The Church Year: Feb. 1, 2012

Today is Wednesday of the 4th week in Ordinary Time. The liturgical color is green.

In the Extraordinary Form, this is the season after Epiphany, and the liturgical color for today is red.

 

Saints & Celebrations:

On February 1, there is no special fixed liturgical day in the Ordinary Form.

In the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, martyr, who died in A.D. 110. It is a Class III day.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Ignatius, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

 

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

 

Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

42. The age of enlightenment further delineated the separation of “the religion of the learned” which was potentially close to the Liturgy, and the “religion of the simple people” which, of its very nature, was closer to popular piety. Both the “learned” and the “simple people”, however, shared the same religious practices. The “learned” promoted a religious practice based on knowledge and the enlightenment of the intelligence and eschewed popular piety which they regaded as superstitious and fanatical.

The aristocratic sense which permeated many aspects of culture had its influence on the Liturgy. The encyclopedic character of knowledge, coupled with a critical sense and an interest in research, led to the publication of many of the liturgical sources. The ascetical concerns of some movements, often influenced by Jansenism, fuelled a call for a return to the purity of the Liturgy of antiquity. While certainly redolent of the cultural climate, the renewal of interest in the Liturgy was fuelled by a pastoral concern for the clergy and laity, especially from the seventeenth century in France.

In many areas of its pastoral concern, the Church devoted its attention to popular piety. There was an intensification of that form of apostolic activity which tended to integrate, to some degree, the Liturgy and popular piety. Hence, preaching was encouraged at significant liturgical times, such as Advent and on Sundays when adult catechesis was provided. Such preaching aimed at the conversion of the hearts and morals of the faithful, and encouraged them to approach the Sacrament of Penance, attend Sunday Mass regularly, and to demonstrate the importance of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum.

Popular piety, which had been effective in stemming the negative influences of Protestantism, now became an effective antidote to the corrosiveness of rationalism and to the baleful consequences of Jansenism within the Church. It emerged strengthened and enriched from this task and from the extensive development of the parish missions. Popular piety emphasized certain aspects of the Christian mystery in a new way, for example, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and new “days”, such as the “first Friday of the month”, gained importance in the piety of the faithful.

With regard to the eighteenth century, mention must be made of the work of Ludivico Antonio Muratori who combined erudition with notable pastoral activity. In his famous work, Della regolata devozione dei cristiani, he advocated a form of religiosity based on the Liturgy and the Scriptures that eschewed all attachment to superstition and magic. The work of Benedict XIV (Prospero Lambertini) was also significant, especially his authorization of the use of the Bible in the vernacular.

Who’s Punning? Jesus or John?

A reader writes:

Question: An atheist has claimed that Jesus’s conversation with Nicodemus couldn’t have happened because it’s a greek word that has two meanings, critical to the story, and Jesus didn’t speak greek.

I know neither greek nor aramaic, and according to some english, so any thing you happen to know would be useful. Thanks!

It’s true that in John’s account of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus (John 3:1ff) the Greek word anothen (an-OH-thin) is used, and that this word can mean either “from above” or “again.” It is often assumed that the Gospel of John uses this word as a deliberate pun (“born again” vs. “born from above”).

However, from an apologetic perspective, this is a non-problem.

#1 Paraphrase is allowed in writings of this sort. It is easy to demonstrate that the New Testament authors employ paraphrase (as do ALL ancient historical writers). The claim is that the gospels faithfully reflect the teaching of Jesus (they speak with his ipsissima vox) not that they give an exact word-for-word Greek translation of what he said on all occasions (his ipsissima verba). Thus in faithfully transmitting the *teaching* of Jesus, John may have noticed that a Greek pun was possible and chosen to use it. On the other hand . . .

#2 Cross-language puns are far easier to construct than people imagine. Just because there is a pun in one language doesn’t mean that there can’t be an *equivalent* pun in another. Jesus may have made a pun in Aramaic and then John constructed an equivalent pun in Greek. On the other hand . . .

#3 The pun may not be intentional on John’s part. The objection assumes that John was deliberately punning, but as we all know, it’s quite possible for someone “to be a poet and not know it.” On the other hand . . .

#4 They *did* speak a good bit of Greek in first century Palestine. While it is more likely that they were speaking in Aramaic, this conversation could have taken place in Greek.

I don’t view these alternatives as equally likely (my money would be on #1 as the most likely explanation, then #2), but they are all possible, and the claim that the conversation couldn’t have happened because of a Greek pun in the gospel is simply false.

The Church Year: Jan. 31, 2012

Today is Tuesday of the 4th week in Ordinary Time. The liturgical color is white.

In the Extraordinary Form, this is the season after Epiphany.

 

Saints & Celebrations:

On January 31, in both the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate St. John Bosco, priest and confessor who died in A.D. 1888. In the Ordinary Form, it is a memorial, and in the Extraordinary Form, it is a Class III day.

