@Contra Mundum@ Volume XX, Issue 8 March 2018 The Congregation of St. Athanasius A Parish of the Archdiocese of Boston Serving the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter https://congregationstathanasius.com POWERS OF THREE I have said it thrice: even His welcoming, of what was What I tell you three times is true. fulfilling the Prophecies. ­— Lewis Carroll, “The hunting of the snark” His ‘Consummatum est’ meant less Among the many triads which ‘Thank God, it is now over’ as much permeate the symbolism as a triumphant ‘I have achieved, accompanying Christian practice fulfilled, all that the Prophecies one triad stands out in this Lenten have hinted at and revealed about period and yet an additional one the plan of My Heavenly Father.’ suggests itself in an unusual The second occupant, the so- fashion. called ‘good thief’ attained to a Lent serves us as a healthy season realisation that this whole exercise, for repentance – metanoia – and we in which he was playing the part of find three exercises of repentance a reluctant but ultimately penitent detailed in an extended passage participant, had about it an air of (Matthew 06.01-18) in the Sermon divine power, and he seized upon on the Mount: prayer, fasting, and this to proclaim the kingship of almsgiving. in God ­– conversion – and action our Blessed Lord and to reap the Fine to have that listing, with which in accordance with that faith. reward of becoming the first (and few could disagree, and finer If we associate the engagement of only fully certifiable) ordinary yet to have guidance from our almsgiving, prayer, and fasting saint. Blessed Lord on carrying out our with the onset of Lent, perhaps Here we find our model for almsgiving, prayer and fasting: far considering yet another triad persistence in our penitential from the public eye, so that our associated with the end of Lent can commitment. If divine grace Father who ‘seeth in secret’ may assist us in keeping to our initial should not extend so far as to reward us openly. commitment. perfect our Lenten commitment Consider the three crosses on the in the full spirit of Christ’s love But the spirit with which we for His Father’s plan, then at least engage in these three wholesome hill of Calvary on Good Friday, we can seek divine assistance penitential activities may often and their respective occupants. The to embrace the opportunity in a fail or fall short, depending on the first of these, our Blessed Lord, as recognition of our own sinfulness nature of our commitment to them. sinless, had no need of repentance, and a full desire to make good for As with New Year’s resolutions, yet let Himself be brought by that, as best the moment permits can they often last beyond the his cousin John to a baptism of us. first few weeks of the season? repentance in the Jordan. He, The turning away from sin which although innocent, lent Himself In the Divine Liturgy of the we most often associate with to a cruel capital punishment and Byzantine rite the pre-communion the notion of repentance has its mistreatment. prayer recited by all asserts: ‘I will counterpart in turning toward faith Love motivated His acceptance, not speak of Thy Mystery to Thine Page 58 Contra Mundum

enemies, neither, like Judas, will I reluctant, the central one most upon fiction and leads only to social give Thee a kiss but like the thief loving, and then one of true disarray and moral harm. will I confess Thee: Remember realization and repentance. me, o Lord, in Thy kingdom.’ The tough part of Christian living May ‘Remember me, o Lord, in is the challenge each day to grasp If circumstance does not ordain for Thy kingdom.’ accompany all what it means to be with Jesus. How of our Lenten gestures and lead us all to attain in fullness of spirit does following Christ affect what to the Holy Cross of our Lord and us to embrace, gracefully, our we do in our families, in our work, Saviour, nonetheless the spirit commitment to repentance. in our friendships? Sometimes the of that second of three crosses Dcn Michael J. Connolly can reinforce our penitential way forward is very clear. But at commitment to prayer, fasting, ¶ The Revd Deacon Michael J. Connolly other times all we can do is pray the and almsgiving. Pray for that is incardinated as Archdeacon in the will of God be done and then entrust realisation and for grace. Armenian Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg in a person or situation to God’s love. the United States and Canada. He teaches And what of the third cross, that linguistics in Boston College and assists You and I do not define the active of the ‘bad’ or ‘impenitent’ thief? frequently in the Anglican Use. His most engagement