Category: Penitential

No One goes missing – Sunday

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, creation, Grief, Penitential, Pilgrimage
A colorful religious artwork depicting a procession of saints, showcasing a diverse group of figures adorned with halos, each representing different saints in various garments.
Saints come in all shapes and sizes

Greetings on this the The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed
(All Souls)
Readings: Wisdom 3:1-9; Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Romans 5:5-11; John 6:37-40

This homily is given at the 10:30 AM Mass.

Facebook vid of Mass

Summary

The liturgy of All Saints (a Solemnity) and the liturgy of All Souls Days (a Commemoration) are in perfect harmony of the Order of Christian Funerals. All Saints, just a day ago, and Hallow Eve (the Vigil of All Saints) are the trifecta of memories!

After I was ordained, a priest friend counselled me on the most important things I can do to help the faithful in the course of their lives. He said, “For deacons, there are three times where you have the unique ability to aid people in their spiritual lives as a minister and they are:

  1. Hatch
  2. Match
  3. and Dispatch

translating the Sacraments and Service of:

  1. Baptism
  2. Matirmony
  3. Funeral Liturgy

I always listen closely to a holy priest.

All Saints and All Souls encompasses everyone.

In these special holy days of the Church at prayer, we keep a special place in our hearts for the Church Triumphant and the Church Suffering. Loosely translated again:

  1. Those we ‘know‘ are in heaven either through declared Sainthood known or Saints unknown or in our hearts certainty.
  2. Those who have died recently and/or can be presumed to be in Purgatory – the final preparation to see God face-to-face.
A portrait of Saint Catherine of Siena, depicted with a crown of thorns and holding a cross, conveying a sense of reverence and spirituality.

But the relationships are the same, only the prayer focus is different.

But most important our memory. I invite you now to take a moment to listen to your own heart. Remembering those who have gone before you. Mothers, Fathers, Aunt, Uncles, Friends, Kind Strangers, our beloved Saint Mark’s priests who have passed, teachers/mentors/neighbors, Difficult people who always caused us grief, that is to say, everyone that comes to mind right now during this Holy Mass. For the rest of this Mass, direct your prayers and thoughts about and to those who have gone before.

I will pause here for a moment. Remember is the Anamnesis is the technical Greek term meaning “to make present again” through remembrance. This is central rational to our faith.

(pause)

We pray for those in purgation – as like any life improvement we have already experienced is what we can call a good pain. Losing weight is a good pain, kicking an addiction is a good pain, mastering a skill is a good pain, and learning to love again, is a good pain. Seeing God face-to-face in stages is as like the lifting of a thick fog in the early morning, both painful and joyful, but always, finally, successful. We pray for their journey. We pray for their Exodus. IN a way, we are souls in Purgatory too (for some in this life, difficultly is constant), so we pray and ask them to pray for us, even as they continue their own prayer and sanctification.

We pray with the Saints, who have entered the Exodus of Jesus, that is, who have entered the passion of Jesus, and are moved and in constant motion of prayer for us. We thank them, we ask them to help in particular ways. Patron Saints are honored and moved by are particular concerns.

This Church and her doors should be likened to the Gates of Heaven. When you enter here, all the living and dead are here too! We call them dead because they are radically separated body and soul. Our interaction with them is spiritually bases. But they are very much alive as Jesus has conquered death!

Let us remember too, the center of a Funeral is the Holy Eucharist as the communion of the entirety of the Church, just like we are gather here today.

This is why we recommend very powerfully that a Funeral Mass be said for those who have died. In the Mass and in the funeral rite, the Christian community keeps watch with one another in prayer to the God of Mercy and to find strength in Christ’s presence. We celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death, commend our brother/sister to God’s tender mercy and compassion, seeking strength in the paschal mystery (the Passion of Jesus). As one body in Christ in signs and symbols, word and gesture that each believer, through baptism, shares in Christ’s death and resurrection. And one day all the elect will be raised up and be united in the kingdom of light and peace.

Each of these will be remembered during this Mass several times through your remembering and through the liturgy, throughout the Church and through the month of November.

  1. Right now in your participation in this homily. You aren’t just listening, you are directing prayer.
  2. In the Prayers of the Faithful.
  3. Our presider will read the names of the deceased perishoners of 2025 and remembered throughout the month of November.
  4. In the Eucharistic prayer.

This is our one time per year, that no matter the reason someone was missed (or we missed their funeral) it cannot be we end the Liturgical year without remembering them. ALL.OF.THEM.

Reflection

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. [Because] I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days. [By the divine action] God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him [on] the last day. (Wis 3:1, P 23:6, Rom 5:8, Jn 6:40).

Personal Reflection

Before I conclude, again a pause, silently recall and move your lips remembering the names of those you lost.

