Today is one of my rare double blog posts because I want to submit my last reflection on the promises made by a person being ordained to the priesthood (you'll find that entry below). But I want to begin a special series of blog entries for each day of Holy Week beginning with Palm Sunday. Each of these posts will be a reflection for that day and will conclude with a prayer that persons or families can pray as a preparation for Easter Sunday.

I will make these posts by 6pm each day so that the prayer can be prayed that evening to conclude that holy day. However, I am posting the Palm Sunday entry below because it is specifically related to the palm branches and should be used when enthroning them in the home. Since many attend the vigil Mass of Palm Sunday, I wanted to make this reflection and prayer available before receiving the palms this evening.

My hope is that these reflections on each holy day of Holy Week will help in understanding the beautiful importance of these holy days and will help prepare us for the Lord's Passion, death and Resurrection.

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Palm Sunday begins the most sacred week of the Catholic liturgical year: Holy Week. Palm Sunday celebrates Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Many people believe that Palm Sunday focuses on Christ as the King being hailed by the people. That may have some truth to it, but the central focus is not his Kingship rather it stresses his entry into Jerusalem where his Passion and death will free us from sin. His entry into Jerusalem is intimately connected to his death.

Christ mounts a donkey and enters Jerusalem in triumph. On Good Friday, he departs Jerusalem on the Way to Calvary where he mounts the Cross for the ultimate triumph - the triumph over death and sin. This is emphasized in the Gospels. Palm Sunday is the ONLY day of the liturgical year in which we have two Gospels. At the blessing of palms before the procession into the Church, we hear the Gospel of Christ's entry into the city. At the Gospel in the Mass we have the Passion. No image is stronger than these two Gospels connecting the triumphant entry into Jerusalem with the triumph of the Cross..

There is one final image that I find to be a beautiful symbol of the link between his journey into Jerusalem and the journey to Calvary. On Palm Sunday we receive palm branches to symbolize the palms laid on the ground like a carpet for Christ. Imagine the trail of palm branches behind Christ as he rides the donkey in his triumphant entry into the city. Now imagine his journey from the city on the Way to Calvary. It is not palm branches that trail behind him. Rather it is Christ's own blood that marks the ultimate triumphant journey to Calvary.

When your place your palm branches in your home, I encourage you to place them over or behind a crucifix because these palms ultimately lead to the Cross of Christ - his triumph and our salvation. As you place these palm branches, I encourage you, as a family, to offer the following prayer:

Blessed are you, God of Israel,

so rich in love and mercy.

Let these branches ever remind

us of Christ's triumph. May we

who bear them rejoice in his

cross and sing your praise

for ever and ever. Amen.

Until tomorrow, may God give you His grace on this Palm Sunday. God bless.

posted by: crossman at 11:13 | link | comments |
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Rite of Ordination to the Priesthood: Promise #4

The final promise made to the bishop at the priesthood ordination defines what the priest is. The promise says:

Promise #4: Are you resolved to consecrate your life to God for the salvation of his people, and to unite yourself more closely to every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a perfect sacrifice?

This final promise definitively declares the image and life of the priest. We are to completely configure ourselves to the image of Christ. We are to be an Alter Christus (another Christ) to God's people. As such, we consecrate or dedicate completely our being to the service of God's people. We are to be Christ in the life of His people. We are Christ at the baptism of a child. We are Christ witnessing the marriage of a couple. We are Christ at the funeral of a parishioner. We are Christ anointing a sick person. We are Christ absolving one of their sins in the confessional. Most importantly, we are Christ in the Eucharist calling down the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine into the True Body and Blood of Jesus Christ himself.

Everything a priest does is to be in the image of Christ. Shortly after this promise, the bishop lays hands on our head and at the very moment, the Holy Spirit imprints an indelible mark on our soul forever changing us. We is now branded eternally as a priest. As Psalm 110 says, the Catholic priest is "a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." This promise directs us to conform our lives to parallel this indelible mark to be placed on our soul. We are called to serve Christ by bring Christ to the whole world. Until next time...God bless.

posted by: crossman at 11:02 | link | comments |
rite of priesthood

Why can't I eat meat on Friday?

