The Narrow Gate

"Lord, will only a few people be saved?" [Jesus] answered them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. . . .” 

(Lk. 13: 23-24)

Dear Parishioners,

For many years this passage from Sacred Scripture has really troubled me.  What if those who find the road to (eternal) life are actually few?  In this day and age when many (most?) people are canonized at a funeral, when society refuses to be told what to do because of a type of unbridled freedom (actually license), when the moral credibility of the Church has eroded to the point of collapse, and when the most severe sin in our culture has become lack of tolerance, shouldn’t we be a wee bit concerned?

What exactly constitutes the narrow gate?  Bear with me as I do a bit of soul searching.  Traditionally, there have been certain sins that by their nature are considered grave matter—one of the three necessary components of mortal sin. Such sins include (but are not limited to) murder, rape, incest, adultery, perjury, blasphemy, idolatry, sacrilege, fornication, masturbation, euthanasia, abortion, apostasy, homosexual acts, prostitution, et. al.  Realizing also that there is the necessity of sufficient reflection (knowledge) and full consent of the will, people who commit these acts risk being in a state of mortal sin.  In other words, if they die unrepentant of these sins they risk eternal damnation (the fires of hell).

Now let’s take a step further into other more common occurrences of potential mortal sin.  The Church has traditionally declared that it is a mortal sin to intentionally miss Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.  What of the approximately 80-90% of Catholics who no longer practice their faith regularly?  A wide path? 

The Catholic Church teaches that the use of artificial birth control is a mortal sin.  Some contraceptives (types of the “pill”) are actually abortifacient in nature, meaning that a fertilized egg (post-conception) is prevented from embedding itself in the mother’s womb.  Hence, a mini or microscopic abortion may have occurred.  Nonetheless, those who use any artificial birth control risk being in mortal sin. One headline I googled while writing this article stated boldly: Most Catholic Women in U.S. Use Birth Control. Another article by the Catholic News Agency (CNA) examined: Why do so Many Catholics Use Contraception? Experts Weigh In. Again, a wide path?

What then do we do with the number of people who use sex recreationally and sleep with each other outside of the context of marriage, or cohabitate outside of marriage, or are in a second marriage “outside” of the Church (divorce and re-marriage without an annulment)?  What about homosexuals who engage in sexual activity, regardless of whether or not they have some “committed” relationship?  What about the rampant use of internet pornography (frequently accompanied with masturbation)?  Sexually active teens?  Sexually active college students?  Friends with benefits?  If all of these people are in grave (mortal) sin, again we seem to have a wide path here.

I conclude this reflection with the scene of the final judgment in St. Matthew’s gospel (Mt. 25:31-46).  Read it when you get a chance.  In essence, the separation of the sheep from the goats involves a condemnation to eternal punishment for failing to do good to/for others.  There is no mention here of any of the grave sins listed above.  Rather there is damnation for what someone fails to do.  Another wide path? 

I suggest we all be a little more hesitant before we assume that somehow we all automatically go to heaven. There is a reason that Jesus called for repentance and conversion.  And this message is meant for all of us!

Enter through the narrow gate . . .

Fr. Ed Namiotka
Pastor

Praying for the Dead

Dear Parishioners,

As we approach the month of November, we should consider the importance of remembering and praying for the dead. We begin with two notable liturgical celebrations—All Saints and All Souls days. St. Paul reminds us . . . Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  (Phil. 3:20)

Saints are destined for heaven. Once their lives are finished on earth they will spend eternity enjoying the Beatific Vision—the "Face" of God—in God's time and according to God's plan. Many saints will not be officially canonized and placed on the church calendar. However, the Solemnity of All Saints reminds us of all those intercessors in heaven closely united with God who pray for us. (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, #956)  Where they have gone, we hope to follow someday. They have been called the Church Triumphant. Just as we may ask a friend here on earth to say a prayer for us, we can ask the saints in heaven to pray to God for us. Once they reach heaven, they no longer need our prayers but they can certainly pray and make intercession on our behalf.

While we may hope that our deceased relatives and friends are in heaven, we do not have that absolute certainty simply because of our hoping or desiring it to be so. While our Christian funerals are meant to strengthen our hope in eternal life, they are not meant to be canonizations.  Only God knows the ultimate destiny of any soul as he alone knows the disposition of the person when he or she dies. Did the person die in the state of grace or not? We can only hope and pray. We should pray.

