With the gradual disappearance of the Order of Penitents, the use of ashes became detached from its original context. The focus on personal penance and the Sacrament of Penance continued in Lent, but the connection to Baptism was no longer obvious to most people. This is reflected in the formula that came to be associated with the distribution of ashes: "Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return." This text focuses on our mortality, as an incentive to take seriously the call to repentance, but there is little hint here of any baptismal meaning. This emphasis on mortality fit well with the medieval experience of life, when the threat of death was always at hand. Many people died very young, and the societal devastation of the plague made death even more prevalent.
With the disappearance of the catechumenate from the Church's life, people's understanding of the season of Lent changed. By the Middle Ages, the emphasis was no longer clearly baptismal. Instead, the main emphasis shifted to the passion and death of Christ. Medieval art reflected this increased focus on the suffering Savior; so did popular piety. Lent came to be seen as a time to acknowledge our guilt for the sins that led to Christ's passion and death. Repentance was then seen as a way to avoid punishment for sin more than as a way to renew our baptismal commitment.
With the gradual disappearance of the Order of Penitents, the use of ashes became detached from its original context. The focus on personal penance and the Sacrament of Penance continued in Lent, but the connection to Baptism was no longer obvious to most people. This is reflected in the formula that came to be associated with the distribution of ashes: "Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return." This text focuses on our mortality, as an incentive to take seriously the call to repentance, but there is little hint here of any baptismal meaning. This emphasis on mortality fit well with the medieval experience of life, when the threat of death was always at hand. Many people died very young, and the societal devastation of the plague made death even more prevalent.
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The Order of Penitents
It seems, then, that our use of ashes at the beginning of Lent is an extension of the use of ashes with those entering the Order of Penitents. This discipline was the way the Sacrament of Penance was celebrated through most of the first millennium of Church history. Those who had committed serious sins confessed their sins to the bishop or his representative and were assigned a penance that was to be carried out over a period of time. After completing their penance, they were reconciled by the bishop with a prayer of absolution offered in the midst of the community. During the time they worked out their penances, the penitents often had special places in church and wore special garments to indicate their status. Like the catechumens who were preparing for Baptism, they were often dismissed from the Sunday assembly after the Liturgy of the Word. This whole process was modeled on the conversion journey of the catechumens, because the Church saw falling into serious sin after Baptism as an indication that a person had not really been converted. Penance was a second attempt to foster that conversion. Early Church fathers even called Penance a "second Baptism." Lent developed in the Church as the whole community prayed and fasted for the catechumens who were preparing for Baptism. At the same time, those members of the community who were already baptized prepared to renew their baptismal promises at Easter, thus joining the catechumens in seeking to deepen their own conversion. It was natural, then, that the Order of Penitents also focused on Lent, with reconciliation often being celebrated on Holy Thursday so that the newly reconciled could share in the liturgies of the Triduum. With Lent clearly a season focused on Baptism, Penance found a home there as well. Ashes in the History of the Church
Despite all these references in Scripture, the use of ashes in the Church left only a few records in the first millennium of Church history. Thomas Talley, an expert on the history of the liturgical year, says that the first clearly datable liturgy for Ash Wednesday that provides for sprinkling ashes is in the Romano-Germanic pontifical of 960. Before that time, ashes had been used as a sign of admission to the Order of Penitents. As early as the sixth century, the Spanish Mozarabic rite calls for signing the forehead with ashes when admitting a gravely ill person to the Order of Penitents. At the beginning of the 11th century, Abbot Aelfric notes that it was customary for all the faithful to take part in a ceremony on the Wednesday before Lent that included the imposition of ashes. Near the end of that century, Pope Urban II called for the general use of ashes on that day. Only later did this day come to be called Ash Wednesday. At first, clerics and men had ashes sprinkled on their heads, while women had the sign of the cross made with ashes on their foreheads. Eventually, of course, the ritual used with women came to be used for men as well. In the 12th century the rule developed that the ashes were to be created by burning palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday. Many parishes today invite parishioners to bring such palms to church before Lent begins and have a ritual burning of the palms after Mass. The origin of the custom of using ashes in religious ritual is lost in the mists of pre-history, but we find references to the practice in our own religious tradition in the Old Testament. The prophet Jeremiah, for example, calls for repentance this way: "O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, roll in the ashes" (Jer 6:26).
