FROM THE VATICAN Vatican issues final report on apostolic communities of U.S. women religious page 24 Vol. 2, No. 1 www.dioceseoflascruces.org January/February 2015 TheThe MassMass asas thethe sourcesource andand summitsummit ofof ourour faithfaith By Rev. Christopher Williams, PARA ESPAÑOL PAGINA 29 Pastor, Our Lady of the Light Parish, La Luz anamnesis of the sacrifice.” Not only does the priest participate n the Mass we encounter God, in the passion but also everyone and the Church describes the present. “The laity’s presentation Isacrament of the Eucharist as of the gifts signifies its desire the source and summit of our to give themselves to God and, faith. The Mass is so profound along with the bread and wine, to that it is difficult to focus on one become divinized by the power aspect of it. Here I will mention, of Christ’s sacrifice.” (Carstens, in merely a precursory way, three p. 162) During the Mass, after aspects of the Mass: the Mass is the priest washes his hands, he a participation of the heavenly address the people as Christ, liturgy; it is the means by which as in persona Christi, he says: we share in Christ’s sacrifice at giving glory to God unceasingly time so that in the Mass we “Pray, brothers and sisters, that Calvary; and in it we partake of a in heaven (Isaiah 6:1-3). So in the actually participate in Christ’s my sacrifice and yours may be communal meal with God. Mass, in a real way, we actually passion. St. John Chrysostom acceptable to God, the almighty participate with the angels and (349-407AD) said: “But do we Father.” Christ is really present DURING THE MASS WE saints as they give glory to God not daily offer the sacrifice? We and those are his words to us in PARTICIPATE IN THE in heaven. We participate in the offer it in making the anamnesis the Mass. He is telling us that it HEAVENLY LITURGY heavenly liturgy. of His death. And this is unique, is his sacrifice, and ours lifted up In the Mass the church is ele- not multiple. It was offered once, to the Father, the same sacrifice, vated up to heaven and heaven THE POWER OF CHRIST’S as He entered once into the Holy not two, but one. So we offer our- descends to the earth. This is SACRIFICE of Holies. The anamnesis is the selves, our works, our trials, our described in the prayers of the We often forget that the Mass is a figure of His death. It is the same sufferings at the Mass, they are Mass. For example we sing the sacrifice; it is the sacrifice of the sacrifice that we offer, not one -to united with Christ’s, and because Gloria. This is a song, of which Son to the Father by means of the day and another tomorrow. One they become His, they become a portion was composed in Holy Spirit made present at that only Christ everywhere, entire acceptable to the Father. heaven; it was sung by the angels moment. The Eucharist is the an- everywhere, one only Body. As announcing the birth of Christ amnesis of the passion of Christ. everywhere there is one Body, THE COMMUNAL MEAL to the shepherds. We also say; Anamnesis is not just a remem- everywhere there is one sacrifice. The Mass as communal meal has “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of bering but a making present This is the sacrifice that we now its origins in the Jewish traditions power and might.” These also are these events. God, the-All-Pow- still offer. This is the meaning of found in Leviticus, Chapters 3 the same words spoken by angels erful, in an amazing way, twists the anamnesis: “we carry out the see “The Mass” on page 18 For additional information • Carstens, Christopher and Martis Douglas, Mystical Body, Mystical Voice - Encountering Christ in the Words of the Mass. Liturgy Training Publications, 2010. • Danielou, Jean S.J., The Bible and the Liturgy, Daron, Longman and Todd, London, 1960. • Hahn, Scott, The Lamb’s supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth, Doubleday, 1999. 2 Agua Viva January/February 2015 NEW EVANGELIZATION El Camino de Santiago PARA ESPAÑOL PAGINA 5 The official newspaper of the like a ray of sunshine bursting fullness. This approach of life has Rev. Enrique Diocese of Las Cruces been called the “sacrament of the López-Escalera through clouds I realized a Vicar for the simple truth: “El camino es el present moment,” or, as Mother New Evangelization camino.” Angela states it in another article The literal translation of this found in this same issue, “the MISSION STATEMENT: As the official grace of the present moment.” newspaper of the Diocese of Las Cruces, phrase is as banal as the original Agua Viva maintains as its primary goal the This past September I had the in the apparent simplicity of Task or goal oriented people can dissemination of local, diocesan, regional, run the