​Dominica Pentecostes [Pentecost Sunday]: May 15, 2016
Delivered by Most Reverend Roger LaRade, O.F.A.
Beloved Disciple Eucharistic Catholic Church, Toronto
© 2016 Roger LaRade
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Acts 2, 1 – 11, John 14, 23 - 31.
 
“The Spirit of love and justice”
 
“…the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you myself.”
 
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles which is our first reading for today’s Mass is undoubtedly well-known to us. And the picture which goes with it, that of the tongues of fire sitting on the heads of Holy Mary, the Apostles and the disciples probably comes easily to mind. It is so familiar that I think it often loses its meaning for us; it loses its punch, its power.
 
But what an amazing event this is which is told to us in this reading. Think of it. This group of people, followers of Jesus, have been bewildered by recent events. First, Jesus was horribly tortured and died. Then, He was resurrected and appeared to them numerous times. Then, He left them by ascending to God the Father, His Father from Whom He came, and to Whom He needed to return. This group of followers was holed up in the Upper Room, the Cenacle, that same room where Jesus had celebrated the Last Supper with them. They are hiding there out of fear of what might happen to them. Their leader was now gone and they no longer had any sense of direction. They simply didn’t have a clue as to what to do.
 
And then this amazing event happens: As Jesus had promised them, in His returning to His rightful place with the Father, the Holy Spirit is sent to His followers. And this Holy Spirit makes all the difference. It is through this experience that the followers of Jesus begin to preach His truth. The Acts of the Apostles recounts the beginnings of this preaching and the growth of the Church. This preaching is understood by all: “Aren’t these people who are speaking all Galileans? How is it, then, that each of us hears them in his native language?”
 
It seems to me that the coming of the Holy Spirit is about an intense experience of God’s presence in one’s life. The Spirit of God is represented in Scripture, both Jewish and Christian, as breath. This Spirit is the breath of God, the life of God. The Holy Spirit is indeed “the Giver of Life” as we pray in our profession of faith, the Creed. And so, this experience of the presence of God is an experience of the very life of God. This is what is given to the followers of Jesus in today’s reading from Acts. This is what is given to each one of us as followers of Jesus. As Catholics, we believe that this is first given to us at Baptism and then comes most powerfully, completely, and permanently to us in the Sacrament of Confirmation. This Sacrament brings with it the Grace and responsibility to live our faith in an adult manner, in the manner of the first Apostles.
 
We have been given the very breath of God. This is the reason why Jesus was born as a human being, died, was resurrected and ascended to be once again with the Father. God became human so that we might become God.[i] The meaning of the life, death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus is that a place might be made in our hearts, in our bodies, for the life-breath of God. You’ll have often heard about our body being the temple of the Holy Spirit. This is precisely what this means: in us lives the life-breath of God. Our God is not only a far-off God, a transcendent God. Our God is also as close to us as our own breath, an immanent God.

“…the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you myself.”
 
The Holy Spirit deepens our understanding of the post-Resurrection vision which we have been exploring since the Feast of Easter: a vision of a new way of seeing ourselves. Today, we see that this post-Resurrection understanding makes us realize that our God is a most intimate God.
 
Furthermore, we recognize that in us lives God’s desire for justice and love, the hallmarks of Jesus’ life: “If anyone loves me, they will keep my word. Then my Father will love them, and we shall come to them and make our dwelling-place with them.” The deeper meaning of these words of Jesus comes to us through our reception of the Holy Spirit, which opens our minds and our hearts. It is this Grace-filled experience of God’s love for us that transforms our vision and our understanding. With this new vision and new understanding, we see our life, our world, and our Church with the eyes of God, eyes saddened by injustice, eyes seeking out justice based in love. We see ourselves as the very vessels of God’s justice and love for the world, and for the Church.
 
In this season of Easter, when Resurrection is followed by Christ’s Ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Church calls us to rejoice and partake in the glorious love of God the Father and God the Son, that love which is the Holy Spirit. Let us pray for one another, as we share in this loving Spirit, that our post-Resurrection vision of God’s love and justice may be deepened and become the center of our lives as Catholics.

