Dear Friends in Christ,
A glorious and blessed Easter to all! May the grace of the risen Christ fill your hearts with hope and joy.
Easter is the season of new life, the life promised us by our Lord when He said, “I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10: 10). Jesus, the Son of God, is the Author of life, the Creator. All life comes from Him and returns to him.
When God created Adam and Eve He made them stewards of life. As members of the human family we share in the work of building the earth and caring for life.
The political process whereby we enact laws to order our society is ordered to the common good of the members of the state and nation. Since we have a government of the people and by the people, we all have the responsibility to participate in the governing process. The current presidential campaign is a very clear example.
In addition to our elected officials, we also have a say in the development of laws for our government, including those of our own state. In past weeks we have provided information about an important law, Sarah’s Law, which seeks to protect the rights of parents and the health of our youth. Many of you have already signed the petition to put Sarah’s Law on the November 8 ballot.
The California Bishops are strongly supporting this initiative because it protects minor girls. The “Sarah” for whom the law is named was a 15 year old girl who died from the complications of an abortion without her parents’ knowledge. Sarah’s Law would protect girls under 18 from abortion and abuse. Please take a blue envelope from the rear of the church and send in your signed petition. You will have made an important contribution to saving innocent lives, the lives of the unborn children and the lives of our youth.
Let us share the joy of Easter by our union with the Lord of life.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Hildebrand
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Last Week of Lent & Easter
Dear Friends in Christ,
You have noticed that the statues and images in our church have been covered with violet cloth since last Sunday. You may wonder why. The tradition of covering statues and crosses in Lent is very old. It goes back several hundred years to the times when many people could not read. While everyone knew that Lent began on Ash Wednesday with the distribution of ashes, they also needed a reminder that the last part of Lent included the celebration of the Passion of the Lord.
Hence, the last two weeks of Lent are traditionally called Passion-tide. Part of the reason for the covering of statues comes from the gospel that used to be read on the Fifth Sunday of Lent (formerly called “Passion Sunday”). That gospel was taken from John 8:46-59. The text relates that Jesus encountered some fierce opposition from the Jews, who responded by trying to seize Him and stone Him. The gospel says that Jesus slipped from their grasp and hid Himself. That is why the statues, images, and crosses are “hidden” during this time. However, there is also another very good reason to cover the statues. The Church is contemplating the Passion of her Lord; she is in mourning because He has been taken away from her.
The statues and images will remain covered until just before the Easter Vigil. Crosses will be uncovered at the Good Friday services and left for veneration through Holy Saturday until before the Easter Vigil. At the Easter Vigil the uncovered statues and crosses as well as the other flowers and decorations will remind us that He is risen as He promised. The Church’s mourning for the loss of her suffering Savior will be turned into joy at His resurrection.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Hildebrand
You have noticed that the statues and images in our church have been covered with violet cloth since last Sunday. You may wonder why. The tradition of covering statues and crosses in Lent is very old. It goes back several hundred years to the times when many people could not read. While everyone knew that Lent began on Ash Wednesday with the distribution of ashes, they also needed a reminder that the last part of Lent included the celebration of the Passion of the Lord.
Hence, the last two weeks of Lent are traditionally called Passion-tide. Part of the reason for the covering of statues comes from the gospel that used to be read on the Fifth Sunday of Lent (formerly called “Passion Sunday”). That gospel was taken from John 8:46-59. The text relates that Jesus encountered some fierce opposition from the Jews, who responded by trying to seize Him and stone Him. The gospel says that Jesus slipped from their grasp and hid Himself. That is why the statues, images, and crosses are “hidden” during this time. However, there is also another very good reason to cover the statues. The Church is contemplating the Passion of her Lord; she is in mourning because He has been taken away from her.
The statues and images will remain covered until just before the Easter Vigil. Crosses will be uncovered at the Good Friday services and left for veneration through Holy Saturday until before the Easter Vigil. At the Easter Vigil the uncovered statues and crosses as well as the other flowers and decorations will remind us that He is risen as He promised. The Church’s mourning for the loss of her suffering Savior will be turned into joy at His resurrection.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Hildebrand
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Feast of St. Joseph on March 15!
Feast of St. Joseph has been transferred this year to March 15th!
GO TO JOSEPH! by Saint Teresa of Avila
(From her Autobiography, Chapter VI)
Finding myself so crippled and so young too, and earthly doctors having failed to cure me, I looked to heavenly physicians for help...
I took for my advocate and comforter the glorious Saint Joseph, and commended myself fervently to him; and I clearly saw that it was he who both cured me of my sickness and delivered me from great dangers that threatened my good name and the loss of my soul. His aid has brought me more good than I ever desired to receive from him. I do not remember at any time having asked him for anything which he did not grant. I am quite amazed at the great favors Our Lord has given me, and the many dangers, both of soul and body, from which He has delivered me through the intercession of this blessed saint. Our Lord seems to have given to other saints the power to help us in only one kind of necessity, but I know from experience that this glorious Saint Joseph helps us in all kinds of needs. It appears then that God wishes us to understand that as He was obedient to Joseph when He was on earth (for Saint Joseph was called His father and he could command Him) so now in Heaven God grants whatever Joseph asks.
Others, on my advice, have turned to Saint Joseph and they have had the same experience; and now there are many people who honor him and keep discovering the truth of what I have told them.
I wish I could persuade everyone to be devoted to this glorious saint, because long experience has shown me what wonderful blessings he obtains for us from God. Of all those I have known with a true devotion to Saint Joseph, I have never known any who did not advance i in virtue, for he assists in a very special way those souls who place themselves under his protection. Whoever wants a model to imitate on how to pray, let him take this glorious saint as a guide and he will not lose his way!
GO TO JOSEPH! by Saint Teresa of Avila
(From her Autobiography, Chapter VI)
Finding myself so crippled and so young too, and earthly doctors having failed to cure me, I looked to heavenly physicians for help...
I took for my advocate and comforter the glorious Saint Joseph, and commended myself fervently to him; and I clearly saw that it was he who both cured me of my sickness and delivered me from great dangers that threatened my good name and the loss of my soul. His aid has brought me more good than I ever desired to receive from him. I do not remember at any time having asked him for anything which he did not grant. I am quite amazed at the great favors Our Lord has given me, and the many dangers, both of soul and body, from which He has delivered me through the intercession of this blessed saint. Our Lord seems to have given to other saints the power to help us in only one kind of necessity, but I know from experience that this glorious Saint Joseph helps us in all kinds of needs. It appears then that God wishes us to understand that as He was obedient to Joseph when He was on earth (for Saint Joseph was called His father and he could command Him) so now in Heaven God grants whatever Joseph asks.
Others, on my advice, have turned to Saint Joseph and they have had the same experience; and now there are many people who honor him and keep discovering the truth of what I have told them.
I wish I could persuade everyone to be devoted to this glorious saint, because long experience has shown me what wonderful blessings he obtains for us from God. Of all those I have known with a true devotion to Saint Joseph, I have never known any who did not advance i in virtue, for he assists in a very special way those souls who place themselves under his protection. Whoever wants a model to imitate on how to pray, let him take this glorious saint as a guide and he will not lose his way!
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Halfway in our Lenten Season
Dear Friends in Christ,
Today we reach the halfway mark in our Lenten season. As we look back on the past weeks do we find that we have been faithful to our Lenten resolutions? Probably something has prevented us from being as penitential as we had planned. Perhaps we forgot, or maybe we caught the flu (that was my excuse), or just couldn’t resist a temptation. Whatever the reason, don’t give up! Take heart that there are still three weeks to offer something to Jesus. Let me suggest some “second chance” Lenten practices that can prepare you well to renew your Baptismal promises at Easter.
Take time for prayer. Our chapel is open for adoration all day and all night. Even if you don’t have an entry code you can always go in from 6AM to 9PM and spend an hour or even 20 minutes of your busy day. Remember that a major indulgence is attached to those who spend 20
minutes reading the Bible before the Blessed Sacrament. Every Friday at 7:30PM we have Stations of the Cross in the church. If you can’t make it then, you could pray the stations on your own.
Love as He has loved us. Jesus gives us the example during Lent of self-sacrificing love. During this time we could make an extra effort to do something kind for another. Call a friend or relative you haven’t spoken to in a long time. Visit an elderly or shut-in neighbor. Help out at a soup kitchen for the homeless or sign up for the annual Walk out of Poverty sponsored by Concern America (packets available at the rectory). In general, try to make others’ Lent easier by your compassion and concern.
Take less and receive more. At your daily coffee/tea break instead of eating a snack, read from a book of meditations or say a decade of the rosary while taking a short walk. Instead of watching television or going on the internet, spend 20 or 30 minutes reading the life of a saint or holy person. Finally, take advantage of these days to make your Lenten confession. Jesus comes to us as the Healer of our souls. He cured the man born blind in today’s gospel. He can also cure our spiritual blindness so that we can see better and make those changes in our life that will make us His true disciples.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Hildebrand
Today we reach the halfway mark in our Lenten season. As we look back on the past weeks do we find that we have been faithful to our Lenten resolutions? Probably something has prevented us from being as penitential as we had planned. Perhaps we forgot, or maybe we caught the flu (that was my excuse), or just couldn’t resist a temptation. Whatever the reason, don’t give up! Take heart that there are still three weeks to offer something to Jesus. Let me suggest some “second chance” Lenten practices that can prepare you well to renew your Baptismal promises at Easter.
Take time for prayer. Our chapel is open for adoration all day and all night. Even if you don’t have an entry code you can always go in from 6AM to 9PM and spend an hour or even 20 minutes of your busy day. Remember that a major indulgence is attached to those who spend 20
minutes reading the Bible before the Blessed Sacrament. Every Friday at 7:30PM we have Stations of the Cross in the church. If you can’t make it then, you could pray the stations on your own.
Love as He has loved us. Jesus gives us the example during Lent of self-sacrificing love. During this time we could make an extra effort to do something kind for another. Call a friend or relative you haven’t spoken to in a long time. Visit an elderly or shut-in neighbor. Help out at a soup kitchen for the homeless or sign up for the annual Walk out of Poverty sponsored by Concern America (packets available at the rectory). In general, try to make others’ Lent easier by your compassion and concern.
Take less and receive more. At your daily coffee/tea break instead of eating a snack, read from a book of meditations or say a decade of the rosary while taking a short walk. Instead of watching television or going on the internet, spend 20 or 30 minutes reading the life of a saint or holy person. Finally, take advantage of these days to make your Lenten confession. Jesus comes to us as the Healer of our souls. He cured the man born blind in today’s gospel. He can also cure our spiritual blindness so that we can see better and make those changes in our life that will make us His true disciples.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Hildebrand
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