Philip's Fast Pylypivka Pastoral of the Ukrainian Catholic Hierarchy of The
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Україномовна частина знаходится на ст . 5 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF STAMFORD Vol. XXXVII; No. 11 ThStamfoerd, Conne cticutS 06902 ower November 22 , 2020 Philip’s Fast OPylypivkaP Pastoral of the Ukrainian Catholic Hierarchy of the U.S.A. Philip’s Fast OPylypivkaP Pastoral of the Ukrainian Catholic Hierarchy of the U.S.A. to Our Clergy, Hieromonks, and Brothers, Religious Sisters, Seminarians and Beloved Faithful, Glory to Jesus Christ! of the Holy Family to Egypt and the return to Nazareth, about His healing of St. Philip’s Fast or Pylypivka is about to start. It is a joyful 40-day fast, the sick, about His rejection by the chosen people, about His betrayal and tak - which begins on November 15, the day after the feast of the apostle St. Philip, ing thirty silver pieces by one of the apostles, about His crucifixion among and lasts until December 24, Christmas Eve. This fast is meant to prepare us robbers, about His side being pierced, about His Resurrection and Ascension spiritually for the great and solemn holyday – the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus to Heaven. Later, the holy evangelists, while writing the Gospels inspired by Christ. This is the time given to us to deepen our understanding and aware - the Holy Spirit, will include these prophecies to show us that Jesus Christ is ness of God’s mystery – the Incarnation of the Son of God and the coming of the Messiah that everyone expected and that He is truly the Son of God. the Messiah, the King of Peace, Emmanuel and the Light of the world. It is The story of salvation does not end with the coming of Christ over 2,000 time for us to find and rediscover true joy of the years ago, but it continues to this very day. We are all Nativity of Our Lord through prayer, meditation, and awaiting His second coming, which He Himself prophe - acts of charity, not like it is in the artificial atmosphere sied, and it will be very different from the first. When of Christmas parties, buying and exchanging gifts and Christ comes a second time, everyone will recognize enjoying specially prepared holiday delicacies. Him. During His first coming, He was not loved but was We may think that the coming of Christ is a com - rejected. When He comes a second time, all the tribes pleted event and a historical fact of the past, and the will acknowledge Him as Lord. During His second com - anticipation of His coming is only symbolic for us. It is ing, He will also be accompanied by the angels. During not! Christ always comes to us. He is constantly born His first coming, He entered the world as a helpless baby spiritually in the heart of every person who believes in the manger. When He comes a second time, He will and expects Him. He comes to us in prayer and the come as the King of kings and Lord of lords. That is why Holy Mysteries, especially in Holy Confession and the expectation of the coming of Christ is not and can - Communion. Today He comes to be with us and among not be symbolic, but is a completely genuine event – He us. will come a second time. This year, St. Philip’s Fast and the understanding of During the Christmas fast, let us prepare spiritually the coming of Christ and His presence among us takes for His coming. Create a prayer corner in your home on a special meaning and significance for us. In the and display an icon of the Nativity of Christ, meditating midst of the relentless COVID-19 pandemic, the suf - daily on the mystery of the coming of the Messiah. Let fering of many from this deadly illness, often resulting us receive the Mysteries of Holy Confession and Holy in the sad and tragic loss of family members and Communion during these days, especially if we did not friends, political discord and instability, riots, wars and have the opportunity to do so during Great Lent. Let us human rights abuses around the world, we are thirsty abstain from meat on Fridays, overeating and excessive for a deep awareness and conviction that Christ the use of the Internet. Let us be generous with our time and Lord is truly present among us and that His grace is talents and serve the poor and disadvantaged as much as life-giving and necessary. we can. Let us reconcile with those whom we have offended and those who St. Philip’s Fast recalls for us the Old Testament and the world, which froze have offended us. Let us always be aware that Jesus Christ will come a second in anticipation of the coming of Christ, the Light of the world. We will hear time as our Lord and