ROME (CNS) -- A weakening of faith in God,
a rise in selfishness and a drop in the number of people going to Mass in many parts of the world can be traced to Masses
that are not reverent and don't follow church rules, said two Vatican officials and a consultant.
"If we err by thinking we are the center of
the liturgy, the Mass will lead to a loss of faith," said U.S. Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, head of the Vatican's supreme court.
Cardinal Burke and Spanish Cardinal Antonio
Canizares Llovera, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, spoke March 2 at a book launch in Rome.
The book, published only in Italian, was written
by Father Nicola Bux, who serves as a consultant to the congregations for the doctrine of the faith and for saints' causes
and to the office in charge of papal liturgies.
The English translation of Father Bux's book
title would be, "How to Go to Mass and Not Lose Your Faith."
Cardinal Burke told those gathered for the
book presentation that he agreed with Father Bux that "liturgical abuses lead to serious damage to the faith of Catholics."
Unfortunately, he said, too many priests and
bishops treat violations of liturgical norms as something that is unimportant when, in fact, they are "serious abuses."
Cardinal Canizares said that while the book's
title is provocative, it demonstrates a belief he shares: "Participating in the Eucharist can make us weaken or lose our faith
if we do not enter into it properly" and if the liturgy is not celebrated according to the church's norms.
"This is true whether one is speaking of the
ordinary or extraordinary form of the one Roman rite," the cardinal said, referring to Masses in the form established after
the Second Vatican Council as well as the Mass often referred to as the Tridentine rite.
Cardinal Canizares said that at a time when
so many people are living as if God did not exist, they need a true eucharistic celebration to remind them that only God is
to be adored and that true meaning in human life comes only from the fact that Jesus gave his life to save the world.
Father Bux said that too many modern Catholics
think the Mass is something that the priest and the congregation do together when, in fact, it is something that Jesus does.
"If you go to a Mass in one place and then
go to Mass in another, you will not find the same Mass. This means that it is not the Mass of the Catholic Church, which people
have a right to, but it is just the Mass of this parish or that priest," he said.
Time not set arrival of Icon of Our Lady of Charity
6:00 pm Devotions Catholic Women’s League no Mass
6:00 pm Devotions Legion of Mary Mass to follow
6:00 pm Devotions Knights of Columbus Mass to follow
6:00 pm Devotions Community of Love Mass to follow
devotions Parish Community Mass to follow
9:00 am devotions Legion of Mary
1015 and 1200 am Masses Sunday incensing of Icon
Icon leaves Sunday what time, not set time.
Bishop John Farrell Honour Guard Friday Evening and all masses
Parish Community invited every day.
We are opposed to abortion!
Please read the information below and join in a novena of prayer and fasting from January 11 thru 19,
2009.
The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) will be signed into law if the U.S. Congress
passes it on January 21-22, 2009. The FOCA is the next sick chapter in the book of abortion. If signed into law, all limitations
on abortion will be lifted, resulting in the following:
1) All US hospitals, including Catholic ones, will be
required to perform abortions upon request. If this happens, Bishops vow to close down all Catholic hospitals (more than 30%
of all hospitals in the U.S.)
2) Partial birth abortions will be legal and have no limitations.
3) All U.S.
taxpayers will be funding abortions.
4) Parental notification of abortions on minors will no longer be required (regardless
of age).
5) The estimated number of increase in abortions is 100,000 annually.
Just as important, the government
will now have control in the issue of abortion. This could result in a future amendment that would force women by law to have
abortions in certain situations (rape, Down Syndrome babies, etc) and could even regulate how many children women are allowed
to have.
Needless to say this information is disturbing, but sadly true. As Catholics, as Christians, as anyone who
is against the needless killing of innocent children, we must stand as one. We must stop this horrific act before it becomes
a law.
PLEASE JOIN US IN saying a novena (9 days of prayer ) and fasting from January 11-19. For Catholics, the prayer
of choice is the rosary for the special intention of stopping the FOCA. For those who are not Catholic, we encourage you to
pray your strongest prayers with the same intention for 9 consecutive days. We hope and pray this will branch and blossom
to become a global effort.
Please do the following 3 things:
1) Pass this letter to 5 or more people within
3 days or less (so as many as possible can start praying on January 11)
2) Say a novena from January 11-19, asking
God to prevent the FOCA from becoming law in the U.S.
3) Fast at least 2 days during this novena (either a complete
fast of bread and water, or a Lenten fast of no meat and meals limited to 1 regular meal and 2 lesser meals during the day).
Remember
that with God all things are possible and the power of prayer is undeniable. If you are against the senseless killing of defenseless
children, please join us in prayer and fasting.
