Just a reminder that our normal activities this week are cancelled because of the holiday. No "Supper @ the Center" Wednesday night, and no student discussion group on Thursday night.
We WILL HAVE MASS this Sunday, Nov. 27, at 7:30pm (regular time). We are, however, taking a break this week from our high school youth ministry program for those of you volunteering for that.
ADVENT
When we next meet, it will be a new liturgical year, and the beginning of Advent. Advent is one of the major liturgical seasons in the year, and its name comes from the Latin word for "to come to." The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ's second coming at the end of time and also to the anniversary of the Lord's birth on Christmas. So while we remember that Christ came to us 2000 years ago in a manger in Bethlehem, we also look ahead for when He will come again in all His glory.
Special Advent devotions include the lighting of the Advent wreath and the keeping of an Advent calendar which helps remind us of the season with daily thoughts and activities. Like Lent, the season of preparation before Easter, Advent is also a penitential season, which is why both Advent and Lent use the same liturgical color - purple. One thing that is challenging for today's Catholics is to remember that Advent is a season of penance and preparation, a season of reflection where we are asked to look within ourselves and ask the tough question - "Am I prepared for the coming of the Lord?" It is far too easy to get caught up in the commercial madness of today when the stores have Christmas decorations up the day after Halloween, and you start seeing Christmas trees and hearing Christmas carols as early as Thanksgiving. By the time December 25 rolls around many people are tired of "the holidays," when in fact the Christmas season has just begun.
So let's not lose Advent this year. Let's keep it as a time of preparation for the coming of our Lord and look forward to Christmas with all the excitement and joy and reverence that this Holy Day deserves.
ROMAN MISSAL 3.0 -- ARE YOU READY?
And of course this year Advent is doubly special, as the first Sunday of Advent is when we will officially begin using the third edition of the Roman Missal, with its revised English translation. We have discussed many of the coming changes this semester, and even more information is available on line. You can begin by visiting our own web site:
There you will find links to our blog where you can review the many topics we discussed this semester in my "Matt's Missal Moments." You will also find a link to the USCCB web site (US Conference of Catholic Bishops) where they have a host of good articles and other information about the new Roman Missal. There are a couple I'd like to point out to you in particular. One is an article that gives the definitions of many of the more unfamiliar words we will be hearing in this new translation; words such as chalice, consubstantial, godhead, and oblation which we don't use in our everyday speech. This handy glossary will help you navigate your way through these terms.
The second article I'd like to point out is entitled "Praying with Mind, Body and Voice" and deals with why we do things such as bow, genuflect, kneel and sing during Mass - and why there are times when we are silent, as well.
When you enter our chapel this coming Sunday, you will notice a few more articles and information guides posted on our bulletin board. You will also find a basket by the door containing copies of a little green booklet called "The Order of the Mass." Please pick one up as you enter the chapel; there you will find the entire Order of the Mass which you can use to follow along as we worship. In many ways it will be like coming to Mass for the first time. Old familiar prayers and responses we will have to relearn. It will take a while to get used to, but it's a good thing to be shaken up from time to time so that we can look at the liturgy with new eyes and take nothing for granted. These booklets are intended as an aid to your worship. Please return them to the basket after Mass so others can use them.
You will also find in your pews handy reference cards that contain just the people's responses, with the changed parts in bold, for quick reference. These are to remain in the pews and we'll use them for some time, until everyone is comfortable with the new translation.
Lastly, if anyone has any questions about the new Mass translation, I will remind you that I am here as a resource, as well. Just ask! You can either come to me in private or bring up your questions as a topic for discussion at any of our gatherings.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, a safe journey, and a relaxing break. God bless all of you!
Matt
WCU Catholic Campus Ministry
Matthew Newsome, MTh, campus minister
(828)293-9374 | POB 2766, Cullowhee NC 28723
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