As I mentioned in my last blog, a friend of mine found Lent to be depressing. He saw it as restrictive and gloomy. He said that he didn't understand why we give up meat on Friday and why the Church would want to punish persons by making them do this during Lent. My first thought is that if one looks at abstinence from meat as punishment, it's no wonder one sees Lent as gloomy.

Abstinence is actually the opposite of this. Far from being a punishment, astinence gives Catholics an opportunity to step back from our daily routine and focus on Christ. For most who eat meat regularly (those who are vegetarians are encouraged to abstain from another food they commonly eat) abstaining changes our routine. We are reminded of our small sacrifice on that day whenver we pass a McDonalds, see a non-Catholic eating a juicy steak or even a commercial on TV advertising Ponderosa. This small sacrifice should serve to remind us of the ultimate sacrifice Christ made for us on the Cross. Abstinence, especially in our remembering the sacrifice of the Cross, help us acknowledge the sin in our lives.

Instead of being a punishment, abstinence should be a source of realizing the blessings Christ has bestowed upon us by giving his very life for our sins. Abstinence should upset our daily routine so that Lent isn't just another thing we must do. It should be something we find drawing us closer to Christ. Until next time...God bless.

posted by: crossman at 10:34 | link | comments |
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Lent is not depressing...its lifts us up

A friend of mine made a comment the other day that he hates Lent because it is so depressing. I asked why he thought that. He replied that we have to give up things we like, we can't have meat on Fridays (which he claimed was a bogus sacrifice for vegetarians) and the whole focus is on how we are wretched sinners deserving death. "Wow," I thought. "If that is what I thought Lent was, not only would I be depressed but I would also have to question the reason I am Catholic at all."

The truth, however, is that Lent is nothing like that unless a person wants it to be. In fact, for me, Lent is not depressing by any means. In my opinion, Lent is a glorious and awesome liturgical season. We give up something (or do something special) to initiate a change in our lifestyle. I am limiting myself to 2 hours a day on my computer (the withdrawl symptoms are much better) and it has opened up a completely new element to my life. I am finding that I have more time to pray, relax, read, write snail mail letters and converse with friends that I didn't have before. Far from depressing me, it has energized me and given me the unique opportunity to enjoy things that I didn't know I missed until I was able to experience them again.

Giving up something or doing something special for Lent doesn't take away from our life, rather it allows us to experience our life in a more wholesome and unique way. It opens us up to the realization that change can be freeing and not restricting. Giving up something or doing something special helps us better understand the excitement we can feel when we change ourselves to draw closer to God. Until next time...God bless.

posted by: crossman at 14:54 | link | comments (1) |
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Rite of Ordination to the Priesthood: Promise #3

Whoops! I actually wrote this Friday but I guess I forgot to post it. Better late than never.

The priesthood has 4 promises and the oath of obedience. I skipped making a post on the promises a week ago last Friday because there are only 4 promises and 5 Friday's in Lent (excluding the Friday after Ash Wednesday). The third promise states:

Promise #3: Are you resolved to exercise the ministry of the Word worthily and wisely, preaching the Gospel and explaining the Catholic faith?

This might seem redundant to be asking one being ordained a priest who, when ordained a deacon, was told by the bishop: As a minister of the altar you will proclaim the Gospel...it will also be their duty to bring God's Word to believer and unbeliever alike... However, the deacon promises to simply proclaim the Gospel and to bring it to the people. The priest doesn't simply proclaim the Gospel - he PREACHES the Gospel. Furthermore, he explains the Catholic faith [which we receive from the Gospel]. Lastly, the priest is to exercise the ministry of the Word. To me, exercising the ministry of the Word, insinuates an action. One exercises the ministry of the Word by LIVING them. not only does one live the Word, but the priest is called to live the Word WORTHILY and WISELY. To worthily live the Word, he must be an example of Christ to everyone. His actions must mirror the care, love, sacrifice and ministry of Jesus. To wisely live the Word, the priest has to be aware of the true mission of Christ and His Church. He has to be knowledgeable of the teachings of the Church and he must teach them to the people faithfully.

At first glance, it might seem that this promise is easy to fulfill. After having broken it apart, however, one can see that it is a challange to fulfill and a lifetime committment. Until next time...God bless.

posted by: crossman at 07:19 | link | comments |
rite of priesthood

Music in the Mass...obviously a hot button

Wow...I was quite overwhelmed by the responses to the music blog entry. Unfortunately, I've been so busy at seminary that I just read them. I was surprised by the range of comments. I'd like to respond to a couple of these comments. I by NO means am criticizing anyone in my responses. I AM pointing out some of the definitive beliefs of the Catholic Church regarding sacred music, especially in the Second Vatican Council Instruction of Sacred Music titled, Musicam Sacrum, but I am NOT attacking anyone's comments, opinions or beliefs.

