Corpus Christi Updates: Lent 4 (March 22, 2020)

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+ JMJ +

Dear Friends,

This Sunday is "Laetare Sunday," now just over half way through Lent, when the vestments are a festive rose color, and the Mass begins with the ancient Introit taken from Isaiah:

Lætare Jerusalem: et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam:
gaudete cum lætitia, qui in tristitia fuistis...

"Rejoice ye with Jerusalem; and be glad for her, all ye that delight in her:
exult and sing for joy with her, all ye that in sadness mourn for her..."

In these days of plague and pestilence, social distancing and economic disruption, there is much for which we may be sad and sorrowful, uneasy and anxious, not least the suspension of public Masses in nearly every diocese of the United States, including our own Ordinariate.

And yet: Laetare! Rejoice! These days are a powerful reminder to us that viruses, isolation, economic downturns, and even finally death itself can hold no fear for Christians who have the sure and certain promise given to us when we were baptized into Christ's own death and resurrection: 

"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his!" (Rm 6.3-5).

In the ringing words of St Augustine, “We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!”  This fundamental orientation toward "the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting" is what gives Lent its "bite": we suspend the singing of "Alleluia" and ponder the death we for our sins deserve so that we may renew our joy and gratitude at the life we are instead given in mercy and love. But even in Lent, that joy cannot be fully suppressed, we know where we are going, and so on this fourth Sunday the Church calls us to rejoice.

And we do, but I must say that the suspension of public Masses, our inability to gather together as one family in Christ on the Lord's Day, is a heavy burden to bear. The holy Eucharist is the "source and summit" of our life together. Rejoicing is always communal; it demands to be shared.

However, while public Masses are suspended, the Mass itself is not. Each day this week I have offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass privately with my children - Lucy reads the lessons, and Henry is learning to serve. Please know that every day when I go to the altar I carry the people of Corpus Christi with me in my heart. Next week I will experiment with "live streaming" Mass on Facebook, and if that goes reasonably well, I will announce a regular schedule of streamable Masses.

This Sunday the Mass obligation for members of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter is commuted, not dispensed. This means that the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is met by fulfilling a "substitute" obligation, in our case by:

  1. Prayerful reflection on the Sunday Mass readings, concluding that time by recitation of the Prayer of Humble Access or Anima Christi; or,

  2. The recitation of the Rosary as a family.

Bishop Lopes has written of his reasons for assigning these particular means for fulfilling the Sunday Mass obligation:

The first way to fulfill one’s Sunday obligation is to spend some time prayerfully reflecting on the Sunday readings.  So doing, the faithful are acting in communion with the whole Church and her liturgical prayer.  They are opening themselves to an encounter with the Word, and will be strengthened by the encounter. Concluding the time of reflection with a recitation of the Prayer of Humble Access or Anima Christi not only provides an effective conclusion, but brings them into contact with our patrimony and the deep devotional treasury of the Church.

Similarly, the second option—the recitation of the Rosary as a family—has long held a special place in the Church’s devotional life.  The Handbook of Indulgences notes that this communal act of the family even obtains a plenary indulgence, and so it is fitting for these extraordinary Sundays.  

Below you will see links to resources to help you fulfill either one of these options, as well as a link to the live stream of the Sunday Mass from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Please do not hesitate to call me if there is anything I may do for you (or just to catch up!).

God bless you,
Fr Allen

Lessons & Propers for Sunday, March 22nd: Lent 4

Method for Reciting the Holy Rosary

Sunday Mass from the Cathedral (viewable between 9AM (live) and 7PM on Sunday).

Read the rest of the newsletter

Readings & Propers for Lent IV

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Lent 4: Laetare Sunday

Lessons & Propers

For members of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter, the Mass obligation for Sunday, March 22nd, may be fulfilled by

  1. Prayerful reflection on the Sunday Mass readings, concluding that time by recitation of the Prayer of Humble Access or Anima Christi (below); or,

  2. The recitation of the Rosary as a family.

Click here to download and print.

Introit   Laetare Ierusalem   Isaiah 66.10, 11; Psalm 122.1
Rejoice ye with Jerusalem; and be glad for her, all ye that delight in her: exult and sing for joy with her, all ye that in sadness mourn for her; that ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations. Ps: I was glad when they said unto me: we will go into the house of the Lord.  Glory be… Rejoice ye… 

Collect of the Day
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace, may mercifully be relieved; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.  R Amen. 