risk of missing God while national and international church news. Agua unique grace of walking the an- merely stating the obvious: “The Viva attempts to emphasize the role of local cient “Camino de Santiago” that way is the way.” However, the feverishly seeking Him. The parishioners and their activities as they relate to picture of God being formulated their own parish faith communities and to the culminates at the Shrine of the underlying riches – the entrance diocese as a whole. At the same time, Agua Viva Apostle, St. James, in Composte- to a gold mine can be disappoint- in my imagination right now is hopes to challenge its readers to reach a deeper of Him laughing, yes, laughing at understanding of Catholic Church teaching as la, Spain. I made the pilgrimage ingly plain – of this realization well as to offer accurate and objective reporting in company with a brother priest, released me from the clutches my futile attempts of grasping for of information having to do with the Roman Him while all along I am safely Catholic Church. Fr. Paul Kao. At a distance of sev- of worry, anxiety, irritation, and eral weeks since the journey one frustration. The journey has a embraced by His loving arms. particular insight, among many, beginning, one simple step, it has The recognition that the way has been distilled to its crystalline a finish, the joy of kneeling in a is the way filled me with peace essence. church that pinpoints the exact and gratitude because I was being On the second day of the completion of a goal. The journey invited to live the Paschal Mys- pilgrimage while being regaled certainly has many wonderful tery. The Paschal Mystery – the by natural beauty and my heart and dreadful experiences in be- dying and rising with Christ – is was still withdrawing from the tween the two poles of departure to take place at every given mo- noxious fumes of busyness and and arrival. However, the journey ment of our existence in prepa- PUBLISHER Most Rev. Oscar Cantú, S.T.D. stress, while my feet were hurting is not the sum total of it all in ration, in joyful anticipation, of EDITOR because of the strain and the a quantitative, chronological the dawning of that Day when Rev. Enrique Lopez-Escalera MANAGING EDITOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER flowering of blisters, I was worry- dynamic, which tends to be my He who is the Beginning and the Christina Anchondo ing about the time frame we had spontaneous approach when End, the Alpha and the Omega, TRANSLATORS Margarita Hayes • Faviola Godfrey allotted for the completion of the “accomplishing” a task. will satisfy all of our longings. In the meantime, in the ten- EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD journey. Yes, anxieties choke joy The journey is encapsulated Christina Anchondo and fears kill love. Yet, the grace in each precious moment where sion between having been already Alejandro Barraza Mary Carter of God can break through the God, who is always present, en- redeemed and not yet fully saved, Rev. Enrique Lopez-Escalera Joanna Haston storms of our own making and dows each given instant with His we follow Jesus our only Way. Sal Melendrez Lourdes Ramos Delia Regalado LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Anonymous Bishop’s Statement PARA ESPAÑOL PAGINA 4 letters will not be accepted. Please limit to 300 words. Letters must be received Papal Visit to the U.S. by the first Tuesday of the month prior to publication. Please send correspondence to: The people of the Diocese of Las Cruces - indeed, all people of good will - are de- Agua Viva, Letters to the Editor, 1280 Med Park Drive, Las Cruces NM 88005-3239 or lighted at the announcement of Pope Francis regarding his first visit to the United e-mail: [email protected], tel. States in September of 2015. Pope Francis has captured the attention of the world (575) 523-7577, fax (575) 524-3874. with his simplicity, joy, and commitment to the basic values of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His powerful gestures of humility, love, and compassion have taken hold of our imagination. We eagerly anticipate his visit and pray that God will sustain him Agua Viva in his many inspiring and laudable efforts. ADVERTISE with us! For information on Knowing of Pope Francis’ concern for the marginalized, particularly the poor advertising rates, schedule and the immigrant, Bishop Renato Ascencio Leon of Ciudad Juarez, Bishop Mark and sizes call Seitz of El Paso, and I have invited Pope Francis to the border region. He has 575-523-7577 or email acknowledged our invitation and we anticipate with great hope his response as the [email protected] itinerary for his visit to the Americas develops in the coming weeks and months.