Judge, though “of that day and hour no one knows.” OMatt. readings from the books of the ancient prophets Nahum, Habakkuk, Daniel, 24:36P. and Isaiah, who prophesied of His coming eight centuries before He was born. May you and your family be blessed by Our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, They wrote that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, about the escape whose joyful Nativity in the manger of Bethlehem we patiently await! +Borys Gudziak Archbishop of Philadelphia for Ukrainians Metropolitan of Ukrainian Catholics in the United States +Paul Chomnycky, OSBM Eparch of Stamford +Benedict Aleksiychuk Eparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago + Bohdan J. Danylo Eparch of St. Josaphat in Parma +Andriy Rabiy O author P Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia November, 2020 page 2, November 22 , 2020 The Sower A thought for the sick and for those who work with them in hospitals Life’s Trials Make Faith and LivingL IiGnHT T ONhE CaAnNDkLsE giving Charity Grow Tony Rossi, Director of Communications, The Christophers On Wednesday morning, 4 November, the Pope returned to the practice of holding the General Audience in the Private Library of the Vatican’s Every November, on the fourth Thursday of the Apostolic Palace without the presence of the faithful, due to CovidM19 pro M month, we make it a point to remember the people and tective measures. Before continuing his series of catechesis on prayer, he invit M things for which we are grateful. But instead of just cel - ed the faithful to think of the sick and those who care for them. The follow M ebrating Thanksgiving once a year, what would happen ing is a translation of his reflection, which he shared in Italian. if we were willing to live in thanksgiving the whole year through? That’s a question we ask in the Christopher News Note “Living in Thanksgiving,” and it certainly can Dear Brothers and Sisters, Mk 1:35M38P. Jesus always goes a bit within a rule of life. Consistent be a challenge to focus on gratitude when life is tough. Good morning! further, further in prayer with the prayer produces progressive trans - But a classic song offers a fresh perspective on how to Unfortunately we have had to Father, and beyond, to other vil - formation, makes us strong in do that. return to holding this audience in lages, other horizons, to go and times of tribulation, gives us the We usually associate the words “Why me, Lord,” with the library, to protect ourselves preach, other peoples. grace to be supported by the One a lament when things are going wrong. But singer-song - against contagion by Covid. This Prayer is the rudder that who loves us and always protects writer Kris Kristofferson turned that idea on its head in also teaches us that we must be guides Jesus’ course. The stages of us. the early 1970s when he wrote, “Why Me, Lord,” which very attentive to the prescriptions his mission were not dictated by Another characteristic of became the biggest hit of his career up to that point. of the authorities, both the politi - success, nor by consensus, or the Jesus’ prayer is solitude. Those Instead of complaining to God about hardship, the cal authorities and health authori - seductive phrase “everyone is search M who pray do not escape from the lyrics offer a song of praise to the Creator: ties, in order to protect ourselves ing for you”. Jesus’ path was charted world, but prefer deserted places. against this pandemic. Let us offer by the least comfortable one, There, in silence, many voices can Why me, Lord? to the Lord this distance between which obeyed the Father’s inspira - emerge that we hide in our inner - What have I ever done us, for the good of all, and let us tion, which Jesus heard and wel - most selves: the most repressed To deserve even one of the pleasures I’ve known? think, let us think a lot about the comed in his solitary prayer. desires, the truths that we insist Tell me, Lord. sick, about those who are already The Catechism states that on suffocating, and so on. And, What did I ever do marginalized when they enter the “when Jesus prays he is already teach M above all, in silence God speaks. That was worth loving You or the kindness You've hospitals; let us think about the ing us how to pray” Ono. 2607P. Every person needs a space for shown? doctors, the nurses, the volun - Therefore, from Jesus’ example we him or herself, somewhere to cul - teers, the many people who work can derive some characteristics of tivate their interior life, where The song grew out of Kristofferson joining a friend with the sick at this time: they risk Christian prayer.