Lesson                                                  1 Samuel 16.1b,6-7,10-13a
In those days: The Lord said to Samuel, “Fill your horn with oil, and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”  When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and fetch him; for we will not sit down till he comes here.” And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. 

Gradual   Laetatus sum                                       Psalm 122.1, 7
I was glad when they said unto me: we will go into the house of the Lord.  Peace be within thy walls: and plenteousness within thy palaces.

Epistle                                                                           Ephesians 5.8-14
Brethren: Once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it is said,   “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.” 

Tract   Qui confidunt                                                   Psalm 125.1, 2
They that put their trust in the Lord shall be even as the mount Sion: which may not be removed, but standeth fast for ever.  The hills stand about Jerusalem: even so standeth the Lord round about his people, from this time forth for evermore. 

Gospel                                                                                 John 9.1-41
At that time: As Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man’s eyes with the clay, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, “Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he”; others said, “No, but he is like him.” He said, “I am the man.” They said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”  The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if any one should confess him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age, ask him.”  So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?” And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if any one is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that any one opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe”; and he worshiped him. Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this, and they said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.” 

Offertory   Illumina oculos meos                                     Psalm 13.3b, 4
Lighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death: lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him. 

Communion Verse   Lutum fecit                                 Jn 9.6,11,38
The Lord spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle; and he anointed mine eyes, and I went and washed, and I received sight and believed in God.

PRAYER OF HUMBLE ACCESS
We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us.

ANIMA CHRISTI
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within Thy wounds hide me. Separated from Thee let me never be. From the malignant enemy, defend me. At the hour of death, call me. And close to Thee bid me. That with Thy saints I may be Praising Thee, forever and ever. Amen.

 

COVID-19/Corona Virus Cancellations

[UPDATE: All Masses are suspended until further notice; this includes Holy Week & Easter. Please check back here and see newsletter postings for information for live streamed liturgies, commutation of Mass obligations, and other information.]

Dear friends,

Bishop Guglielmone has just made the following announcement to the clergy of the Diocese of Charleston which also has effect for our Ordinariate community:

"The COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread throughout the United States, and we must take care to protect ourselves and those who are most vulnerable. The Center of Disease Control and various government entities have issued directives to limit the number of people who can gather in one place. As a result of these recommendations, and in collaboration with other dioceses in our province, there are to be no sacramental or other liturgical celebrations anywhere in the Diocese of Charleston effective at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17 through the end of day on Wednesday, April 1, 2020."

Bishop Lopes has stated that for the faithful of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, the obligation to attend Sunday Mass on March 22nd and March 29th is commuted (not dispensed). This means that the Sunday obligation of the Christian faithful is met through one of the two following pious practices:

  1. Prayerful reflection upon the Sunday Scripture readings, concluding that time by the recitation of the Prayer of Humble Access or the Anima Christi;

  2. The recitation of the Rosary as a family. 

Later this week I will send guides to facilitate each of these options. The faithful of the Diocese of Charleston are dispensed from their Mass obligation for these two Sundays.

During this time I will offer Mass privately, and you may be sure that I will pray for your health and well-being and bear your intentions in my heart.

I will be available to you for any pastoral need. My cell phone is here, and I may also be reached by email.

I do not yet know what office hours will be maintained for Corpus Christi & St. Mary's, but will let you know once that is determined.

Finally, be of good cheer! Christ has overcome the world! The words of C.S. Lewis's fictional demon Screwtape in The Screwtape Letters applies to our own unfamiliar and undesired situation: "Like most of the other things which humans are excited about, such as health and sickness, age and youth, or war and peace, it is, from the point of view of the spiritual life, mainly raw material."

This pandemic, and it consequent disruption of our daily lives and of our plans big and small, is the raw material from which we may mold deeds of love, minutes, hours, and days of patience, deeper and more dependent prayer, renewal of family relationships, contemplation of God's holy word in the Scriptures, service of the needy, rest and recreation, and grateful obedience. Let us make the most this time!

God bless you,
Fr Allen

RSVP for Shrove Tuesday Family Supper - Feb 25

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Please use this form to RSVP for the Shrove Tuesday Family Supper on Tuesday, February 25th. Thank you!

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (children 3 and up): 4.30 - 6.00PM;

Family Supper, 6.00PM