love the Lord wholeheartedly once again, and with the resolve to love one another most generously, forgiving those who have hurt or pained us, and helping one another to grow ever stronger in faith, by living our own lives most worthily and by doing what God has taught and shown us all to do. 

One very long the liturgical season of Lent is with us. Not very long ago, we were celebrating Christmas, then a short period of Ordinary Time and here we are today in Lent! Then after 40 days or so, we shall usher in the Easter period, Pentecost and on we go on our journey of Faith, why all these changes in time? Why could we not just settle down in one season throughout our journey of Faith?

These liturgical Seasons come with their correspondent graces and Implications! These seasons bring about changes. These seasons and changes are somehow disturbing the inner most desire of man to settle down. The older we become, the less enthusiast and willing are we to change. A change is supposed to introduce something New. One of the many ways of our resistance to changes is to make the OLD come in the form of New! Because anything New makes us suspicious! The more used we are to our environment, our way of doing, our point of view of life, the more comfortable we feel and the more we resist to change! In other words, these seasonal changes are sources of conflicts in our lives and since we do not want conflicts we turn down the seasonal graces that comes to us! For this reason, even if and when we say yes to these seasonal changes, in reality, our style of life, our old habits remain intact all round the cycles! If we desire changes, we desire it for others and not for ourselves! Lenten season, a time of conversion, a time of change. What does this mean to you personally and in your community? We all have seasons in our personal lives. Which season are you experiencing at the moment? Are you in rainy season, dry season, Lenten season or Easter season in your life? 

It is only through prayer and regular dialogue with God, that we can acknowledge the various seasons of our lives. Keeping in touch with God, keeping in touch with ourselves would allow us to see God’s presence in the different seasons of our lives. Lent is a period of purification and enlightenment or illumination. To purify is the act of making pure, to purify is to cleanse. The season of lent is a time in our personal lives for new life to appear and for old frozen attitudes to disappear. It a time to clear the ground, to clear away rubbish. A time for sowing so that one day, the day of the Lord, there will be harvest. Lent, a time for penance and Charity renews in us our call to Holiness. We need to dedicate more time for prayer, a prayer that helps us to embrace the demand for conversion in preparation for Easter.  Let us not miss this opportunity to listen to the voice of the Lord inviting us: “Return to me with whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning, Rend your hearts not your garments, and return to the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful”( Joel 2:12-13)

Feast Day: March 7th| Mother and Martyr | Patronage: Mothers, Expectant Mothers, Mothers who have lost Sons, Ranchers, Butchers, Carthage, Widows | Attributes: Women standing side by side; Holding Palm of Victory, Cross of Martyrdom; Praying and Singing, Embracing and Giving Kiss of Peace; Attacked by Wild Cow; Halo’s Intertwined; Perpetua holding Sword, holding Son, Dressed as Noblewoman.

Some young catechumens were arrested: Revocatus and Felicity, his fellow slave; Saturninus; and Secundulus. And among these was also Vibia Perpetua—a woman well born, liberally educated, and honorably married, who had a father, mother, and two brothers, one of whom was also a catechumen. She had an infant son still at the breast and was about twenty-two years of age. From this point there follows a complete account of her martyrdom, as she left it, written in her own hand and in accordance with her own understanding.

 “While,” she said, “we were still with the prosecutors, my father, because of his love for me, wanted to change my mind and shake my resolve. ‘Father,’ I said, ‘do you see this vase lying here, for example, this small water pitcher or what- ever?’ ‘I see it,’ he said. And I said to him: ‘Can it be called by another name other than what it is?’ And he said: ‘No.’ ‘In the same way, I am unable to call myself other than what I am, a Christian.’” Then my father, angered by this name, threw
himself at me, in order to gouge out my eyes. But he only alarmed me and he left defeated, along with the arguments of the devil. 

Then for a few days, freed from my father, I gave thanks to the Lord and was refreshed by my father’s absence. In the space of a few days we were baptized. The Spirit told me that nothing else should be sought from the water other than the endurance of the body. 

After a few days we were taken into the prison. I was terrified because I had never before known such darkness. Oh cruel day! The crowding of the mob made the heat stifling; and there was the extortion of the soldiers. Last of all, I was consumed with worry for my infant in that dungeon. Then Tertius and Pomponius, the blessed deacons who ministered to us, arranged by a bribe that we should be released for a few hours to revive ourselves in a better part of the prison. Then all left the prison and sought some time for themselves. I nursed my baby, who was now weak from hunger. In my worry for him, I spoke to my mother concerning the baby and comforted my brother. I entrusted my son to them. I suffered grievously when I saw how they suffered for me. I endured such worry for many days, and I arranged for my baby to stay in prison with me. Immediately I grew stronger, and I was relieved of the anxiety and worry I had for my baby. Suddenly the prison became my palace, so that I wanted to be there rather than anywhere else. [Passion of Perpetua and Felicity, II-III, Translation by Thomas J. Heffernan, 2012].

I want to dwell this week on that little water-pitcher that Perpetua recorded for us in her diary. The word she uses in Latin is urceolum, a small vase or pitcher, and in the Greek version it is σκεῦος, a vessel of any kind or household implement. The phrasing that Perpetua uses belies her familiarity with Platonic philosophy as well as the New Testament. Of course, this ordinary word, is used in an ordinary way for the “goods” of the house protected by the strong man (Mark 3:27) and later to describe the bowl containing the vinegar offered to Jesus on the Cross (John 19:29). However, it is uniquely associated with an individual in Our Lord’s words to Ananias when He sends him to heal Saul (until then a rabid killer of Christians), “Go, for he is a choseninstrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” [Acts 9:15-16]

Just as a water-pitcher cannot be called something other than what it is (“quam quod est”), so a Christian cannot claim any other identity above the one they have received in Jesus. Perpetua was a noblewoman, a daughter, and a mother, but above all these she was a little-Christ (“Christian”), a daughter of God the Father. Jesus had said that “You will be brought before kings and governors because of my name” [Luke 12:12] and so, even when to claim that identity was the only evidence needed to convict her, Perpetua did not hesitate to take Christ’s name as her own. Her own characteristics – her intelligence, nobility, even motherhood – were not of highest importance, but that she was a vessel carrying Christ. “We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair.” [2 Cor 4:7-8]

– Fr. Dominic Rankin cannot neglect to point out, following after St. Augustine, that these two saints, named “Perpetua” and “Felicity”, point us towards the “Perpetual Felicity” that they have already received from Christ. We will come to know Felicity next time.