SCCR Parish Blog

  I am posting this a bit late.  Sorry - can file this information away for next year. There are two indulgences associated with the new year. Catholics can gain a Plenary Indulgence on New Year’s EVE, 31 December ( EnchInd. 26) by the recitation or the singing of the  Te Deum prayer (the prayer on which is based the hymn, Holy God We Praise Thy Name). Catholics can gain a Plenary Indulgence on New Year’s DAY, 1 January ( EnchInd.  26) be the recitation or the singing of the  Veni Creator Spiritus prayer (Come, Holy Ghost). Indulgences can be applied either to oneself or to the souls of the deceased, but they cannot be applied to other persons living on earth. Conditions to obtain an indulgence are as follows: 1. Sacramental confession and Communion must be made within a brief time before or after the indulgenced act (about 20 days) 2. The work specified by the Pope must be completed 3. Prayers must be offered for the Pope’s designated inte...

  Many people make New Year's Resolution this time of year. Here's a suggestion: instead of just making ones for your own body or piece of mind (losing weight, exercising more, etc.) how about making a few for your soul -- and for your neighbor? One of the best ways is to look at the traditional list the Church gives for the corporal and spiritual works of mercy (showing mercy to your neighbor in body and soul) and committing to doing one on a regular basis. Here they are:   Spiritual works of mercy Admonish the sinner Instruct the ignorant Counsel the doubtful Comfort the sorrowful Bear wrongs patiently Forgive all injuries Pray for the living and the dead [I recommend this commentary on those works by Washington, D.C. Catholic priest, pastor and blogger, Msgr. Charles Pope]  Corporal works of mercy feeding the hungry giving drink to the thirsty sheltering the homeless clothing the naked visiting the sick and imprisoned, burying the dead giving alms to the poor (See full...

   As we approach Thanksgiving Day, wanted to post some prayers from Catholic Digest for the holiday that your family might offer together. Also, wanted to post this proclamation from President Abraham Lincoln , who advanced the celebration of a national thanksgiving holiday.  Scholars debate whether he was a Christian or not, but he certainly believed in a good God and Father who provided for us.  I was struck that he wrote this during one of the most difficult periods the nation has faced -- the heart of the U.S. Civil War (War Between the States).   Even then, he wanted to emphasize gratitude to God for His gifts.  I think there's a lesson in that for our troubled times!

  The First Thanksgiving, by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris, ca. 1912 This year, we will have celebrate the Mass for Thanksgiving Day at St. Mary's at 9:00 a.m.  Please join us to give thanks to God for the blessings He has bestowed upon our nation and, more importantly, the saving sacrifice of His Son on the Cross. I'm including a link from a blog on the liturgy ( New Liturgical Movement ) which dives deep into the history of the Catholic Church and Thanksgiving, all the way back to the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth.  A bit long and detailed, but something to ponder over turkey and dressing this year. I was particularly interested in the fact that Pope Pius XII celebrated Thanksgiving (and praised the holiday) to the American seminarians in Rome around 1950.  As an aside, there's a really cool picture in the post of Pope Pius in his sedia gestatoria , the portable throne that popes formerly used when they made public appearances.  That was traveling in style!