LITURGY AND SPIRITUAL LIFE
“The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the church is directed, it is the fount from which all her power flows. For the goal of apostolic endeavourer is that all who are made children of God by faith and baptism should come together to praise God in the midst of his church, to take part in the sacrifice and to eat the Lord’s supper” (SC 10). The Eucharist. “The church earnestly desires that Christ’s faithful, when present at this mystery of faith, should not be there as strangers or silent spectators. On the contrary, through a good understanding of the rites and prayers, they should take part in the sacred action, conscious of what they are doing, with devotion and full collaboration. They should be instructed by God’s word and be nourished at the table of the Lord’s Body. They should give thanks to God. Offering the immaculate victim, not only through the hands of the priests, but also together with him, they should learn to offer themselves. Through Christ the mediator, they should be drawn day by day into ever more perfect union with God and each other, so that finally God may be all in all” (sc 47). Celebration of the Eucharist: 9.00 hrs. Sunday 6.30 hrs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday. 18.00 hrs. Thursday. The sacrament of Penance. “The most precious result of the forgiveness obtained in the sacrament of penance consists of reconciliation with God, which takes place in the inmost heart of the son who was lost and found again, which every penitent is. But it has to be added that this reconciliation with God leads, as it were, to other reconciliation’s, which repair The breaches caused by sin. The forgiven penitent is reconciled with himself in his inmost being, where he regains his own true identity. He is reconciled with his brethren whom he has in some way attacked and wounded. He is reconciled with the church. He is reconciled with all creation” (John Paul 11, Reconciliation et penitential, 31). Times for Confession: Each morning during the period of meditation prior to the celebration of the Eucharist, the main celebrant is available, in his office, for those who wish to receive the sacrament. It is understood that all priests on the staff may be approached at any time in the case of an individual request. The recollection day is normally directed by a visiting priest, a second priest from outside will often be invited to be available for confession. The Divine Office. “Jesus Christ, High priest of the New and Eternal Covenant, taking human nature, introduced into this earthly exile that hymn which is sung throughout all ages in the hall of heaven. He attaches to himself the entire community of mankind and has them join him in singing his divine song of praise” (SC 83). “It pertains to the office of a deacon to provide over the worship and the prayer of the faithful” (LG 29). Morning and Evening Prayer Morning Prayer: 6.55 hrs. Sunday. 5.45 hrs. Monday, Tues; Wed; Fri, Saturday. 6.15 hrs. Thurs. (In small Christian Community). Evening: 18.45 hrs. Monday, Tues, Wed, Fri, Saturday: Thursday: combine with evening Mass; otherwise in private. Night Prayer: 20.45 hrs. Sunday. 20.30 hrs. Monday, Tues, Wed, Fri. Saturday. Seminarians are urged to aim at full, active, conscious participation. Routine and ritualism are to be overcome. Initiative and creativity are encouraged. |
Worship of the Blessed Sacrament-Benediction. “The origin and primary reason for the reservation of the Eucharist outside Mass is the administration of Viaticum; the distribution of Holy Communion and the adoration of our Lord Jesus Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament are derivative. For, in fact, the reservation of the sacred species for the benefit of the sick led to the admirable practice of adoring this heavenly food reserved in our churches. This practice of adoration is essentially proper and rational because faith in the real presence of our Lord spontaneously evokes public and external manifestation of that faith” (Letter, Eucharistiae Sacramentum, 1973, 5). “Public and private devotion to the Holy Eucharist outside Mass is highly recommended. It must not be forgotten that, before the blessing with the sacrament, an appropriate time should be devoted to reading of the word of God to songs and prayers chosen from among the many contained in the Roman Ritual.” (Letter, inaestimabile Donum, 1980, 20). Private worship of the Blessed Sacrament: Time is available at many moments during the day and especially before and after Evening prayer. Benediction: Sunday evening: 18.30 hrs. Prayer-Personal and Private “The spiritual life is not limited solely to participation in the Liturgy. The Christian is indeed called to pray with others, but he must also enter into his bedroom to pray to the father in secret. Furthermore, according to the teaching of the Apostle, he must pray without ceasing…. Popular devotions of the Christian people….are to highly recommended” (SC 12). “The exercises of piety which are commended should be strongly encouraged, but care must be taken that spiritual formation does not consist in these alone, nor develop religions sentiment merely. The students should learn, rather to live according to the standard of the Gospel, to be firmly established in faith hope and charity, so that the practice of these virtues may develop in them a spirit of prayer, may strengthen and protect their vocation and invigorate their other virtues, intensifying their zeal for winning all people to Christ.”(OT 8) “If the prayer of a Christian has to be inserted in the Trinitarian movement of God, then its essential content must also necessarily be determined by the twofold direction of such movement. It is in the Holy Spirit that the son comes into the world to reconcile it to the father through his works and sufferings. On the other hand, in this same movement and in the very same Spirit, the son returns to the father, fulfilling his will through his passion and Resurrection. The ‘our father’, Jesus’ own prayer, clearly indicates the unity of this movement. The will of the father must be done on earth as it is in heaven…so that there may be a new earth in the heavenly Jerusalem.” (Letter on Christian Meditation, 1989). “He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him Lord, teach us to pray’’’ (LK 11:1). Meditation: 6.00-6.30 hrs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 6.15- Thursday in small Christian communities 6.20- 6.55 hrs Sunday |