This week we celebrated both the archangels (Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael) and the guardian angels. Hidden within the Roman Missal is a neat Easter egg: the same Eucharistic Preface is used for both! As I was offering that preface for the second time this week on Friday, it struck me that our earthly prayer reflects a heavenly reality: that there is a heirarchy in heaven (archangels being higher than angels) and yet still equality among the communion of saints. We venerate Mary as the highest of saints (hyperdulia) while also holding that even the lowest of saints enjoys and glories in equal unity & communion with God.
In short, we're not playing some kind of zero-sum game, where every gain that one person makes means loss for another. Every person is destined to share in the fullness of God's glory - if they so choose. What would it mean for us to embrace that even here on earth, in our day-to-day life? I'm still figuring that out mysefl, but our celebrations this week remind us to take our cue from the saints & angels, who, though unique in their roles, are equal in receiving, sharing, and rejoicing in the love of God!
The Eucharistic Preface ('God glorified through the Angels'):
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
and to praise you without end
in your Archangels and Angels.
For the honor we pay the angelic creatures
in whom you delight
redounds to your own surpassing glory,
and by their great dignity and splendor
you show how infinitely great you are,
to be exalted above all things,
through Christ our Lord.
Through him the multitude of Angels extols your majesty,
and we are united with them in exultant adoration,
as with one voice of praise we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Saints & celebrations
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- September 27 - Saint Vincent de Paul - The Church today celebrates a saint that most parishioners will recognize from ministry of which he is the patron: the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. In every assignment at which I have served, there has been at least one - and typically many (as here on the Olympic Peninsula) - conference of Vincentians serving our neighbors in need. You can donate to their work at our parish giving portals (Clallam County here, Jefferson County here - be sure to select 'St. Vincent de Paul' in the fund dropdown menu). Equally - and maybe even more! - valuable is the gift of volunteering. Prayerfully consider if the Lord is calling you to this service to our neighbors.
- September 28 - Saint Wenceslaus - Growing up, I didn't understand why 'Good King Wenceslaus' was included among Christmas carols. As it turns out, today's saint was a 10th-century king of Bohemia whose faith played a major part in his reign. His efforts to unite his country were violently opposed by no less than his own brother, who arranged for Wenceslaus to come visit him under the guise of celebrating the feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian and then attacked him. Though Wenceslaus successfully fought of his brother, his brother's supporters killed him. He was celebrated by his people as their patron and, as we know, remembered even today. Knowing the rest of the story, perhaps you'll enjoy with me Bing Crosby's rendition of the carol!
- September 29 - Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael - In a week rich with familiar saints, today's celebration stands out for highlighting angelic saints - and archangels at that! Each of these archangels (the only ones whose names we know, but there are likely others) is known to us through the part they played in carrying particular messages from God. Check out Pope Benedict's 2007 homily at an episcopal (bishop) ordination on today's saints.
- September 30 - Saint Jerome - "I interpret as I should, following the command of Christ: Search the Scriptures, and Seek and you shall find. Christ will not say to me what he said to the Jews: You erred, not knowing the Scriptures and not knowing the power of God. For if, as Paul says, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, and if the man who does not know Scripture does not know the power and wisdom of God, then ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." (from the prologue of the commentary on Isaiah by Saint Jerome, included in today's Office of Readings). What better way to honor today's saint than take a moment to reflect on the Scriptures - perhaps the Mass readings for his memorial, even!
- October 1 - Saint Thérèse of Lisieux - Known as the 'Little Flower of Jesus', Saint Thérèse recognized her own smallness and wondered at what her contribution might be within the Body of Christ. It was with joy that her heart was illuminated with the answer: "O Jesus, my love, at last I have found my calling: my call is love. Certainly I have found my place in the Church, and you gave me that very place, my God. In the heart of the Church, my mother, I will be love, and thus I will be all things, as my desire finds its direction." (from her autobiography, included in today's Office of Readings) Learn more about her at the Vatican web page dedicated to her.
- October 2 - Saints Guardian angels - "“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father." (Matthew 18:10) From these words of Christ, Christians have understood that each of us is assigned an angel "to light and guard, to rule and guide", as the traditional (brief!) prayer reminds us. Check out that prayer at the USCCB website.
- October 3 - Saint Candida - Beatified only recently by Pope John Paul II in 2004, today's saint was especially dedicated (and from a young age!) to the Eucharist, taking the name 'Maria Candida of the Eucharist' upon her entrance into the Carmelites. Towards the end of her life, she wrote her meditation on the Eucharist - titled 'The Eucharist', it was fittingly begun on the feast of Corpus Christi. Learn more about her at the Vatican website.
This week’s “Why Do Catholics Do That?” pastor’s inserts (from the September 6, September 20, and September 27 bulletins)
Priests celebrating their anniversaries this week
- Rev. Timothy J. Clark (September 6, 1980)
- Rev. Dean Mbuzi (September 6, 2014)
- Rev. Brian Thompson (September 6, 2014)
- Rev. Jeffrey Morgan (September 9, 2017)
- Rev. Ebenezer Mensah (September 9, 2017)
- Rev. Stephen S. Woodland (September 10, 1988)
- Rev. Jaya Raju “Jay” Prattipati (September 27, 2017)
- Rev. Sang Nguyen, O.Cist. (September 30, 2017)
Remembering our deceased priests
- Fr. John Brady (September 9, 1967)
- Fr. Edmond Hayes (September 9, 1949)
- Fr. P. Poaps (September 9, 1890)
- Fr. John Power (September 9, 1961)
- Fr. Anthony V. Ton (September 10, 2014)
- Fr. Joseph Delannoy (September 14, 1940)
- Fr. James Dunning (September 16, 1995)
- Fr. Gustave Treunet (September 17, 1948)
- Fr. Richard A. Crowley (September 18, 1984)
- Fr. Henry A. Kruft (September 18, 1976)
- Fr. Paul A. Auer (September 21, 2000)
- Fr. Michael H. Wright (September 24, 2021)
- Fr. William E. Gallagher (September 26, 2013)
- Fr. Richard Stohr (September 26, 1995)
- Msgr. Philip Corboy (September 29, 1981)
- Fr. Louis E. Schram (September 30, 1898)
- Fr. Charles G. Crosse (October 2, 2013)
- Fr. Paul A. Kaech (October 2, 2023)
- Fr. William Bennett (October 3, 1948)
Beautiful reflection Fr Maurer and tributes to birthdays and passings! Thank you!