Letter from the Pastor
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November 14, 2021Next Sunday is the very important Solemnity of Christ the King; it is the last Sunday of the Church’s year. Instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 to combat the rise of nationalism and socialism. The world was in chaos following the end of WWI. Governments were in economic chaos, unemployment was rampant and people in many places were literally starving to death. The old social and political orders of the crowned heads of state were crumbling. There grew a sense of helplessness among the people and a deep resentment even hatred among different countries. The philosophies of fascism, National Socialism (the Nazis) and communism began to take hold, and gave rise to Mussolini, Hitler and Stalin.
The people clung to anyone who offered them hope, direction out of the chaos, and whomever promised to put food on their tables. They gravitated to the emerging dictators, and excluded God from their societies. Pope Pius XI instituted the feast so as to say, there is only one king, and it is Christ.
To celebrate its importance in the life of the Church, I would like to start on certain solemnities the custom of chanting Solemn Evening Prayer or Vespers, concluding with Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. So, next Sunday, November 21 at 4:00PM in Church, join me and the choir and your fellow parishioners as we pray Solemn Vespers in honor of Christ the King.
Our Lord told us we ought to pray unceasingly. The Early Church took His words seriously and developed prayers 7 times during the day, evening and nighttime. The hours are called the Divine Office or The Liturgy of the Hours.
The Liturgy of the Hours is the daily prayer of the whole People of God. Religious and priests, are bound under sin, to pray the Office each day. The laity is encouraged to pray the divine office as well. There are many apps that one can use.
One of the Hours is Evening Prayer or Vespers (= of the evening) takes place as dusk begins to fall. Evening Prayer gives thanks for the day just past and makes an evening sacrifice of praise to God.
Vespers opens with the singing or chanting of the words: O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia.
Then there is a Hymn. This is when the Church sang hymns, in the Office. Hymns were very rarely sung at Mass. After the hymn, 3 psalms are chanted. These are the same psalms that Our Lord prayed daily and in the Temple. After the psalms, then a short reading from Sacred Scripture. Then the beautiful prayer of Our Lady known as the Magnificat. At Solemn Vespers, the Altar is incensed during the Magnificat. After the Magnificat, we intercede for the Church and the world concluding with the Our Father and the Final Prayer. At Solemn Vespers, we will conclude with the Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the blessing of Christ the Eucharistic King.
As we conclude the Year of Grace 2021, we offer prayers of thanksgiving for graces and favors received, prayers of petitions for our country, world and Church, and prayers of repentance and contrition for sins committed.
The Psalms are 150 hymns attributed to King David. They are wonderful expressions of humanity’s needs, praises and insights into human behavior. Many of the psalms were written for the Hebrew liturgies at the Temple. My favorite book in the Bible is the Book of Psalms.
Come and experience the beauty of chant, the treasury of the sacred music of the Church sung by our wonderful choir, and receive the Blessing of Christ Himself in the Eucharist. The service should last no longer than 45 minutes. It is a wonderful way to end the Church’s year as we prepare for the beginning of a new year at Advent.
Church’s Windows
Hopefully you noticed the three windows are missing from the Western wall. The windows are being restored and LED lights will be placed behind them so that we can see the beautiful windows. We are hoping the windows will be restored and re-installed by mid December. I will keep you informed of its progress.
