Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 6-01-03, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 6-01-03 | New American Bible

[clockwise]

A note in the Saint Catherine Laboure (San Diego) bulletin last week mentioned that in the western U.S. the Ascension would be celebrated today.

My mother's pastor (Escondido, CA) said the Western Conference of Bishops voted to do this.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

My mother's pastor (Escondido, CA) said the Western Conference of Bishops voted to do this.

Did this just happen recently?

[narses]

Mother's are one of God's greatest gifts to fallen humanity.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

I just took a look at the local parish's bulletin. It simply stated that Ascension Thursday has been celebrated on Sunday for the past few years and will be again this year. I'm disabled and granted, a bit out of the information loop but I haven't heard any official decrees coming out of Rome on this. Did the US bishops make this up like so many other things? It seems like this was slipped in under the radar. I was just told that Ash Wednesday is no longer considered a Holy Day of Obligation for 10 years now. That's also news to me!

I'm also being informed as I type of all the Catholics I grew up with who have now left the Church for other pastures. It's stomach turning.

[Salvation]

** We celebrated the 7th Sunday in Easter.**

I posted that those readings in another thread, too.

[Salvation]

But I bet more people celebrated than if it had been celebrated on Thursday.

[Salvation]

**I'm also being informed as I type of all the Catholics I grew up with who have now left the Church for other pastures. It's stomach turning.**

Yes it can be alarming. But this is a great opportunity for your parish. Talk to your priest or the pastoral associate and ask if your parish could start some sort of program for returning Catholics.

We are finishing our third session of
Catholics Can Come Home Again

First session -- 15
Second session -- 9
Third session -- 4

I know that doesn't look too good on the progression of numbers, but nearly 30 Catholics have come back to the Church through our efforts. They have gotten the annulments, gone to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, gotten questions answered and are in church, receiving the Holy Eucharist, having their children baptized, and bringing their spouses into the church also.

It is a wonderful ministry.

Catholics Can Come Home Again by Carrie Kemp is what we are using -- six sessions.

Other programs that I have heard about are:
Landings and Welcome Home Catholics. but there are others.

[Salvation]

Here is that thread; June 1, 2003 Seventh Sunday of Easter

[Salvation]

FEAST OF THE DAY

St. Justin was a philosopher and martyr who was born of pagan
parents at Flavia Neapolis in Samaria at the beginning of the second
century. Following his conversion, he wrote many works in defense
of Christianity. Only two of his works are known to have survived to
modern times. Those two works are the Apology and the Dialogue
with Trypho.

The writings of Justin contain some of the earliest descriptions of the
Mass. In his apologetic works, Justin used reason to win people to
Christianity. He dedicated his life to searching for the Truth and
found the Truth in following the ways of Jesus. During his life, Justin
opened a school in Rome where public debates were held.

Justin was martyred with several companions around the year 165
during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. St. Justin is the patron of
philosophers and apologists.


QUOTE OF THE DAY

No sacrifice is more acceptable to God than zeal for souls. -St. Gregory the Great


TODAY IN HISTORY

1217 Pope Innocent III calls for the Fifth Crusade


TODAY'S TIDBIT

For pastoral reasons, the Solemnity of the Ascension may be
celebrated on the Seventh Sunday of Easter instead of the fortieth
day after Easter. This is the feast when we celebrate Jesus
ascending into heaven.

iNTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for all who have been diagnosed with cancer or any
other terminal illness.

[Salvation]

**St. Justin is the patron of philosophers and apologists.**

For those times when..........................

[Desdemona]

Ash Wednesday was never a Holy Day of Obligation in my lifetime. Still isn't, but everybody goes anyway.

In the order of important feast days (Holy Days), there are only two of the six which override the importance of Sunday totally. All Saints Day and Christmas (in that order). Those two NEVER change. The Immaculate Conception is the United States feast, and the rules on that one - from time to time it falls on a Sunday and I think I've seen that one move to Saturday when that's the case, but I'm not sure anymore. The whole thing on January 1 has changed so many times, I'm rather confused, but I think that one and the Assumption are the two that if the feast is on Saturday or Monday, it moves to Sunday.

As for the Ascension, that decision is not very old. The US bishiops figured they could get more people to go if it was on Sunday (have a Mass at 6:30 or 7 pm when people can get there, not at 5 and more people might have made it.) What it does is put four major feasts right in a row.

Coming up are Pentecost - second most important feast in the church only to Easter. That's always been on Sunday. I think Trinity is next and then Corpus Christi (MAJOR feast). Along with Sts. Peter and Paul which is also coming up, it's my understanding that some time back these were also moved, but I'm not really sure. It's kind of mind-boggling.

I wish they would just say, these are the Holy Days no arguing, no moving and yes you have to be inconvenienced to go to Mass on these days. Deal with it. It would be so much less confusing.