of our faith and love Rebellious to the last, reluctant. recent article in Contra Mundum was in for God by the times we slide into November, 2017. In his frustration, he mocks a a church pew. Our discipleship is fellow sufferer, as even perhaps WHAT IT MEANS when, after we are fed by God’s the ‘good’ thief initially may Word and Sacrament, we slide out of have done. But even here the tale TO BE WITH JESUS the pew and face the opportunities provides us with an example: Some follow their fate far less out HE MAN WHO DOES NOT to put love into action. of choice than out of compulsion. “Tgather with Me scatters.” Father Bradford Failing to obey, for example, the That is what the Son of God said. It ¶ This sermon was preached in St Theresa dietary Lenten laws of the Church must give us pause to consider. We of Ávila Church on February 29, 2008. (far stricter than nowadays) would are already in the 20th day of Lent, once have incurred strong civil the exact middle of the season. It or societal penalties, such that a slips by each day, and with it an ‘bad thief’ could see ‘fasting’ in accepted or missed opportunity to Lent as something as inescapable “gather with Jesus.” as a sentence of death on a cross, complied with most begrudgingly, Sin on the other hand, does not as with many other Christian slip by. It enters our lives on a obligations. daily basis, in things we do and in But interestingly, even here, one what we do not do. The Gospel is might hope that our Blessed Lord’s quite clear on the matter. We are ‘Father, forgive them ...’ would also to actively choose a life of prayer, extend to this persecutor as well, fasting, and almsgiving, in short: a HOLY OILS AND who also suffered and died at that life of love in action. And there can same day and hour. Perhaps even be no fence-sitting, not if we believe THE CHRISM MASS a reluctant or hesitant penitential Our Lord Jesus. “The man who does N HOLY WEEK, IN EVERY action, however imperfect, even not gather with Me scatters.” Idiocese, the bishop blesses and as ‘... they know not what they do.’ consecrates the holy oils to be used Christ is warning us if we do not Almsgiving, prayer, and fasting: for the sacraments of initiation choose a life based on faith then These three stand before us as (baptism, confirmation, eucharist) we choose something else, and models of penitential action, at the Easter Vigil and for the whatever it is we choose, it is bound especially at this time of the celebration of the sacraments to be bad news. Any quest for the liturgical year. And the three through the year until next Easter. common good separated from virtue crosses on Calvary offer us The oils are pictured above in standards of engagement, one and reverence for God is founded Contra Mundum Page 59 vessels bearing the initials of their As the Chrism Mass is celebrated 31st. (On Holy Thursday, March titles in Latin: in your diocese, pray for those who 29th, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper OC – Oleum Catechumenorum. are preparing for the sacraments of is offered in the Ordinary Form at The Oil of Catechumens is used for initiation at the Easter Vigil; pray 7:00 pm.) anointing those who are preparing for those who will be baptized, Ñ Easter Flower envelopes will for baptism. “Through anointing confirmed and ordained in the be available March 4th for your with this oil may our catechumens year ahead of us; and pray for contributions to the decorating of who are preparing to receive those who will be anointed with the church for the Easter season. the oil of the sick. the saving waters of baptism be Ñ Many thanks to Judie Bradford strengthened by Christ to resist the ¶ From A Concord Pastor Comments and Steve Cavanaugh for hosting power of Satan and reject evil in all the reception after the Candlemas its forms.” SHORT NOTES service on Friday, February 2nd. Ñ Lenten Coin Folders are SC – Sacra Chrisma. Sacred Chrism Ñ Father Bradford celebrated available for your use. Proceeds is used in celebrating the sacraments Mass in the ordinary form at St benefit Catholic Charities. of baptism, confirmation, and holy Lawrence on Ash Wednesday, and orders. “Through anointing with Ñ There are several books for the congregation (of more than this perfumed Chrism may children consideration as your Lenten sixty people) included members of and adults, who are baptized and reading. The Magnificat Lent our own flock. The parish schola confirmed, and presbyters, who are Book, and Lenten Devotions by provided lovely music for the ordained, experience the gracious Fr Peter Stravinskas have daily liturgy. readings. A book by Fr Romanus gift of the Holy Spirit.” Ñ Oliver Muldoon has died. He Cessario