News - April 2022 RSS Feed

Today we would normally celebrate Saint Joseph the Worker. But since today is the Third Sunday of Easter, Saint Joseph the Worker is omitted. But I am going to write about this Feast Day just the same! “May Day” has long been dedicated to labor and to working men and women in Communist countries. In response to this and to foster a deeper devotion to Saint Joseph, Pope Pius XII instituted this feast in 1955. The Holy Father hoped that by doing this he would accentuate the dignity of labor and bring a spiritual dimension to labor unions. It is appropriate that Saint Joseph, a working man who became the foster-father of Christ and patron of the universal Church, should be honored in this capacity on this day.

During the fifty days of the Easter Season I enjoy reading Luke 24 where Luke discusses the Resurrection, the Appearance at Emmaus, the Appearance at Jerusalem, and the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. I particularly like to read over the account of the Appearance at Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). I am particularly struck with verses 30 and 35, which I will repeat here: “And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them” (Luke 24:30). “Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread” (Luke 24:35). To follow up on what I am writing in this column please refer to The Gospel of Luke by Father Pablo T. Gadenz in the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series.

One of the features of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening was the Presentation of the Oils. I want to devote the column today to a discussion of three oils consecrated or blessed by the archbishop at the Chrism Mass. I am going to use a nice explanation that was printed in the back cover of the worship aid for the Chrism Mass four years ago. The blessing of the Oil of the Sick occurred before end of the Eucharistic Prayer, while the blessing of the Oil of Catechumens and the Holy Chrism came after Communion at that Mass. I was among many concelebrants who renewed our priestly promises to Cardinal Gregory during the course of the Chrism Mass last Monday afternoon. A bishop is permitted to schedule the Chrism Mass on another date during Holy Week. Cardinal Gregory exercised that option.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Pope Francis calls to walk together in synodality. He invites as we walk together on this path to reach out to people on the margins, especially to people whose voices have not been so readily heard in the past. It would be important to reach out actively to those who have been impacted by child abuse.