[i] See Aemiliana Löhr, The Mass through the Year: Volume Two – Holy Week to the Last Sunday after Pentecost (London: Longmans, Green & Co Ltd, 1959), p. 153.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help
 
Prayer Circle for May 2016

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary

During the year of Our Lord 2016, our Church prays during the Year of Mercy to be merciful like the Father.

NOTE: at Beloved Disciple Eucharistic Catholic Church, Toronto

• The petitions included in the Monthly Prayer Circle are placed on the Altar and included in the daily prayers at Divine Office, Rosary and Mass throughout the month.
• Rosary: Mondays at 5:00 pm followed by 5:30 pm Mass. Community dinner on the first Monday of the month. During May, the public recitation of the Rosary precedes every weekday Mass.
• Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament:  Sundays at 10:00 am with Matins-Lauds and 11:00 am Mass followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament (No Exposition and Benediction during Advent and Lent).

Please join us in praying for the following intentions:

From Archbishop Roger, O.F.A.:
 
• For generous benefactors to help us raise an urgently needed $3000.00 to register our Church in Cameroon, so that our parishes closed by the authorities may be reopened to continue our witness to the Infinite Love of God.
• For all our brothers and sisters in Cameroon.
• That during this month of Mary, may we renew and deepen our devotion to our Blessed Mother.
• For our Franciscan novice Rosa in Cuba.
• For continued collaboration with CENESEX in Cuba, for a successful Jornada.
• For generous benefactors to enable establishing our Church mission in Cuba.
• For successful registration of our Church in Cuba.
• For Fr. Peter Pabst, S.J., for healing after bone marrow transplant.
• For Sue Overton, for successful treatment of cancer.
• For Mark Overton, special intention.
• For a special intention for a friend.
• For Sr. Silvia’s health.
• For Fr. John Affleck's return to health.
• For Naomi, special intention.
• For all those who have asked for our prayers.
• For the homeless and the poorly-housed.
• For an end to violence against women.
• For meaningful, collaborative relationships leading to increased unity among autocephalous Catholic Churches' bishops, clergy, religious and members.
• For all clergy, religious, seminarians and members of our Church, for an increase in Faith, Hope, and Charity.
• In thanksgiving for those who have attended Mass at Beloved Disciple in the past month.
• For all former members of our Church.
• For all who are suffering or in pain.
• For all persecuted Christians.
• For humanitarian aid for all refugees displaced by conflict.
• For peace in all places of global conflict especially Syria, Ukraine, the Holy Land, Iraq, South Sudan, Sudan. http://reliefweb.int/updates.
• For the removal of land mines in areas of conflict.
 
From Mother Jean, fcjm, DD:

• For those who have requested prayers for healing.
• For two sisters, Anita Michielini detected two spots on the brain, and Linda Devlin just had brain surgery and now has an infection.

 
From Most Reverend Archbishop Joseph, DD:

• For Deb Gisler who is recovering from cancer surgery.
• For Wally Bell.
• For the Forgotten.
• For the repose of the soul of Virginia Fowler and the consolation of her family.
• For Judy Vargas who will undergo a lung biopsy.

 
From Marilyn:

• Special intention for my grandson Tyler.
• For Catherine, that she will resolve some personal challenges.
• For Pamela, that her Parkinson’s disease will stabilize.
• For Sr. Silvia, that her work in Cuba was fruitful and fulfilling and that she continues to regain her health and vitality.
• For Elizabeth, that she continues to be pain-free & at peace, while she patiently waits to go home to be with the Lord.
• A personal intention for  myself.

 
From Fr. Charles:

• Let's collectively PRAY TO BE STRONG.

 
From Remo:

• For my cousin and family that the Lord will continue healing her and for me to find support in Christ's love.

