GORZKIE ZALE February 10, 2008 3:00 PM Page Two First Sunday of Lent February 10, 2008 GORZKIE ZALE February 10—3:00 PM Gorzkie Zale (Bitter Lamentations ) is a Lenten devotional service that grew out of Poland’s unique culture and spirituality. In the late Middle Ages, Passion Plays were popular in Poland as they were in England and in the German states. Then, as now, religious drama is a vivid and effective form of evangelization. Passion Plays and popular hymnody are the provenance of Gorzkie Zale. Gorzkie Zale evolved from the planctus of lament of the Blessed Virgin sung during the Good Friday veneration of the cross. Originally in Latin, the Virgin’s lament was translated into Polish and even regional dialects. Gorzkie Zale skillfully counterpoints the Passion of the Lord and the Sorrows of the Blessed Vir- gin. Fr. Wawrzyniec Stanislaw Benik of the Brotherhood of St. Roch is responsible for compiling and printing the service in 1707. Originally entitled Snopek Mirry (A Bundle of Myrrh), Gorkzie Zale was first celebrated by Fr. Szczepan Wierzkowski at Holy Cross Church Warsaw. Gorzkie Zale has a three-fold structure. Each section has: 1. A meditation—hymn that reflects upon the Passion and Death of the Lord; 2. A lamentation that expresses sorrow for sins; 3. A sympathetic “dialogue” of the soul with the Sorrowful Mother. St. Isaac Jogues Parish will offer a Polish-English Gorzkie Zale on Sunday (February 10) at 3:00 PM Fr. Zdzislaw (Jason) Torba will preside and preach. Soloists and an accompanist from the Lira Ensemble will lead the congregation in hymns and responses. Our adaptation of Gorzkie Zale will include traditional exposition of the Blessed Sacrament . “BEGINNING AND END”: Made and Re-made in God’s Image In my beginning is my end. In succession Houses Rise and fall, crumble, and are extended Are removed, destroyed, restored, or in their place Is an open field, or a factory, or a by-pass. Old stone to new building, old timber to new fires. Old fire to ashes, and ashes to earth… Bone of man and beast, cornstalk leaf . - East Coker, T.S. Eliot Spring is a season of opposing forces. Life and death hang in the balance. Everywhere there are signs of elemental struggle, beginnings and ends. It is no coincidence that English-speaking Christians call the 40 days of preparation for Christ’s Passover “Lent.” Lent, in its Saxon root, means “Springtime.” As a “journey to new life” and a “spiritual battle- ground,” our 40-day ascent to Easter is well named! Lent invites us to reflect on nature’s springtime: to turn toward God’s light and, forsaking the dark, cold isolation of sin, to come alive! Historically, Lent has had a dual purpose—to prepare converts for initiation and to reconcile sinners through penance. Both sides of Lent stress LIFE IN CHRIST AND RENEWAL FOR GOD”S PEOPLE. The three-fold discipline of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving becomes an effective means of placing ourselves in God’s hands. If we are to be a “New Crea- tion,” we must be reformed. Lent’s transformation begins with sinful humanity. Sin corrupts God’s image into an idol. Through our “surrender” to God’s grace, the idol becomes a holy icon and death is “swallowed up in victory.” Death - Page Three First Sunday of Lent February 10, 2008 an end—becomes a beginning! Our “surrender” to God is really our victory. Self-denial is an affirmation of God. Penance returns us to the dust of our beginning. Almsgiving is an expression of compassion for the needy. In this compassion that rescues us from the whirl- pool of desire. It dispels the illusion that we are almighty and self-sufficient. Thus, in the discipline of self-denial pen- ance, and alms, we are most clearly in the light. Finding God in the ashes of humility, our destiny rises out of death as a plant rises out of the soil. We become most truly ourselves in Christ. People of good will always ask: “What should I give up for Lent? They expect to hear a “litany” of derelictions and delec- tations. To abandon minor addictions and over indulgence is laudable. But, in truth, what does God want? God wants us to give up one thing for Lent—ourselves! Turning to God is the beginning. Being like God is the end. Our journey through Lent this week takes us from the Gar- den of Paradise to a barren desert. In both places the devil aims to deceive and destroy God’s image. He succeeds with Adam and Eve. He fails with Jesus. St. Anthony of the Desert tells us: “Whoever has not experienced temptation cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” It is only there in the battleground of free will that the “divine