If you’d like to learn more about St. John Bosco, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

 

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

 

Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

41. The Catholic reform, with its positive concern to promote a doctrinal, moral and institutional reform of the Church and to counteract the spread of protestantism, in a certain sense endorsed the complex cultural phenomenon of the Baroque. This, in turn, exercised a considerable influence on the literary, artistic and musical expressions of Catholic piety.

In the post Triedntine period, the relationship bewteen Liturgy and popular piety acquires some new aspects: the Liturgy entered a static period of substantial uniformity while popular piety entered a period of extraordinary development.

While careful to establish certain limits, determined by the need for vigilance with regard to the exuberant or the fantastic, the Catholic reform promoted the creation and diffusion of pious exercises which were seen as an important means of defending the Catholic faith and of nourishing the piety of the faithful. The rise of Confraternities devoted to the mysteries of the Passion of Our Lord, as well as those of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints are good examples. These usually had the triple purpose of penance, formation of the laity and works of charity. Many beautiful images, full of sentiment, draw their origins from this form of popular piety and still continue to nourish the faith and religious experience of the faithful.

The “popular missions” emerged at this time and contributed greatly to the spread of the pious exercises. Liturgy and popular piety coexist in these exercises, even if somewhat imbalanced at times. The parochial missions set out to encourage the faithful to approach the Sacrament of Penance and to receive Holy Communion. They regarded pious exercises as a means of inducing conversion and of assuring popular participation in an act of worship.

Pious exercises were frequently collected and organized into prayer manuals. Reinforced by due ecclesiastical approval, such became true and proper aids to worship for the various times of the day, month and year, as well as for innumerable circumstances that might arise in life.

The relationship between Liturgy and popular piety during the period of the Catholic Reform cannot be seen simply in contrasting terms of stability and development. Anomalies also existed: pious exercises sometimes took place within the liturgical actions and were superimposed on those same actions. In pastoral practice, they were sometimes more important than the Liturgy. These situations accentuated a detachment from Sacred Scripture and lacked a sufficient emphasis on the centrality of the Paschal mystery of Christ, foundation and summit of all Christian worship, and its priviliged expression in Sunday.

The Church Year: Jan. 30, 2012

Today is Monday of the 4th week in Ordinary Time. The liturgical color is green.

In the Extraordinary Form, this is the season after Epiphany, and the liturgical color for today is red.

 

Saints & Celebrations:

On January 30, there is no special fixed liturgical day in the Ordinary Form.

In the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate St. Martina, virgin and martyr, who died in A.D. 228. It is a Class III day.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Martina, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

 

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

 

Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

40. The reform of the Council of Trent brought many advantages for the Liturgy. There was a return to the “ancient norm of the Fathers” in many of the Church’s rites, notwithstanding the relatively limited scientific knowledge of the period then available. Elements and impositions extraneous to the Liturgy or excessively connected with popular sensibilities were eliminated. The doctrinal content of the liturgical texts was subjected to examination to ensure that they reflected the faith in its purity. The Roman Liturgy acquired a notable ritual unity, dignity and beauty.

The reform, however, had a number of indirect negative consequences: the Liturgy seemed to acquire a certain fixed state which derived from the rubrics regulating it rather from its nature. In its active subject, it seemed to become almost exclusively hierarchical which reinforced the existing dualism between Liturgy and popular piety.

The Church Year: Jan. 29, 2012

Today is the 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time. The liturgical color is green.

In the Extraordinary Form, this is the season after Epiphany.

In the Extraordinary Form, it is the 4th Sunday after Epiphany.

 

Saints & Celebrations:

On January 29, there is no special fixed liturgical day in the Ordinary Form.

In the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate St. Francis de Sales, bishop of Geneva, confessor and doctor of the Church, who died in A.D. 1622. It is a Class III day.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Francis de Sales, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

 

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

 

Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

39. In conformity with the dispositions of the Council, synods were held in many of the ecclesiatical provinces. These often demonstarted a concern to bring the faithful to an active participation in the celebration of the divine mysteries. Simultaneously, the Roman Pontiffs began a vast programme of liturgical reform. The Roman Calendar and the liturgical books of the Roman Rite were revised in the relatively short space of time between 1568 and 1614. In 1588 the Sacred Congregation of Rites was established to promote and correctly order the liturgical celebrations of the Roman Church. The Catechismus ad Parochosfulfilled the provision of pastoral and liturgical formation.

Where Did the Bible’s Chapters & Verses Come From? What Was the Mass Like *Before* the Council of Trent? Why Aren’t There Any Saints Famed for Their Ordinary, Happy Marriages?

We all know about citing the Bible with chapter & verse–but where did the chapter and verse divisions come from in the first place and why are they there? Who added them, and when?

