January 22, 2023 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time To My Spiritual Family of Holy Redeemer and St. Anthony, Welcome (again) Fr. Oriole: On Saturday, January 21, I will be in Pittsburgh offering an evening Mass for members of the American Legion from throughout Pennsylvania. Fr. Phil Oriole is once again graciously filling in at Holy Redeemer. It is always a joy to welcome our parish native son back to his boyhood home. Thank you, Fr. Phil! Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children: The US Conference of Catholic Bishops reminds us of the following: “On June 24, 2022, the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturned Roe v. Wade, and we praise God for the great opportunity state and federal legislators now have to protect pre-born children. While God, in His mercy, ended the nearly fifty-year nationwide regime of abortion on demand, right now state and federal laws, in many instances, are still hostile to pre-born children. So, great prayer and advocacy is very needed. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), no. 373, designates January 22 as a particular day of prayer and penance, called the "Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children”: In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.” In response to the bishops’ call, please join us for Mass on Monday, January 23 @ 7:00 pm, as we pray together that hearts may be turned and abortion may become unthinkable. Notes on Eucharistic Revival (Part II): The Second Vatican Council famously described the Eucharist as the “source and summit” of our faith. The God of the Universe is substantially present in the host, and we therefore do well to approach the altar in humility and awe. Holy Communion is an ineffable gift, and therefore it’s a gift that we should be well prepared to receive. The Eucharist is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ (as opposed to a symbolic presentation, which is what most of our Protestant brothers and sisters believe). The Eucharist should be received only by Catholics who are in a state of grace. This means that if we are aware of having committed mortal sin, we should receive absolution in the Sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion. Those who are in marriages which have not received the Church’s blessing (for example, being divorced and remarried without an annulment of the previous marriage) are also asked to refrain from receiving. Catholics who are in these circumstances often suffer great pain because they cannot receive the Eucharist, but they refrain from receiving out of obedience to the Church and respect for the dignity of marriage. Anyone who publicly and obstinately chooses to oppose the teachings of the Church (and who thereby causes scandal) should also voluntarily refrain from receiving Holy Communion. Examples would include a Catholic who flaunts membership in an organization such as the Klu Klux Klan, or a married man who very openly maintains a mistress. Regarding such public scandal, and while acknowledging that it’s a contentious issue within the Church, I am personally and strongly of the mind that politicians who advocate for abortion should freely choose to refrain from Holy Communion (for the good of their own soul, to avoid scandal, and so that the evil of abortion is not thereby promoted). Finally – lest we forget - we should fast from food for one hour before receiving the Eucharist unless a medical condition makes this fast untenable. God bless you and have a beautiful week! Mary, Mother of the Holy Redeemer – Pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe – Pray for us! St. Anthony – Pray for us! St. Joseph – Pray for us! Fr. Steve