I was delighted our third graders at morning mass knew the four marks of the church today, since it wasn't a question they would be anticipating based on today's gospel. Jesus sent the Twelve in mission two-by-two to preach and heal. Our church traces its origin back to Jesus' Twelve disciples, hence the 4th mark or characteristic of the church, apostolic.
Clear sky and beautiful weather without much wind made for a perfect banner carrying day - a blessing for us with our Irish Saints Banners for Rumson Borough's Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Thanks to all our marchers and banner-bearers for supporting the parish's contingent.
Whether you cheer along the line of march, or join with the contingent of our own parishioners who will be carrying the Irish Saints Banners from our windows, come enjoy the sunshine and the joy!
Blessed St. Patrick
We your spiritual sons and daughters
Remember the courage
With which you proclaimed
The Catholic faith throughout Ireland.
We ask you to inspire us
With the same courage
To witness our faith
To our own land.
You made the shamrock
A sign of the most wondrous
Mystery, The Holy Trinity.
Through your intercession
May this Trinity
Protect all who march
Under its banner
And give glory and honor
To God’s name
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Our novena prayers to the Sacred Heart culminate in the solemnity of today's celebration.
Every pope in modern times has affirmed devotion to the Sacred Heart, an idea which when it was first introduced to the church after almost one hundred centuries seemed strange to some. It is difficult to trace the roots to the devotion, but some feel it began with the piety surrounding the wounds of Christ, of which his wounded heart always held primacy. It was His last; it was His deepest. Critics of the devotion thought that reverence to a body part, especially a human body part of Christ denied his full divinity and was akin to some practices in nature worship. Many Protestants and even Eastern Orthodox Christians avoid this devotion.
There is a long list of saints and blessed who promoted the devotion, including the Jesuit and Dominican orders themselves. Most famously perhaps, the revelations of St. Mary Mary Alacoque popularized the devotion and popes, especially since Pius XI have written about it, grounding devotion to the Sacred Heart on solid theological and ecclesial footings. Saint Pope John Paul II's writings are particularly suited for the modern reader.
At least two essential elements mark the devotion to the Sacred Heart: reparation and mercy. We cooperate with the reparation of sins by Jesus whenever we offer prayer and penance for the indifference or offenses of ourselves or others. We are also bathed in an endless font of mercy and forgiveness by the blood and water flowing in love from Christ's wounded side.
Not only did Beyer Studios fabricate the remaining windows for the church before Christmas as they had anticipated, they finished them before Thanksgiving!
The windows were installed today in the North Transept. I took these photos at 4 P.M. when the sun was not at its brightest, but we'll get another set in better lighting.
These are most of the remaining events in the life of Francis cut from the full-sized windows we purchased from the former St. Francis of Assisi parish in Germantown, Philadelphia.
Beyer Studio has informed us that they anticipate installing the two new stained glass windows in the North Transept of the church by Christmas.
September 14 was the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, our patronal feast, and we defer its commemoration until a weekend so that many more members of our parish family may pray together. Join us at Mass on this festive and joyful occasion. There will be hospitality after the 10:30 AM mass. Check our our just-finished Hospitality Room in the St. Joseph Room.
The Finding of the True Cross window on the west wall of the church depicts the story of St. Helena's discovery of the cross through a divine healing. Since its cleaning and restoration, there are spectacular views of the window at various times of the day, especially during the fall.
Monday also commemorates the first year anniversary dedication of our new church, another cause for great joy.
P.S. This is a "before cleaning" picture. We'll have to take an "after restoration" picture for comparison.
Images of Matthew, Mark and Luke have joined the image of St. John in our sanctuary.
St. Matthew is symbolized by an angel or winged man, St. Mark by a winged lion, St. Luke by a winged bull and St. John by an eagle.
These iconographic representations of the evangelists come from the Book of Kells. The book has a connection with St. Columcille (Columba) - the third window from the east on the southern nave of Holy Cross - and is sometimes called the Book of Columba, since by tradition it survived Viking raids on Iona from at least the 9th century.
Beyer Studios has crafted a design for the two exterior windows on the north transept using the stained glass we already own from the former St. Francis of Assisi Church in Germantown, Philadelphia.
As you recall, the original windows were quite a bit bigger than our church permitted, so we have scenes from each of the windows illustrating events in the life of St. Francis. Four of them were used to fashion the window between St. Francis and St. Clare, including a scene where Francis blesses Clare.
The smaller windows would utilize 8 more of the scenes:
Francis prays for guidance.
Francis' rule is blessed by Pope Innocent III.
Francis takes "build my church" literally.
Francis blesses King St. Louis IX. (?)
Francis meets St. Dominic.
Clare prays at St. Francis' deathbed.