2022 archive of Music & Liturgy Musings
The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
Posted by Anthony Gallina on 12/09/22
The Catechism teaches that “Sin is before all else an offense against God, a rupture of communion with him. At the same time it damages communion within the Church” (1440). For those who have been baptized and therefore forgiven of original sin and any actual sin, there remains ... Read More »
The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
Posted by Anthony Gallina on 11/29/22
The final sacrament of initiation is the Most Holy Eucharist where Christ is wholly present—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity— under the appearances of bread and wine. The Catechism of the Catholic Church notes, “The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of ... Read More »
The Sacrament of Confirmation
Posted by Anthony Gallina on 11/29/22
First, we need to remember that to receive any sacrament, one must have been validly baptized because “Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life ... the door which gives access to the other sacraments.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1213) So, having looked at baptism ... Read More »
Baptism
Posted by Anthony Gallina on 11/29/22
More on Sacramental Theology
When celebrating a sacrament, provided that the correct form, matter, and minster are present, the sacrament is performed ex opere operato, a Latin phrase meaning, “by the work worked.” Essentially it means that God confers the graces of the sacrament when the sign is validly ... Read More »
Sacraments and Sacramental Theology
Posted by Anthony Gallina on 11/29/22
We hear a lot about the sacraments and we can probably name them without too much effort or thinking. But, how much do we really know about these sacred rituals of the Church? Over the next few weeks, we will look at some of the basics of the sacraments ... Read More »
Feast of the Lateran Basilica
Posted by Anthony Gallina on 11/03/22
On November 9 each year, the universal Church celebrates the Feast of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome. This basilica, not Saint Peter’s Basilica, is actually the cathedral of the Pope. As in all cathedrals, the chair of the bishop or cathedra resides in it. It is ... Read More »
Plenary Indulgence for the Souls in Purgatory
Posted by Anthony Gallina on 11/03/22
Last year around this time I wrote about the short season of Allhallowtide which began on October 31 and ended on November 8. If you wanted to read that article again, you can visit https://www.stwendelin.org/blog/music-liturgy-musings/hallowe-enallhallowtide-and-the-month-of-the-dead.While the season of Allhallowtide has been removed from the General Roman Calendar, one of ... Read More »
All Saints and All Souls
Posted by Anthony Gallina on 11/03/22
The end of October and the beginning of November is always a busy time at our parish due to our feast day on October 22, Forty Hours, and then the Solemnity of All Saints on November 1, and the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day) on ... Read More »
Given Up for You: The Veil Removed
Posted by Anthony Gallina on 11/03/22
Mark your calendars for our annual Forty Hours of Eucharistic Adoration celebration which will be October 22 through October 25! The forty hours devotion is a beautiful tradition in the Church which originated in Milan in the 1500s. Traditionally, it begins with a solemn Mass followed by exposition of ... Read More »
The National Eucharistic Revival
Posted by Anthony Gallina on 11/03/22
What exactly is it and why the need for it?Here is an explanation from the NER’s website (www.eucharisticrevival.org/faqs): “The National Eucharistic Revival is a three year initiative sponsored by the Bishops of the United States to inspire and prepare the People of God to be formed, healed, converted, united, ... Read More »