In one of the comments responding to my blog entry it was said, "The assumption that you make is that one worships best when doing something like singing, stemming from the confusion of what is meant by 'active participation'" Actually, it is not an assumption of mine, rather a statement by the Second Vatican Council who, in ¶ 16 of Musicam Sacrum, stated:

"One cannot find anything more religious and more joyful in sacred celebrations than a whole congregation expressing its faith and devotion in song. Therefore the active participation of the whole people, which is shown in singing, is to be carefully promoted..."

That seems to be pretty definitive to me that a) one DOES actually worship best when singing and b) active participation of the whole people IS shown by singing.

Sacred music has the purpose of more deeply involving the faithful in worshipping God. St. Augustine said, "To sing is to pray twice." Music in the Mass MUST draw in the people and not exclude them, which often means adhering to the needs of the people such as familiar music. ¶ 9 of Musicam Sacrum agrees stating:

"...the capacities of those who are to sing the music must be taken into account. No kind of sacred music is prohibited from liturgical actions by the Church as long as it corresponds to the spirit of the liturgical celebration itself and the nature of its individual parts, and does not hinder the active participation of the people."

That having been said, I DO agree that catechesis is vitally important in helping the faithful to actively participate in the music. This includes the introduction of new music to the congregation. Again, the Second Vatican Council agrees with this in saying:

"Through suitable instruction and practices, the people should be gradually led to a fuller—indeed, to a complete—participation in those parts of the singing which pertain to them" (¶ 16a, Musicam Sacrum).

The faithful must be introduced to new music periodically so as to expand their ability to grow in their worship of God. The use of a choir to achieve this can be very beneficial. Because a choir practices often (I hope!), they are able to introduce new songs that the congregation can listen to and gradually begin to sing themselves as they hear it sung repeatedly by the choir. However, introducing a new song every week will not accomplish this. Of course, adding a new song once every three years doesn't promote this either.

Another of the comments, by a wonderful mother of a close friend of mine, made an excellent point regarding the proper role of the faithful. I think this closely mirrors the sentiment of the person whose comments I quoted above regarding some self-centeredness of the faithful. My friend's mother pointed out that, after a children's choir performed a handbell piece in the Mass, the congregation gave a standing ovation. In this case, the music became a concert NOT because of the musicians but because of the people's improper response to the music.

It seems, in my opinion and in the beliefs of the Second Vatican Council, that music is to lift up the people to a greater level of worship of God. This is usually done through active participation of the faithful, but is also done through catechesis, some variety and the use of a choir to add an extra and unique element to the Mass. Ultimately, the Second Vatican Council said it best when it stated that the true purpose of sacred music is for "the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful" (¶ 4, Musicam Sacrum). Until next time...God bless.

posted by: crossman at 12:56 | link | comments |
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Music in the Mass...who is it for?

This is one of my few ranting blogs. Recently, I've had some difficulty understanding the reasoning behind music for the Liturgy. It seems to me that more and more, the music played at the Mass isn't geared to helping the congregation worship as much as it is an opportunity for organists, cantors and others in music ministers to put on their own mini-concert. In my mind, music selections should encourage the congregation to sing, not force them to sit there and listen while the organist plays their new song of the week. Occasionaly introducing a new song is important to helping the congregation enter into new ways of worship. Introducing a new song or melody every week (or in my case almost every day) is stupid. If the people don't know the song and haven't been properly prepared, then it really does become a mini-concert for the organist to show off.

I am not simply rambling by myself here. The National Association of Pastoral Musicians recently did a survey. The asked musicians as well as the average parishioner what helps in singing as Mass. The results parallel my argument very closely. For example, musicians said that their 1st focus was leadership of the organist/cantor. That seems, to me, to be self-centered and focused on "its all about me" rather than the ability and need of the people, which was fifth on the musician's list I might add. The parishioners, on the other hand, stated that 1st was a familiar melody (7th in importance of the musicians), 2nd was that it was easy to sing (8th in importance of musicians) and 3rd that it was a traditional song (11th in importance of the musicians).