is about the Passion OI – Oleum Infirmorum. The Oil was 68 years old. Born in Ireland of Christ. All are available for of the Sick is used for anointing and lifelong Catholic, after a purchase. those who are seriously ill. “May career in the Air Force, he and the sick who are anointed with this Ñ Confessions in Lent are heard Susan relocated to Falmouth oil experience the compassion of in most churches on Wednesday in where his passion for all kinds of Christ and his saving love, in body Lent from 7-8 pm. In St Theresa’s music included liturgical music. and soul.” confessions are heard also on He participated in many musical The priests of the diocese gather Saturdays 3-4 pm each week organizations and was instrumental with their bishop for the celebration year round. In St Mary’s Church in founding the Schola Cantorum of this liturgy. The oils are blessed Brookline confessions are heard of Falmouth. Over the years in very large urns and then after the every Saturday from 2:45–3:30 Oliver was always involved in Mass a priest, deacon, or parishioner pm. Consult the parish paper for our Anglican Use evensongs in has the parish vessels filled with the additional times in Lent. the Falmouth area. May he rest in oils to bring home. Oils are stored in Ñ Daylight Savings Time returns peace. th a cabinet called an ambry. In Saint Sunday March 11 . Set your Ñ Father Brian Clary has announced Theresa of Ávila Parish, the ambry clocks AHEAD one hour Saturday that he is being transferred to a new is in the chapel, just to the left as night. parish assignment in Dorchester in you enter, near the Reconciliation Ñ Holy Week is March 25 – 31. In June. He has been parochial vicar room. addition to regular Palm Sunday and then pastor of St Mary of the The oils will be blessed in cathedral and Easter Day Masses, we offer Assumption Parish in Brookline churches around the world. In many Tenebrae on Wednesday in Holy for thirteen years. In our time at parishes, the oils are formally Week, March 28th at 7:30 pm, St Lawrence Church he has been presented to the parish during the the Good Friday Liturgy at 3:00 a gracious and welcoming host entrance rite of the Evening Mass pm on March 30th, and the Great pastor. We wish him all good things of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Easter Vigil at 7:30 pm on March in his new assignment. Thursday. Page 60 Contra Mundum A BURNING BUSH HEN I WAS A I find myself in! And from Wyoung lad, I that day when as a five year realized early on that it old I experienced that, until was necessary for me this, I have never failed to keep careful watch whenever I could to seek out of my mother. She was the tabernacle and to kneel constantly trying to there. Jesus is here! get away. One of my Moses has a remarkable earliest recollections is experience in the first of my four year old self reading from the Book of standing on the floor of a Exodus. The bush is ablaze, large department store in but not being consumed. New York City, watching “Moses, Moses! Come no with astonishment as my nearer! Remove the sandals mother rode the escalator from your feet, for the place to a higher floor. “Is that on which you are standing is your mother?” asked a that tabernacle door and left with holy ground!” helpful store lady with the pointy the Blessed Sacrament. glasses that had the diamonds in The Hebrews have a profound the corner and the chain around the In my mind’s eye, I can still sense of the holiness, the other-ness neck. I sort of nodded, and she said see that scene which confronted of God. So profound is this sense confidently, “Don’t worry. She will my five year old self – Mom on that it is expressed in their tradition be back.” Not yet having read any her knees in the main aisle, and in a prohibition of any attempt to Victorian literature, I was confident beyond her that Priest genuflecting capture the image of God in art – that mothers always came back, and at the tabernacle. In some way, no human attempt at doing so could as it happened she did. I asked her what had happened; possibly be faithful to the awesome she answered, “Father opened the reality of the Divine. One day it happened in church. door of the tabernacle, and Jesus Here was Moses, facing the fact As a family, we always had the lives there. We always stop to that the Voice from this bush which custom to kneel and pray after the greet Him when the tabernacle burned yet was not consumed hymn concluded, and then after door opens.” was the voice of God, Who was a few minutes’ thanksgiving we Thirty-five years later, as I look there before him, was there, was would leave. And one Sunday I was back on that moment, I realize addressing him from the