 
From Friar Francis Marie Veritas, O.F.A.:

• For my family to come to know the meaning of my vocation and to accept it as a gift. For discipline in all aspects of my life.
• For clarity with a direction for employment to secure a stable future.
• For all newly engaged couples especially Ian & Sam that they continue to grow deeper in their relationship, and that as they prepare for Marriage they continue to make Christ the center of their relationship.
• That the Lord continue to bless me, and guide me on this next stage of my vocation. For the unemployed that they find meaningful employment in a timely manner.
• That the Lord show me if I am to move to Toronto to be near the community or continue alone in Calgary.
• For all who have asked me to pray for them.

 
 From Sister Silvia, O.F.A.:

• Finances for Cameroon brothers and sisters Church opening.
• For "action steps" by all Christian denomination, especially the Roman Catholic Church, in asking for forgiveness for abuses committed in residential schools.
• For repentence of my sins.
• My health.
• Completion of my ordination courses and practice.
• The Lord's timing on my move to Cuba.
• For special intention.
• John Graham, who has cancer and his family.
• For all who have asked for prayers this past month.
• For the success of the CENESEX activities in Havana.
• In thanksgiving for Skip's and Ron's donations.
• For SMS' CEO, staff as they seek to reorganize.
• My son and his family.
• For Jackie Conn and the Conn family.
• For the right tutors in learning strategies.
• For a positive outcome in dealing with the TTC and other legal matters.
• For a positive outcome towards my Canadian citizenship.
• For a positive outcome in getting my Cuban passport.
• For Andy and Denise help in raising funds.
• For Angeli, Rosa, Frank, Magela, Manuel, Leo, Pancho, Rosa, Iliana, Milagros.
• For Mariela's health and travels.
• In thanksgiving to my doctors.
• In thanksgiving for Abp. Roger's spiritual direction.
• For the Lord's wisdom in writing a book.

 
From Friar Antoine, O.F.A.:

• For vocations to our Church in Cameroon.
• For our seminarians and all brothers and sisters in Cameroon.
• For the health of Msgr Joseph.
• For Friar Antoine that it may be possible for him to study in community in Canada.

 
From Friar Tomás, O.F.A.:  

• Special intentions.
• For my Family in Spain, and for my nieces and nephews that they be able to find work.

 
From David:

• Please pray for Mary Anne Simon, who lost her sister to cancer in February, and her nephew to suicide this month. 
• That God the Father of Mercy may deliver their Souls to the beatific vision of Heaven. 
• That the Christ, Who Has Risen, may raise all Souls in purgatory to the fullness of Heaven.
• Let us pray for all faithful followers of Christ. That we all practice the greatest Commandment to love one another in the fullness of the Catholic Faith.
• Let us pray for all victims of terror and war. That God will send the Holy Ghost, and all will welcome Him in Faith.  
• Let us all pray for all Souls who do not believe in the Risen Christ. That God may send the Holy Ghost to soften their hearts, and show them the Truth.

 
From David:
For Arlene LeBlanc that God give her strength to face the final stages of her pancreatic cancer.

Ascension de Notre-Seigneur: 5 mai 2016
Donné par Mgr Roger LARADE, O.F.A.
Eglise Catholique Eucharistique Disciple bien-aimé, Toronto
 
© 2016 Roger LaRade
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Actes 1: 1-11; Marc 16: 14-20

Participants à la Divinité

Nous avons éteint le cierge pascal, allumée cette dernière veillée pascale pour symboliser le Christ ressuscité, la vraie lumière du monde. Après la lecture de l'évangile de l'Ascension, le cierge est éteint pour démontrer que le Christ est maintenant monté au Ciel. Cela ne signifie pas que le Christ nous a laissé complètement. Cela ne signifie pas qu'Il nous a laissé dans une relation différente, Lui vers nous et nous vers Lui.

Au cours de ces derniers dimanches de la saison de Pâques, l'Église nous a ramené à la dernière Cène, nous donnant une chance de creuser plus profondément son sens, en la voyant avec des yeux post-résurrectionnel. Nous sommes témoins de ce qui est appelé le dernier discours de Jésus à ses disciples, ses instructions pour eux.

