St. Ignatius Loyola Parish
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| Dies Domini (The Lord’s Day) This is the title of an Apostolic Letter written by Pope John Paul II in 1998. In it he presents the spiritual realities of his understanding of Sunday – the high point of the Christian week. As a pastor, I might add that the Sunday Mass is one of, if not the one, most important hour of the week when the priest celebrates the Scriptures and the Eucharist with a majority of his people. May I ask – is Sunday a special day for your relationship with the Lord? Perhaps a few resolutions can be adapted to transform us more into the image of Jesus, the great High Priest. 1. I resolve in 2010 to treat each Sunday Eucharist as the most important event of that week. I resolve to do all I can to participate more fully in the celebration of the Sunday Mass. For example: To sing all the hymns and acclamations; To respond in the Mass with conviction and whole-heartedness; To make use of the liturgical silence for prayer. 3. I resolve to read prayerfully and carefully the Sunday Scripture at least once during the week before Mass. (The Scripture readings are noted in the prior Sunday’s bulletin.) 4. I resolve to arrive before Mass begins and to leave the Church only after the liturgy has ended. 5. I resolve to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at least once during the week. Our Church is open daily until 9PM, and on Tuesdays, Jesus is solemnly exposed on the Chapel Altar from 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM. 6. I resolve to take seriously the dismissal prayer, "Mass is ended, go in peace to love and serve the Lord", by making it real in my life during the week. 7. I resolve to be patient, considerate and courteous in the Church parking lot. May God Bless you and yours as you continue your Lenten Journey! |