Don't waste any part of the year
Purple Catholic Saturday Post
Good morning and Merry Christmas. This is one of the final days in which we are able to say that as we prepare to again enter into ordinary time.
Earlier this week, Pope Francis accepted Cardinal Wilton Gregory’s (Archdiocese of Wasington, DC) resignation as he had reached the perscribed age in canon law. He susbsequently appointed Cardinal Robert McElroy (San Diego, California) as the next shepherd for the flock in the nation’s capital.
Cardinal McElroy has been made up to be more progressive due to his close friendship with Pope Francis and there was, of course, criticism of the decision in Catholic social media this week of the decision.
It is important time to reflect and remember about the fact that the majority of us do not live in the Archdiocese of Washington. Sure, the decision is important when it comes to Church politics, but Church politics has effectly no role on our salvation.
What matters most is our daily committment to Christ.
As we enter Ordinary Time this week, we ought to use this opportunity to prepare for a fruitful Lent.
I understand that this may sound counter-intuitive; Lent is supposed to be the time of preperation. True, but in our fast paced lives, we don’t want Lent to creep up on us and find us unprepared for the fast.
Ash Wednesday is March 5th this year and between now and then we have ample opportunity to reflect on what God is asking of us to fast from and what virtues we ought to grow in during that season.
We frequently here from our Protestant bretheren that we Catholics are too unfamiliar with the Scriptures. The Church already has resources and opportunities to change that. I personally find great strength and wisodom in the Office of Readings.
Replacing Matins in the pre-Vatican II Divine Office, the Office of Readings can be said at any time of day. They provide an opportunity to pray with the Psalms (the same prayers Jesus would have prayed himself) and reflect on the great foutain of wisdom that we find in Scripture.
This week, beginning on Monday, the Office of Readings works its way through some of the most important sections of Sirach including: the truth about wisdom, trusting in God, and giving praise to God.
Paired with each of these readings is sermon or writing by a saint. This week includes St. Clement I on Scripture being a fountain of wisdom, St. Irenaeus on knowledge of the Father, and St. Athanasius on the divine harmony of creation.
If becoming more familiar with Scripture and learning from the fathers and doctors of the Church was one of your New Year’s resolutions, this is an excellent resource.
I have the four volume set (which will be oboslete in a few years due to impending translation changes), but you can easily find the Office of Readings online. The version we use in America is available on DivineOffice.org or a different translation (closer to the English version) at Universalis.org.
Lets not waste any part of this year and start off our spiritual training strong.
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
This Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The readings at Mass will be Isaiah 42:1-4 (or Isaiah 40:15, 9-11), 6-7; Psalm 29 (or Psalm 104); ACts 10:34-38 (or Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7), and Luke 3:15-16, 21-22.
Here are some resources to help you prep for the readings this Sunday:
Why was Jesus baptized? - Bishop Robert Barron (Winona-Rochester, Minnesota)
Hope does not disappoint - Deacon Steven Greydanus in US Catholic
Beginning on Monday, we once again begin our journey through Oridnary Time. In the Office of Readings, we’ll read Isaiah’s message of slavation. On Monday, we begin reading through the book of Sirach. Keep in mind that we also return to Psalter Week I on Monday.
Here is a calendar for the rest of the week:
Monday, January 13 - Memorial of St. Hilary, bishop and doctor (optional)
Friday, January 17 - Memorial of St. Anthony, abbot
John answered them all, “I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Luke 3:16
In the news:
California Wildfires
Catholic parishes offer shelter, relief to evacuated families near LA fires - Angelus News
Family goes viral singing to Mary at site of home burned to the ground - National Catholic Register
Deacon, parishioners save Altadena church from Eaton Fire with a hose - Angelus News
The United States
California bars faithful Catholic families from the foster care system - Catholic World Report
How Cardinal McElroy came to Washington - The Pillar
A Catholic Response to the potential TikTok Ban - National Catholic Register
Biden cancels trip to Italy - AP News
The Vatican
Big takeaways from the pope’s 2025 ‘state of the world’ speech - The Pillar
The World
Requiescat in pace
Father Joseph Guo Fude, SVD, China’s oldest priest, dies at 104 - Catholic News Agency
Have a good weekend,
Matthew