Still, we can take great consolation if a person receives the last rites of the church—the sacraments of Penance and Reconciliation, the Holy Eucharist and the Anointing of the Sick. I remind people constantly that the sacraments are for the living and we should not wait until a person dies (if at all possible) to call for the priest. If the person is homebound, elderly, on hospice, in the hospital, terminally ill, etc. let the priest know so that a pastoral visit can be arranged. Moreover, we should all try to be living continually in the state of grace and not be conscious of any mortal or serious sin. The sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (confession) is the ordinary means that we have to keep the fullness of God's life (grace) alive in us. God's mercy will be given if we but ask for it!

All Souls Day reminds us that we should pray for the dead. Our prayers can help them if they are in a state of purification that we call purgatory. Remember that if someone is in heaven, they do not need our prayers. If they die not in the state of grace, being unrepentant, obstinate, and alienated from God—thus being in a state of hell or eternal separation from God—our prayers cannot help them. Church teaching encourages us to pray and to offer Mass for the dead. The greatest spiritual gift that we can give to our deceased loved ones is to have a Mass offered for them. The Catholic Mass is a re-presentation of the offering of Jesus himself on the cross. We have no better intercessor with the Father than Jesus who suffered and died for us.

Souls in purgatory, in a state of cleansing or purification—what I like to refer to as the fringes of heaven—can pray for us as we can assist them on their eventual journey to heaven. They have been referred to as the Church Suffering, in regard to their temporarily being kept from the fullness of heaven.

Finally, members of the Church on earth all are saints-in-potential. As baptized Christians, part of the Body of Christ, while we are alive in Christ Jesus, our ultimate destiny is heaven. Only our choice to sin gravely, to put ourselves out of the state of God's life, His grace, will keep us from that path. We are the Church Militant, currently battling sin and evil. 

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones [saints] and members of the household of God. . . . (Eph. 2:19)  May we live up to our calling!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

"How Did We Get Here?"

Dear Parishioners,

I recently heard our Coadjutor Bishop, Joseph A. Williams, speak about how he would attend daily Mass with his father. His father is a physician with a family of nine children, yet found time not only to attend Mass each Sunday but each and every day. God bless him!

Over the years I have heard hundreds, if not thousands, of the confessions of children whether it was in the Catholic school or in the religious education programs. I regularly try to put the children at ease and try to help them realize that God is a forgiving God, if only we request His mercy. I tell them that there is no sin God can’t forgive, if we are truly sorry. My emphasis is on how merciful God is to all of us. I want this sacrament to be one in which children will never be afraid and will continue to keep a positive attitude toward it as they mature into adulthood.

Without going very long I usually begin hearing from the young children how they are “too busy” to go to Sunday Mass, that they “have sports on Sunday,” that their family “usually goes to Mass for Christmas and Easter” but not necessarily each week, and a whole bunch of similar comments. All this is unfortunately telling me that going to Mass each Sunday is far from a priority in many, many families. I dare not even mention Holy Days of Obligation—like the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven (August 15), All Saints Day, (November 1), or the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (December 8). Holy Days of Obligation are treated with an attitude of optional at best, similar to the overwhelming number of Catholics who think in similar manner about Sunday Mass attendance each week.

Let me answer a few questions directly. Do Catholics still have an obligation to attend Mass each week? Yes  Has this requirement changed over the years? No 

"Sunday . . . is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church." "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass." (2192, CCC)  

[Please refer to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) under the section on The Ten Commandments for a complete explanation.]  

So what is a pastor like me to do? I certainly have an obligation and accountability before God for the spiritual well-being of my people. I care about them. I love them. I pray for them each day.  

1) Maybe I can pretend that there is no problem. Just be silent and not bring up the topic. I will only alienate people further.  (How much worse can it get?  About four-fifths of the average parish is missing each Sunday already!?)  

2) Maybe I can gently urge and try warmly to invite people.  (Realistically, I have been attempting to do this almost every day of my priestly life. The results, unfortunately, have not been overwhelming.)  

3) Should I preach hell, fire and damnation like the good, old days? (While I think that the Fear of the Lord is a much needed virtue for our times, most of society does not want to be told what to do—rarely, if ever.)  

4) Should I go on trying to live and lead by example? Will my striving for personal holiness and my desire for conversion of life became contagious and lead people to Christ? (I can only hope and pray!)

