Bulletin December 17, 2021
January 15, 2021
St. Ita
January 15, 2021
Saint Ita is said to be the most popular female saint in Ireland after Brigid. A lyric poem about a vision she experienced of the Infant Jesus was composed and became a popular lullaby.
Recently, it has been set to music by Samuel Barber and many accomplished soprano soloists have YouTube videos performing the piece online. One of the beautiful performances with particularly intelligible lyrics is posted here, as are the lyrics.
St. Ita's Vision
“I will take nothing from my Lord,” said she,
“unless He gives me His Son from Heaven
In the form of a Baby that I may nurse Him.”
So that Christ came down to her
in the form of a Baby and then she said:
“Infant Jesus, at my breast,
Nothing in this world is true
Save, O tiny nursling, You.
Infant Jesus, at my breast,
By my heart every night,
You I nurse are not
A churl but were begot
On Mary the Jewess by Heaven’s Light.
Infant Jesus; at my breast,
what King is there but You who could
Give everlasting Good?
wherefore I give my food.
Sing to Him, maidens, sing your best!
There is none that has such right
to your song as Heaven’s King
Who every night
Is Infant Jesus at my breast.
Don't be Hard Hearted
January 14, 2021
This morning's Mass readings warn us about the dangers of hardness of heart. It grieves God because those who allow themselves to suffer from it become harder and harder for God to reach. Not only does it pose the risk of cutting us off from God's help, it isolates us from the human community. We become inaccessible to those who love us. Those in need of our help become invisible to us.
In the gospel, Jesus gives us an example of compassion - his healing of the leper. Jesus responded with love to this outcast who requested healing.
If our hearts have become encrusted with indifference, it will take deliberate chipping away of the stony layer by small acts done for others. In time we may not have to force such helping acts. They may flow naturally from a new heart which beats with compassion.
Printed Bulletins to Return This Weekend
January 13, 2021
New diocesan regulations allow the distribution of bulletins after mass with a few caveats.
- No one may take them before mass and have them in the church. Please cooperate with this.
- They cannot be distributed by an usher or other individual, but rather left in place for people to take home.
- Nothing can be left in the pews or returned to the stack of bulletins.
Please patronize the advertisers in the bulletin, who make the printed bulletin available to the church free of charge.
As usual, the bulletin will continue to be posted on our webpage and on my blog.
One more small step toward normalcy is a good sign!
Ashes on Ash Wednesday
January 11, 2021
Good news on Ash Wednesday. In our diocese, the imposition of ashes will be permitted using a cotton applicator, much the same as with anointings.