Solemnity of the Sacred Heart

A blessed feast day to you all.

Immaculate Conception Cleveland will offer low Mass for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart at 6:30pm on Friday, June 15.

A plenary indulgence can be gained by praying the Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart, Iesu dulcissime.

Act of Reparation

Most sweet Jesus, whose overflowing charity for men is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before you, eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries to which your loving Heart is everywhere subject.

Mindful, alas! that we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities, which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask your pardon and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation, not only for our own personal offenses, but also for the sins of those, who, straying far from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to follow you, their Shepherd and Leader, or, renouncing the promises of their baptism, have cast off the sweet yoke of your law.

We are now resolved to expiate each and every deplorable outrage committed against you; we are now determined to make amends for the manifold offenses against Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behavior, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violations of Sundays and holy-days, and the shocking blasphemies uttered against you and your Saints. We wish also to make amends for the insults to which your Vicar on earth and your priests are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the very Sacrament of your divine love, and lastly for the public crimes of nations who resist the rights and teaching authority of the Church which you have founded.

Would that we were able to wash away such abominations with our blood. We now offer, in reparation for these violations of your divine honor, the satisfaction you once made to your Eternal Father on the cross and which you continue to renew daily on our altars; we offer it in union with the acts of atonement of your Virgin Mother and all the Saints and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to make recompense, as far as we can with the help of your grace, for all neglect of your great love and for the sins we and others have committed in the past. Henceforth, we will live a life of unswerving faith, of purity of conduct, of perfect observance of the precepts of the Gospel and especially that of charity. We promise to the best of our power to prevent others from offending you and to bring as many as possible to follow you.

O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mother, our model in reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering we make of this act of expiation; and by the crowning gift of perseverance keep us faithful unto death in our duty and the allegiance we owe to you, so that we may all one day come to that happy home, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, God, forever and ever. Amen.

Iesu, mitis et humilis Corde, fac cor nostrum secundum Cor tuum.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like unto Thine.

Another pious tradition practiced by Catholics is the Enthronement of Sacred Heart of Jesus. This ceremony takes place in the home, preferably presided over by a priest, and is meant to establish the Social Reign of Jesus Christ in society by way of the family.

And we cannot forget the promises from Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary which are granted to those who practice devotion to His Sacred Heart.

For Persons living in the World. "They will find by means of this devotion all the helps necessary for their state, such as peace in their families, refreshment in their labors, the blessing of heaven in all their undertakings, consolation in their troubles, and it is truly in this Heart, that they will find their refuge during life and above all at the hour of death. He promised He would reunite families that are separated."
For Homes where the picture of the Sacred Heart shall be Exposed and Honored. "Since He is the source of all blessings, He shall shower them in abundance on every place where a picture of His Divine Heart shall be set up and honored."
Promise of Salvation for All Who Have Been Devoted and Consecrated to It. "He then confirmed His assurance that the pleasure He takes in being loved, known and honored by His creatures is so great . . . that all who will be devoted and consecrated to It shall never perish."
For Those Who work For the Salvation of Souls. "My divine Savior has given me to understand that those who work for the salvation of souls will have a gift of touching the most hardened hearts, and will labor with marvelous success, if they themselves are penetrated with a tender devotion to His Divine Heart."
Promise of a Happy Death for those Who Communicate on the First Friday of Nine Consecutive Months. One Friday during Holy Communion, He said these words to His unworthy slave if she is not mistaken, "I promise thee in the excessive Mercy of My Divine Heart, that It's all-powerful will grant the grace of final repentance to all who communicate on the First Friday of nine consecutive months, that they shall not die under Its displeasure nor without receiving the sacraments, for My Divine Heart will become their secure refuge at that last moment."
Promise of the Reign of the Sacred Heart. "Yes, this Divine Heart will reign in spite of those who would oppose it; Satan will be put to confusion with all his followers."
For Those Who Promote Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. "Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart never to be blotted out." .
For Communities. "He has promised me . . . that He will spread the sweet unction of His burning charity over all those communities who honor It and place themselves under its special protection, that He will turn away from them all the strokes of divine justice, in order to restore them to grace when they have fallen from it."

Corpus Christi

The Thursday after Trinity Sunday is traditionally the day observed for the great feast of Corpus Christi. In continuing that tradition, St. Stephen's will offer High Mass on Thursday, June 7, at 6:30pm. A Eucharistic Procession inside the church will be part of the celebration.

Pope Urban IV, in 1264, instituted this feast in the Calendar. We can cite pious tradition for two inspiring events which lead to the declaration of the feast.

In 1263, a German priest, Peter of Prague, offered Holy Mass in the Church of St. Christina while on pilgrimage to Rome. Although a good and holy priest, Peter of Prague held doubts concerning Christ's Real Presence in the Blessed Eucharist. During that Mass in St. Christina's, the Host which he consecrated began to bleed. Immediately, he hurried to Pope Urban IV carrying the Blessed Sacrament, and the Pontiff declared the miracle. The Corporal on which the Host bled is still on display in the Cathedral of Orvieto.

St. Juliana of Mont Cornillon, an Augustinian nun (1193 - 1258) had a vision in which the Moon, full and beautiful, was marred by a single black spot, signifying the lack of a joyful feast day of the Eucharist at that time.

Ascension Thursday

It is hoped that this update finds you in time for the celebration of the Feast of the Ascension.

High Masses for Ascension will be celebrated at St. Stephen and Immaculate Conception Cleveland. Both Masses are at 6:30pm.

The excerpt below is from The Golden Legend.

...he ascended from the mount of Olives by Bethany; the which mountain, by another relation, is said the mountain of three lights. For by night on the side of the west it is lighted of the fire that burneth in the Temple, which never is put out ne quenched. On the morning it is light of the orient, for she hath first the rays of the sun before it shineth in the city, and also it hath great abundance of oil that nourisheth the light, and therefore it is said the hill of three lights. Unto this hill Jesu Christ commanded his disciples that they should go. For on the day of his Ascension he appeared two times, one time to eleven disciples that ate in the hall where they had supped with him. All the apostles and the disciples and also the women, abode in that part of Jerusalem which is called Mello, in the mountain of Sion, where David had made his palace. And there was the great hall arrayed and ordained for to sup, whereas Jesu Christ commanded that they should make ready for to eat the Paschal Lamb, and in this place the eleven apostles abode, and the other disciples, and the women abode in divers mansions there about. And when they had eaten in this hall, our Lord appeared to them and reproved them of their incredulity. And when he had eaten with them, and had commanded them that they should go to the Mount of Olivet on the side by Bethany, he appeared again to them, and answered to them of the demands that they made to him indiscreetly, and with his hands lifted he blessed them; and anon before them he ascended unto heaven. Of the place of this ascension saith Sulpicius, Bishop of Jerusalem, and it is in the gloss. For there was edified a church in the place where were made the signs of his ascension. Never sith might be set there any pavement, it could not be laid ne set but anon it issued out, and the stones of the marble sprang into the visages of them that set it. And that is a sign that they be stones on which Christ passed upon, which lie in the powder and dust, and abide for a token and sign certain.

The church mentioned in the above excerpt is known as the Chapel of the Ascension, built c.390. Muslims seized control of it in 1198 and added the dome.

The signs of His Ascension, as mentioned in The Golden Legend, are Christ's footprints in stone.

You can find The Golden Legend in its entirety here.

Thursday Evening Mass in Rectory Chapel

The normal Thursday evening Low Mass at St. Stephen will be in the rectory on 5/10 due to a scheduling conflict. Mass time will still be 6:30pm.

New Resource for the Latin Mass

Usus Antiquior is making the propers for Sundays and Feast Days available online for print. The PDF's can be customized to include your parish's or institution's name. This is a great resource for those without a Missal. Please take advantage of this for you or a friend. 