Growing up as a child in the 60’s and 70’s was, in my humble opinion, a very crazy time.  Free-love, the drug culture, Vietnam, the Cold War, unrest on college campuses, racial tension, etc. all seemed overwhelming to me as a kid. Yet, somehow God was present to me in the midst of it all. Despite the many adversities, I mysteriously heard the call to be Jesus’ disciple. God could truly penetrate even the most difficult of situations—then and now. Just look at the cross. Didn’t this, too, seem to be the worst of all situations? When I ask myself today “How did we get here?” as a culture and as a Church, I know deep down I must continue to trust that God is still in charge and in His plan for salvation good will ultimately triumph.

Please come to Mass each week.  I will never stop asking (begging). I care about your eternal salvation much too much.                                                                                                                           

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Understanding the Beauty and Importance of the Mass

Dear Parishioners,

In general, Mass attendance has been far from stellar in most parishes for quite some time now. In our area, calculations seem to indicate that less than twenty percent of registered parishioners attend Mass on the average weekend. Some of the sad comments that I remember over the years include: I can pray at home, I don't get anything out of the Mass, Mass is boring, I'm / we're just too busy, or I no longer practice any organized religion. As pastor, I can simply bewail and lament the situation or I can offer some suggestions to help people appreciate the wonderful gift that we have in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. 

Here are some of my thoughts:

1. Mass is a ritual and an act of worship. Its general pattern does not change. There is a Liturgy of the Word and a Liturgy of the Eucharist each and every time. Knowing this, it is important I understand that Mass is not meant to be entertainment—like watching a show or performance—but worship. In fact, it is our part of renewing the Sacred Covenant that Jesus established by His Passion and Death. Today's liturgy involves the active participation of the congregation: voicing the responses, singing, listening attentively, praying, making various gestures and movements, etc. Just being present (punching my time card) is not the same as active participation. An act of the will is involved in which I choose (actively) to worship the Living God. 
2. Not every Mass will appear earth-shattering or every homily be super interesting. Ritual, by its nature, can become somewhat routine. While some things do change in the Mass like the color of vestments, the hymns, the readings, the prayers, etc., the general pattern does not. For a greater awareness and appreciation of the beauty of the Mass, the participant needs to delve more deeply into its rich mystery with all of its symbolism and subtleties. Read a book, take a class, watch a video, or listen to a podcast explaining just what is happening during each and every Mass. This should help enhance one's appreciation of what occurs at Mass. Moreover, homilists vary in oratory skills, intelligence, and preparedness. While not every homily will necessarily motivate or impress an individual, one or another might provide particularly good insight and inspiration. Some homilies might actually be life-changing. However, when a person is not present to hear them (does not come to Mass), the possibility of being edified or inspired by them might not even exist.
3. Reception of the Holy Eucharist and Mass attendance need to be clearly distinguished. Catholics are required to attend Mass each week and on Holy Days of Obligation. This responsibility has not changed in our time, although it is noticeably disregarded. It doesn't matter what the subjective state of the person is—sinner or saint. For example, a person unable to receive Holy Communion (for whatever reason) is nonetheless still required to attend Mass. Reception of Holy Communion is not a requirement for attending Mass. One needs to be in the state of grace (not conscious of any grave sin) in order to worthily receive Holy Communion. Otherwise, the person first needs to seek out the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (confession). However, anyone unable to receive Holy Communion can and should make a Spiritual Communion instead while realizing that Christ is also present at Mass through the Sacred Scriptures, in the person of the priest and where two or three are gathered in Jesus' name (the Church or Mystical Body of Christ). The essential point here is that all Catholics need to attend Mass weekly.
4. Preparation for Mass and reflection on the Scripture readings can help enhance the experience. Reading the Scriptures for Mass ahead of time is a valuable way to benefit more fully from them. What is God saying to me?  As a priest preparing my Sunday homily, I often begin right after the weekend Masses to reflect on the Sacred Scriptures for the following week. Taking the time to pray ahead of time (instead of rushing in late or at the very last minute) also can put one into the right frame of mind. Moreover, the motivational Catholic speaker Matthew Kelly suggests keeping a Mass journal with personal reflections from the Sunday readings. This practice can help one to become a better listener and more reflective. The Mass readings can be found online and in various monthly publications which often include prayers and reflections on the Scriptures.
5. Volunteer your services. Becoming a reader, altar server, usher or choir member are various ways for a person to get more actively involved at Mass. From my youngest days as an altar server, I preferred serving at the altar to sitting in the pew. If you have been properly trained, be prepared to offer your assistance whenever you come to Mass.