We all know about the ordinary form of Mass that arose after Vatican II and the extraordinary form that arose after the Council of Trent–but what was the Mass like before Trent? Why did they feel it needed to be changed? And why can’t we celebrate the Mass in its pre-Trent form today?

We all know that there were saints who were married, but none of them were famed for having holy, ordinary marriages. They all had unusual marriages, or they are saints because they had otherwise unusual lives. Why aren’t there any saints who are saints because of their ordinary, holy marriages? Does this say anything about the Church’s view of marriage?

These are among the questions we explore in this week’s episode of the Jimmy Akin Podcast!

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SHOW NOTES FOR EPISODE 029 (01/28/12)

 

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* (03:06) PAUL FROM MICHIGAN ASKS WHERE THE CHAPTER AND VERSE DIVISIONS IN THE BIBLE CAME FROM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapters_and_verses_of_the_Bible

 

* (13:12) PAUL ALSO ASKS ABOUT WHAT THE MASS WAS LIKE BEFORE THE COUNCIL OF TRENT, WHY IT WAS CHANGED, AND WHY WE CAN’T CELEBRATE IT IN THE “PRE-TRIDENTINE” WAY ANY MORE?

http://history.hanover.edu/texts/trent/ct25.html

http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius05/p5quopri.htm

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/pope0262r.htm

 

* (32:28) HANS FROM WASHINGTON ASKS WHY THERE ARE NO SAINTS WHO ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR REASONABLY HAPPY MIDDLE CLASS MARRIAGES.

https://www.jamesakin.com/reels_squares/2012/01/jimmy-on-catholic-answers-live-11212.html

 

WHAT’S YOUR QUESTION? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO ASK?

Call me at 512-222-3389!

jimmyakinpodcast@gmail.com

www.JimmyAkinPodcast.com



 

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Today’s Music: Joy Trip (JewelBeat.Com)

Copyright © 2012 by Jimmy Akin

 

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The Weekly Benedict: Jan. 28, 2012

Here are this week’s items for The Weekly Benedict (subscribe here):

ANGELUS: Angelus, 22 January 2012

AUDIENCE: 18 January 2012, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

MESSAGE: 46th World Communications Day, 2012 – Silence and Word: Path of Evangelization

NOTE: Not much this week, despite a lot of recent activity from the pope. There’s some really good Benedict-ions waiting to be translated into English (I am particularly waiting for translations of his annual January addresses to the Roman Rota and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, both of which are up in Italian). I wish the Vatican translation squad would get moving and get them done and posted.

The Church Year: Jan. 28, 2012

Today is Saturday of the 3rd week in Ordinary Time. The liturgical color is white.

In the Extraordinary Form, this is the season after Epiphany.

 

Saints & Celebrations:

On January 28, in the Ordinary Form, we celebrate St. Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church. It is a memorial.

In the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate St. Peter Nolasco, confessor, who died in A.D. 1256. It is a Class III day.

In the Extraordinary Form, we also celebrate St. Agnes, virgin and martyr. This celebration is a commemoration.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Thomas Aquinas, you can click here.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Peter Nolasco, you can click here.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Agnes, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

 

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

 

Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

38. Shortly after the close of the fifth Lateran Council (6 March 1517), which had made provisions for the instruction of youth in the Liturgy, the crisis leading to the rise of Protestantism arose. Its supporters raised many objections to the Catholic doctrine on the sacraments, to the Church’s worship, and to popular piety.

The Council of Trent (1545-1563), convoked to resolve the situation facing the People of God as a result of the spread of protestantism, addressed questions relating to the Liturgy and popular piety from the doctrinal and [ritual] perspective, at all three of its phases. Becasue of the historical context and the doctrinal nature of the matters dealt with by the Council, the liturgical and sacramental questions placed before the Council were answered predominantly from a doctrinal perspective. Errors were denounced and abuses condemned. The Church’s faith and liturgical tradition were defended. The decree De reformatione generali proposed a pastoral programme, whose activation was entrusted to the Holy See and to the Bishops, which demonstrated concern for the problems arising form the liturgical instruction of the people.

Jimmy on Catholic Answers Live (Jan. 19, 2012)

Jimmy Akin answers:

  • Can you elaborate on this past Sunday’s Gospel reading?
  • How can I refute the claim that Catholics don’t like sex because we don’t approve of birth control?
  • Will you explain the timeline of the Epiphany?
  • Where does the Church stand on the use of Viagra?
  • What is the proper translation of Matthew 16:19?
  • What does original sin have to do with Mary dying?
  • Are we allowed to receive communion if we are attending a funeral at an Orthodox Church?
  • What is the definition of “pure spirituality”?
  • Is it okay for Catholics to listen to Protestant praise and worship?

Click Play to listen . . .

or you can . . .

Subscribe_with_itunes
CLICK HERE!

. . . or subscribe another way (one of many ways!) at JimmyAkinPodcast.Com.