Byzantine Catholic Mission
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Holy Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Mission |
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O ye incorporeal angels who stand before the throne of God, luminous with the brilliance thereof and everlastingly shining with radiance. As secondary luminaries, entreat Christ, that He grant unto our souls peace and great mercy. O immortal messengers of the truly incorruptible Life, ye most blessed ones who received life from the first Life, ye have become holy beholders of the eternal Wisdom, full of light, and reflecting lamps shown forth as is meet. O ye archangels and angels, principalities, thrones, dominions, six-winged seraphim, and divine, many-eyed cherubim, instruments of wisdom, virtues and powers most divine. Pray ye to Christ, that He grant our souls peace and great mercy. Archives:
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HOLY RESURRECTION BYZANTINE CATHOLIC MISSION
Slava Isusu Chrisu! Slava Na Viky!
Divine Liturgy begins at 4 p.m. Every Sunday
Every Third Sunday of the Month is Food Sunday
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Divine Liturgy Intention:
Our Offerings
A New Prayer to Mary
O Mary, bright dawn of the new world, Mother of the living, to you do we entrust the cause of life. Look down, O Mother, upon
the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born, of the poor, whose lives are made difficult, of men and women who are
victims of brutal violence, of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or misguided mercy.
Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of Life with honesty and love to the people of our time. Obtain
for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new, the joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives
and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely, in order to build, together with all people of good will, the civilization
of truth and love, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and Lover of Life.
—Pope John Paul II
Why Do We Still Use Incense in Church?
The Divine Liturgy begins publicly when the deacon or priest incenses the entire church. In ancient times the censer was not
swung but carried in a handheld container. However, the swinging censer became much more popular as a more efficient way of
spreading the fragrance of the incense. The altar or “Holy of Holies” is censed first, then the interior or
“nave” of the church, and finally the people. We sometimes confuse the incensation of the church interior with
that of the people. As he censes, the priest or deacon says Psalm 50 to himself, for it gives the meaning of this ritual
action: “O purify me, then I shall be clean.... Then You will be pleased with lawful sacrifice” (9, 20).
The incensation spreads a sweet smell throughout the church and purifies the altar, the meeting place of the church, and the
assembly so that the sacrifice of the Liturgy may be offered worthily.
Today many people criticize the use of incense. Sometimes the criticism comes from a Western approach to divine worship. In
the Eastern liturgy, God is to be worshiped with our whole being and therefore all our senses; our senses of sight, taste,
sound, and smell are affected. In theory, of course, both East and West believe in the Incarnation — that God has become
flesh. Since we are creatures of spirit and matter, this means that we are good and that matter is good. This belief is more
evident in the worship practices of the Eastern Church rather than the West, which also uses incense, though less frequently.
Still, there is yet another problem with incense: Our technological world often sets up a situation in which people become
more sensitive to foreign substances. The fact is some people — a small minority — do become overly sensitive to
incense. Their needs must be taken into consideration, though people are allergic to many different substances, which are not
taken out of use but regulated. So too, to abolish incense would remove one of the richest symbols of our Liturgy. As we shall
see, it not only signifies purification and forgiveness but also the presence of the Spirit, Who surrounded Christ as a cloud
on Mount Tabor. Furthermore, incense symbolizes the action of Christ, Who makes us “a sacrificial offering to God for a
fragrant aroma” (Ephesians 5:2).
Announcement: A Special Visitor Next Sunday
Next Sunday, Oct. 17, Father Paul Alexander, OSB, a bi-ritual priest from Saint Vincent Abbey in
Latrobe, Penn., will be our guest at Divine Liturgy. Father Paul Alexander is visiting us to become acquainted with Holy
Resurrection as well as Holy Family so that on occasion he might fill in for me when necessary. As we all know, here in East
Tennessee it is difficult enough to find a Roman substitute, let alone a bi-ritual replacement. So kindly welcome Father Paul
Alexander and make him want to come back!!!
Pastoral Ponderings: The Fall Festival and another ‘Light Note’
The Holy Family’s Fall Festival will take place next Sunday, Oct. 17. The Fall Festival is not only the sole annual
fundraiser for the parish — it is also an opportunity for fun and fellowship. Holy Family’s parish council has
worked hard to provide a number of activities in the hope that everyone will to participate. The festival will begin after the
10:30 Mass and continue until...?
On another light note we have the story of Sally. Sally was 30 years old and had been married for seven years. She lived in
Atlanta and was active in her parish. Unfortunately, she and her husband had been unsuccessful in starting a family. One day
she visited her pastor and told him that she and her husband were moving to Chicago. Her pastor told her that he was going on
a pilgrimage to Israel and assured her that he would light a candle at the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem for their special
intention of being blessed with children. Ten years later, while visiting Chicago the pastor was invited by Sally to visit her
family. When he called on Sally the pastor found that she was blessed with six children. “Congratulations, Sally! I am
glad to learn that my candle at Bethlehem really worked,” he said. After a while he asked, “Where is your
husband?” “He’s gone to Bethlehem,” Sally replied, “to thank Jesus and blow out that
candle!”
— Father O’Connell
Last updated: 17-Oct-2004 |
