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The Parish Messenger
June 1999
Whitsuntide? Trinitytide?
The first Sunday after Whitsunday is known as "Trinity Sunday." Pope John XXII
declared it a feast of the universal Church in the year 1334 and since then it has been a
beloved indicator in the life of the Church. The Sundays following Trinity are labeled in
various ways depending upon which part of the Church is doing the labeling.
According to Sarum usage, as well as in the ancient calendars of the Carmelites and
Dominicans, the Sundays after Trinity are labeled as being in Trinitytide (1st Sunday
after Trinity, 2nd Sunday, etc.) The Roman Church, until 1969, labeled these Sundays as
Whitsuntide (2nd Sunday after Pentecost, 3rd Sunday, etc.) The current Prayer Book skirts
the issue by giving them no official name and simply referring to them by the
"proper" number assigned to the date closest to the Sunday (Proper 1 closest to
May 11, etc.) although it does place these propers under the title "The Season after
Pentecost."
There is no "right" or "wrong" way to reckon theses Sundays. Both
methods have qualities to recommend them. Pentecost is too great a feast to last but a day
(or Octave). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church is the
"theme" of the Sunday Scriptures during this period. Alternately, all days are
in honor of the Holy Trinity, "in whom we live and move and have our being."
Thus the Sundays of "Ordinary Time" as the Roman Church now terms them, may well
be devoted to the honor of God as revealed in the Trinity.
Whichever method of reckoning is used (we tend to use both in the Sunday bulletin,
"Pentecost II, The First Sunday after Trinity") the time is God's and honor and
praise are His due.
Ask Father
Dear Father:
It seems I remember hearing something about a Eucharistic Fast. What is that?
Fasting has long-been a manner of preparation for special events. Before men were knighted
they would spend time in prayer and fasting. The Church year designates times of fasting
in preparation for major feasts and seasons such as Lent, Easter and Good Friday.
Until recently the norm for fasting in preparation for reception of Holy Communion was
from the previous midnight. Since the beginning of the 20th Century, the Roman Church has
shown an increasing tendency to curtail the rigors of this fasting period. There are some
good, practical reasons for this. There are increasingly less strictures against evening
Masses and it is often impossible to accommodate all parishioners at an early morning
Mass. The current Roman practice is a one hour minimum fast before reception of Holy
Communion.
Within the Anglican Communion the venerable Roman practice was generally observed. For
those communicating at an early Mass, I think the old custom is commendable. On those
occasions of an evening celebration of the Holy Eucharist, I think the current Roman
guidelines are practical. The following quote from the proposed 1928 Prayer Book could
serve as a guideline:
"It is an ancient and laudable custom of the Church to receive this Holy Sacrament
fasting. Yet for the avoidance of all scruple it is hereby declared that such preparation
may be used or not used, according to every man's conscience in the sight of God."
Congratulations!
Several young people connected with St. Barnabas' Parish are completing their course of
studies this spring and graduating from their respective schools. We congratulate them on
their accomplishment and pray that God will abundantly bless their future endeavors.
St. B's high school graduates are:
Mat and T.J Davey, sons of Mat and Jane Davey of this parish; Jordan Pester, granddaughter
of Doris Pester of this parish; Eugenia Sumnick, daughter of Tim Sumnick of this parish;
Amber Brown, granddaughter of Bob and Mary Brown of this parish.
Sicily McRaven, daughter of Marcy Franklin graduated from eighth grade.
Sunday Low Masses
Several years ago we began the practice of having Low Masses offered during the summer.
This was done out of respect for those who generously gave up their preference for low
Masses when the change was made from two Sunday Masses to one.
We will continue this practice during the summer. The last Sunday of the months of June,
July and August will be marked with Low Masses at 10:00.
There will be organ music and hymns on these Sundays.
Feast of St. Barnabas
Friday, June 11 is the feastday of our blessed patron, St. Barnabas. We will be graced
with the presence of "his Grace" on this day. Bishop Krotz will be among us to
preach and confirm at that celebration.
We are very blessed this year with two adults to be confirmed/received and two young
people who will also receive the gift of the Holy Ghost in the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Please make plans to be with us for this festival day. It is an occasion of great joy in
the life of this parish and your presence among us is all that is needed to make it
perfect.
Solemn High Mass in the Presence of the Bishop
6:30 p.m.
June 11
Dinner to follow
Adoremus in aeternum...
On Maundy Thursday, the day on which the Church celebrates the institution of the Blessed
Sacrament, the tenor of the day prohibits full and joyful honor done to the Sacrament. Yet
it was long desired to give special honor to this most gracious gift.
Saint Juliana, a Belgian nun who lived in the 13th century, had a recurring vision in
which she the full moon in all its glory with a small section of it was cast in black and
darkness. It was later explained that the moon represented the liturgical year and the
black spot was the lack of a special feast in honor the Holy Eucharist. She spent all her
life striving to institute a special commemoration of the Sacrament.
Six years after Juliana's death, on September 8, 1264, Pope Urban IV established the feast
of Corpus Christi to be held on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday. This feast has been
held in honor for over 700 years and is one of the major holidays in many European
countries.
Our busy society finds it too difficult to make time to honor Our Lord's Eucharistic
presence in this mid-week celebration. For this purpose, we transfer the feast of Corpus
Christi to the following Sunday. While it is generally forbidden to transfer saint's days
to Sunday, this feastday in honor of our Lord is appropriately celebrated on the Lord's
day. Indeed, the Roman Church has transferred this feast permanently to the Sunday
following Trinity.
We will mark this feast on June 6th with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to be held
immediately following the 10:00 Mass. All are invited to attend, and visitors are
encouraged.
Let us adore forever the Most Holy Sacrament.
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