| Focus of the New Year |
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| Tuesday, 28 December 2010 21:26 | |||
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We celebrate the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, on Jan. 1. Mary is the model for all of us. She reflects on the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, pondering them and treasuring them in her heart. The start of a year provides us an opportunity to reflect on the past, to treasure the present, and to ponder the future. It is a time for examining the trends in our lives. All of us, including the mystics, are called to look at our blind spots, shadows, mistakes, faults, and sins that inhibit our development and prevent a stronger communion with God. In God’s grace, we bring new focus to the finer tastes, the more profound pleasures, the nobler aspirations, and the tougher but more rewarding experiences of the human spirit upon which to pitch our lives. Fresh starts, new chances, hopeful beginnings remain available. It is a time for resolutions, some of which we may, in fact, keep. As we scan the experiences of our lives, we realize that in order to address the challenges we face, we need the help of others. Fundamentally, we need the help of God. The year 2011 will provide all of us with tremendous opportunities to deepen our spiritual lives and to enrich the practice of our faith. On Nov. 27, 2011, the First Sunday of Advent, we will all begin to use the new translation of the Roman Missal for the celebration of Mass. It is the third translation, in Latin and in English, since Vatican Council II. We have many reasons to be grateful for the new translation. It offers a heightened style of English speech and a grammatical structure that closely follows the Latin text. It is more formal and reverential in its expressions, restoring special vigor to our traditional texts. More explicit references are made to passages from our Sacred Scriptures. The sentiments and phrases are more conducive to meditation and reflection. The atmosphere of beauty and the intimation of wonder heighten our prayer in the new translation. One example at this point may be helpful. Many of us have heard that when the priest will say, "The Lord be with you," our response will change to "And with your spirit." Currently, we say, "And also with you." The biblical background for "The Lord be with you" is found in Judges 6:12, Ruth 2:4, 2 Chronicles 15:2, and Luke 1:28. "And with your spirit" lifts the spiritual tone and reflects explicitly the passages from Galatians 6:18, Philippians 4:23, 2 Timothy 4:22, and Philemon, verse 25. It also reflects the Latin expression "Et cum spiritu tuo" and is the same expression in Spanish, Italian, French, Polish, German, etc. This is one example of the richness that is offered in the new translation. We have almost a year to prepare for its full use. Parishes will have participation aids available to assist you until the words are "second nature" to you. The Catholic Transcript, printed edition and Web site, will have helpful articles. Your parish bulletin, parish study groups, and conferences scheduled in the Archdiocese will continue to provide assistance. They have already begun. For computer users, the Archdiocesan Web site, the Web site of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and other Web sites recommended by the USCCB will be valuable. The Eucharist is the source and the summit of our Christian lives. It is the identifying action of our Catholic experience. How many of us say that my week or my day would not be complete without participation in the Mass? The liturgy in its words and rites speaks the ageless mysteries of the centuries. The Eucharist fosters, strengthens, and expresses our faith. In the Mass for the Dedication of an Altar we pray: "May this altar be the place where the great mysteries of redemption are accomplished: a place where your people offer their gifts, unfold their good intentions, pour out their prayers, and echo every meaning of their faith and devotion." The altar is the place to bring our resolutions to God for this year and for all the years ahead. Happy New Year! Archbishop’s Annual Appeal 2010 As this is written, the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal totals $9,138,909. This is $122,704 lower than last year’s. Given the continuing economic difficulties in our society, this is understandable. The number of donors is a bit down. It is encouraging to note, however, that the average gift is higher than last year. We do not close the books on the 2010 Appeal until the early days of 2011, so there is still time to make a contribution. I will be making the report in my February column. For now, please allow me to express my most profound gratitude for your inspiring generosity in prayer, in work, and in financial support. You demonstrate beautifully what it means to say, "Happy New Year."
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We now are in the second decade of the 21st century. As with the beginning of all years, it is a time for expressing profound gratitude to God, Who created us out of love and calls us to love Him in return, and consequently, our sisters and brothers.