Tell your friends and family about CatholicVote.com Our three-minute video will help educate and inspire Catholic voters looking for guidance this election. Help us spread the
word and urge Catholics and all Christians to live their faith in public life with renewed vigor. This video is meant for
the US election but since we are in an election year as well this too applies to our Ssituation.
The story of an abortion survivor
If this doesn’t move you, nothing will. Gianna Jessen:
And here is Gianna’s video testimony before the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee on April
22, 1996:
My name is Gianna Jessen. I am 19 years of age. I am originally from California, but now reside in Franklin, Tennessee.
I am adopted. I have cerebral palsy. My biological mother was 17 years old and seven and one-half months pregnant when she
made the decision to have a saline abortion. I am the person she aborted. I lived instead of died.
This is one of the easiest 'NO' votes you can make.
Brothers
With the approval of our State Deputy, our Pro life Chairman, Joe Salini would like the following to be sent to your councils
and any others that you feel may be interested in taking part in this phone poll .
Details are below and are self explanatory.
Bill Country
State Reports Director
Ontario State Board
Knights of Columbus
This is one of the easiest 'NO' votes you can make.
You do not have to say anything to anyone.
If you do not approve of Dr. Morgentaler receiving the Order of Canada award kindly call this number:
1-416-870-4444.
It is to CTV and it is a 'No' vote call. You do not have to say anything. It is answered with, 'This is CTV and your 'No
Vote' has been recorded.' That's it.
THE POPE ON THE ABORTION PILL
VATICAN CITY (Reuters)
Pharmacists must be allowed to refuse to supply drugs that cause abortion or euthanasia, Pope Benedict said on Monday, calling
on health professionals to be "conscientious objectors" against such practices.
The Pope told a convention of Roman Catholic pharmacists that part of their job was to help protect human life from conception
until natural death. The Church teaching that rules out any deliberate termination of pregnancy or euthanasia.
"It is not possible to anaesthetize the conscience, for example, when it comes to molecules whose aim is to stop an embryo
implanting or to cut short someone's life," the Pope said.
The so-called abortion pill, which is available in many European Union countries and has had regulatory approval in the United
States since 2000, has not been authorized in Italy.
The Vatican has criticized moves by some Italian politicians who favor the pill, which blocks the action of the hormone progesterone
that is needed to sustain a pregnancy.
The Pope told the international gathering that individual pharmacists could always choose not to prescribe such a drug.
"I invite your federation to consider conscientious objection which is a right that must be recognized for your profession
so you can avoid collaborating, directly or indirectly, in the supply of products which have clearly immoral aims, for example
abortion or euthanasia," he said.
We need to re-open the marriage issue for the sake of children whose rights were ignored in earlier discussions.
From the beginning the vast majority of marriages have resulted in naturally born children and the establishment of a families.
It is well established that this family setting is most successful in nu11uring confident and well-balanced children. We should
strive to ensure that every child receives the best possible beginning in life.
Every child has the right to have a mother and a father; the right to know their mother and father; and tile right to experience
their mother and their father. Children desire to know their heredity. There are sound psychological and medical reasons why
they should know tile people who contributed directly to their creation. As they grow they need both male and female models
that are significant to them to become properly adjusted to social life. In the common experience of most of us. there are
no models more important or influential than our mother and father.
In France, the government was wise enough to set up a Commission to look into the impact on children of any change in the
definition of marriage. In a report completed in January 2006. it stated:
The best interests of the child must prevail 0ver adult freedoms ,.. even including the lifestyle choice of parent "
For that reason it concluded by recommending that the definition of marriage be retained as the union of a woman and a man.
Neither our courts nor the House of Commons have paid sufficient attention to the needs of children as they are requested
to do in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children: In all actions concerning children. whether undertaken
by public or private social welfare institutions, administrative or legislative bodies the best interests of the child shall
be a primary consideration.
The essence of human rights is protecting the weak and disadvantaged against injustice. Children are entitled to our protection.
Please tell your Member of Parliament that you would like to have the question of the definition of marriage re-opened and
fully discussed.
ONTARIO CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS
Letters to MP's about the Marriage Issue
Parishioners are asked to write to their MP's requesting that they support the opening of the marriage issue for debate and
a free vote in the House of Commons.
Letters can be sent to any MP, postage free, at the following address:
Chris Charlton
House of Commons
Ottawa
ON KIA OA6
Model Letters
Letters should be polite, relatively short and make a clear request about the action you would like to see taken:
Dear (Name of MP)
I am writing to you to request that you support another debate on the definition of marriage.