C'est le testament de Jésus à ses apôtres, et pour nous. Et, il est rempli de belles expressions de l'amour durable et infini de Dieu pour nous. Entre d’autres promesses, le Christ dit: « Je ne vous laisserai pas orphelins, je viendrai à vous » (Jn 14:17-19) Il promet de ne jamais abandonner ses disciples. Viendra la crucifixion, l'obscurité, la souffrance, la persécution, l'échec apparent. Mais à travers tout cela, les apôtres peuvent s'accrocher avec une foi ferme à cette promesse: Je ne vous laisserai pas orphelins, je ne vous abandonnerai jamais.

Avec notre foi post-résurrectionnel, nous savons que le Christ est présent avec nous à chaque instant, que nous le réalisions ou non. Nous savons, en effet, que le Christ revient durant chaque Messe, corporellement présent parmi nous et pour nous. Et Il nous reste présente dans le Saint Sacrement.
Et aujourd'hui, alors que nous célébrons l'Ascension du Christ, comme nous éteignons la lumière du cierge pascal, le Christ ne nous laisse pas orphelins, le Christ ne nous abandonne pas. Nous n'avons pas éteint la flamme de Sa présence parmi nous.

Mais cette Ascension du Christ est nécessaire pour l’approfondissement et la continuation de la relation de Dieu avec nous, ou plutôt, pour la restauration de notre relation avec Dieu. Sans Son Ascension, la mission de Jésus comme Rédempteur serait incomplète.

C'est par Son Ascension que le Christ retourne dans Son existence pré-humaine, celle de la Parole, comme deuxième personne de la Trinité. Pourtant, il revient changé, différent de la Parole pré-incarné. Quand le Christ monte au ciel et reprends Sa place à la droite du Père, il est à la fois humain et divin. Et ainsi, l'humanité est incorporée à la Divinité.

Le pape saint Léon Ier dans son sermon sur l'Ascension exprime magnifiquement ce mystère. Il écrit:
la nature humaine a été élevé et exalté au-dessus de la dignité de tous les êtres célestes, en passant au-dessus des hiérarchies d'anges ; élevé au-dessus des hauteurs des Archanges, elle ne souffre aucune limite de retard dans son ascension à travers les hauteurs célestes jusqu'à, après avoir reçu un siège auprès du Père éternel, elle est rejoint à la gloire de Son trône auquel elle a été uni dans la Parole. (Office divin, Leçon V pour l'Ascension de Notre-Seigneur)

Et donc, poursuit-il, précisant que: l'Ascension du Christ est aussi notre exaltation ... le Fils de Dieu a fait (de ses disciples) un seul corps avec Lui et les a placés à la droite du Père, avec qui Il vit et règne dans l'unité du Saint-Esprit, Dieu , pour toujours.

C'est ce que nous célébrons aujourd'hui. C'est la raison pour laquelle les apôtres ne sont pas attristés par le départ du Christ dans Son Ascension, et pourquoi nous ne devrions pas être attristés par l'extinction du cierge pascal. Ce que nous avons célébré ces quarante jours depuis la Veillée pascale, c'est notre Rédemption - d’être réunit avec Dieu. Aujourd'hui ceci est complété. En effet, les mystères que nous célébrons - la Mort du Christ, Sa Résurrection, Son Ascension - sont tous un, ils sont tous d'un mouvement, d'une seule pièce. Ils forment l'unité de la promesse du salut de Dieu pour nous par le Christ.

En tant que disciples du Christ, baptisés et croyant, nous sommes promis une part de la divinité du Christ, nous devenons participants à la Divinité. Dans la Messe, le prêtre mêle l'eau et le vin à l'offertoire, en prions: « fais que par le mystère de cette eau et de ce vin, nous soyons rendus participants de Sa nature divine, qui daigna être fait participant de notre nature humaine. » L'Ascension du Christ est la promesse et le sceau de l'espoir exprimé dans cette prière.

Sa pleine réalisation viendra à la Seconde Venue du Christ. Et ainsi, avec les apôtres, nous aussi nous sommes adressé ces mots: « Hommes de Galilée, pourquoi vous vous émerveillé, levant les yeux au ciel? Alleluia. Il doit revenir comme vous l'avez vu allant au ciel » (Actes 1: 11).
​
Au nom du Père, et du Fils, et du Saint-Esprit. Amen.