midst of walking down the aisle with my that it was one of the seeds of that bush. mom beside me, and l looked up my vocation to the Priesthood. It and she wasn’t there. Bewildered, In years to come, Moses will was the naturalness, the unself- I looked back up the aisle, and never quite be able to get over this consciousness of the gesture that there she was. As we left the pew, incredible mystery of the immensity strikes me so many years later: the Priest had come out to remove of the Divine choosing to dwell here is the Lord Jesus. Of course the Blessed Sacrament and bring It among men. As the Hebrews wander He is here; He promised to be. to the sick. And as the door of the in the desert they will always, when And the flickering red light by tabernacle opened, my mom had pitching their camp, set up the Tent the tabernacle tells us of His heard it, turned back and saw the of the Meeting outside of the camp. Presence; and of course I kneel Priest at the tabernacle with its door And Moses will walk through the to adore. What a unique reality open, and sank to her knees. Where rows of Tents to go and meet with this must be! What a holy place she remained until he had closed God, and it is almost comical how Contra Mundum Page 61 the Scripture describes every man addressed here – the awesome God People were to remain below, and of the Israelites going to the door of Who has reached out to His People. wait, as Moses ascended up to the his own tent to watch Moses pass So it was that Moses could say to mountain top, and the mountaintop by on his way to the Tent of the the Hebrews, “What other nation is was covered with fierce clouds Meeting – I always hear “Do not there which has gods as close to it and the sound of lightning was forsake me, 0 my darlin” in the back as the Lord your God is to you???” heard. Indeed, the People had been of my mind as I read that, as though instructed that any living thing it were a scene from “High Noon.” A good question for a Christian to which dared to set its foot upon And Moses would return from that ponder. the mountain while God was upon encounter with the awesome God, Here, we turn to Jesus. Pick it meeting with Moses should be and his face would shine with a up your Gospels, and turn to the stoned to death, for the Mountain supernatural radiance so that the beginning of the sixth chapter of the of God was sacred, inviolate while Israelites would not look at him – Gospel of St John. Let us pause for God was upon it. The People simply yet this awesome God dwelt in a a bit to consider the invitation we huddled at its base, waiting for the tent among them! have in Christ to a relationship with Law to be brought down to them. The end of the fifth book of the Father. But something else is happening in Scripture, Deuteronomy, is a lovely Jesus crosses the sea of Galilee, the scene from the Gospel of John. valedictory to Moses: “Never again and a large crowd follows Him, Jesus comes through the water and has there arisen in Israel a prophet “Impressed by the signs He had climbs the mountain, but the People like Moses, whom God had known performed in curing the sick.” Jesus follow Him. We see Him sitting face to face, as evidenced by all the climbs the hillside, and sits down down there with His disciples – signs and wonders that God sent there with His disciples. The crowds the familiar scene in their culture, him to perform in the land of Egypt are approaching. the Rabbi seated surrounded with ...” Elsewhere Scripture speaks of His disciples. And the People, far Moses as the man to whom God I think that if you are a Hebrew from huddling at the foot of the spoke as a man speaks with his reader, as many of the early mountain, climb up the hillside friend. Christians were, John wants you to and sit down around Him as well, pause here and think about parallels. a symbol of the profound intimacy Hebrew religion is a fascinating Who was it who first passed through balance between two seeming of the relationship to which Jesus the waters followed by a crowd invites us in His new covenant. opposites; the profound sense of impressed by his signs and wonders, the utter Otherness of God, His and ended up ascending to the top of “There was plenty of grass there,” awesome majesty, on the one hand, a mountain? He was Moses. Moses John tells us; it was spring. Indeed, and His closeness to His people led the People through the Red Sea, he is careful to tell us that it was on the other. When the devout Jew and when they had ended up on the near the time of the Passover, and picks up his Scriptures, for example, other side he promptly climbed to that is a curious detail to throw he does not get the rolling thunder the