Called to Serve

St. Joan of Arc Knights Newsletter - December, 2011

Fellow Knights and your Ladies,

This Advent and Christmas will be different from the previous forty-one years since Mass in English began. We have a new Missal, which, by the time you read this, will have already been inaugurated at the First Sunday of Advent Mass. If you were asked why this change is happening, how would you respond? (And, you might be asked.)

The answer, is two-fold. There have been some changes to the Latin original (Mass of Paul VI) which came out of post-Vatican Council II in 1969: several Saints have been added and their are a few changes to the Ordinary part of the Mass, especially to the dismissal; you can read about these changes (it's now called the Third Roman Missal of the Mass of Paul VI) on the St. Joan of Arc website (SaintJoanCatholic.org).

There is a more important reason, however. The initial translation of the Mass of Paul VI is not as close to the Latin as the new translation. In some cases, several words would be collapsed into fewer. Conversely, some words were added which change the meaning. For example, "Let us proclaim the mystery of Faith" is now, simply, "The mystery of Faith." The "mystery" is Christ present in all of His fullness, in all He is and has done, in the Eucharist. We then respond with one of three affirmations of faith; the old translation makes it sound as though the response is the mystery. Subtle difference, isn't it? Similar differences can be found all through the revised translation. By embracing the new translation, and allowing the words to deepen our experience of the liturgy, we can come closer to Christ and His Church, and, especially, to the Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

There are two primary meanings to the season of Advent: preparing to celebrate the first coming of Christ Jesus and preparing to greet Him when He comes again, at the end of time. Our preparation is particularly successful as we seek to encounter Christ Jesus everyday, hidden in the Eucharist, in our service to the poor, the sick, and the dying, and in one another. When we greet each other with Merry Christmas, let it be the culmination of a fruitful Advent. Find time to seek out the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), pray much, and rejoice in the gift of the new Mass translation.

Have a holy season of Advent and a very Merry Christmas,

Deacon Rex Pilger

Called to Serve

For St. Joan of Arc Knights of Columbus October Newsletter:
October is full of days that mean a lot to Catholics: Feasts of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1st) and St. Francis of Assisi (4th), Columbus Day (12th), and All Hallows Eve (Halloween, of course, the 31st). It's also the month dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary (the Feast day is the 7th) and has become especially dear to the pro-life movement. In Columbus we see the intrepid explorer and example to all Knights. In Francis we see what complete dedication to the Gospel can accomplish (basically he saved the Church from corruption and neglect). In Thérèse we find the epitome of simple devotion to Christ in all things.
Let us pray the Rosary this month for the protection of innocent life and strength to follow the commited example  of the two Saints with the courage of Columbus. Then let us conclude October in preparation for honoring All Saints.
Deacon Rex

Herm-Confusion

"The term hermeneutics covers both the first order art and the second order theory of understanding and interpretation of linguistic and non-linguistic expressions." link In religious terms, hermenetics refers to the study of Sacred Scripture.

The term hermanuetics refers to the study of a beloved, composite character in a popular television series.

A Little Good News

See: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/273800/some-positive-pro-life-trends-michael-j-new 

Cross-post

The Growing Tyranny...

An email sent to my Congressman:

The Administration's new claim that pregnancy is a disease is appalling. And, imposing this view on health professionals and insurance providers (as well as on us who pay the premiums) in violation of their (and our) consciences is abhorrent. We know your stand on life issues, but even you have to agree that imposition of such values on others is a gross violation of freedom. It's time for you to draw the line and speak up against this tyrannical exercise of power.

Further information:

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/273466/misguided-birth-control-crusade-continues-greg-pfundstein

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/273439/what-would-orwell-say-helen-m-alvare

Hanging in there

August 2011 St. Joan of Arc Knights of Columbus Newsletter

The Sunday readings for August begin with the episode of the storm on the lake. As Jesus approaches the disciples, seemingly walking on the water, Peter seeks to join the Lord. Everything is fine until Peter is distracted by the wind and takes his eyes off Jesus. As the Lord saves Peter, he asks, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

With this Gospel, a homily could almost write itself... In the storms of life, why do we doubt? And, the answer is simple: because of the storm! Think of all of the challenges life brings: loss of job, poor health, marital discord, a daughter's unexpected pregnancy, fallen-away family members, death of a family member... These challenges happen; life happens. And, in the end, we all face death. The rebuke that Jesus offered Peter is also an invitation. When the storms hit, and doubt rises, we can call on the gift of faith that overcomes doubt. 

Hang in there!

Deacon Rex Pilger

Freedom and Life

July letter to Praise Ministers [home-bound members of St. Joan of Arc Parish]:

I have always found it interesting that our country's founding fathers had to endure the humid heat of a Philadelphia summer while hammering out the Declaration of Independence. One of the consequences of their courage in approving Thomas Jefferson's work and putting their signatures to it (including Catholic Charles Carroll) was providing for religious freedom in the subsequent Bill of Rights. Even we Catholics found a place within this new nation to freely worship the Triune God by celebrating the Eucharist and attempt to follow in the footsteps of the Son. We can be grateful for this freedom and for a country in which we can raise children and grandchildren. By the same token, however, the freedom we possess must be maintained and nurtured. 

We all know, do we not, that over the past 38 years millions of unborn children have been denied the most basic freedom of all - life? I suspect that our country's founders would have been appalled by this incredible evil. Further, the evil that attacks unborn innocent life is threatening the elderly, the disabled, and the psychologically disturbed with euthanasia and assisted suicide. The dimensions of the threats to life are so pervasive that we can become numb to them or deny their reality. In parallel with anti-life movements, marriage, the best place for children to be born and thrive, is also under attack.

But, if we do acknowledge the bloody reality of unnatural death and the undermining of marriage, what can we do? Are we helpless? 

Prayer is, first and foremost, the foundational response. Let us offer our prayers, daily, to God the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit: (1) for mercy on our country for continuing to tolerate and even encourage this evil, (2) for bestowal of grace on political candidates to firmly commit to doing everything in their power to defend life and the family, (3) for inspiration for voters to select pro-life candidates, (4) for elected leaders to implement pro-life and pro-marriage constitutional amendmentsand laws, (5) for grace for pregnant women to deliver their children and either care for them or offer them for adoption, (6) for inspiration for young people to embrace chastity, (7) for the strengthening of marriages in the midst of cultural turmoil, and, (8) for the coming of the Kingdom, the heavenly Jerusalem, where there will be no more tears, no more death or mourning, wailing or pain.

We also need to actively reach out to our political leaders -- admonish those who support the evils and encourage those who seek to nurture life. We need to affirm our religious leaders when they speak the truth. We should support pro-life movements with our prayers and financial resources to the extent we are able. 

Freedom is not free. It requires sacrifice and vigilance. The freedom of the sons and daughters of God needs to be sustained and regained with every generation. We are grateful to our veterans who fought for this freedom and for our young men and women who are presently fighting for us overseas. Yet, there is also a battle here at home, for the unborn, married people, the elderly, and the disabled. We need to redouble our efforts to restore respect for life and family.

Happy Independence Day!

Deacon Rex Pilger