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Lent Is Here Again!
Office of Liturgy Diocese of Orlando
GUIDELINES
FOR LENT AND EASTER 2000
The annual
observance of Lent is the special season for the ascent to the holy mountain
of Easter. Through its twofold theme of repentance and baptism the season
of Lent disposes both the catechumens and the faithful to celebrate the
paschal mystery.
Catechumens
are led to the sacraments of initiation by means of the rite of election,
the scrutinies, and catechesis. The
faithful,
listening more intently to the word of God and devoting themselves to prayer,
are prepared through a spirit of repentance to renew their baptismal promises.
(Ceremonial of Bishops, 249).
REGULATIONS FOR FAST AND ABSTINENCE
Ash Wednesday, March 8, 2000, and Good Friday, April 21, 2000, are days of fast and abstinence. Fridays of Lent are also days of abstinence.
Fasting is to be observed by all 18 years of age and older, who have not yet celebrated their 59th birthday. On a fast day one full meal is allowed. Two other meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one's needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids, including milk and juices, are allowed.
Abstinence
is observed by all 14 years of age and older. On days of abstinence no
meat is allowed. Note that when health or ability to work would be seriously
affected, the law does not oblige. When in doubt concerning fast and abstinence,
the parish
priest should
be consulted. Fasting, almsgiving, and prayer are the three traditional
disciplines of Lent. The faithful and catechumens should undertake these
practices seriously in a spirit of penance and of preparation for baptism
or of renewal of baptism at Easter.
THE CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS AND THE RITES
The Sacraments
of Initiation Because Lent is oriented toward the celebration of the sacraments
of initiation at Easter, care must be taken to maintain this central focus.
Honoring the most ancient of customs, the baptism of infants should not
take place
during Lent
except in the case of emergency. Infant baptisms during the Easter Season
follow the traditional custom of the Church. As such, the celebration of
confirmation and the reception of first communion are also inappropriate
during Lent, but
most appropriate
during the Easter Season.
For those
involved in the RCIA, the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion
will be celebrated at Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine, Orlando, on March
12, 2000, at 3:00 P.M. Bishop Norbert Dorsey will welcome those preparing
for
baptism and
those preparing to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church (CB
250, 408-419 and RCIA 118-127). The Rite of Sending the Catechumens for
Election or the combined Rite of the Parish Celebration for Sending Catechumens
for Election
and Candidates for Recognition by the Bishop) may be celebrated in
parishes (RCIA 108, 110).
Church Bulletin
Bloopers
Eight new
choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members
and to the deterioration of some older ones.
HOW ST CLARE,
BY ORDER OF THE POPE, BLESSED THE BREAD WHICH WAS ON THE
TABLE,
AND HOW ON EACH LOAF APPEARED THE SIGN OF THE HOLY CROSS
St. Clare, a most devout servant of the Cross of Christ and one of the
sweetest flowers of St. Francis, was so holy that not only the Bishops
and Cardinals, but the Pope himself wished to see and hear her, and
went often to visit her in person. One day, amongst others, the Holy
Father went to her convent to hear her speak of things celestial.
Having long reasoned together, St. Clare ordered the bread to be placed
upon the table, in order that the Holy Father might bless it.
Their spiritual conclave being at an end, St. Clare, kneeling down with
great reverence, begged him to bless the bread which had been placed on
the table. The Holy Father answered: “Most faithful sister, I will
that thou bless this bread by the sign of the cross to which thou hast
devoted thyself.” St. Clare said: “Most Holy Father, excuse me.
I should indeed be worthy of reproof if I, a miserable woman, should
presume to give such a blessing in the presence of the Vicar of Christ.”
Then the Pope answered: “ In order that such an act be not looked upon
as presumptuous, but that I may bear on it the marks of obedience, I
command thee,
in the name of holy obedience, to make on this bread the sign of the cross
and to bless it in the name of God.”
At this St. Clare, like a true daughter of obedience, blessed the loaves
most devoutly, making over them the sign of the holy cross; and wonderful
to relate, on all those loaves appeared a cross, most clearly marked.
Some of them were eaten, but the rest were put aside, in order to testify
of the miracle. The Holy Father, having seen the miracle, thanked God,
and taking some
of the bread,
went away leaving his blessing with Sister Clare.
At that time Sister Ortolana, mother of St. Clare, and Sister Agnes,
her sister, were living together in the convent with St.
Clare, both
most virtuous women, full of the Holy Spirit. Their prayers and the
sign of the most holy cross healed many sick people, sent to these nuns
by St. Francis.
HOW ST. CLARE ATE WITH ST. FRANCIS AND HIS COMPANIONS AT ST. MARY OF THE ANGELS
St. Francis, when residing at Assisi, often visited St. Clare to give her
holy counsel. St. Clare, having a great desire to eat once
with him, often begged him to grant her this request. He would never
allow her this consolation. His companions, therefore, being aware
of the refusal of St. Francis and knowing how great was the wish of Sister
Clare to eat with him, went to seek him, and thus addressed him: “Father,
it seems to us that this severity on thy part in not granting so small
a thing to Sister Clare, a virgin so holy and so dear to God, who merely
asks for once to eat with thee, is not according to holy charity, especially
if we consider how it was at thy preaching that she abandoned the riches
and pomps of this world. Of a truth, if she were to ask of thee even
a greater grace than this, thou shouldst grant it to thy spiritual daughter.”