top of Mount Sinai, where he into the narrative. The Gospels are of the Elizabethan “thou shalt encountered God and received from sparing of detail. It does not seem not kill,” “thou shalt not steal...;” His hands the tablets of the Law. at first glance as though the detail instead there is an immediacy to the about the Passover adds anything to language, more like “Don’t kill,” But there is something else this narrative at all – until we see “Don’t steal.” The Hebrew Prayer going on here as well, and given what Jesus will do on that hilltop, Book, a wonderful treasury of the the uniqueness of Moses and the for He multiplies the loaves and the prayers of the ages, expresses itself reverence with which he was fishes. He pities the hunger of the with an immediacy as well. Yet regarded in the Tradition, it’s crowd, then takes, blesses, breaks there is the wondrous paradox that something startling. and distributes the bread and fish it is the utterly Other Whom the At Sinai, it was Moses and Moses until everyone is satisfied: a sign of world cannot contain Who is being alone who went up the mountain. The the Eucharist to come, the Eucharist Page 62 Contra Mundum which He will establish at the last Passover supper with His disciples; the Eucharist Which is His very sacrifice on the Cross, made present to us. If we will follow Jesus, like Moses He will take us through the Stations of the Cross & cleansing waters and we will leave Benediction of the Blessed our servitude behind – our servitude Sacrament Solemnity of Saint Joseph to sin. And we will come to the Mountain; but unlike Moses He will Fridays at 7:30 PM Monday, March 19, 2018 invite us to the top of the mountain, March 2nd , 9th, and 23rd in Masses in Saint Teresa of Ávila and we will sit down with Him in a St. Lawrence Church, Church, 2078 Centre Street, relationship of the greatest intimacy, 774 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill West Roxbury and He will take the bread, bless it March 16th in Saint Teresa of Ávila at 6:45 AM and 4:00 PM and break it and give us Himself. Church, 2078 Centre Street, OSEPH, THE “FOSTER West Roxbury I think that we cannot understand J father of our Lord” (nutritor Do- the Gospel at all without seeing mini), was the legal father of Jesus. it as an invitation to that kind of THE GATE OF Through his genealogical line Jesus intimacy with Jesus, indeed with OUR FINAL is said to be of the house of David. the Blessed Trinity. “Remove your Joseph’s self-gift to Mary and Jesus shoes, for you are on holy ground;” LONELINESS “fully shares in authentic human fa- yes, indeed we are, and God forbid OLY SATURDAY IS therhood and the mission of a father that we should ever lose that blessed “H the day of the ‘death of in the family” (Saint John Paul II). sense of privilege. It is a grace, God,’ the day which expresses the In 1870 Pius IX declared Joseph a great unmerited grace that we unparalleled experience of our age, the patron of the Universal Church. have been called here. But we have anticipating the fact that God is Many saints have recommended his indeed been invited; He wishes us simply absent, that the grave hides patronage, including Bernardine to come. He wishes us to accept this him, that he no longer awakes, no of Siena, Vincent Ferrer, and Te- Bread that He offers Which is not longer speaks, so that one no longer resa of Ávila. According to Teresa, bread at all, but Himself. needs to gainsay him but can sim- “To other saints our Lord has given How blessed are we! ply overlook him. ... Christ strode power to help in one sort of need, but this glorious saint, as I know by Fr Wilson through the gate of our final loneli- ness; in his Passion he went down experience, helps us in every need.” ¶ Father Wilson is a priest of the Diocese into the abyss of our abandonment. of Brooklyn and a long-time friend of our ¶ Magnificat magazine March, 2017 congregation, having been celebrant, Where no voice can reach us any preacher, and retreat conductor on many longer, there is he. Hell is thereby occasions. His most recent visit to us was overcome, or, to be more accurate, for our 20th anniversary celebration on death, which was previously hell, is Sept 29-0ct 1, 2017. hell no longer. Neither is the same This sermon for the third Sunday of Lent any longer because there is life in c.2001 was later produced as a pamphlet. the midst of death, because love dwells in it.” Pope Benedict XVI ¶ His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI reigned as pope from 2005 to 2013. Contra Mundum Page 63 GLORY IN THE of an animal, a sheep, brought salva- tion. Will not the blood of the only- The Congregation CROSS OF CHRIST begotten Son bring us