Deacon Ward's Message of the Day June 29, 2020

Deacon Ward's Almost Daily Message 

Monday June 29, 2020

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Happy Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul!

Today, June 29, the Church celebrates the feast day of Sts. Peter & Paul. 

As early as the year 258, there is evidence of an already lengthy tradition of celebrating the solemnities of both Saint Peter and Saint Paul on the same day. Together, the two saints are the founders of the See of Rome, through their preaching, ministry and martyrdom there. 

Peter, who was named Simon, was a fisherman of Galilee and was introduced to the Lord Jesus by his brother Andrew, also a fisherman. Jesus gave him the name Cephas (Petrus in Latin), which means ‘Rock,’ because he was to become the rock upon which Christ would build His Church. 

Peter was a bold follower of the Lord. He was the first to recognize that Jesus was “the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” and eagerly pledged his fidelity until death. In his boldness, he also made many mistakes, however, such as losing faith when walking on water with Christ and betraying the Lord on the night of His passion.

Yet despite his human weaknesses, Peter was chosen to shepherd God's flock. The Acts of the Apostles illustrates his role as head of the Church after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. Peter led the Apostles as the first Pope and ensured that the disciples kept the true faith.

St. Peter spent his last years in Rome, leading the Church through persecution and eventually being martyred in the year 64. He was crucified upside-down at his own request, because he claimed he was not worthy to die as his Lord. 

He was buried on Vatican hill, and St. Peter's Basilica is built over his tomb.

St. Paul was the Apostle of the Gentiles. His letters are included in the writings of the New Testament, and through them we learn much about his life and the faith of the early Church.

Before receiving the name Paul, he was Saul, a Jewish pharisee who zealously persecuted Christians in Jerusalem. Scripture records that Saul was present at the martyrdom of St. Stephen.

Saul's conversion took place as he was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christian community there. As he was traveling along the road, he was suddenly surrounded by a great light from heaven. He was blinded and fell off his horse. He then heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He answered: “Who are you, Lord?” Christ said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”

Saul continued to Damascus, where he was baptized and his sight was restored. He took the name Paul and spent the remainder of his life preaching the Gospel tirelessly to the Gentiles of the Mediterranean world.

Paul was imprisoned and taken to Rome, where he was beheaded in the year 67.

He is buried in Rome in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

In a sermon in the year 395, St. Augustine of Hippo said of Sts. Peter and Paul: “Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, and Paul followed. And so we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles' blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith.”  (Catholic News Agency)

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Happy Birthday Father Rijo!
We give thanks for your gifts as pastor of Mater Dei Parish!
God Bless you!

Today, we pray for priestly and religious vocations and all our seminarians of our diocese…and also for 
diacontate aspirants and candidates and their wives, and for all deceased deacons and wives.

“Eternal Father, we lift up to you these and all the priests and deacons of the world.

Sanctify them, heal and guide them.

Mold them into the likeness and holiness

of your Son, Jesus, the Eternal High Priest.

May their lives be pleasing to you. In Jesus' name, we pray."  Amen.

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Tomorrow, June 30 @ 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Limited seating. Below is the online registration (preferred) 

but you may also register by calling Josh Perry: (802) 448-3515.

Please remember to bring your mask and practice social distancing.

During this solemn liturgy, Bishop Coyne will consecrate the Chrism ointment 

and bless the holy oils used for sacramental anointing 

in parishes across the Diocese.

The second unique event that occurs during the Chrism Mass 

is the priests of the diocese renew 

their priestly promises, first made at their ordinations.

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God's whisper...

"The gift you asked of Me, the gift of Adoration, has already been given to you. You have only to make use of it. You will see it multiply in souls around you. Thus will this place become the house of Adoration that my heart has so long desired. Trust in these My words to you, and make use of the gift I have given you."

(In Sinu Jesu)

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Answers to Friday's Tough Question...

...Holy Communion can be taken by?

a. Wrong, because, as an obvious case, non-Christians may not take Communion, nor may someone knowingly in the state of mortal sin.

b. Wrong, because canon law provides that only those Christians (such as the Eastern Orthodox) who believe in the Real Presence as Catholics do may take Communion in our churches (canon 844). All they need do is ask.

c. Correct. Since Protestants do not believe as Catholics do regarding the Real Presence, they may not take Communion, even if they are in the state of grace. The very act of taking Communion is a visible sign that you believe exactly as the Catholic Church teaches concerning the Real Presence, and Protestants don't.

d. Wrong, because, absent a life-or-death situation, you must go to confession before receiving Communion, even if you have repented of your mortal sins.

e. Wrong, because 5c is correct.

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A final thought from Thomas Merton...

"Everything you love for its own sake, outside of God alone, blinds your intellect and destroys your judgement of moral values. It vitiates  (impairs or weakens) your choices so that you cannot clearly distinguish good from evil and you do not truly know God's will."

                                       

🌹🌹Until next time...In His Peace.   Deacon Ward🌹🌹  

Telephone  /  Email

(802-624-4964  /  nekdeacon@gmail.com)