(pause)

From the opening prayer for All the Dead

O God, who willed that your only Begotten Son, having conquered death, should pass over into the realm of heaven, grant we pray, to your departed servants, that with the mortality of this life overcome, they may gaze eternally on you their Creator and Redeemer. And let the people say: Amen!

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110225.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

No One goes missing

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, creation, Grief, Penitential, Pilgrimage
A colorful religious artwork depicting a procession of saints, showcasing a diverse group of figures adorned with halos, each representing different saints in various garments.
Saints come in all shapes and sizes

Greetings on this the The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed
(All Souls)
Readings: Wisdom 3:1-9; Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Romans 5:5-11; John 6:37-40

This homily is given at the 4:00 PM Vigil Mass.

Summary

The liturgy of All Saints (a Solemnity) and the liturgy of All Souls Days (a Commemoration) are in perfect harmony of the Order of Christian Funerals. Since we still have the aroma of this morning’s Solemnity Mass, we can hardly fail to mention it at the Vigil of the Commemoration.

All Saints and All Souls encompasses everyone.

The dividing line can be thought of in two ways.

  1. Those we ‘know‘ are in heaven either through declared Sainthood known or Saints unknown or in our hearts certainty.
  2. Those who have died recently and/or can be presumed to be in Purgatory – the final preparation to see God face-to-face.
A portrait of Saint Catherine of Siena, depicted with a crown of thorns and holding a cross, conveying a sense of reverence and spirituality.

But the relationships are the same, only the prayer focus is different.

But most important our memory. I invite you now to take a moment to listen to your own heart. Remembering those who have gone before you. Mothers, Fathers, Aunt, Uncles, Friends, Kind Strangers, our beloved Saint Mark’s priests who have passed, teachers/mentors/neighbors, Difficult people who always caused us grief, that is to say, everyone that comes to mind right now during this Holy Mass. For the rest of this Mass, direct your prayers and thoughts about and to those who have gone before.

I will pause here for a moment. Remember is the Anamnesis is the technical Greek term meaning “to make present again” through remembrance. This is central rational to our faith.

(pause)

We pray for those in purgation – as like any life improvement we have already experienced is what we can call a good pain. Losing weight is a good pain, kicking an addiction is a good pain, mastering a skill is a good pain, and learning to love again, is a good pain. Seeing God face-to-face in stages is as like the lifting of a thick fog in the early morning, both painful and joyful, but always, finally, successful. We pray for their journey. We pray for their Exodus. We are souls in Purgatory too (for some in this life, difficult), so we pray and ask them to pray for us, even as they continue their own prayer.

We pray with the Saints, who have entered the Exodus of Jesus, that is, who have entered the passion of Jesus, and are moved and in constant motion of prayer for us. We thank them, we ask them to help in particular ways.

This Church and her doors should be likened to the Gates of Heaven. When you enter here, all the living and dead are here too! We call them dead because they are radically separated body and soul. OU rinteraction is spiritually alone. But they are very much alive as Jesus conquered death!

Let us remember too, the center of a Funeral is the Holy Eucharist as the communion of the entirety of the Church, just like we are gather here today.

This is why we recommend very powerfully that a Funeral Mass be said for those who have died. In the Mass and in the funeral rite, the Christian community keeps watch with one another in prayer to the God of Mercy and to find strength in Christ’s presence. We celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death, commend our brother/sister to God’s tender mercy and compassion, seeking strength in the paschal mystery (the Passion of Jesus). As one body in Christ in signs and symbols, word and gesture that each believer, through baptism, shares in Christ’s death and resurrection. And one day all the elect will be raised up and be united in the kingdom of light and peace.

Each of these will be remembered during this Mass several times through your remembering and through the liturgy, throughout the Church and through the month of November.

  1. Right now in your participation in this homily. You aren’t just listening, you are directing prayer.
  2. In the Prayers of the Faithful.
  3. Our poster board of the deceased perishoners of 2025 displayed in the back of the Church (throughout the month of November).
  4. In the Eucharistic prayer.

This is our one time per year, that no matter the reason someone was missed (or we missed their funeral) it cannot be we end the Liturgical year without remembering them. ALL.OF.THEM.

Reflection

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. [Because] I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days. [By the divine action] God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him [on] the last day. (Wis 3:1, P 23:6, Rom 5:8, Jn 6:40).

Personal Reflection

Before I conclude, again a pause, silently recall and move your lips remembering the names of those you lost.

(pause)

From the opening prayer for All the Dead

O God, who willed that your only Begotten Son, having conquered death, should pass over into the realm of heaven, grant we pray, to your departed servants, that with the mortality of this life overcome, they may gaze eternally on you their Creator and Redeemer. And let the people say: Amen!

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110225.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Owning Mistakes

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Penitential
A tall metal fire lookout tower surrounded by trees against a clear blue sky.
Take the Higher View of our life

Greetings on this the Friday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings: Baruch 1:15-22; Psalm 79:1b-2, 3-5, 8, 9; Luke 10:13-16

Summary

Considering our sacred readings today, we have an opportunity to make an honest evaluation of our life’s choices and responsibilities for our circumstance.