greater salva- of Saint Athanasius HE CATHOLIC CHURCH tion? The Revd. T glories in every deed of Christ. He was not killed by violence, he Her supreme glory, however, is the was not forced to give up his life. Richard Sterling Bradford, cross. Well aware of this, Paul says: His was a willing sacrifice. Listen Chaplain God forbid that I glory in anything to his own words: I have the power Saint Lawrence Church but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ! to lay down my life and to take it up 774 Boylston Ave. again. Yes, he willingly submitted to At Siloam, there was a sense of Chestnut Hill, Mass. wonder, and rightly so. A man born his own passion. He took joy in his blind recovered his sight. But of what achievement; in his crown of victory (Parking lot behind church) importance is this, when there are he was glad and in the salvation of Sundays 11:30 AM man he rejoiced. He did not blush at so many blind people in the world? Sung Mass Lazarus rose from the dead, but even the cross for by it he was to save the this only affected Lazarus. What of world. No, it was not a lowly man Fellowship and Coffee in the those countless numbers who have who suffered but God incarnate. He Undercroft after Mass died because of their sins? Those five entered the contest for the reward he Rectory: would win by his patient endurance. miraculous loaves fed five thousand 767 West Roxbury Pkwy. people. Yet this is a small number Certainly in times of tranquility Boston, MA 02132-2121 compared to those all over the world the cross should give you joy. But who were starved by ignorance. Af- maintain the same faith in times of Tel/Fax: (617) 325-5232 ter eighteen years a woman was freed persecution. Otherwise you will be a from the bondage of Satan. But are friend of Jesus in times of peace and we not all shackled by the chains of his enemy during war. Now you re- our own sins? ceive the forgiveness of your sins and For us all, however, the cross is the generous gift of grace from your the crown of victory! It has brought king. When war comes, fight coura- light to those blinded by ignorance. geously for him. It has released those enslaved by sin. Jesus never sinned; yet he was cru- Indeed, it has redeemed the whole of cified for you. Will you refuse to be mankind! crucified for him, who for your sake Do not, then, be ashamed of the was nailed to the cross? You are not cross of Christ; rather, glory in it. Al- the one who gives the favor; you though it is a stumbling block to the have· received one first. For your Jews and folly to the Gentiles, the sake he was crucified on Golgotha. message of the cross is our salvation. Now you are returning his favor; you Of course it is folly to those who are are fulfilling your debt to him. perishing, but to us who are being Saint Cyril of Jerusalem saved it is the power of God. For it ANGLICAN USE MASS ON was not a mere man who died for us, ¶ Saint Cyril (c.313-386) was a distin- SATURDAY is celebrated each guished theologian of the early Church and but the Son of God, God made man. declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope week at 8:00 AM at the Marian In the Mosaic law a sacrificial lamb Leo XIII in 1883. This excerpt is taken from altar in St Theresa of Ávila Church, banished the destroyer. But now it is his famous Catechetical Lectures. 2078 Centre Street, West Roxbury. the Lamb of God who takes away the Enter the main church via the sin of the world. Will he not free us pavilion or the St. Theresa Avenue from our sins even more? The blood side doors. Page 64 Contra Mundum

St. Lawrence Church, 774 Boylston Street (Route 9). Park in the church parking lot behind the Church, off of Reservoir Rd. Chestnut Hill Directions by Car: From the North or South: Route 128 to Route 9. At signal for Reservoir Channing Road Road, take right; Church parking lot is a short Eliot St. Av distance on left. e From Boston: From Stuart/Kneeland St., turn left onto Park Plaza. Drive for 0.2 miles. Park Plaza Boylston St. (Rte 9) becomes St James Avenue. Drive for 0.3 miles. Lee St. Brookline Turn slight left onto ramp. Drive for 0.1 miles. Go Reservoir straight on Route-9. Drive for 3.5 miles. Turn left Reser onto Heath Street. Drive for 0.1 miles. Go straight voir Rd Heath St. on Reservoir Road. Drive for 0.1 miles. Parking . lot is on your right. Directions by Public Transportation: From Ken- more Square station board Bus #60, which stops in Low front of the Church. Alternatively, the Church is a ell Lane 15-minute walk from the Cleveland Circle station St Lawrence Church on the Green Line C-branch. Heath St.

Contra Mundum The Congregation of St. Athanasius 10 St. Theresa Avenue West Roxbury, MA 02132