Mercy Sunday

Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Cleveland, Ohio, will offer a Low Mass on the Sunday after Easter, April 15, 2012, now known as Divine Mercy Sunday, but known in the Tridentine calendar as Low Sunday.

Mass will be at 2pm, with confessions available at 1pm. Following the Mass, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for adoration, the Divine Mercy Chaplet will be recited and then Benediction. Afterwards, you may have sacramentals blessed.

From Catholic Culture.

In a decree dated August 3, 2002, the Apostolic Penitentiary announced that in order "to ensure that the faithful would observe this day (Divine Mercy Sunday) with intense devotion, the Supreme Pontiff himself established that this Sunday be enriched by a plenary indulgence…so that the faithful might receive in great abundance the gift of the consolation of the Holy Spirit. In this way, they can foster a growing love for God and for their neighbor, and after they have obtained God's pardon, they in turn might be persuaded to show a prompt pardon to their brothers and sisters."

The plenary indulgence is granted under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of Supreme Pontiff) to the faithful who, on the Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday, in any church or chapel, in a spirit that is completely detached from the affection for a sin, even a venial sin, take part in the prayers and devotions held in honor of Divine Mercy, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus (e.g. Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!).

Holy Week Schedule

Below is the schedule for Holy Week liturgies.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Spy Wednesday
Office of Tenebrae
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
6928 Detroit Ave, Cleveland
April 4, 2012
7pm

Maundy Thursday
High Mass
Immaculate Conception - Cleveland
April 5, 2012
8pm

Good Friday
Commemoration of the Passion
Immaculate Conception - Cleveland
April 6, 2012
6pm

Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil
High Mass
Immaculate Conception - Cleveland
April 7, 2012
11:30pm

Office of Tenebrae

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Cleveland, will host the Office of Tenebrae on Wednesday, April 4, at 7pm.

Courtesy of Dom Gueranger....

THE OFFICE OF TENEBRAE.

On this and the two following days, the Church anticipates the Night-Office; she celebrates it on the previous evening of each day, and this in order that the Faithful may be present at it. The Matins and Lauds of Maundy Thursday are, therefore, said this afternoon. The Faithful should make every effort to assist at this solemn Office, seeing it is on their account that the Church has changed her usual hours. As to the merit there is in joining in it, there can be no doubt, but that it is to be preferred to any private devotions. The surest means for obtaining favors from God, and winning him to our requests, is to approach him through the Church. And as regards the feelings of devotion wherewith we ought to celebrate the mysteries of these three great Days, the Offices of the Church are, ordinarily speaking, a surer and richer source than the Exercises of Piety composed by men. The soul that feeds on the words and ceremonies of the holy Liturgy, will be all the more disposed to profit by the private devotions she practices at home. The prayer of the Church will thus become the basis, whereon is built the edifice of Christian piety during these glorious Anniversaries of our Redemption; and we shall be imitating our forefathers who lived in the Ages of Faith, and who were such admirable Christians, because they lived the life of the Church, by means of the sacred Liturgy.

Fish Eaters also has an excellent article on Spy Wednesday.

The Hiatus is Over

The long anticipated return to the beautiful and spiritually edifying house of God, St. Stephen Church, is upon us. Lent is not over, but Our Lord has graced us with the reopening of St. Stephen's for Palm Sunday, April 1. The work of painting the walls and ceiling is nearly finished. The nave is completed, and at a later date the sanctuary will be; the church will remain open even during that, according to the information given by Fr. Franz, pastor of St. Stephen. The painters have done a fine job. Deo gratias!

 An old photo of the Nave

Nota Bene:  The schedule for Holy Week is posted in Upcoming Events.

New Years Resolution Idea

A suggestion from a reader of the blog.

If you haven't made any New Year's resolutions yet, or if you'd like to make more, consider taking up the devotion of First Fridays and First Saturdays. 

First Friday
http://catholicinformation.aquinasandmore.com/2008/11/07/first-friday-devotion-in-the-catholic-church/

First Saturday
http://www.rosary-center.org/firstsat.htm