Ascension of Our Lord: May 5, 2016
Delivered by Most Reverend Roger LaRade, O.F.A.
Beloved Disciple Eucharistic Catholic Church, Toronto
 
© 2016 Roger LaRade
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Acts 1: 1-11; Mark 16: 14-20Partakers of DivinityWe have now extinguished the light of the Paschal Candle, a light lit this past Easter Vigil to symbolize the risen Christ, the true Light of the world. After the gospel reading of the Ascension, the light is put out to show that Christ has now ascended into heaven. This does not signify that Christ has left us completely. It does signify that he has left us in a different relationship, Him to us, and we to Him.
During these past Sundays of the Easter Season, the Church has taken us back to the Last Supper, giving us a chance to dig deeper into its meaning, seeing it with post-Resurrection eyes. We are witnesses to what is called the Final Discourse of Jesus to His disciples, his instructions to them.

This is Jesus’ testament to His Apostles, and to us. And, it is filled with beautiful expressions of God’s enduring and infinite love for us. Among other promises, Christ says, "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (Jn. 14:17-19). He promises never to abandon His chosen followers. The crucifixion will come, the darkness, the suffering, the persecution, the apparent failure and defeat. But through it all, the Apostles can cling with firm faith to this promise: I will not leave you orphans; I will never abandon you.
With our post-Resurrection Faith, we know Christ to be present with us at every moment, felt or unfelt. We know, indeed, that Christ comes back down from heaven, if you will, at every Mass, bodily present among us and to us. And He remains present to us in the Blessed Sacrament.

And so today, as we celebrate the Ascension of Christ, as we extinguish the light of the Paschal Candle, Christ does not leave us orphans; Christ does not abandon us; we do not extinguish the flame of His presence among us.

But this Ascension of Christ is necessary to the unfolding of God’s relationship with us, or rather, to the restoration of our relationship with God. Without it, the mission of Jesus as Redeemer would be incomplete.

It is through His Ascension that Christ returns to His pre-human existence, that is as the Word, the Second Person of the Trinity. Yet, he returns changed, different from the pre-incarnate Word. When Christ ascends to the right hand of the Father it is in both His human and divine natures that He ascends. And so, humanity is brought into Divinity.

Pope St. Leo I in his sermon on the Ascension expresses this beautifully. He writes:

            human nature was lifted up and exalted above the dignity of all heavenly creatures; passing above the hierarchies of Angels, elevated above the heights of Archangels; not suffering any limit of delay in its ascent through the heavenly heights till, having received a seat by the eternal Father, it was joined to the glory of His throne to whose nature it was united in the Word. (Divine Office, Lesson V for the Ascension of Our Lord)

And so, he continues, stating that:

            the ascension of Christ is also our exaltation…the Son of God has made (His followers) one Body with Himself and has placed them at the right hand of the Father, with whom He lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever.

This is what we celebrate today. It is the reason why the Apostles are not saddened by Christ’s going away, by His Ascension, and why we should not be saddened by the extinguishing of the Paschal Candle. That which we have been celebrating these past forty days since the Easter Vigil, that is, our Redemption – our being brought back into union with God –is this day completed. Indeed, the mysteries we celebrate – Christ’s Death, His Resurrection, His Ascension – are all one; they are all of one movement, of one piece. They form the unity of God’s Salvific promise to us through Christ.

As followers of Christ, as those who have been baptized and those who believe, we are promised a share in Christ’s Divinity; we are made partakers in Divinity. In the Mass, as the priest mingles the water and wine at the Offertory, the prayer said is: “grant that by the Mystery of this water and wine, we may be made partakers of His divine nature, who vouchsafed to be made partaker of our human nature.” The Ascension of Christ is the promise and seal of the hope expressed in this prayer.

Its full realization will come at the Second Coming of Christ. And so, with the Apsotles, we too are told: And so, with the Apostles, we too are told: “Ye men of Galilee, why wonder you, looking up to Heaven? Alleluia. He shall so come as you have seen Him going up into Heaven” (Acts. 1: 11).
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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