Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: June 12, 2016
The day after Pentecost a few weeks ago, like every other Catholic Parish, our green vestments reappeared and we plunged back into Ordinary Time. Yet in reality, it was not until last weekend, after the celebrations of Trinity Sunday and of Corpus Christi (and here at the Cathedral, of diocesan Ordinations!), that it felt like we were really beginning summertime.
This doesn’t mean that our schedule is very different – the regular rhythm of prayer always continues, of course. For everyone this includes Sunday and daily Mass; for me and all other clergy and religious the responsibility and joy of the Church’s official daily prayer known as the Liturgy of the Hours remains always part of our lives.
But “da rulz” of the Church do indicate that our prayer is best when it exhibits the principle of “progressive solemnity.” So our major feasts and seasons are more intense and full of rich symbolism, décor and music, while the rest of the year is more plain. You should notice this here: there’s a more “low key” aura at Mass when the Cathedral choir is on vacation, when vestments and floral arrangements are more subdued, and when little “extra” is added to our worship. But please don’t mistakenly think that God and religion somehow become less important during the summer months. In many respects the increased recreation of vacation-time demands more attention to our spiritual life, not less, just to avoid increased slothfulness and other near occasions of sin!
I hope if you and your family are getting away for some vacation you continue to keep God in your plans. Frankly one of the things I always enjoy when I’m away from my “home Parish” is the opportunity to see “how things are done” elsewhere. So make sure you go to church while away from home. I hope that you are spiritually nourished elsewhere of course, but also quickly grow nostalgic for the more familiar and inspiring worship here at your Cathedral!
Don’t forget us while you’re away! The most practical thing to do is contact your own bank and make an “automatic bill pay” request of them. Your own bank may call it something else, but as more and more people handle their regular financial transactions electronically it’s becoming pretty commonplace. If you ask them to send a set payment from your checking account to the Cathedral every week (or month, or however often you decide), you won’t have to remember to write that check yourself, and bring it to church or mail it in. It also avoids “transaction fees” and contractual costs to you and us – which other forms of “electronic giving” require. All of this is probably a big plus in your eyes, and certainly is an advantage for us here in the Parish Office as well.
This being said, I want to reassure everyone who simply prefers to drop their weekly or monthly check or envelope into the collection basket at Mass, that’s perfectly acceptable too! From a theological point of view, in fact, this is actually better: since at Mass we unite our own sacrificial giving to that of Christ, contributing while at Mass – “adding to the sacrifice,” as it were – symbolizes this very, very well. One priest-friend of mine recommends an “automatic” monthly contribution directly from your checking account using “bill pay” AND another gift in church of all pocket-change and small bills each Sunday! It’s an interesting approach to better participation!
What isn’t good, of course, is putting God and the Church way, way down on our list of priorities. Since along with time and involvement, spending habits are the best indicators of the real value we place on things, it’s impossible to pretend that God is very important when we routinely treat ourselves to entertainment and never give back to Him. The Lord is very understanding, of course, and wants us to take care of ourselves and our families first. Yet He also can read the real intentions of our hearts, and knows when we’re really being selfish and forsaking generosity and charity.
In any case, thanks for considering your responsibilities to God and to the community of the Church and your Cathedral Parish this summer. I know I consider them often, and I appreciate you joining me in that reflection!
Yours in Christ,
