December 25 - Nativity of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ

Mass Intentions  (Part 2)

The History of 0ffering Masses for loved ones, friends or specific needs

 We are meant to have a relationship with Christ through His Church.  While other Christians may also enter into the presence of God for all eternity, the Catholic Orthodox Churches have the assurance of the Lord that all the necessary “means” of salvation are present in these Churches.  Since we are not God we cannot simply say, “Grandma is with God in heaven.”  We don’t know this for a fact.  Our prayers offered for them are signs of our love.

 “Because we considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them.  Therefore, it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they might be loosed of their sins.”   2 Maccabees, 12, 45-46

Please keep in mind that the tradition of offering Masses for others living or dead, or for particular needs, originates in the very early Church. Inscriptions discovered on tombs in Roman catacombs of the second century offer evidence of this practice: for example, the epitaph on the tomb of Abercius (d. 180), Bishop of Hieropolis in Phrygia, (now Turkey) begs for prayers for the repose of his soul. Tertullian (c. 200) attested to observing the anniversary of a spouse with prayers and sacrifices, i.e. the Mass:

 “Indeed, she prays for his soul, and requests refreshment for him meanwhile, and fellowship with him in the first resurrection; and she offers her sacrifice on the anniversaries of his falling asleep.” (On Monogamy, X)

 The Canons of Hippolytus (c. 235) explicitly mentions the offering of prayers for the dead during the Mass. St. Cyril of Jerusalem (d. 386), in one of his many teachings offered to catechumens, explained how at Mass both the living and dead are remembered, and how the Eucharistic Sacrifice of our Lord is of benefit to sinners, living and dead.  St. Ambrose (d. 397) preached, “We have loved them during life; let us not abandon them in death, until we have conducted them by our prayers into the house of the Lord.” St. John Chrysostom (d. 407) stated, “Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.” St. Augustine (d. 430) recorded the dying wishes of his mother, St. Monica in his Confessions: “One thing only I ask you, son, that you remember me at the altar of the Lord wherever you may be.” Finally, Pope St. Gregory (d. 604) said, “Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.”

Given this understanding, we can add some specifics. When a priest offers Holy Mass, he prays in union with the whole Church and for the good of the whole Church. Also, the priest  offers the Mass for a particular intention, such as the repose of the soul of someone who has died, or the good health, peace or wellbeing of a living person.

The laity are also called to offer the Masses they attend for the intention and good of others, living and dead.

Therefore, the effects of the Mass bring certain benefits or fruits. The general fruits of the Mass are the effects upon the whole Church — to the living faithful as well as the souls in purgatory. For this reason, in the Eucharistic Prayer, a special mention is made for both the living and the dead.

If you have a loved one who has died, do not abandon them in the next life, offer prayers, sacrifices and especially Mass intentions to continue this bond of love which is not destroyed by death.

If you have a special intention you are praying for, have a Mass offered.  Whether it is a child who has wandered from the Church, a sick grandbaby, peace in the world or the anniversary or birthday of a loved one.

If you want to have a Mass offered, please call the parish office (580.536.6351) to request a Mass. Normally we can schedule a time that is convenient for the one who offers the Mass to be in attendance to pray.

A $10 stipend is suggested but not necessary.  No one “pays” for a Mass. Mass will still be offered with or without a stipend.  The grace of God is free.

To all - we must recall that a priest belongs to Christ, and Christ will guide and correct them. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy on those who do not listen to His voice. We have no right to talk about them, and if we do we too shall answer to God.

From Clive Fernandez

WHEN YOU VISIT A PRIEST, PLEASE REMEMBER...

That a priest isn't married, nor will he have a family of his own. No wife, no children. His family is his parishioners. He is a spiritual father in faith to the community he serves. His future is in celebrating the Eucharist at mass every day, listening to confessions, anointing the sick, serving those who come to him for help. A priest may serve a parish only for a minimum of five to seven years. After that he may be transferred to another parish or assigned a different role in the Church. He relies on his team of volunteers, staff and the lay faithful. Don't expect him to be there all the time for you.

