ABVM PARISH COMMUNITY

  THE LITURGICAL USE OF PALMS We know that in the beginning of the 5 th century Christians in Jerusalem would gather on the Mount of Olives early in the afternoon of the Sunday before Easter.  It is from this mount that Jesus had processed into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday.  At the top of the mount the Christians would celebrate a lengthy liturgy of the word and, as evening approached, they went in procession towards Jerusalem carrying palm or olive branches.  As far as we know, this is the origin of our Palm Sunday celebration, which is properly called in the Roman Missal today as “Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord.”  Christians in other parts of the world were inspired by the Christians in Jerusalem to make the same observance on Palm Sunday, with a procession through the streets to the cathedral or their church.  Today we gather here in West Grove at the main doors of our church, read the Gospel of the procession, bless the palms, and then process in.  We hope in

  THE CITY OF MAN AND THE CITY OF GOD In his opus magnus , “City of God,” St. Augustine describes the two cities in which human beings may dwell: the earthly city, the City of Man; and the heavenly city, the City of God.  These two cities are formed and governed by different loves: “the earthly by the love of self, even to the contempt of God, and the heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self.  The former, in a word, glories in itself, the later in the Lord.”  We are born into the earthly city and join the human race which, due to original sin, has rejected the Creator and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for idols (cf. Romans 1:23).  St. Augustine teaches that the souls of the citizens of the earthly city are puffed up with pride, and their rulers rule for the sake of ruling.  Ambition and expediency are supreme among them.  The rights of God are ignored, and so also the rights of human beings.  Those who are wise become citizens of the City of God, not by their

  MARCH 20 - SOLEMNITY OF ST. JOSEPH The solemnity of Saint Joseph normally is celebrated on March 19, but because this year it falls on a Sunday the Church has moved its celebration to March 20.  Sunday takes precedence over most feast days, and always in Lent, so that a saint loses his or her Mass every seven years.  Certain celebrations are so important to the faith, however, that rather than simply suppress them they are moved to another date.  This is the case for the feast which honors the Patron of the Church.  Our parish will observe the solemnity with two Masses on Monday (6:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.). You may remember that Pope Francis dedicated the year 2021 to St. Joseph.  When he considered the “often overlooked” ordinary people who were doing so much to sustain us during the pandemic shut down he thought of St. Joseph.  He explained: Doctors, nurses, storekeepers and supermarket workers, cleaning personnel, caregivers, transport workers, men and women working to provid

  ABVM SPRING 2023 BIBLE STUDY – BEGINS MAY 3 – REGISTER NOW! Beginning this May ABVM will offer a 1-month bible study - “A Biblical Walk Through the Mass” produced by Ascension Press and hosted by Dr. Edward Sri. This study is designed to increase your understanding and appreciation of the meaning of the words, gestures, and rituals of the Mass. You will also learn about the biblical roots of the Liturgy and what it all means and why it all matters. Sessions will be held Wednesday evenings, May 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31 in the Seton Room of the Parish Life Center on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm – 8:30pm. Each session will begin with small groups to review the questions in our study guide and to have an informal discussion of the material, and end with a video all together where Dr. Sri helps summarize the material for that week. If you would like to register for this bible study, please click on the Sign-Up Genius below: CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP To learn more about the course, watch the vi

  A PRAYER BEFORE DYING Aleksandra Zapeca was a Russian soldier in World War II who wrote a prayer just before he died in battle.  It was found in his vest pocket.  Because the communist Soviet government was violently atheistic the prayer was hidden for many years, and finally clandestinely published in October 1972.  The well-known Franciscan Capuchin preacher of the papal household, Father Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap, read the prayer when he gave a retreat to the Pope and his Curia.  It is reproduced in a collection of his retreat talks in “Jesus Began To Preach; The Mystery of God’s Word.” A friend gave me the book and I was very moved by the prayer.  For this reason I would like to share it with you.  As you read it, remember that this young man, raised to be a communist and an atheist, wrote this in the expectation that he would shortly die in battle. Listen, Lord!  Not once in my life have I spoken with you, but today I feel like celebrating you. You know, since I wa

  THE FIRST PILLAR OF LENT:  PRAYER St. Thérèse of Lisieux wrote that “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” The classical definition of prayer was given by St. John Damascene, seventh century doctor of the Church:   “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.”          The foundation of prayer is humility.   We recognize our need to pray, and that we were created for prayer.   This prayer must be sincere, as the psalmist writes: “You insist on sincerity of heart; in my inmost being teach me wisdom” (Psalm 51:8).   God hears the prayer of both the sinner and the saint.   While “the prayer of the righteous man has great powers in its effect” (James 5:16), God also hears the prayer of the sinner who repents: “a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). St. Augustine said that “Man is a