Two days ago, one of my sons graduated from his Catholic boys-only high school. With great joy, we gathered in the cathedral for the celebration of the Holy Mass and in the evening, in the auditorium for the baccalaureate commencement ceremony where each student would receive his diploma. Being the end of spring, we have had an unusually cold weather, almost similar to that of winter. Upon arriving at the cathedral, a torrential freezing rain fell inclemently on all the... Read more
The Time of Easter concluded after the Second Vespers of Pentecost Sunday. We are back into the Ordinary Time. It always helps to understand the richness of this liturgical time, and how its liturgical celebrations are set in the calendar. Christmas Time and Easter Time highlight the central mysteries of the Paschal Mystery, namely, the incarnation, death on the cross, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Sundays and weeks of... Read more
We conclude this special series, reflecting on the Christology expressed by each of the Easter prefaces. On this occasion, Preface V, which has the title, “Christ, Priest and Victim”. As always, we will focus only on the preface embolism. The explanation of the structure of the prefaces and the introduction and conclusion of the Easter prefaces are developed in the first article of this series. The embolism It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, at all... Read more
We continue this special series, reflecting on the Christology expressed by each of the Easter prefaces. This time, Preface IV, which has the title, “The Restoration of the universe through the Paschal Mystery”. This preface helps us to contemplate Easter as a new creation. Once again, we will consider only at the preface embolism, which is the shortest in the five Easter prefaces. The explanation of the structure of the prefaces and the introduction and conclusion of the Easter prefaces... Read more
In a letter addressed to the priests who participated in the meeting “Parish Priests for the Synod”, Francis points out three paths to follow: recognizing the gifts of the Spirit in the faithful, resorting to community discernment and maintaining communion between priests and bishops. The Pope emphasizes that a Church committed to the Synod needs parish priests and affirms: “We must listen to them to move forward.” It is the letter of a father who understands the difficulties of his... Read more
We continue this special series in which we consider the Christology expressed by each of the five prefaces of Easter Time. It’s now time to focus on Preface III, which is entitled “De Christo vivente et semper interpellante pro nobis”, “Christ living and always interceding for us”. This title comes from the Letter to the Hebrews, “He is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them” (7:25). In Mass,... Read more
We continue learning about our faith through the euchological texts of Easter Time. In this third installment of this special series focused on the Christology expressed by the Prefaces of Easter Time in the Holy Mass, we focus on Preface II, which is entitled The New Life in Christ. Lex orandi, lex credendi. What we pray is what we believe. And certainly, we can draw important catechetical reflections from the Eucharistic Prayer prefaces of this liturgical season. We have already... Read more
In this second installment of this special series, we analyze the figure of Christ, as paschal Lamb, in the light of the first Eucharistic Prayer Preface of Easter time. In the previous article we explained what the Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer is, its history, its structure and its theological and catechetical importance. Let’s remember these important aspects: Lex orandi, lex credendi. What we pray is what we believe. Thus, the euchological texts —what the Church says— in the Sacred... Read more
On this first installment of a special series that will cover the Christology of each of the five Prefaces of the Eucharistic Prayer in Easter Time, I explain what a Preface is, its history in our Liturgy, how a Preface is structured and its liturgical and catechetical importance. The Eucharistic Prayer prefaces in Easter Time develop a Christology that helps us understand Jesus better, as well as the liturgical time we are celebrating. At the same time, they give us... Read more
Sacred Liturgy, especially after the liturgical reform of Vatican II, helps us to perceive with more clarity the full dimension of Easter time: Christological, pneumatological, ecclesiological, eschatological and mystagogycal. Lex orandi, lex credendi. The norm of our prayer is the norm of our faith. In other words, what we pray is what we believe. Therefore, Sacred Liturgy is always a school of faith and the liturgies of Easter time are no exception. By paying close attention to these liturgies we... Read more
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