When you give money to the Church, you may be surprised to know that the money isn't for him because no priest earns a fixed salary. They receive a stipend to meet their basic expenses of food, clothing and travel. They save every penny to go for a vacation and much of the money is gifted by friends, relatives and well wishers as they don't get paid leave like the rest of us who work. While we work for a fixed amount of hours with two days off a week , priests are expected to be on stand by 24/7. So don't be angry if they don't respond to you when you need them. They are humans as well with the same frailty as us.

If you hear anyone speaking badly about a particular priest, please correct that person and don't engage in idle gossip without knowing the facts. Remember that they are alone and at times would need company. Pay attention to their emotional, physical and mental needs. Accompany them if needed or offer a helping hand or even a lift. It's not easy to go out alone at 2 or 3 in the morning especially in dangerous neighborhoods for counseling or even anointing someone on their death bed. If someone comes to them at such an hour for help, they have to get up from their deep sleep and still be expected to celebrate Mass in the morning. Who is there for them when they are ill or have emergencies in the middle of the night? Yet they are required to perform their duties because if not them, who?

Remember their birthdays, ordination anniversaries and important  events in their lives. Celebrate with them, cry with them. Offer a shoulder to lean on. If they fall, don't judge or criticize. Lift them up and help them on their journey in life. Don't be offended if they don't live up to your expectations. No priest is perfect.

So take care of your priests, remember the ones who baptized, confirmed, married and anointed you. The ones who offer masses for your intentions and pray for you. May God bless our priests in Jesus name, our eternal High Priest. Amen.

What this ikon tells us about the Resurrection of the Lord

Yesterday I was crucified with Christ; today I am glorified with him. Yesterday I was dead with him; today I am sharing in his resurrection. Yesterday I was buried with him; today I am waking with him from the sleep of death. – St. Gregory Nazianzen

Christ is in the center of the ikon, He is risen and glorified. His resurrection is the center of the Christian faith. The Lord’s resurrection is our hope and joy. Death is destroyed, sin conquered. He is surrounded by a silver mandorla a symbol of the glory of God. The Lord’s cloak is moving, a sign of the action of God. He stands on the crossed gates of Hades (or Hell, not the hell of satan, full of torture and fire, but the underworld, that place of darkness where the righteous ones of the Old Testament awaited Christ’s coming among them to deliver them).

The Lord grasps the wrists of Adam, the first man, and Eve, the mother of all the living; He pulls them from the tombs. Our first parents represent all of us who hope in the Lord that He might raise us to be with Him forever on the Last Day. Both point to Christ with their other hands, acknowledging Him to be their God.

On the left of Christ are Abel, the shepherd, the son of Adam and Eve, the first to die in the history of salvation. Killed by his brother Cain, Abel was righteous in the eyes of the Lord. Behind Abel are Abraham, Isaac, Moses, the prophets; Elijah, Habbakuk and Jeremiah. These saints are imperfect Old Testament images of Christ; they point to the coming of Christ. The prophets foretold of promised Messiah.

On the right are King David and his son, King Solomon. St John the Baptist and Forerunner of the Lord is pointing to Christ (“Behold the Lamb of God…”) and there are other Old Testament figures.

Above the Lord is the Holy Cross, held by angels; the trophy of His victory over sin and death. Above the Cross is the “prepared throne” or the heavenly altar with the dove of the Holy Spirit resting on it. The prepared throne awaits the Lord’s Ascension.

Below the Lord are two angels subduing an old man, he represents death and is being chained up forever. In the blackness of Hades are broken locks and bent keys. These are a reminder that man could not unlock the gates of hell by any power of his own. Only Christ God could tear down the gates of the underworld and rescue the souls of those imprisoned there.

May Christ, the Destroyer of Death raise us up to live with Him forever. Amen.

Yours,
Fr. Phil

(written April 16, 2020)