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Byline: Father Reginald Martin

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Church Seasons and Feasts

Celebrating The Apostles Separately

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We might consider two reasons for our liturgical year’s providing separate feasts for the apostles rather than a single feast to celebrate their memory. First, many of the apostles are…

We might consider two reasons for our liturgical year’s providing separate feasts for the apostles rather than a single feast to celebrate their memory. First, many of the apostles are associated with a ministry to a particular place — for example, James (the Greater) to Spain, Thomas to India, Jude to Syria and Persia. At some point the Church embraced the local traditions and invited all Catholics to participate in celebrations to honor the individual apostles.

Second, the Church tends to expand, rather than diminish, opportunities for liturgical celebration. Thus, we acknowledge groups, such as the North American Martyrs (Oct. 19), who worked and died together, and Sts. Peter and Paul (June 29), who share an undeniable link in building up the early Church. However, allowing us to celebrate feasts dedicated to the individual apostles enables us to reflect on their distinctive, personal merits, and to discern ways in which we might incorporate an apostle’s strengths (or build on his weaknesses) as we strive to live out our own apostolic witness.

Because the first Eucharistic prayer names each of the apostles, we have an opportunity to celebrate a feast in their collective honor whenever the celebrant uses that prayer at Mass.

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Stewardship

Tithing and Charitable Giving

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The Church’s Code of Canon Law teaches: “The Christian faithful are obliged to assist with the needs of the Church so that the Church has what is necessary for divine…

The Church’s Code of Canon Law teaches: “The Christian faithful are obliged to assist with the needs of the Church so that the Church has what is necessary for divine worship, for apostolic works and works of charity and for the decent sustenance of ministers. They are also obliged to promote social justice and … to assist the poor from their own resources” (Canon 222).

Although a contribution of 10 percent stands as the traditional ideal, the law does not specify an amount to be given to the local parish church. Indeed, a comment on the law observes: “The obligation is according to each person’s possibilities since no one is held to the impossible, and family obligations are to be taken into account.… Family resources must be safeguarded.”

Because we must support the poor and contribute to causes that strive for social justice, concerned Catholics might want to divide their charitable resources among a number of causes. Parish needs will always have a prior claim on the generosity of God’s People, but special diocesan collections (or other — even civic — efforts) that aid the poor and seek to make God’s kingdom a visible reality in our time might be considered as well.

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Church Seasons and Feasts

When is Ascension Celebrated?

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The Church’s Code of Canon Law includes the ascension of Jesus among the solemn feast days to be observed by Latin-rite Catholics throughout the universal Church. The text also remarks,…

The Church’s Code of Canon Law includes the ascension of Jesus among the solemn feast days to be observed by Latin-rite Catholics throughout the universal Church. The text also remarks, “The conference of bishops can abolish certain holy days of obligation or transfer them to a Sunday with the prior approval of the Apostolic See” (Canon 1246.2).

In many places, as we have seen, the Ascension has been transferred to Sunday, and for a twofold reason. First, holy days are to be observed with the same regard as Sundays. The Catechism of the Catholic Church notes, “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God … and [partake in] the appropriate relaxation of mind and body” (No. 2185). This is often impossible on weekdays, so moving the feast to a Sunday makes a great deal of sense.

Some will ask why the Church does not maintain the feast of the Ascension on Thursday but remove the obligation to attend Mass that day. This leads to the second reason for moving the feast. Doing so allows those who cannot attend Mass on Thursday to share an important, common prayer experience.

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The Church

Basilica or Cathedral?

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The term “cathedral” comes from cathedra, the word describing a bishop’s throne. A cathedral, thus, is the principal church in a diocese. A bishop may preside over services anywhere in…

The term “cathedral” comes from cathedra, the word describing a bishop’s throne. A cathedral, thus, is the principal church in a diocese. A bishop may preside over services anywhere in his diocese, but one church — usually in the place where he lives — is designated the cathedral.

The New Catholic Encyclopedia makes an interesting point, observing a cathedral need not be the diocese’s most impressive church. Many Catholics are surprised to learn that St. John Lateran, not St. Peter’s, is the cathedral of Rome.

What is less clear is the designation of a “basilica.” Originally, the term described a hall for public business, with an area designated for a legislator to sit. In its early days, the Church celebrated its liturgies in private homes, but embraced the notion of a special site for the presider. As the Church grew, and constructed special buildings for its services, it adopted this form for its structures. Later, an altar became part of the area reserved for the presider.

The present Code of Canon Law does not mention basilicas, but the earlier code observed that the Holy See grants the title, and acknowledged the “antiquity, dimensions or fame” of a church (see 1917 Code of Canon Law, Canon 1180).

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The Church

What Is an Apostolic Nuncio?

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Bureaucracy is a notion currently held in little esteem. In the first quarter of the last century, however, Max Weber, a critic of economic and social organization, published a thesis…

Bureaucracy is a notion currently held in little esteem. In the first quarter of the last century, however, Max Weber, a critic of economic and social organization, published a thesis in which he argued that bureaucracy — if managed efficiently — provides the ideal model for a business or other organization. Over history, he argued, one such “ideal bureaucracy” has been the Roman Church.

A nuncio is often referred to as an “ambassador,” representing the interests of the Church in a foreign country’s highest assembly — for example, the United Nations. A nuncio enjoying voting rights is titled “delegate,” otherwise he is an “observer.” The nuncio’s chief task is to strengthen bonds between the Holy See and any local church (see Code of Canon Law 364).

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Sacraments

Can the Laity Distribute Communion to the Homebound?

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The Church’s Code of Canon Law states, “Laymen who possess the age and qualifications…can be installed on a stable basis in the ministries of lector and acolyte” (Canon 230). The…

The Church’s Code of Canon Law states, “Laymen who possess the age and qualifications…can be installed on a stable basis in the ministries of lector and acolyte” (Canon 230). The text continues, “When the necessity of the Church warrants it, and when ministers are lacking, lay persons, even if they are not lectors or acolytes, can also supply for certain of their offices, namely, to preside over liturgical prayers, to confer baptism, and to distribute holy Communion.”

Pope Paul VI inherited the responsibility for implementing the numerous reforms of the Second Vatican Council. One of these was a fundamental change in the Church’s view of ministry. Inviting lay members of the worshiping community to share the duties of lector and acolyte was one very visible sign of this change. A commentary on the text quoted above remarks: “[The pope] intentionally took this step to emphasize that ministry is not just ordained or sacred ministry. All participate in the mission of the Church.”

One practical result of expanding the Church’s Eucharistic ministry to include the laity is increased service. A well-organized lay ministry can bring the Eucharist to the ill and homebound far more often than an unaided pastor.

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