The prophet Isaiah, on the other hand, critiques the use of sackcloth and ashes as inadequate to please God, but in the process he indicates that this practice was well-known in Israel: "Is this the manner of fasting I wish, of keeping a day of penance: that a man bow his head like a reed, and lie in sackcloth and ashes? Do you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?" (Is 58:5). The prophet Daniel pleaded for God to rescue Israel with sackcloth and ashes as a sign of Israel's repentance: "I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes" (Dn 9:3). Perhaps the best known example of repentance in the Old Testament also involves sackcloth and ashes. When the prophet Jonah finally obeyed God's command and preached in the great city of Nineveh, his preaching was amazingly effective. Word of his message was carried to the king of Nineveh. "When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes" (Jon 3:6). In the book of Judith, we find acts of repentance that specify that the ashes were put on people's heads: "And all the Israelite men, women and children who lived in Jerusalem prostrated themselves in front of the temple building, with ashes strewn on their heads, displaying their sackcloth covering before the Lord" (Jdt 4:11; see also 4:15 and 9:1). Just prior to the New Testament period, the rebels fighting for Jewish independence, the Maccabees, prepared for battle using ashes: "That day they fasted and wore sackcloth; they sprinkled ashes on their heads and tore their clothes" (1 Mc 3:47; see also 4:39). In the New Testament, Jesus refers to the use of sackcloth and ashes as signs of repentance: "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes" (Mt 11:21, Lk 10:13). Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ, Attached you will find the agenda for the Spring 2014 Cursillo Regional Encounter which will be held at the Diocese of Fresno Pastoral Center (1536 N. Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93703). This is a wonderful opportunity to meet Cursillistas from California, Nevada, and Hawaii, hear inspiring talks, share useful ideas to deepen your spirituality and develop dynamic Christian communities, and to worship and thank God for His love and vibrant presence in our lives. The cost is $55 for lodging and meals ($35 for meals only, if you choose alternative lodging). Please complete and mail the attached registration form today to the appropriate addressee shown on the form for your Cursillo ethnic community. ![]()
Cursillo Spring Regional Workshop – Region XI Ryan Pastoral Center – Diocese of Fresno April 11-13, 2014 Friday, April 11, 2014 4:00pm – 5:30pm Regional Multicultural Secretariat meeting 4:00pm – 6:00pm Registration 5:30pm – 7:00pm Dinner 7:00pm – 7:30pm Meditation 7:30pm – 8:30pm Night Prayers, Exposition, Adoration and Benediction 8:30pm - 9:30 pm Ultreya Saturday, April 12, 2014 7:00am – 7:30am Morning Prayers and Sabatina 7:30am – 8:30am Holy Mass 8:30am – 10:00am Breakfast 10:00am – 11:00am Keynote Address: Cef Aguillon “Benefits of Affiliation” (All language) 11:00am – 11:15am Break 11:15am – 11:45am Spiritual Exercise 12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch 1:15pm – 4:45 pm Workshops: Breakout per language group 5:00pm – 6:30pm Dinner 6:30pm – 7:00pm Night Prayers & Benediction 7:30pm - 9:45pm Fiesta Sunday, April 13, 2014 7:00am – 7:30am Morning Prayers 7:30am – 8:30am Holy Mass/ Commissioning 8:30am – 9:30am Breakfast 9:30am – 12:00 pm Diocesan Meetings per Language groups (See your Language Regional Coordinator for Sunday Agenda) If you prefer to download the agenda, please click on the file below: ![]()
Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ,
Those who live in the San Francisco Bay Area are invited to a 4-day journey to God through prayer and reflection based on the first encyclical of our Pope Francis. A Lenten Mission will be begin Monday, March 24 through Thursday, March 27, 2014 from 7:00 - 8:30 PM at Saint Catherine of Siena Church located at 606 Mellus Street in Martinez, CA 94553. Fr. Jose Arong, who has served as a Spiritual Director on many of our Cursillo Weekends, will present: “Living Our Faith In Light of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith).” For more information, please contact St. Catherine Parish Office at (925) 228-2230. You can read this encyclical before the event by clicking on this link: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20130629_enciclica-lumen-fidei_en.html. From: Mariz Garcia
Date:02/07/2014 11:58 PM (GMT-08:00) Subject: CURSILLO RITES AND FINAL TRIBUTE TO Mommy Adela Echiverri Hello family and friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, Please join us in giving our final tribute to our loving and joyful matriarch, Mommy Adela Echiverri as we "bid her adieu" and pray for her eternal peaceful rest.... on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at the Memory Chapel, Forest Lawn, Covina Hills with Visitation at 5pm ROSARY at 6 pm Visitation/Eulogies 6:30 pm NOVENA FOR THE DEAD 7:30 pm Visitation/Eulogies 8:00 pm CURSILLO RITES 8:25 pm..... [Mariz and Nanay Fe on the keyboard] All musicians and songbirds are welcome to fill the air with songs, just drop in and make the best offering. If you are unable to make time on that day, the other scheduled services are as follows: Tuesday, Feb. 11th 10 am to 4 pm - Visitation 5 pm to 9 pm - Vigil Prayers Wednesday, Feb. 12th 10 am to 4 pm - Visitation 5 pm tp 9 pm - Vigil Prayers Thursday, Feb. 13th 10 am to 4 pm - Visitation 6pm to 9 pm - Vigil Prayers Friday, Feb. 14th 10 am Memorial Mass at Sacred Heart, Rancho Cucamonga Interment at a later date in the Philippines. Our condolences and prayers to the families of Sis. Letty Sabiniano [National Cursillo Secretariat-Filipino Group] and Rene Echiverri - VP I of KAPAMILYA FILIPINO MINISTRY of Sacred Heart, RC..... ...beloved children of Mommy Adela and dedicated servant leaders in our faith families. Salamat po....DE COLORES! Sis. Mariz Garcia Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ,