I have personally found that when I give God time in prayer and worship as I am supposed to do, I inevitably find the necessary time that I need to accomplish the many other duties I have. However, when I begin to cut corners or make my prayer and worship a lesser priority, my days often become more chaotic and burdensome. There is an important connection here for all of us and attending weekly Mass should be the first priority of every Catholic.  

 Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

How Seriously Will You Take this "Lenten Season?"

Dear Parishioners,

Typically, Ash Wednesday is a crowded day in our church.  People annually come to “get ashes.”  Despite the fact that the day is not a holy day of obligation in which we are required to attend Mass—psst, please don’t tell anyone!—people are here throughout the day looking for those ashes. Sometimes, they have even come to the rectory door at all odd hours because they don’t want to be without those blessed ashes.

If I look at this phenomenon from a positive angle, I hope and pray that people see the need for repentance and a change of life. I pray that they heed the call to conversion. I pray also that they truly open their lives to Jesus and want to turn away from sin.

The logical follow-up during the Lenten season would then be a desire to attend Mass more frequently. There should be an increase in the use of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (confession). Time for prayer and meditation should grow. Certainly, we should see more generosity, kindness and compassion in all of us. In the end, we should be spiritually renewed and prepared for the great events of the Easter Triduum.

This is my sincere hope and prayer.

Unfortunately, there will be those who approach the ashes in a superstitious manner or with a misunderstanding that places more importance on this sacramental than it truly deserves. I used to tell my students in high school quite bluntly that ashes (burnt palm) on the forehead, in and of themselves, will not get someone into heaven. They are merely a symbol of repentance and mortality. Rather, Jesus, the Bread of Life, in the Holy Eucharist is much more than any such symbol.  The Holy Eucharist is, in fact, the real, true presence of Jesus who was offered for us on the cross and who is now offered to us in Holy Communion.

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.  (John 6: 54-56)

Essentially, it is my duty as one who preaches and teaches to help people to understand and to prioritize what is essential for a Catholic (the Holy Eucharist) and what is merely helpful and a symbolic reminder for us (blessed ashes). All of the seven sacraments are life-giving—in essence, imparting to us God’s grace—through various outward signs. They are opportunities to encounter Christ. We are fed, nourished, healed, forgiven, strengthened, and sanctified by our participation in these sacraments. Most notably, the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation are the two sacraments that we are able to and should participate in frequently.

Please take Lent seriously. Heed the call to conversion. Put into practice acts of prayer, fasting (self-denial) and almsgiving (charity).  

Over everything else, fall in love with Jesus. I say this not in some superficial, romantic way but as our essential, unconditional response to the Son of God who loved us unto death.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

      

Eucharist Means "Thanksgiving"

Dear Parishioners,

At this time of Eucharistic Revival in the Catholic Church in America, we certainly should do some reflecting on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. First, I bring to your attention the meaning of the word Eucharist (eukharistia) from the Greek, meaning thanksgiving.

In the Novus Ordo Mass, the second major part (after the Liturgy of the Word) is referred to as the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It includes the Eucharistic Prayer when the unleavened wheat bread and grape wine are consecrated and truly become the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This mystery has been explained using the term transubstantiation, meaning the substance of bread and wine is changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus while the accidents (the appearance of bread and wine) remain the same. The Catholic Church teaches that this change is not merely symbolic but actual or real. Hence, we speak of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament or Holy Eucharist.

As Catholics, we should reflect on the Mass / Holy Eucharist from various viewpoints including: as a Sacred Meal (from Jesus' actions at the Last Supper), as an Unblemished Sacrifice (from Christ's death on the altar of the cross) and as a Sacrament (an outward sign which gives us God's Grace).  

We hear words beginning the preface of the Eucharistic prayer urging us:“Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.” We also hear about Jesus taking bread, saying the blessing / giving thanks, breaking the bread and giving it to His disciples. We believe what Jesus declares (“This is My Body / My Blood”) literally happens. It is what occurs at every Mass when the priest stands in for Christ (in persona Christi) so that it is actually Christ who performs the action through the instrument of the priest. That is why the constant teaching of the Catholic Church has been that the priest must be male because the priest stands in place of Christ who was male. We believe this Ministerial Priesthood is Divinely established and is therefore not open to change. Pope St. John Paul II made this clear in his Apostolic Letter ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS:

“Although the teaching that priestly ordination is to be reserved to men alone has been preserved by the constant and universal Tradition of the Church and firmly taught by the Magisterium in its more recent documents, at the present time in some places it is nonetheless considered still open to debate, or the Church's judgment that women are not to be admitted to ordination is considered to have a merely disciplinary force. 

Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church's divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful.”

Making a proper thanksgiving after receiving Holy Communion is something that also needs continual emphasis and reinforcement. We see people leaving Mass early (sometimes directly after receiving Holy Communion) and it is natural to wonder if there was adequate time given to praise / adore, to thank, to petition, and to ask for forgiveness from (reparation) Our Lord. After all, we have just received God Himself (Jesus, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity) and we have been united with Him in Holy Communion. Doesn’t this deserve a few moments of quiet, intimate reflection and prayer? Sometimes bad habits—like leaving Mass early—are hard to break! 

I also realize that not everyone is able to receive Holy Communion. Those in this situation should make a Spiritual Communion instead.

Remember to give thanks to the Lord, especially at this time when our nation celebrates Thanksgiving, and please attend Mass weekly with your family!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor 

Homily for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Public Worship and Private Devotion

Dear Parishioners,

Prayer is something that can be a very personal, intimate and private experience and yet it can also be part of a public act of worship.  We can quietly make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, pray the rosary while taking a walk or read the Bible before going to bed. Yet, when we attend Mass, pray the rosary together as a group in church or participate in Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, our prayer is very much a public form of worship.

The reason I bring this distinction up is to make a simple point. A public act of worship should not become confused with any individual private devotion. They should be two distinct entities. What I write here is not meant as a criticism but rather more of an instruction concerning the nature of certain forms of public worship—especially the Mass. 

Some people have occasionally asked me why I do not regularly pray certain devotional prayers during Mass (perhaps after Holy Communion). My answer is simply that they are not officially part of the Roman Catholic Mass. I know that I do not have the authority to take it upon myself to try to add to or improve upon the Mass. The Mass is the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ and its celebration should be in accord with the General Instructions of the Roman Missal. As a priest, I should be faithful in celebrating Mass according to the official guidelines set out for us in the Roman Missal. (However, when I do lead people in additional prayers, a special blessing or an act of consecration, it is almost inevitably after Mass has finished, at the end of the homily or at the time of announcements.)

Does this mean that various devotional prayers should not be said? Of course not. There is a time and place for them but not necessarily in the Mass itself. Prayers can preferably be said before or after Mass, or at another time altogether. However, it must be kept in mind that by doing so we should never think that the Mass is somehow imperfect or incomplete in and of itself withoutadding something extra or additional to it. I state it again very clearly: the Mass is the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We can do no better than that.

Far too often I have been asked to offer Masses that included various blessings, installations of ministries or officers, recognition of various achievements, etc. Sometimes the emphasis on the extra, added elements seemed to overshadow the importance of the Mass itself. This should really be avoided as much as possible.

Hopefully, this will help people to understand why I do what I do. I just try to be faithful to the intentions of the Church and attempt to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in its purity and simplicity as it is intended.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Life's a Banquet!

Dear Parishioners,

“Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!” This is a line taken from the movie Auntie Mame (1958) starring Rosalind Russell. While many people will use this quote to emphasize that we need to live life to the fullest—go for the gusto, so to speak—I want to apply this phrase to what is unfortunately too many people’s attitude toward the Holy Eucharist.

Each and every Sunday (and, in fact, every day) we are invited to the Banquet of the Lord’s Table: “Do this in memory of me.” We have the precious opportunity to receive the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. As Catholics, we (should) believe that the Holy Eucharist is Jesus’ Real Presence given to us as our spiritual nourishment for life’s journey.

How do we respond to this invitation? After all, it is always our choice in the end. By the current Mass attendance statistics in parishes, the response is abysmal at best. Apathetic is probably a good adjective to use describing today’s average Catholic. Sadly, less than 15% of Catholics in our area attend weekly Mass. I have heard the many, many excuses why some people choose not to go to Mass:

“It’s boring.”

 “I’m too busy”

”All the priest does is talk about money.”

“Father was mean to me.”

“The bishop closed/merged my church.”

“The priest is too conservative/liberal/political/boring/egotistical/irreverent/long-winded.”

“I don’t agree with the Church’s teaching on . . .  .”

“I have other things to do.”

“I am spiritual but not religious.”

“I’m divorced and not properly married in the Church.”

