The Feast of the Ascension

Don't forgot. The Feast of the Ascension is transferred to next Sunday. Use the prayers and readings for the Easter weekday or the memorial of Marcellinus and Peter (they are both mentioned in the Roman Canon).

If You Love Me

Beautiful words from Jesus in the Gospel: "I will not leave you orphaned, I will come back to you."

Challenging words of Jesus in the Gospel: "If you love me you will keep my commandments."

Thomas Tallis' setting of the challenging words as performed at the Ecumenical Service at Westminster Abbey during the Pope's visit to Great Britain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq9iH2t2OOA&feature=player_detailpage

How to dispose of Old Copies of the Sacramentary

The most recent Newsletter of the Committee on Divine Worship has the following on disposing of old sacramentaries.

"The Secretariat of Divine Worship has received a number of timely inquiries regarding the disposition of copies of the current Sacramentary once the new Roman Missal, Third Edition has been implemented.

There is relatively little written about exactly what to do with liturgical books which have been replaced by updated or revised editions, but some related writings, as well as some common sense, can provide some context. The Book of Blessings, no. 1343, indicates that the Sacramentary, the Lectionary, and other liturgical books are counted among those articles used in the Sacred Liturgy which ought to be blessed using the rite provided for that purpose, the Order for the Blessing of Articles for Liturgical Use (nos. 1241 - 1359). The Latin De Benectionibus, editio typica, however, does not explicitly mention the Missale among the articles that are properly blessed.

Whether or not the Sacramentary has been blessed by an official rite, it is appropriate to treat it with care as it has been admitted into liturgical use. Its disposal should be handled with respect. The Secretariat recommends burying the Sacramentary in an appropriate location on church grounds, or perhaps in a parish cemetery if there is one. Some have even suggested following a custom used in various Eastern Churches whereby liturgical books or Bibles are placed in the coffin of the deceased as a sign of devotion and love for the Liturgy. In lieu of burying old liturgical books, they could be burned, and the ashes placed in the ground in an appropriate location on church grounds. It is advisable to retain a copy of the Sacramentary for parish archives of liturgical libraries.

Looking ahead to the reception of the Roman Missal, Third Edition, the above-mentioned blessing from the Book of Blessings could be used to bless the Missal before their first use on the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011. The blessing could take place during a Mass on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, at the last weekday Mass prior to the First Sunday of Advent, or outside Mass at a separate gathering of liturgical ministers or other parish leaders.

Many parishes will also replace hymnals and other participation aids (such as hand missals) in light of updates editions corresponding to the new Roman Missal. While the Blessing of Articles for Liturgical use also mentions hymnals, it might be difficult to appropriately dispose of a large number of copies of such books. After setting aside an appropriate number of copies for archives and libraries, other copies could be stored for use by prayer or study groups in the parish, offered to parishioners for their own private devotional use, or donated to other small communities that could effectively make use of them. Due to copyright agreements, annual hymnals and participation aids should be discarded after their prescribed period of use and cannot be retained for other uses in parishes."

Sunday Reflection

This past Sunday we heard Jesus identify himself as "the way, the truth and the life." Did your community sing the wonderful hymn by Ralph Vaugh Williams of the text by George Herbert? Here is acclaimed baritone Thomas Allen at the BBC Proms.

The painting is "The Adoration of the Mystical Lamb" from an alterpiece in the Cathedral of St. Bavo in Ghent, Belgium.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNMnGNL0-uw&feature=player_detailpage#t=324s

Pope Benedict XVI on Liturgy

Recently, the Holy Father gave an address in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Pontifical Liturgical Institute at the Pontifical Atheneaum of St. Anselm. I attended the theology faculty at S. Anselmo but was able to take some classes at the Liturgical Institute as well. Follow the link to the Holy Father's talk.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2011/may/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20110506_sant-anselmo_en.html

In the market for a new hymnal?

Last night I attended a workshop sponsored by GIA Publications to highlight their new hymnal offerings. Some parishes will be looking for new hymnals as we introduce the new translation of the Roman Missal.
GIA will be publishing four different hymnals:
Worship (Fourth Edition) which they describe as "a comprehensive hymnal, somewhat in the style of GIA's RitualSong, a substantial compliation of the finest organ-based hymnody (approximately 80%) with the best-loved piano/guitar-based music (20%). A new feature will be the Hymn of the Day calendar to match noe or two hymns to the gospel reading for each Sunday of the Lectionary cycle."
Gather (Third Edition) is "a hymnal in the style of Gather Comprehensive with a versitile bled of 70% piano/guitar-based titles and 30% organ-based titles." They note this is "Gather-Comprehensive" - third edition though they will no longer use the term "comprehensive" in the title.
Oramus Cantando/We Pray in Song is designed "for the growing number of Latino-Anglo parishes. . .[it] is an entirely bilingual hymnal that is comprenesive enough to satisfy both Spanish- and English-speaking communities -- individually or in combined worship."
Lead Me, Guide Me contains "the full breadth of African American church music that is suitable for Catholic worship, along with a broader mix of common Catholic reertoire."

You can find more information at www.giamusic.com/newhymnals

This weekend is "Good Shepherd Sunday." Traditionally the Fourth Sunday of Easter has a Gospel in which Jesus speaks of himself as the one who shepherds the sheep. The Hebrew Scriptures also present God as the shepherd of Israel. Psalm 23, the Responsorial Psalm for today, comes out of that tradition.

Leonard Bernstein wrote a set of psalms, sung in Hebrew, for the Choir Festival at Chichester which are known as the "Chichester Psalms." Bernstein has chosen Psalms 23 and 2 for the second movement. The first, flowing portion is Psalm 23. The second, more angular section, is from Psalm 2 which speaks of the nations raging in anger. Psalm 23 returns and calms the anger and rage and ends with a beautiful evocation of God's power to bring peace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcF3t-W3Wi8&feature=player_detailpage

Many publishers are preparing altar editions of the Roman Missal. Each will have the exact same layout (page 1236 in one edition will be page 1236 in the other versions). This will allow a greater ease of use than when publishers were free to do their own format.

The following publishers have indicated that they are publishing Roman Missals. Check out the links for more information on artwork and typeset as well as price. At this time, Liturgical Press has a 30% discount through June 30 and the USCCB has a 25% discount through June 30.

The Diocese has a publication membership with the USCCB. We are looking into a possible additional discount there. When we know we will inform parishes and may offer a bulk ordering service.

1. Catholic Book Publishing: Altar Cloth bound Edition ($129), Deluxe Leatherbound Edition ($159) and Chapel clothbound Edition ($79)
2. Liturgical Press: 30% off the Ritual Edition and the Chapel Edition Check out their excellent offer and make sure you use the promotion code 30MISSAL at the time of order to receive this offer
3. Liturgy Training Publications: Ritual edition ($175) and Chapel edition ($95); Regal Edition ($500)
4. Magnificat: http://www.magnificat.com/missal/index.asp
5. Midwest Theological Forum: Missale Romanum ($499)
6. USCCB Publishing: 25% off the Ritual Edition, ($169) and the Chapel Edition ($115). You must order before June 30 and use the discount code on the page when ordering your copy. The pre-ordered altar edition (No. 7-100) will put the price at $126.75 and the smaller chapel edition (No. 7-192) will be $86.25. After June 30, they will sell the altar edition for $169 and the chapel edition for $115. Use discount Code RM-0311 to receive 25% Off on pre-orders through June 30th
7. World Library Publications: left, Value Edition ($195); right, Deluxe Edition ($395)

Bishop Quinn has appointed Fr. John Sauer Director of Liturgy for the Diocese of Winona for this current assignment year, in addition to Pastor of Sacred Heart in Owatonna and Holy Trinity Litomysl. Because this is a part time position, he with fulfill these duties from his Sacred Heart parish office in Owatonna, and can be reached there for any matters on the Sacred Liturgy. Fr. Sauer has recently coordinated our beautiful Chrism Mass during Holy Week and has been instrumental in preparing for the implementation of the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal, along with the preparation for the Diaconate Ordination of Jason Kern on May 15. Fr. Sauer is a previous Director of the Office of Liturgy and the Liturgical Commission of our diocese. He has a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) in Sacramental Theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Anselm in Rome, Italy. We welcome him back to our Pastoral Center Curia, and are grateful for his generosity is providing leadership for our Diocese this coming year.

Happy Our Lady of Fatima Day!

The beautiful Bruckner Ave Maria in honor of the day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZNIULrZyKA&feature=player_detailpage

The Road To Emmaus

This Sunday we hear the beautiful Gospel of Jesus walking with the dejected disciples on the way to Emmaus. Their world had been turned up-side down. They were dispirited. They were probably on their way back to their old way of life.

At this moment, Jesus enters the picture. He teaches them, He comforts them, He reveals Himself to them in the breaking of the bread. The story is a powerful reminder that Jesus does not abandon us. That he wants us to come hold on to faith, even in the most dire circumstances.

When we stand empty with nothing left to hold on to we face an empty tomb. The Resurrection has the power to offer us hope when there seems to be no hope; to give us strength when all seems lost; to pull us up when we are beaten down; to show us life in the face of death.

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! Alleluia!