September 27, 2020 Interesting items to note and some thoughts about the new Order of Baptism of Children (OBC) – see below: Baptisms Outside of Mass are given chapter numbers. The “norm” for many parishes, baptism during Mass, is an “appendix.” Certain elements are celebrated when more than one child is baptized (Ephphatha). Catechists may […]
Author: John Thomas Lane, SSS
Daily Eucharistic Reflections
October 2, 2020
Memorial of the holy Guardian Angels How close can you get to God? Are we ever close enough?!? How is that bond and relationship in these days of even greater stress and anxiety? When loved ones die, many grieve and share that they have a new “guardian angel” in heaven to watch over them. It’s […]
Daily Eucharistic Reflections
September 4, 2020
There are many places in the gospel documenting the encounters Jesus and his disciples had with the scribes and Pharisees. Why did he “hang out with them?” Or did they follow him like reporters, asking questions? To learn? Interested or not? These keepers of the law, ritual, and tradition were like us: stewards of God, […]
Pastoral Liturgy · September / October 2020
The Revised Order of Baptism of Children – Part 2
We continue our review of the second edition of the Order of Baptism of Children [OBC] and the general introduction of the order. Regularly, liturgists are wonderful about reading choices for solemnities, saints, and sacraments included in Eucharist. Paragraph 29 of the general introduction discusses the use of the particular Sunday Mass readings and an […]
Daily Eucharistic Reflections
August 7, 2020
Frequently during the liturgical year, we hear this reading to “take up our cross” and follow the LORD. Each day we embrace our cross and see where it takes us. Perhaps this is a stark reminder that each day we are also called to “let it go.” “Let It Go” is one of the most […]
Daily Eucharistic Reflections
July 3, 2020
Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle Another first Friday and another apostle to reflect on: one who began with one reputation and ended with another. This apostle chose to take a doubting moment in his life and transform it into an evangelization lifetime, going to the ends of the earth (well, India), to spread his faith […]
Pastoral Liturgy · July / August 2020
The Revised Order of Baptism of Children
On February 2, 2020 the revised Order of Baptism of Children, Second Edition (OBC) began and was fully implemented on Easter Sunday, April 12. Unfortunately, no preview copies were available before we received the ritual texts in late January. For the rest of the year this column will share some insights about the updated text […]
Daily Eucharistic Reflections
June 5, 2020
Memorial of Saint Boniface We use the word “apostle” to describe the primary disciples of Jesus. Primary, and yet since the early church we attribute others this title, too, because of their charism to share the mission of Christ. Today we celebrate the “Apostle to the Germans,” Saint Boniface. His heart and soul were filled […]
The Body of Christ
Kevin Irwin’s Pope Francis and the Liturgy
April 20, 2020 Patrick Riley, our Emmanuel book review editor, gave me two books to read and review this Lent, both highlighting the importance Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’. I am still working my way through Full of Your Glory: Liturgy, Cosmos, Creation edited by Teresa Berger with papers from the 5th Yale ISM Liturgy […]
Daily Eucharistic Reflections
May 1, 2020
Saint Joseph, the Worker When I read Acts and how Saul was “a chosen instrument” by God and that his eyes had “scales on them” that fell off, I could not help but think of a musical meaning to these verses. Musicians always look for that grand instrument to be their “chosen one” to make […]