I can’t force anyone to come to Mass, to receive the Holy Eucharist, to participate in what is the true lifeblood of any parish. Neither could Jesus:

 

Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.  He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come.  A second time he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast."' Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.  The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.  The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.  Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come.  Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.' The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests.  (Mt. 22: 1-10)

We are all invited:  saint and sinner, rich and poor, black and white, sophisticated and simple.

Unfortunately I realize some may not at this time be able to receive the Lord in the Holy Eucharist for various reasons. Come anyway and pray and worship with us!  Pray that the Lord will show you a way to get your situation in life in proper order.  Learn about making a spiritual communion.

Come to the banquet of Eternal Life!  Be spiritually nourished!  Don’t starve yourselves!

O sacrum convivium!

in quo Christus sumitur:

recolitur memoria passionis eius:

mens impletur gratia:

et futurae gloriae nobis pignus datur.

Alleluia 

(St. Thomas Aquinas)

O sacred banquet!

in which Christ is received,

the memory of his Passion is renewed,

the mind is filled with grace,

and a pledge of future glory to us is given.

Alleluia

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Taking the Dirt Nap

The cemetery at the Abbey of the Genesee

Dear Parishioners,

Almost a decade ago, when I was walking with my mom near her home, we passed an elderly gentleman working outside.  Politely I asked him, “How you doing?”  “Still above ground,” was his quick-witted response.  Still above ground.

The incident reminded me of a line from a movie I like:  Sleepers.  In it, one of the characters, a gangster figure, refers to death as “taking the dirt nap.”

Death is not a topic any of us likes to bring up in everyday conversation.  Too many of us like to imagine that we have plenty of time left.  However, it is something that we all have to face sooner or later.  The fraternal motto of the Knights of Columbus to which I belong reminds us bluntly: Tempus fugit, Momento mori  (Time flies, Remember death).

Inevitably, I have a bit of time to think about death when I am on retreat with the Trappist (Cistercian) monks.  I usually visit their cemetery, praying for the deceased monks who had given their lives in the service of God and the Church.  Their graves are marked by a simple wooden cross.  This seems to me a stark reminder of death’s finality for them and for us in this world.

During the month of November, we are asked to pray for the Holy Souls. We begin the month with All Saints Day followed immediately by All Souls Day. Have you considered having a Mass offered for your deceased loved ones? There is no greater prayer and offering that we can make on behalf of our deceased loved ones than to join our prayers for them to the offering of the Mass. We should realize that the Mass is a re-presentation of Jesus’ Last Supper and His Sacrifice on the Cross on our behalf. It is a continual sacrificial offering of God’s only Son, Jesus, made in reparation for our sins to God, His Almighty Father. There simply is no more perfect sacrifice that can be offered.

The Church has continually taught that our prayers and especially the offering of the Mass can assist our deceased loved ones in their journey to Heaven.

I think of it this way: I suspect that most of us die imperfect. I hope that we are not so evil that we deserve the eternal punishment of hell. At the same time, we are probably not so perfect that we deserve to see God immediately without some type of purification or purgation first. Following the ancient practice of the faithful praying for the dead (see 2 Mac. 12:46), the Church teaches that there is a period of cleansing that we call purgatory.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1030:

All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

When I die someday—when it’s time for me to take the dirt nap—I hope that someone prays for me and has Masses offered for me that my sins will be forgiven. Skip the flowers and the other worldly gestures of sympathy. I know that there’s nothing more beneficial than the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for my (or your) soul.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Some Information on Catholic Funerals

Dear Parishioners,

A few years ago I wrote a column on Catholic Funerals for my previous parish.  Normally, each Catholic parish has a fair number of funerals each year.  The priests and parish staff are acutely aware of our need to comfort families and to provide the necessary spiritual guidance at this most difficult time.

A few trends, however, continue in our society that I think, once again, need to be addressed.

 

First, the norm for a Catholic funeral is at Mass.  It is important that we focus on the saving action of Christ through His Passion, Death and Resurrection.  The Mass itself is the most perfect prayer and sacrifice that can be offered for our loved ones.  Nothing is more efficacious.  It is a re-presentation of Christ’s Salvific Act.  The funeral rite contains such rich symbolism reminding us of our connection to Baptism.  Moreover, we have the opportunity to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus to strengthen us.

Sometimes those who are not familiar with the proper Catholic protocol might encourage simply having a funeral service in the funeral home.  While the service may bring some comfort to the family, theologically it is never the same as having a Mass offered for that person.  Please think of the eternal soul of the deceased and have their funeral rites take place during a Mass.  It is also important to pray and to have Masses offered for the soul of the deceased.  While flowers are a nice gesture, a Mass offered for the deceased is much more beneficial spiritually.

 

Second, it is specifically stated in the funeral ritual that “there is never to be a eulogy” during the funeral Mass (Order of Christian Funerals, #27).  Over time this practice has found its way into our liturgies and has become a somewhat “acceptable” practice.  However, the funeral liturgy should be more about the saving action of Christ than a tribute to a deceased person.  The proper place for such a eulogy is either at the funeral home, before the Mass begins, graveside (weather permitting) or at the meal that is usually served after the funeral.  The Catholic funeral liturgy is not about “praising” and “canonizing” the deceased no matter how good the person was but about us realizing what Christ has done for us by His death on the cross.

Third, the choice of music should always be religious in nature and appropriate for a church funeral.  Secular music (popular or sentimental) is never appropriate during Mass.

Finally, since there are more cremations taking place these days, I remind those who choose this option what the Catholic funeral rite tells us about the proper placement of the ashes or cremains:

The cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they come. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in which they are carried, and the care and attention to appropriate placement and transport, and the final disposition. The cremated remains should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. The practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains in the home of a relative or friend of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires.  (Order of Christian Funerals, #417)

I mention all of the above to guide families with their decision making at this most difficult time.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Thoughts from "Corpus Christi"

Dear Parishioners,

One benefit of writing this weekly bulletin message is that my thoughts / message can potentially reach more people each Sunday.  I usually preach at every Mass in our parish each weekend, but all of you, my parishioners, can also read my thoughts here weekly in the church bulletin.  Moreover, since I post this same message online (www.fr-ed-namiotka.com), others who are not in the parish (or may be away) can have this same opportunity via the internet.

Corpus Christi (The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ) is a time for us to reflect on the precious gift that we have in the Most Holy Eucharist.  While this solemnity is celebrated universally on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, the Church in the United States celebrates Corpus Christi on the Sunday following Trinity Sunday.

I have had the opportunity during my life to see both Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI when they were in the USA—Philadelphia, Miami, Denver, East Rutherford (New Jersey) and Washington, DC—in addition to meeting Pope St. John Paul II in Rome.  There was always a great deal of preparation before meeting a pope.  I remember various details like being thoroughly scrutinized by the US Secret Service, patiently waiting in a secure area for hours before the Pope’s arrival, making sure I was wearing a nice vestment and looking my very best, etc.  There was plenty of preparation to meet the Vicar of Christ.  Yet, don’t we have someone much more important than the pope present on our altars at every Mass—Jesus Christ himself.  How do we prepare for Him?

I suggest that we think about a few things as we prepare to meet Christ at each Mass:

• Do I take seriously the hour fast from food and drink prior to receiving Holy Communion?  (This fast would also include items like gum and breath mints.)

• Am I sure that I am in not in the state of serious sin before receiving Holy Communion?  If I am, I should refrain from receiving Holy Communion until I first make a sacramental Confession.

• When I receive—whether it is on the tongue or in the hand—do I do so with the proper reverence and respect that I should show to the Son of God?  Am I dressed in a manner befitting a meeting with the Son of God?  (Would you actually dress this way if you were to meet the Pope, a Bishop or some other dignitary?)

• Do I make a proper thanksgiving after receiving Holy Communion?  The religious sisters taught me at the time of my First Holy Communion to tell Jesus that I love Him, to thank Him for everything that He does for me, to petition Him for what I need in my life and to tell Him that I am truly sorry for all of my sins.  I think that these components of a proper thanksgiving are still relevant today.  There is nothing more frustrating to me as a priest than those who continually leave Church directly after receiving Jesus in Holy Communion without making a proper thanksgiving.

• If I am unable to receive Jesus in Holy Communion because of some circumstance of my life, do I make a Spiritual Communion instead?  Request that Jesus come to you spiritually in your heart since you cannot now receive Him in Holy Communion.

While the suggestions listed here are far from complete, if we believe and realize that we truly have Jesus, the Son of God present on our altars and in our tabernacles, then I think that the way we pray, worship and receive Holy Communion should reflect this core belief.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

              

Palm Sunday

Dear Parishioners,

Palm Sunday, marking Jesus’ triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem, is one of the days of the liturgical calendar where we would usually see a great Mass attendance.

Palm branches are blessed and distributed to the congregation.  We recall the people of Jerusalem shouting:  Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.(Mt. 21:9)

I often think of how the chant changed by Good Friday: (The crowds) all said, ‘Let him be crucified!’ But (Pilate) said, ‘Why? What evil has he done?’ They only shouted the louder, ‘Let him be crucified!’ (Mt. 27:22-23)

Drastic change in just a few days, wasn’t it?

Lest we think that we couldn’t turn our backs on Jesus as quickly, look at what was the usual Mass attendance on Palm or Easter Sunday compared with the numbers on a typical weekend Mass—even the next week after Easter.  Usually there was a noticeable decline.  Maybe it’s not as direct of a rejection as the crowds in Jerusalem, but it can be an ever-so-subtle denunciation that takes the shape of indifference or apathy.

Sometimes we might even see as dramatic a change from the pews to the parking lot.

As Lent draws to a close, I invite you to participate in the Holy Week Masses and Liturgies that help us to focus on the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus.

Holy Week and Easter should not be business as usual for Christians.  If we believe that Jesus came to die for us and for our salvation, we need to put time aside to pray to and worship Him.  From an eternal life perspective, what else can be more important?  We can most fully appreciate and experience the joy of the Resurrection by participating in and meditating on the Passion and Death of the Lord.

I am edified that so many people usually take advantage of the Sacrament of Penance during the Lenten season.  If you are one of those who waited to the last minute, I hope that you find the time before Easter to spiritually prepare.  Nothing does the soul more good than an honest, genuine sacramental confession.

My hopes and prayers are that the typical large congregations that we used to see on Palm Sunday or Easter will become the ordinary attendance at Mass each and every Sunday of the year.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Offering Mass "Ad Orientem"

The B.V.M. Altar at St. Patrick Church

Dear Parishioners,

I have been sensing a certain restlessness in the people whom I had the opportunity to speak with during the past couple weeks.  After about two months of quarantine, most people seem ready to get back to a normal routine and not be continually confined to home.  With the warm weather upon us, it's time to get out into some fresh air and sunshine.  We need some vitamin D.  We are used to taking walks, riding bikes, playing and watching outdoor sports, enjoying barbecues and cookouts, going to the beach, etc. and not staring at the four walls of some room.  We are not meant to be continually locked up.

I hope that you feel the same way—restless—about not being able to get to Mass.  The words of St. Augustine seem appropriate at this time:  . . . our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.  Sadly, a significant number of Catholics were not regular in their Mass attendance prior to the coronavirus pandemic.  Now that the situation has proven not as bad as it could have been, I wonder what Mass attendance will look like in the weeks and months ahead?  Will we have a greater hunger for the Bread of Life?

I have been offering a "private" daily Mass, usually at one of the side altars in St. Patrick Church or in our rectory chapel.  All of the announced (and some unannounced) Mass intentions are being fulfilled by our priests.  Mostly, Mass is being offered ad Deum (towards God) or ad orientem (facing liturgical east) and not versus populum (facing the people).  The side altars and the original high altar of St. Patrick Church had been constructed for Mass to be offered facing God.  With people technically absent, it makes no sense to face the people during the Mass.  (We do not live-stream the daily Mass, only on Sunday.)

Truth be told, I have gained a greater appreciation for Mass celebrated with the ancient ad orientem orientation.  Follow my thought process for a moment.  The priest is offering a sacrifice to God (not to the people) so shouldn't the priest be facing in His direction (ad orientem)?  The ancient tradition was to face east towards the rising sun which would bring to mind the rising (Resurrection) of the Son of God and await His Second Coming.  While many churches are not necessarily built facing east, the priest can still face liturgical east when offering Mass.  While some have referenced this orientation as the priest having his back to the people, actually the priest and people are facing a common direction towards God.  It was only about a half-century ago that the priest began facing the people during Mass.  For centuries, this was not the case.

During the past 50 years, so many beautiful high altars in churches were dismantled or destroyed.  They were replaced by less attractive table-like altars, mostly in the name of liturgical reform.  Thankfully, our high altar and our side altars at St. Patrick remain essentially the same as they were when the church was constructed (1909).  Despite my sadness of not having the regular congregation present at Mass, a small blessing was being able to offer Mass at the beautiful high altar during Holy Week and at the similarly beautiful side altars—especially the Blessed Virgin Mary side—during the month of May.

I await the day when you will once again join me at Mass!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor