Calendar
Men's Weekend
Date & Location TBA
Coordinator: TBA
Women's Weekend
Date & Location TBA
Coordinator: Lori Hahn
First Friday 7:00 pm
hosted by St. Mary's
Third Friday 7:00 pm
hosted by St. Benedict's
Fourth Sunday 3:00 pm
Bilingual, hosted by
Sts. Peter and Paul (Tulsa)
Third Sunday 4:00 pm
on odd numbered
months hosted by
Sts Peter & Paul (Cushing)
First Thursday 7:00 pm
St. Benedict's
Third Thursday 7:00 pm
St. Mary's
First Friday
All Night Adoration
Sts. Peter and Paul (Tulsa)
from 10:00 PM Friday
until
8:30 AM Mass Saturday
SPIRITUALITY 101
SPIRITUAL REFLECTION- 199
Deacon Jim Breazile o.c.d.s.
The day before the Spanish soccer team was leaving for Ireland and France, the coach said as usual, “Everything is ready. If there is something missing speak up.” Then almost in unison, the players exclaimed, “the most important thing is missing, confession and Communion.” The coach replied with characteristic Spanish impulse, “Let’s all go to church, what are we waiting for? I’ll go first.” “No,” replied one, “it is better to go to confession tomorrow so that our Communion will be more pure.” At five o’clock in the morning they were on the way to the church and Zara, with his usual good humor and encouraging manner said, “Get going, boys, and don’t forget anything.”
Two priests heard their confessins and each absolved them; and those lions of the game who a few days later were to prove their great prowess as sportsmen, first in Dublin and then in Paris, turned into very white sheep to receive the Body and Blood of the immaculate Sheep.
In order to best celebrate Mass, it is most important that any serious sin be absolved by confession. To be united with the Body and Blood of the resurrected and ascended Christ can only be completed with a pure soul.
CELEBRATION - Growth in love- 4th stage
MEDITATION- SACRAMENTS-47-EUCHARIST 21
The Eucharistic celebration begins with considerable preparation. It is the intent of the Church that every parishioner fully participates in all aspects of the celebration of the Mass. This can only occur is one comes to the celebration with understanding and determination. It is necessary to understand the meaning of each action or word that we express or that we observe or hear in the celebration. Determination is needed to recognize and be an active member of each part of the celebration. It is also necessary for full participation that there be no obstacles to the action of Eucharistic sacramental grace in our soul.
Such preparation is not something that can take place just moments or even the day before Mass. It is an ongoing preparation that involves daily prayer and regular celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This sacrament assures that all serious sin is absolved prior to the celebration. The necessity of daily prayer and that some time each day be spent alone with the Lord are necessary elements of preparation. Prayer may be of any form, and the time spent with the Lord may be in the form of a holy hour. If a holy hour is not possible, one should find at least 30 minutes of time each day for a quiet conversation with God. It is in the holy hour and in quiet prayer that one becomes familiar with the voice of God in the soul. Jesus referred to our ability to hear his voice when he described his role as the Good Shepherd. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11). He earlier described his role as a shepherd when he said, “When he (the shepherd) has bought out all those that are his, he walks in front of them and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.” John 10:4) In the Mass Jesus will speak to us. It is necessary that we recognize his voice. This can only be possible if we have spent time with him and have become familiar with his voice.
With some time with these practices, those who pray and spend daily time with the Lord will find a great desire to be with him. Visits to the Blessed Sacrament either in the tabernacle or in Adoration will become more frequent, and the voice of Jesus speaking from the human soul becomes more familiar. One becomes so much aware that Jesus is with us at all times, but in a special way in the Eucharist that is reserved in the Tabernacle of each Church that when passing a church, they make the sign of the Cross in honor of his presence.
On entering the church before Mass begins, it is important to recall our Baptism. This is usually done by dipping our fingers in the holy water font and with the sign of the Cross (head, heart, left shoulder and right shoulder) with the words, “In the name of the Father, and in the Son and in the Holy Spirit, Amen.” This action is more than just a recollection of the fact that we are baptized into the Mystical Body of Christ, but it carries with it a commitment to live the vows of Baptism. In the Catholic Baptism, following Baptism, but within the rite of Baptism, there is an anointing with the holy oil of Chrism, that is used at Confirmation. This anointing is accompanied by a prayer that commissions the baptized Catholic as priest, prophet and king. The priesthood of the lay Catholic empowers them to present sacrifice. The sacrifice of Mass is two-fold. They will celebrate the sacrifice of Christ (“His death until he comes again”) and they will offer themselves as sacrifice. Their role as prophet is that they will speak the word of God wherever they are and whatever they do. Their role as king is to reign over themselves in order that they can live a life that will give glory to the Lord.
The simple blessing one’s self with Holy water in preparation for Mass is a statement that says to God, “I will be Priest for you, I will be Prophet for you, I will be King for you Lord. In the celebration of this Mass, I will be one with you.“
NEW CATHOLIC CATECHISM
ARTICLE NO. 1346
The liturgy of the Eucharist unfolds according to a fundamental structure which has been preserved throughout the centuries down to our own day. It displays two great parts that form a fundamental unity:
--the gathering, the liturgy of the Word, with readings, homily and general intercessions;
--the liturgy of the Eucharist, with the presentation of the bread and wine, the consecratory thanksgiving and communion.
The liturgy of the Word and liturgy of the Eucharist together form “one single act of worship” (SC 56) the Eucharistic table set for us is the table both of the Word of God and of the Body of the Lord, (DV 21)
ARTICLE NO. 1347
Is this not the same movement as the Paschal meal of the risen Jesus with his disciples? Walking with them he explained the Scriptures to them, sitting with them at table “he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.” (Lk 24:13-35)
PASCAL CELEBRATION
Deacon Jim Breazile, o.c.d.s.
By celebration of word and bread
Christ intercedes in our stead
As we gather to hear his Word
And have his grace on us conferred
Through the message of holy script
Minds and hearts become equipped
To hear him speak in human voice
And in his presence to rejoice
Readings, homily and intercessions
Strengthen our worldly expression
Of his love for heaven and earth
And source of all creations worth.
He presents us with bread and wine
Which he transforms by ways divine
Into divine substance and divine essence
For us to share in his luminescence
By Holy action of Eucharist Word
All sin and evil is deterred
Our union with Christ with love so sweet
Is consummated when we drink and eat
Through action of Body and Word
All relationships become restored
Jesus sharing with us his Pascal meal
All power of Satan does repeal
Ó2005
DR. JAMES E. BREAZILE, deacon
JOHN PAUL EVANGELIST OCDS