These results seem to overwhelmingly show that musicians are focused on self while the people are focused on the music itself. It's really no different here at the seminary. We've learned 12 new music tones in the last 4 weeks - and that is just for chanting morning prayer!!! At least 3 times a week, we have a song that I have NEVER heard of before. Granted, we should be exposed to more variety than the normal parish, but that many "learning opportunities" is completely insane. How can one use Liturgy music to become more deeply involved in the Mass when the music is unfamiliar daily and not about glory to God, rather glory to the musician.

Enough of me ranting, today. Until next time...God bless.

posted by: crossman at 16:57 | link | comments (4) |
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Rite of Ordination to the Priesthood: Promise #2

The priesthood has 4 promises and the oath of obedience. Last week, I reflected on the first promise. This week I reflect on the second promise which says:

Promise #2: Are you resolved to celebrate the mysteries of Christ faithfully and religiously as the Church has handed them down to us for the glory of God and the sanctification of God's people?

A priest is ordained to administer the sacraments of the Church given to us by Christ himself. As co-workers with the bishops, priests are the caretakers of the sacraments. While it is true that deacons can baptize (actually lay persons can baptize in emergency situations) and witness marriages, ONLY ordained priests can celebrate the Eucharist, administer anointing of the sick and absolve persons of their sins in the sacrament of reconciliation. For these reasons, the candidate is asked if he will FAITHFULLY and RELIGIOUSLY minister the sacraments. Both the words 'faithfully' and 'religiously' impart to the priest the importance of celebrating the sacraments with faith and understanding that they are for the salvation of the people.

Not only are the words 'faithfully' and 'religiously' important, but the instruction to celebrate the sacraments 'as the Church has handed them down' are vital to being a good and holy priest. Too many priests have made the sacraments THEIR sacraments. Celebrating Mass and the other sacraments becomes their own "stage show" in which the sacrament takes a back seat to the priest. Words are altered, inserted or excluded. Movements and actions are either ignored, radically exaggerated or added. The Church established the norms for the sacraments for a reason. The foremost of which is to give a single unity to the sacraments of the Church. When I was in Rome a little over a year ago, I attended a Mass in Italian. Now I speak VERY little Italian and yet I was completely able to follow the Mass. I knew where they were in the Mass and I even knew generally what was being said. That is because the Mass, if celebrated according to the norms of the Church, is universal.

This second promise ensures that the sacraments are ministered to God's people so that they are reverent, pious and give true glory to God. The priest is the caretaker and minister of the sacraments of the Church. This promise gives the priest the center and focus for serving the Church. Until next time...God bless.

posted by: crossman at 20:49 | link | comments |
rite of priesthood

Rite of Ordination to the Priesthood: Promise #1

As I promised (no pun intended), I am beginning my series on the promises I will make to my bishop at my ordination. The priesthood has 4 promises and the oath of obedience. I will blog on each one on the Fridays of Lent (even though this one is late by a day).

Promise #1: Are you resolved, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to discharge without fail the office of the priesthood in the presbyteral order as a conscientious fellow worker with the bishops in caring for the Lord's flock.

This first promise unites the priest-to-be with the mission of the Church and specifically the local mission of the diocese via the bishop. The most important words of this promise are 'with the help of the Holy Spirit' because if, as a priest, I am not guided by the Holy Spirit in my ministry then I am useless to both the bishop and to God. This promise reminds me of John 16:1 when Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit as 'the Spirit of Truth to guide you'. How much we all need the Holy Spirit as out guide, but especially Christ's priests who, as the promise says, have the responsibility of 'caring for the Lord's flock'.

The other phrase that caught my eye was the words 'in the presbyteral order' because of the immense importance of having a support network of priests. Especially at the begin of the priesthood, close friends within the presbyterate are vital. I have the blessing of already having at least a half dozen priests who I consider close friends living the priesthood faithfully and with humility. They are good role models for me and good persons which I can relax with.

This is the first of the promises because, in my opinion, if one cannot live this promise then he cannot live the promises to follow. Ministering to Christ's flock by the guidance of the Holy Spirit IS the mission of the priest. Until next time..God bless.

posted by: crossman at 10:04 | link | comments |
rite of priesthood