First Reading

Here we have a people willing to evaluate their situation with a clear mind and self-assessing, truthful analysis and comparing that to the benevolence of the Lord.

Each of us has followed the inclinations of our wicked hearts, served other gods, and done evil in the sight of the LORD, our God (Baruch 1:22).

And comparing to the wonders of the love the Lord has for them.

The Lord led our ancestors out of the land of Egypt until the present day. He led our ancestors out of the land of Egypt to give us a land flowing with milk and honey (Baruch 1;20, 19).

Psalmist Continues the Reflection

The communal laments Psalm 79 outlines the bitter experiences they are enduring.

They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and no one is left to do the burying (PS 79:3).

Seeking Divine Aid

Help us, God our savior, on account of the glory of your name. Deliver us, pardon our sins for your name’s sake (PS 79, 9).

Such blessed clarity! Such sincere prayer!

Gospel Acclamation

The praise verse highlights the most important frame of reference we can have.

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts (PS 95:8).

That is: listen to the Lord.

Gospel Portion

When writing for a diverse blog community with an entire spectrum of culture, nationalities, life experiences and circumstances, it is difficult to weave a perfect message to be of aid to everyone in equal measure. It is beyond my capacity.

So the message is from a perspective. Sometimes it fits you, sometimes not. But the words of the Lord always fit. But the gospel portion today is always applicable.

Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!m For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you (LK 10:13-14),

On the personal level, and speaking to the Christian community, we can self-accuse our ingratitude, feigned ignorance of our guilt and our failure to response in a like way (rightly) with others.

Victim Mentality

Generally the American culture has lost self reflection Jesus is asking today in terms of personal responsibility. We have become a permanent state of being in a victim mentality. Pair this with the constant deflection, name calling, and vilifying everyone except the perfect image of ourselves is a deadly culture.

Solution

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts (PS 95:8).

Reflect honestly knowing the purpose is reconciliation and harmony. The Lord wants our good to be the best life. Jesus’ asks we consider how very blessed we are to have all he provides.

Helpful link: https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/penance/examinations-of-conscience

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry

Letter to the Editor

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Justice, Penitential

Provided by Father Frank O’Laughlin (he picks good articles to read)

Benedict’s legacy will be a contested one. “Your wonderful and at times heartbreaking edition of 7 January confirmed everything I felt for this very holy, peaceful, gentle but strong human being. Thank you for a rare, moving and honest series of features”, writes John Elder in our Letters pages this week. “Through his writings he set out in search of lost sheep, lifted me on to his shoulders, and carried me home,” adds Paul Hammond; “His legacy is of a timid man burned by the experience of Nazism then blinded by the glare of modernity who sought guidance by looking in the rear-view mirror”, offers Dominic Kirkham. 

One – imperfect but not unhelpful – way the papacies of Pope Francis and Pope Benedict are characterised is as an echo of the contrasting visions of two of the great theologians of the last century, Karl Rahner and Hans Urs von Balthasar. Rahner saw the grace of God at work in the world, thick with anonymous Christians; Balthasar saw a world of totalitarian nightmares, of nuclear arsenals, labour camps and torture chambers crying out for the abrasive medicine of the Gospel. As we write in our leader this week, “The Balthasar/Rahner debate, the dialogue between Benedict and Francis, is something the Church needs constantly to ponder – without trying to bring it to a simple resolution and without one side demonising the other. For they were both right. Humankind is simultaneously both redeemed and fallen.”

The other link: Why the dialogue between Benedict and Francis is something the Church needs constantly to ponder.

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry

You in turn shall save your own life

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Penitential

Greetings on this the Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: RV 10:8-11; PS 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131; LK 19:45-48
Notes: End the old year and start the new year with the Rite of Reconciliation.

First reading
The Angel with the Small Scroll.

He said to me, “Take and swallow it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.”

The small scroll was sweet because it predicted the final victory of God’s people; it was sour because it also announced their sufferings. Cf. Ez 3:1–3. (NABRE, comment on verse).

Reconciliation is similar.

  • It is a sour experience in the way of dealing with our own sin.
  • It is sweet as honey because it refreshes you in new life.

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blog/sacrament-of-reconciliation

We share a common need to move forward spiritually. Prophesy is one vehicle of helping. Friendship helps too.

You help me.
I help you.

See The Prophet as Sentinel (a/k/a warning).
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/3?17=#33003017
Ez 3:17-21.

Responsorial Psalm
How sweet to my taste is your promise!

Alleluia Verse
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

Gospel Portion
The Cleansing of the Temple.

You are his temple in that your soul is where G-d dwells.

Then Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.’”

Let’s cleanse our temple to receive him.
Christ, the King of the Universe, wishes to dwell within us as guest.

Advent 2023 approaches

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry