50 years ago this month, Pope John XXIII presided over the opening of the Second Vatican Council, perhaps better known as Vatican II. The effects of this council are still being felt, nowhere more strongly than in our liturgy. Over the next few weeks we are going to look at the changes that are part of the legacy of Vatican II, how these changes came to be and how they have affected our celebration of – not only the Eucharistic Liturgy – but our other liturgies as well.
When Vatican II began 50 years ago there had already been a tremendous amount of work done on what would be the first document promulgated by the council Sancrosanctum Concilium: The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. The reforms that would finally come to fruition in this document actually began many years earlier in the monastery of Mont César in the Louvain. A young diocesan priest, who had entered the abbey in 1906, Lambert Beauduin, would, three years later, in 1909, deliver a paper, “The Prayer of the Church”, at the National Congress on Catholic Works in Malines Belgium. There he met Godefroid Kurth, a Catholic layman, who, with the approval of the bishop of Brussels, would work out a plan to implement the reforms that Fr. Beauduin put forth in his paper. This series of event is, according too many Church historians, the beginning of the liturgical reform movement.
At first this was a movement of education and study and for the next 38 years, that was all it was. In 1947 Pope Pius XII stepped into liturgical reform with the encyclical, Mediator Dei. This letter gave papal approval to the liturgical movement and enhanced the standing of this work. The Holy Father stated that “all the faithful should be aware that to participate in the Eucharistic Sacrifice is their chief duty and supreme dignity, and that not in an inert and negligent fashion” but with “earnestness and concentration.” He also said that the people should offer themselves, united to the sacrifice of Christ. These ideas would later become key points in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.
Pope John XXIII has garnered most of the credit for the liturgical renewal that came directly from Vatican II, and rightly so, but the work of many liturgists years before and the support of Pope Pius XII, paved the way for the work that would culminate in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.
Parish Leadership Blog
Dear Friends:
As we anticipate the year ahead, I want to let you know what we have to look forward to here at Holy Family.
Believing as a Beloved Disciple and The Year of Faith
This year our parish theme is Believing as a Beloved Disciple. Throughout this year, we will explore what it means to be a believer, a follower of Christ, in our modern world. How do we model our faith in all aspects of our lives, not just when we come to Church? How do we deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ? And how do we witness to God’s love for us in a way that touches and inspires those around us to be open to God in their own lives?
Pope Benedict XVI has declared a Year of Faith for the universal Church, beginning October 12, 2012 and ending November 24, 2013. The Year of Faith is an occasion for Catholics to experience a conversion, turning back to Jesus and entering into a relationship of the heart with Him. As disciples, as followers of Christ, we are always journeying in our faith, always learning and growing. (Though sometimes it might feel like we get stalled and we’re not getting anywhere — a bit like being on the 405 in rush hour!).
Holy Family offers a variety of opportunities designed to nurture our faith and spirituality. Listed below are some of the formation and parish events planned for the coming months to encourage our growth as disciples, enrich our faith, and offer a means to become more involved in the life of the parish and make new friends.
What’s Happening at Holy Family?
The Evangelization Team will be available with information regarding lifelong faith formation at all Masses on Come and See Weekend September 8th and 9th. Then on Monday, September 10th and Thursday, September 13th at 7 p.m. they will host two Come and Deepen Your Faith evenings where you can learn more about the following events:
Seeking Sacraments
- Session on Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist for those adults who attend Mass at Holy Family but have not received the Sacraments: Monday, September 10th at 7 p.m.
Seeking Spirituality
- Conversations of the Heart, with Fr. Tri Dihn, SJ – a series on Ignatian Spirituality: Tuesdays, September 11th, 18th and 25th at 7 p.m.
- Centering Prayer: An Introduction: Saturday, October 6th, 8:45 a.m. -1:30 p.m.
- Spiritual Direction: Ongoing availability to meet with a Spiritual Director in the parish
- Parish Mission with Fr. Richard Leonard, SJ February 23rd -27th, 2013
- Parish Retreat with Fr. Michael Fish, OSB, March 21st -23rd, 2013
Seeking Understanding
- ReMembering Church: Ten-week program for returning or seeking Catholics, starts Thursday, September 13th, 7 p.m.
- Art at the Cathedral (Tour of the Cathedral and Discussion on Contemporary Art, Modern Technology and Spirituality): Saturday, September 15th, 10 a.m.
- Bible Study: Books of Ruth and Jonah: Wednesdays at 7pm in September, October, and November
- Vatican II Fifty Years Later: Fr. Jim Heft, Tuesday, October 2nd, 7 p.m.
- Embracing the Consistent Ethic of Life: Sr. Helen Prejean, Sunday Mass, October 7th, 2013
- An Evening of Dialogue on the Death Penalty: Panel Discussion, Monday, October 8th.
- The Liturgy: Reformed by the Second Vatican Council, Renewed in our Lives: with Rita Ferrone, national and international speaker on Liturgy: October 24th , 25th , 26th and 27th , four opportunities to hear this repeated presentation
Seeking Community Involvement and Belonging
- Holy Family “Fall Festival”: Saturday, October 13th and Sunday, October 14th
- Living Your Gifts Seminars: Scheduled according to demand throughout the year.
These are just a few of many prospects to engage both your spiritual and social needs. To find more take a look at our bulletin, website (http://holyfamily.org/) or Facebook page (Holy Family Church South Pasadena).
So Let’s Experience a Conversion Together!
My prayer for each of you is this: That you will make a faith commitment to do one new thing during this year to increase your faith. Perhaps it will be going to Bible Study for the first time, or beginning Spiritual Direction, or signing up for a Living Your Gifts seminars. Or it might even be something as simple as making Sunday Mass a priority for your family EVERY week. To encourage others you might share your faith commitment on our Facebook page!
So I ask you to do it during this Year of Faith—as we explore together Believing as Beloved Disciples!
Yours in Christ,
Cambria Smith
Parish Life Director