image” is fired by fires either divine or demonic. St. Seraphim of Sarov, who, like St. Anthony, dwelt in the wilderness and was tempted, had supreme confidence. It was the Holy Spirit and the sign of the Holy Cross that gave him the courage to claim: “The temptations of the devil are like a cobweb. You only need to blow on it, and it will be destroyed. It is the same with our enemy, the devil . You only need to shield yourself with the sign of the Holy Cross, and all his wiles will vanish completely.” Lent has begun. Never forget the end of the “journey” and the path can lead us home. “Remember that you are dust.” But also remember that you are being formed and reformed into God’s image whenever you place yourself in His hands. - Fr. Luczak Stewrdship…………………………………… Sunday Collections Weekly (This Year) 2/3/08— $11,980.35 (Last Year) - $10,276.60 What temptations lure us from the path of discipleship? Possessions? Pride? Power? Oh Lord, create for us a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within us. about Benedictine spirituality on Monday, Fr. Karl Langsdorf , of the St. Patrick Missionary Society will SPRITUAL LIFE speak on mission spirituality and Fr. Francis Hoff- man (aka Fr. Rocky of Relevant Radio) will speak about the spirituality of Opus Dei. Prayer will frame each of the presentations and hospitality will follow LENTEN PARISH MISSION in the Holy Family Room. Free will donations will be gratefully accepted each evening. Babysitting will be The Lent Parish Mission—“Spirituality: Relating to provided those evenings, as well. God in Life, in Love, in Prayer, in Our Identity”-- will be Feb. 17-20 and will focus on spirituality and dif- For those who prefer a day time option, we will meet ferent kinds of spirituality. On Sunday, Feb. 17, at Monday-Thursday, Feb. 18-21, at 9:30 a.m. in the 3:00 p.m. Fr. Bernard Kennedy will speak about Holy Family Room to view the previous evening’s Franciscan spirituality. The presentation will be fol- presentation on video tape. Hospitality will be pro- lowed with a pot luck dinner downstairs in the Parish vided and free will offerings will be gratefully ac- Hall (accessible by elevator) and end with Evening cepted. Prayer. Meat and beverages will be provided. RSVP to the RE Office, 847/966-1180, and let us know All sessions are self-contained so come for one, two, what salad, side dish or dessert you will bring. three or all four! Give yourself the gift of time as we journey through Lent and prepare to celebrate the Monday-Wednesday the mission sessions will be at deepest mysteries of our faith. The Spiritual Life 7:00 p.m. in Church. Sr. Kathleen Maloney will talk Commission looks forward to being with you. Page Four First Sunday of Lent February 10, 2008 FROM THE LITURGY BOARD We hope you find the Operation Rice Bowl materials enlightening and helpful. We strongly encourage you to read them each week, pray the Lenten prayer, carry on the suggested actions, cook the recipes and place your alms in the cardboard rice bowl. You may bring your alms each week and place them in the boxes at the doors of the church, or you may bring your ORB envelope with a check made out to St. Isaac Jogues Parish, or cash, for the total amount of your alms and place it in the second col- lection on Palm/Passion Sunday. Please remember that 75% of contributions to Op- DIVINE MERCY eration Rice Bowl go to Catholic Relief Services and help fund programs and projects involving health, On the second Sunday of Easter 2000, Pope John agriculture, clean water, education, development of Paul II announced that Sister Faustina Kowalska of small businesses, etc. The other 25% will be used the Congregation of Sisters of our Lady of Mercy give grants to support hunger and poverty alleviation was to join the rank of SAINTS. Helena Kowalska efforts in the Archdiocese and other dioceses of the was born on August 25, 1905 in Glogowiec, Poland. U. S. She entered the religious life on August 1, 1925. This week we pray for Felipa Perez and all the peo- Her mission to humankind began when she had a ple in Guatemala who are still recovering from Hurri- vision of Jesus Christ on February 22, 1931. He cane Stan by rebuilding their water systems. In this came with a message of trust in God’s mercy that way clean water comes to villages, health is im- she was told to spread throughout the world. On the proved and disease prevented. day of her canonization, the Pope formally an- nounced that the Sunday after Easter (Second Sun- day of Easter) would henceforth be known as “Divine Mercy Sunday.” During her lifetime, Faustina THIS WEEK’S LENT SCHEDULE, Feb.