When the definition was changed by Parliament in 2005, the vote in the House of Commons was not a free one. I and many others
felt that, on such an important issue, it was more important that MP's, after consultation with their constituents, follow
their consciences rather than party dictates.
For that reason alone, I feel that we need to try to ensure a more democratic process through another debate. Please vote
to reopen the debate on the nature of marriage.
I was very disappointed when Parliament changed the definition of marriage. I feel that very little attention was paid to
tile rights of children: their right to know both of their parents and, if at all possible, to live with them. I believe our
children are now referred to as the "legal" instead of the natural children of some persons. Recently, we have had a judge
rule that a child can have two mothers. Few of us foresaw such changes.
When the decision was made. tile majority of the Canadian public was opposed to it. With some of the situations which have
now developed, I feel that everyone would benefit by discussing the issue again.
I request you to vote that such a discussion take place and that Members of Parliament be allowed to vote freely in consultation
with their constituents.
I am writing to ask you to vote in favour of a new debate on the definition of marriage and to insist with your own party
that there be a free vote for MP's.
When the decision was made by Parliament to change the definition of marriage. many of us were convinced that the authentic
voice some MP's was not being heard. and even less so the voice of the Canadian people.
I believe that on an issue as fundamental as marriage, there should be a truly free vote for our elected representatives.
I would ask you to do what you can to achieve that.
Yours sincerely,
ON MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
A Letter from the Bishops of Ontario
Dear Catholic People of Ontario:
Rooted in human nature, the Sacred Scriptures and the teachings of the Church, marriage and family are the cornerstones of
our society, the natural environment in which most of us were raised and formed in faith and in humanity.
In our daily life, we see that in marriage:
*A man and a woman support and nurture each other.
*In the vast majority of cases, they have children.
*They rear their children in security and enable them to develop their God given talents.
*The married partners participate in God's plan for the world and contribute significantly to the good of the community.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (#1643) describes marriage in this way:
It aims at a deeply personal unity, a unity that, beyond union in one flesh, leads to forming one heart and soul; it demands
indissolubility and faithfulness in definitive mutual giving; and it is open to fertility.
All of these aspects of marriage are necessary. They are found in the unions of men and women in all civilizations in all
of recorded history. To take away any of these aspects from the definition of marriage is to end with something, which is
not marriage.
If you wish to see this fundamental part of our society preserved, the time has come to make your opinion known to your federal
and provincial representatives. We urge you to do so in your own way and in your own words.
The Ontario bishops have put the case for marriage as the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others to
the leaders of the provincial and federal governments.
Yours in Christ,
+Most Reverend A. Ambrozic
Archbishop of Toronto
+Most Reverend F. Colli
Bishop of Thunder Bay
+Most Reverend A. F. Tonnos
Bishop of Hamilton
+Most Reverend Anthony G. Meagher
Archbishop of Kingston
+Most Reverend Richard Smith
Bishop of Pembroke
+Most Reverend James Wingle
Bishop of St. Catharines
+Most Reverend Vincent Cadieux, o.m.i.
Bishop of Moosenee
+Most Reverend Marcel Gervais
Archbishop of Ottawa
+Most Reverend J. L. Doyle
Bishop of Peterborough
+Most Reverend Cornelius Pasichny, o.s.b.m.
Ukrainian Catholic Eparch of Toronto
+Most Reverend Jean-Louis Plouffe
Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie
+Most Reverend Paul-Andre Durocher
Bishop of Alexandra-Cornwall
+Most Reverend Andre Vailee, p.m.e.
Bishop of Hearst
+Most Reverend Paul Marchand
Bishop of Timmins
+Most Reverend Ronald P. Fabbro, C.S.B.
Bishop of London
+Most Reverend John Pazak, C.Ss.R.
Eparch for the Slovaks
Federal MP:
CHARLTON, Chris
(New Democratic Party) Parliamentary Address
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Telephone: (613) 995-9389
Fax: (613) 992-7802 Charlton.C@parl.gc.ca
Sophia Aggelonitis MPP
Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship
1306 - 99 Wellesley St W, 1st Flr, Whitney Block
Toronto ON M7A 1W2
Tel : 416-325-0605
Fax : 416-325-0694
Constituency Address
Unit 2 - 952 Concession St
Hamilton ON L8V 1G2
Tel : 905-388-9734
Fax : 905-388-7862
1) The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan;
2) The wedding feast at Cana;
3) The announcement of the Kingdom;
4) The Transfiguration, and
5) The institution of the Eucharist.
What day do you pray them on?
Well, PJPII has suggested this new schedule:
