Mar 29, 2020

Sunday Sermon, March 29 -- Veiling the Cross, Joining the Penitents (Sermon during Coronavirus Pandemic)

In the last two weeks of Lent, we enter the season of Our Lord's Passion, Passiontide.  We focus all the more intensely on our Savior's suffering and death as we prepare for the Easter mysteries.

The primary visual characteristic of these last days of Lent is the covering of the Cross and other images in the church with the purple veil.  Why do we veil the Cross? The veil symbolizes how our Lord began to hide himself from the crowds in the last months of his public ministry. Further, it symbolizes the wounds which covered and veiled his whole body during his Passion.  Finally, it represents the order of Penitents from the early Church - those who were not permitted to participate in or view the Sacred Liturgy during Lent as they made public penance until the time of being reconciled to God and the Church.

We are called to embrace penance in our own days - we are called to join these Penitents, and be reconciled to God.


Listen online [here]!



Mar 27, 2020

Coronavirus Update -- March 27, 2020

The Bishop's just issued directives for Catholic Life in the Diocese of Great Falls - Billings, following the shelter-in-place mandate of the Governor.


Some of the key points:
"Parish churches will remain open for private prayer as long as no more than 10 people assemble in the church and social/physical distancing (a minimum of 6 feet) is maintained."
Thus, Corpus Christi Parish will remain unlocked for all our usual times.


"Confessions should continue to be made available under conditions that are deemed appropriate by the pastor of the parish while providing for social/physical distancing. No more than 10 people at a time should be allowed in the Church."
Thus, Corpus Christi Parish will remain unlocked and maintain the usual confession times in the confessional room in the church. Wednesday-Saturday 4:30-7pm and Sunday 9am-1pm [note, confession times will cease after Wednesday of Holy Week]


"Eucharistic Exposition is not allowed because it is a 'public action.' If parishioners come into the church (no more than 10) they may simply adore the Lord before the Blessed Sacrament in a Tabernacle."
Thus, Eucharistic Adoration will be suspended at Corpus Christi at least through Easter - but the faithful are still welcome to come to the church for prayer and to adore the Lord in the Tabernacle.


"There are to be no public celebration of the Liturgies of Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter."
Thus, public Masses remain suspended, at least through Easter Sunday. Father Ryan will continue to offer a private Mass daily, and will celebrate the Triduum Liturgies privately as well. Note, the church will be locked during the Triduum Liturgies themselves, but will be open for private prayer during other times throughout the Triduum [more details will follow].



Confessions
Saturday, March 28
4:30-7pm

Sunday, March 29
9am-1pm

Wednesday, April 1 to Saturday, April 4
4:30-7pm

Sunday, April 4  (Palm Sunday)
9am-1pm

Holy Week Confessions (April 8-11) will be significantly reduced hours and will be announced at a later date.

Mar 21, 2020

Plenary Indulgences More Available Than Ever, During Time of Pandemic

The Vatican has issued a new decree which allows us to gain a daily plenary indulgence even in this time in which most are not able to receive Holy Communion or (in some places) make confession! The Vatican has been so generous, and there are new (and very easy) ways of gaining a daily plenary indulgence!


You gain a plenary indulgence by any of the following:

1) Making a visit to the Blessed Sacrament or time in Adoration (no length is specified, generally understood to be 30 minutes)
2) Reading Scripture for 30 minutes (anywhere)
3) Praying 5 decades of the Rosary (anywhere)
4) The Way of the Cross (apparently even outside of a church, anywhere)
5) Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet (anywhere)

Offering this prayer for an end to the epidemic, relief for those afflicted, and eternal rest for those who have died.
With the intention of making confession and receiving communion when it is possible.
And praying for the intentions of the Holy Father (Our Father, Hail Mary).
Being in the state of grace (remember, a perfect act of contrition will suffice, even if you are in a place where confessions have been suspended), and having no attachment to sin.

Mar 20, 2020

Sunday Sermon, March 15th -- On Hiding Sins from Confession

"Come and see a man who told me everything I have done."

Jesus knew everything about the Samaritan woman at the well (St Photina, feast on March 20th and buried in the Basilica of St Paul outside the walls of Rome).  When she referred to her irregular marital situation, our Lord shows that he knows all of her sins - and desires to forgive her, giving her the living waters of repentance unto eternal life.

We discuss the importance of naming and numbering our serious/mortal sins when we go to confession. To intentionally hide a mortal sin (or to intentionally hide the number of times we have committed a mortal sin) would cause the confession to be invalid, and only add yet another mortal sin upon our soul - a sacrilegious confession.

Jesus already knows everything we have done! He knows everything we ever will do! And he still loves us! We do not need to fear! There is no need to be ashamed! The Lord Jesus will give us the living water of true repentance - because he loves us, he will bring us to eternal life.

Listen online [here]!


Mar 17, 2020

Suspension of all public Masses and devotions until the end of March 2020

Due to the spread of the coronavirus and the threat of this pandemic for our Nation and Diocese, Bishop Warfel has order the suspension of all public Masses and devotions until the end of March.

This means that there will be no Masses, Rosaries, Litanies, Eucharistic Procession etc at Corpus Christi until the end of March.  Neither will their be even Sunday Masses - all the faithful are, of course, dispensed from the Sunday obligation of attending Mass. Finally, there will be no Religious Education classes, nor will their be any other meetings held at the Parish.

These are very troubling and trying times, and I will strive to provide more information in the coming days with recommendations of how to profit in this moment of great suffering.

However, Bishop Warfel has asked that adoration continue and also that confession be made available for the faithful -- since these are moments for individual prayer and do not necessarily involve large groups coming together, confession and adoration is permitted at this time. We will be adding additional confession and adoration times on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, in place of weekend Masses.

Additionally, we will continue with our 40 Hours Eucharistic Devotions scheduled for Tuesday, March 17 to Thursday, March 19 -- however, without the public celebration of Masses, public recitation of the Rosary or the Litany of St Joseph, and without Eucharistic Processions.   Confessions will continue as scheduled.


Thus, for the days of Tuesday, March 17 to Sunday, March 22

Tuesday, March 17
No 5:30 PM Mass
5:30 PM Begin 40 Hours Solemn Eucharistic Adoration

Wednesday, March 18
Adoration continues throughout the day and night
No 7 AM Mass
4:30-7 PM Confessions, with Bishop Warfel joining to hear confessions

Thursday, March 19
Adoration continues throughout the day and night
No 7 AM Mass
4:30-7 PM Confessions
Solemn Adoration concludes at 7 PM, but regular adoration hours continue through Friday and Saturday.

Friday, March 20
Adoration continues
No 7 AM Mass
4:30-7 PM Confessions
No 5:30 PM Stations of the Cross or Soup Supper
Adoration is suspended at 5:30 PM

Saturday, March 21
No 7 AM Mass
Adoration begins at 8 AM and Continues throughout the day
4:30-7 PM Confessions
4:30- 7 PM Solemn Adoration
No 5:30 PM Mass
Adoration will conclude at 7 PM

Sunday, March 22
No 9 AM Mass
No 11:30 Am Mass
9 AM to 1 PM Solemn Adoration
9 AM to 1 PM Confessions


[the schedule for Tuesday, March 24 to Sunday, March 29 will be similar to this week's]

Mar 13, 2020

40 Hours Eucharistic Devotions before the Feast of St Joseph

40 Hours Eucharistic Devotion is especially suited for imploring God's mercy during a time of epidemic. Rather than panicking or giving into anxiety, let us turn to God in prayer! May he preserve us both from the coronavirus and from all the hysteria which is spreading throughout the world!

40 Hours Eucharistic Devotions -- Corpus Christi Parish, Great Falls, MT
Tuesday, March 17th at 5:30 PM to Thursday, March 19th at 6:30 PM. Concluding with St Joseph Table, dinner and celebration - all are welcome!

Imploring the aid of St Patrick and especially of St Joseph!



Mar 10, 2020

Sunday Sermon, March 8th -- The Transfiguration in Historical Context

When we recognize the place of the Transfiguration in the historical context of Jesus' public ministry, we will appreciate even more the deeper meaning of this miracle (which St Thomas Aquinas describes as the greatest of all Christ's miracles).

The Transfiguration occurs late in our Lord's life, perhaps only a half a year or less before his death - and it is a real turning point, in which Jesus moves towards his passion and death.  The Transfiguration occurs on the Octave Day of the establishment of the primacy of St Peter ("On this rock, I will build my Church") and of the first prediction of the Passion.  Further, immediately after the Transfiguration, our Lord tells all the Apostles that certain demons can only be cast out by prayer and fasting. Thus, the Transfiguration inspires us to persevere in our Lenten Fast.


Listen online [here]!




Mar 5, 2020

Sunday Sermon, March 1st -- On Avoiding the Occasions of Sin

Sermon for the First Sunday of Lent.

Jesus allowed himself to be tempted, even though he could never sin (both because of the grace of the union of humanity and divinity, and because he is a divine Person) - in doing this, he teaches us that temptation will always accompany the believer.

The second temptation in St Matthew's Gospel, in which our Lord is taken by Satan and placed on the pinnacle of the Temple, stands for us as a warning to avoid not only mortal sin but also the occasions of sin.  We consider, in particular, the dangers of the internet (especially pornography), alcoholism, and gossip.


Listen online [here]!