Sis. Letty Sabinano sends her heartfelt thanks to the Cursillo Community for your prayers of support and outpouring of love for her and her family as they mourn the passing of her Mom, Adela R. Echiverri. For those who expressed an interest in the funeral arrangements, here is that information: · Vigil: Thursday, 2/13/2014, 6-9 PM at Church of Our Heritage, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 21300 Via Verde Drive, Covina, CA 91724 · Funeral: Friday, 2/14/2014, 10 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 12704 E. Foothill Blvd, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739. Reduced National Encounter Fee; Homily; Daily Mass Readings & Meditations for Friday, 1/31/2014: St. John BoscoInboxxBen Agustin Jan 30 (12 days ago)
to Ben Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ, Some Cursillistas have asked if there is a reduced “commuter” registration fee available for those who would like attend the National Cursillo Encounter at Chapman University from Thursday, July 31 to Sunday, August 3, 2014 without lodging in the dorms. These individuals may already live within driving distance to Chapman University or desire other housing alternatives. Hoang Tran, the National Cursillo Service Administrator, has informed me that there will 50 “commuter” spaces available for each ethnic group at a reduced fee if $250 (the normal fee is $335; and then $385 after June 1st). These 50 spaces will be made available in two blocks of 25 on a first-come, first-served basis. The first 25 spaces are available now. The remaining 25 spaces will be made available after 500 on-campus (full registration fee) spaces are filled. Here’s the link to register online: https://www.natl-cursillo.org/encounter. If you wish to first confirm that there are still reduced “commute fee” spaces available, please call the phone number shown on the registration form (512-746-2020), and identify the ethnic group to which you are affiliated. Deacon Bobby Peregrino, Spiritual Advisor of the Sacramento Filipino Cursillo Movement, has kindly shared his homily with us from last Sunday’s Mass. It is titled, “The Joy of the Gospel and Being Fishers of Souls”, and is well worth reading or listening to. You will find the link to the audio recording and the full text of his excellent homily below. Here are links for today’s Mass on Friday, January 31, 2014: Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest 1. Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/013114.cfm (from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website) 2. Video reflection: click on “Daily Reflections – Video” shown below the calendar on the above link. Then click on the correct date. 3. Daily meditation: http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/jan31.htm (from the Daily Scripture Readings & Meditations website) 4. Biography of St. John Bosco: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=63 (from the Catholic Online website) “Make a friend. Be a friend. Bring your friend to Christ.” De Colores! Deacon Ben Agustin Email: [email protected] Cell: (510) 388-1551 ======================================================================== Homily on “The Joy of the Gospel and Being Fishers of Souls” based on the Gospel reading (Mt. 4:12-23) for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Click on the link below to listen to the audio of the homily: http://stcatherinevallejo.org/wp/2014/01/26/homily-on-the-joy-of-the-gospel/ Here’s the text: Again - to be clear – this season of ordinary time does not have to do with things ordinary versus extraordinary. But this has to do simply with the numbering of the weeks of the year… ordinal weeks… and in that sense we are in ordinary time… but there is never anything ordinary about the message of the Gospel. Jesus is clear - “This is the time of fulfillment – Repent! The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” It is always a time of fulfillment. God is always acting, always leading, always calling us and we must always be ready to respond – always ready to follow where He leads us – always ready to serve…. with flexibility – with openness – with trust in God’s grace to strengthen us, to lead us and to save us. In other words, we cannot take a break from being a disciple of Christ. We must not make the mistake of dividing life into the sacred and the secular… between ordinary and extraordinary… The truth is - with Christ, there is no such thing as an ordinary life. All of life is sacred when it is touched by the presence and power of Christ. You do not have to quit your job and leave everything to follow Christ. You can do that right where you are, regardless of your status in life. It has nothing to do with how you make your living; it has everything to do with how and why you live. As St. Paul said: “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17) … and so we can say we are no longer just catching fish, or planting crops, or sweeping floors, or just selling clothes or just washing dishes. Whatever we’re doing, we’re in business with God; we’re following Christ… and always has something to do with service… dying to self – dying to self-centeredness – dying to self-absorption. Making money is okay but if your primary consideration is yourself - it very soon turns to greed. Having fun is all right, nothing wrong with having a good time; but if all that matters is the entertainment of self, it opens