NOVEMBER 17 / 18, 2018
4:30 PM (SAT), 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASSES
In 1884, Pope Leo XIII (the thirteenth) ordered the recitation of certain prayers following any Low (that is, Recited) Mass. Two years later, he added to those prayers the Prayer to St. Michael. The presumed reason was due to the Holy See’s loss of temporal and civil power in 1870. After the establishment of the Vatican City-State in 1929, Pope Pius XI shifted the reason to be "to permit tranquility and freedom to profess the faith to be restored to the afflicted people of Russia.” In the simplification of the Liturgy following the Second Vatican Council, these prayers were dropped in 1965.
Yet, thirty years later, Pope St. John Paul II, in his Regina Caeli address said: “Although this prayer is no longer recited at the end of Mass, I ask everyone not to forget it and to recite it to obtain help in the battle against the forces of darkness and against the spirit of this world.”
More recently, many bishops have requested the recitation of the St. Michael prayer after Masses. Our own bishop spoke to us priests two weeks ago regarding reciting this prayer – particularly at Masses of Reparation for the spiritual devastation caused by the scandals, but left it to pastoral discretion as far as reciting it at other Masses for the same reason.
The prayer is located on the back of the Song Books at the top left corner.
Today is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time.
The continued focus as we continue throughout the month of November, and as we move toward the close of the Church Year, is of an “eschatological” theme. “Eschatology” is the division of theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final disposition of one’s soul in particular and of humanity in general.
The first reading is from the Book of Daniel. Written two-hundred years before Christ, it consists of two parts: the first being the goings on in the court of the Babylonian court, and the second being four apocalyptic visions … the last of which we heard proclaimed today.
The second reading wraps up the section of the Letter to the Hebrews on Christ’s priesthood and sacrifice – contrasting the temporary priesthood in this world with the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ. In a similar sense, calling us to look beyond the here and now … toward that which is to come.
The Gospel reading from St. Mark comes from near the end of the thirteenth chapter. This chapter begins with Jesus prophesying the destruction of the temple. Jesus then speaks of the signs of the end, a coming persecution, and a great tribulation. In what we heard today, Jesus speaks of His own second coming.
The chapter ends with an admonition to “be watchful! be alert!” This section is read on the First Sunday of Advent in one of the three Sunday cycles.
For ourselves, with so much news about deaths and tragedy… a second year of fires and destruction… and a second round of scandals in the Church … there is certainly enough bad news to fill countless newspapers and news reports.
But we must keep our eye fixed on Jesus Christ, and we must keep our minds focused on what is eternal. Knowing that, despite our immediate thoughts and worries, that God is in charge, and that God’s plan for us is bigger than any loss we may observe or experience in this world.
As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us rely more and more on supernatural and spiritual helps. May our lives be an expression of the power of God’s grace and mercy and love to a world in need of these unseen resources - our inheritance from God as His beloved children, redeemed in Christ, and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