St. Francis answered: “It seems to you, then, that I ought to grant her
this request?” His companions made answer: “Yea, father, it is meet
that thou grant her this favor and this consolation.” St. Francis
answered: “As you think so, let it be so then; but in order that she may
be the more consoled, I will that the meal do take place in front of St.
Mary of the Angels because, having been for so long time shut up in San
Damiano, it will do her good to see the church of St. Mary, wherein she
took the veil and was made a spouse of Christ. There, then, we will eat
together in the name of God.”
When the appointed day arrived, St. Clare left her convent with great joy,
taking with her one of her sisters and followed by the companions of St.
Francis. She arrived at St. Mary of the Angels, and having devoutly
saluted the Virgin Mary, before whose altar her hair had been cut off and
she had received the veil, they conducted her to the convent and showed
her all of it.
In the meantime, St. Francis prepared the meal on the bare ground, as was
his custom. The hour of dinner being arrived, St. Francis and St.
Clare, with one of the brethren of St. Francis and the sister who had accompanied
the saint, sat down together with the other companions of St. Francis
seated humbly around them. When the first dish was served, St. Francis
began to speak of God so sweetly, so sublimely, and in a manner so wonderful,
that the grace of God visited them abundantly, and all were rapt in Christ.
Whilst they were thus rapt, with eyes and hearts raised to heaven, the
people of Assisi and of Bettona, and all the country round about, saw St.
Mary of the Angels as it were on fire, with the convent and the woods adjoining.
It seemed to them as if the church, the convent, and the woods were all
enveloped in flames; and the inhabitants of Assisi hastened with great
speed to put out the fire. On arriving at the convent, they found
no fire. Entering within the gates they saw St. Francis and St. Clare
with all of their companions, sitting round their humble meal, absorbed
in contemplation; then knew they of a certainty that what they had seen
was a celestial fire, not a material one, which God miraculously had sent
to bear witness to the divine flame of love which consumed the souls of
those holy brethren and nuns. They returned home with great consolation
in their hearts and much holy edification. After a long lapse of
time, St. Francis, St. Clare, and their companions came back to themselves.
Being fully restored by the spiritual food, they cared not to eat that
which had been prepared for them. The holy meal being finished, St.
Clare, well accompanied, returned to San Damiano. The sisters received
her with great joy. They had feared that St. Francis might have sent
her to rule some other convent, as he had already sent St. Agnes, the sister
of the saint, to be Abbess of the Convent of Monticelli at Florence.
For St. Francis had often said to St. Clare,
“Be ready,
in case I send thee to some other convent.” She, like a daughter
of holy obedience, had answered, “Father, I am always ready to go whithersoever
thou shalt send me.” For which reason the sisters greatly rejoiced
when she returned to
them, and
St. Clare was from that time much consoled.
A SHORT QUIZ ON FOWL LANGUAGE Larry Hothem
Chickens and
hen houses have contributed many words and phrases to our everyday language.
Here’s a chance to test your knowledge of them. (Go ahead and try
– why be “chicken-hearted”?) A score of 18 means you have something
to strut
over, 14 means
you’re up with everyone else. If you get less than 8 right, better
start getting up with the chickens.
1. What is a rooster doing when he manages to keep a yard full of chickens in order?
2. Can you give another phrase for “Never sum up the profits before all of the results are in?”
3. Describe a husband who is nagged by his wife.
4. When your crops out yield your neighbor’s, what does it give you?
5. How do kids feel when they can’t get outdoors?
6. What do you call money saved for the future?
7. The president yells at the vice-president, who yells at the secretary. What does this illustrate?
8. What do you call a salary that’s very small?
9. When conspirators meet late at night to make secret plans, what are they doing?
10. What have you done when your joke falls flat?
11. When all past troubles cannot be ignored and have to be faced, what are the problems doing?
12. Describe a nurse who hovers over a child.
13. If a man thinks deeply and darkly about his misfortunes, what is he doing?
14. If a man can barely eke out an existence, what is he doing?
15. Describe a rough executive with a tough hide.
16. When you have to be careful around your nervous friend, what is it like?
17. What is that age-old philosophical question?
18. How do you warn someone not to invest all of their money in one enterprise?
Answers: 1. Ruling the roost 2. Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched 3. Hen-pecked 4. Something to crow about 5. Cooped-up 6. Nest egg 7. Pecking order 8. Chicken feed 9. Hatching a plot 10. Laid an egg 11. Coming home to roost 12. A mother hen 13. Brooding 14. Scratching out a living 15. Hard-boiled 16. Walking on eggs 17. Which came first-the chicken or the egg? 18. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
ONLY IN AMERICA
Only in America ... can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance
Only in America ... are there handicap parking places in front of a skating rink
Only in America ... do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions.
Only in America ... do people order double cheese burgers, a large fry, and a diet coke
Only in America ... do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters
Only in America ... do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and leave useless junk in the garage
Only in America ... do we use answering machines to screen calls and then
have call waiting so we won't miss a call from
someone we didn't want to talk to in the first place
Only in America ... do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight
Only in America ... do we use the word "politics" to describe the process
so well: "Poli" in Latin meaning "many", and
"tics" meaning "blood
¡La Cuaresma está otra vez aquí!