the door to moral decline. In the Gospel, Jesus gave Peter and Andrew, James and John something better to live for - than self. They were still fishermen, but they had a higher purpose when they decided to follow Jesus. He will do the same for any of us who has the courage to follow Jesus… leading us to fullness of life and joy. On that note - I will share excerpts from Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation – The Joy of the Gospel – addressed not only to the bishops, clergies, and consecrated persons but very importantly - to all the Lay Faithful – us. - powerful challenging words of The Exhortation – which points to a problem, gives a diagnosis of the problem, and offers a solution filled with joyful hope. What is the Problem? The Pope says that the Great Problem is the almost complete lack of missionary zeal on the part of Catholics… because of people’s lack of knowledge - lack of awareness of the apostolic character of the Catholic faith by the great majority of Catholics – who forgot that we are the People of God- the Beloved Sons and daughters of God - “holy, catholic, and apostolic Church” and that we are all also called to be Fishers of Souls… to fish people out of darkness, hatred, violence, guilt into God’s wonderful marvelous life. So - Why do Catholics NOT share their faith and NOT lead others to Christ? The Pope says: Catholics lack joy: because if we have joy, then no one needs to tell us to share and spread the faith, as we will do so naturally and spontaneously, the same way that we share anything that we are passionate about. This lack of joy is because of lack of deep spirituality which turns into pessimism, fatalism, and mistrust. Some people do not commit themselves to mission or do not proclaim the Good News because they think that nothing will change and that it is useless to make the effort. They think: “Why should I deny myself my comforts and pleasures if I will not see any significant result anyway?” This attitude makes it impossible to be a missionary. It is only but a malicious excuse for remaining caught up in one’s comfort, laziness, vague dissatisfaction and empty selfishness. It is a self-destructive attitude, for “man cannot live without hope: life would become meaningless and unbearable”. If we think that things are not going to change, we need to recall that Jesus Christ has already triumphed over sin and death. Jesus Christ truly lives. The Gospel tells us that when the first disciples went forth to preach, “the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message” (Mk 16:20). The same thing happens today. We are invited to discover this, to experience it. Christ will not deprive us of the help we need to carry out the mission which He has entrusted to us. We need to realize that Christ’s resurrection is not an event of the past. Where all seems to be dead, signs of the resurrection suddenly spring up. Often - it seems that God does not exist: all around us we see persistent injustice, evil, indifference and cruelty. But it is also true that in the midst of darkness something new always springs to life and sooner or later produces fruit. However dark things are, goodness always re-emerges and spreads. Each day in our world - beauty is born anew. Human beings have arisen time after time from situations that seemed doomed. Such is the power of the resurrection, and all who evangelize are instruments of that power. People do not realize that. So, Pope Francis proposes this solution to this lack of joy and lack of deep spirituality and therefore lack of missionary zeal among Catholics: He says: “I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ (meaning – having our own personal intimate relationship with Christ and not just going through the motions as Catholics), or at least an openness to letting Him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since “no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord”. The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk. Whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that He is already there, waiting for us with open arms. Now is the time to say to Jesus – the Pope leads us in this prayer: “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace”. The Pope continues: “How good it feels to come back to the Lord whenever we are lost! Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking His mercy. Time and time again He bears us on His shoulders. No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by this boundless and unfailing love.” “With a tenderness which never disappoints, but is always capable of restoring our joy, He makes it possible for us to lift up our heads and to start anew. Let us not flee from the resurrection of Jesus, let us never give up, come what will. May nothing inspire us more than His life, which impels us onwards!” It is the Risen Christ who tells us, with a power that fills us with confidence and unshakeable hope: “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev 21:5). My brothers and sisters in Christ, we will find our joy when we proclaim and share this Good News and bring others to Christ. Click here to Reply or ForwardFree Scores Now - 3 Bureau Credit ReportView your latest Credit Scores from all 3 bureaus in 60 seconds for $0!Why this ad?Ads – 2 GB (13%) of 15 GB usedManage©2014 Google - Terms & Privacy Last account activity: 2 hours agoDetails |
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CONTRIBUTORDeacon Ben is the Spiritual Adviser for Cursillo Region XI which consists of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, and Fresno. To view a listing of all the past blogs, please visit our RSS Feed by clicking on the link below.
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