Michele Somerville is the author of a December 1 article in the Huffington Post, “The Truth Behind the Godawful New (Old) Roman Catholic Missal”.
Posts Tagged Prayer
The Truth?
Dec 1
Allied to a previous discussion, I think it’s time to elaborate the both/and—the individual and the communal dimensions—of the communion rite by a close analysis of Articles 80 through 89 of the General Instruction. I’ll start this thread and I invite others to contribute reasoned and temperate reflections.
This is for all those for whom Christmas is not always the “hap-happiest season of all.” As broken as some of our families are, may they each in some way be touched by the “calm and bright” of the Holy Family.
Becoming present to God in the liturgical action, participating fully and willingly in God’s trinitarian act of salvation for us, is the ideal of liturgy. This willing participation, though, is a skill as well as a choice. Coping with distraction is one of the components of this skill.
The planning meeting began in Collegeville yesterday for the 2011 national symposium on Lay Ecclesial Ministry.
Each Catholic Bishop at the head of a diocese in the English-speaking world has a challenging task ahead of him: the implementation of the new English missal. He can hardly be looking forward to it.
We have a responsibility to share the great riches of our nations with those who have so much less.
Ocean Lament
May 30
Am I the only one who experiences a profound disconnect these days between our lives of prayer (and what we think is important to bring into God’s presence) and the catastrophe happening in the Gulf of Mexico? The intercessions at my parish this morning, beautiful as they were, did not seem to know anything of the ecocide taking place in the ocean off the Louisiana coast and reaching into the fragile coastlands and all life-forms that depend on them, humans included.
According to the Sacramentary, “In case of serious public need, the local Ordinary may permit or decree the addition of a special intention.” Let us pray, dear friends, for the victims of sexual abuse…
Asking for Forgiveness
Feb 27
How do we ask for forgiveness authentically? What is needed for the sound of our asking to ring true, and deeply so? (I remember a spectacularly naïve request for forgiveness I received a few years ago, and I still cringe in pain). One thing I do know: being able to say, straightforwardly, the words “forgive me” is a step in the right direction. The simple words say so much more than “I am sorry.” For one, “forgive me” voices a direct request to another, who by these two words is rendered visible as the one who has been wronged.