Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for pouring out Your Holy Spirit upon Your Church.

Msgr. Pope on the Role Prayer Played in Driving Down COVID-19 Deaths

"Back in April, Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York excluded the possibility that God had anything to do with the dropping numbers of COVID-19 in New York State. . . .

"The Governor, of course, does not consider the possibility that there is an intermediate view: that human decisions may have interacted with or have been aided by God's grace. His protestations seem to show irritation with the notion that God could have anything at all to do with the results or with assisting our actions. 'Nothing' is a strong and absolute word. In using it, he demonstrates the fierce secularism of our age, which seeks to exclude God/faith from any role or participation in public conversations or during times of crisis. This secularism bespeaks more of fear than it does of a rational, principled position. Why the need to exclude other views or to denounce them in such absolute terms?

"While we cannot know for certain whether prayer played any role in the [steady drop in COVID-19 deaths and cases in Italy the day following Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi Eucharistic Blessing], as a man of faith I choose to believe that the Pope, along with all of us who prayed, did contribute.I respect that some will reject this outright, but to those I would like address these questions. . . ."

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the role of prayer in addition to human activities (e.g., staying at home, the shuttering of many businesses, and the cessation of certain activities) in addressing the COVID-19 challenge.

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: What Role Has Prayer Played in Driving Down COVID-19 Deaths? (27 MAY 20)

Reflection Starter from Pope Francis

"We need the Holy Spirit to give us new eyes, to open our minds and our hearts to face the present moment and the future having learned this lesson: That humanity is one. No one is saved alone. No one." - Pope Francis

Mississippi Children's Choir: "His Eye Is On the Sparrow"

As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of the Mississippi Children's Choir presenting "His Eye Is On the Sparrow":

From Yankee Magazine: Voices from the New England Economy

"As everyone in New England - and the world beyond - is being forced to rethink how they live and play and work and learn in the face of a pandemic, business owners are among those facing the most extreme challenges. They are tasked with keeping not only themselves and their families healthy, but also their employees, their customers, and the business itself.

"We are here to share their stories. Each week, deputy editor Ian Aldrich checks in with some of the New England artisans and entrepreneurs that Yankee has introduced to its readers over the years, and learns how they are tackling the toughest job of all."

To access the latest Yankee's current "Checking In" report, please visit:

New England Today: Checking In: Voices from the New England Economy (30 MAY 20)

Anniversary Blessings, Jim and Dawna!!!

Anniversary greetings to brother Jim and his wife Dawna, whose wedding anniversary is today!!! May this day and the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Pope John Paul II: Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Part 52

In 2003, on Holy Thursday, 2003. Pope John Paul II issued what would be his final encyclical: Ecclesia de Eucharistia, "On the Eucharist and Its Relationship to the Church." This encyclical contains much to prayerfully ponder/meditate on. The encyclical's Chapter Five, The Dignity of the Eucharistic Celebration, continues as follows:

"52. All of this makes clear the great responsibility which belongs to priests in particular for the celebration of the Eucharist. It is their responsibility to preside at the Eucharist in persona Christi and to provide a witness to and a service of communion not only for the community directly taking part in the celebration, but also for the universal Church, which is a part of every Eucharist. It must be lamented that, especially in the years following the post-conciliar liturgical reform, as a result of a misguided sense of creativity and adaptation there have been a number of abuses which have been a source of suffering for many. A certain reaction against 'formalism' has led some, especially in certain regions, to consider the 'forms' chosen by the Church's great liturgical tradition and her Magisterium as non-binding and to introduce unauthorized innovations which are often completely inappropriate.

"I consider it my duty, therefore to appeal urgently that the liturgical norms for the celebration of the Eucharist be observed with great fidelity. These norms are a concrete expression of the authentically ecclesial nature of the Eucharist; this is their deepest meaning. Liturgy is never anyone's private property, be it of the celebrant or of the community in which the mysteries are celebrated. The Apostle Paul had to address fiery words to the community of Corinth because of grave shortcomings in their celebration of the Eucharist resulting in divisions (schismata) and the emergence of factions (haireseis) (cf. 1 Cor 11:17-34). Our time, too, calls for a renewed awareness and appreciation of liturgical norms as a reflection of, and a witness to, the one universal Church made present in every celebration of the Eucharist. Priests who faithfully celebrate Mass according to the liturgical norms, and communities which conform to those norms, quietly but eloquently demonstrate their love for the Church. Precisely to bring out more clearly this deeper meaning of liturgical norms, I have asked the competent offices of the Roman Curia to prepare a more specific document, including prescriptions of a juridical nature, on this very important subject. No one is permitted to undervalue the mystery entrusted to our hands: it is too great for anyone to feel free to treat it lightly and with disregard for its sacredness and its universality."

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of good, committed public servants in our communities, states, and nations.

Statement of U.S. Bishop Chairmen in Wake of Death of George Floyd and National Protests

Seven U.S. bishop chairmen of committees within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have issued a statement in the wake of the death of Mr. George Floyd and the protests which have broken out in Minneapolis and in other cities in the United States.

Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of Houma-Thibodaux, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism; Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church; Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities; Bishop Joseph C. Bambera of Scranton, chairman of the Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs; Bishop David G. O’Connell, auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, chairman of the Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development; and Bishop Joseph N. Perry, auxiliary bishop of Chicago, chairman of the Subcommittee on African American Affairs have issued the following statement:

"We are broken-hearted, sickened, and outraged to watch another video of an African American man being killed before our very eyes. What’s more astounding is that this is happening within mere weeks of several other such occurrences. This is the latest wake-up call that needs to be answered by each of us in a spirit of determined conversion.

"Racism is not a thing of the past or simply a throwaway political issue to be bandied about when convenient. It is a real and present danger that must be met head on. As members of the Church, we must stand for the more difficult right and just actions instead of the easy wrongs of indifference. We cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities and yet still try to profess to respect every human life. We serve a God of love, mercy, and justice.

"While it is expected that we will plead for peaceful non-violent protests, and we certainly do, we also stand in passionate support of communities that are understandably outraged. Too many communities around this country feel their voices are not being heard, their complaints about racist treatment are unheeded, and we are not doing enough to point out that this deadly treatment is antithetical to the Gospel of Life.

"As we said eighteen months ago in our most recent pastoral letter against racism, Open Wide Our Hearts, for people of color some interactions with police can be fraught with fear and even danger. People of good conscience must never turn a blind eye when citizens are being deprived of their human dignity and even their lives. Indifference is not an option. 'As bishops, we unequivocally state that racism is a life issue.'

"We join Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis in praying for the repose of the soul of Mr. George Floyd and all others who have lost their lives in a similar manner. We plead for an end to the violence in the wake of this tragedy and for the victims of the rioting. We pray for comfort for grieving families and friends. We pray for peace across the United States, particularly in Minnesota, while the legal process moves forward. We also anticipate a full investigation that results in rightful accountability and actual justice.

"We join our brother bishops to challenge everyone to come together, particularly with those who are from different cultural backgrounds. In this encounter, let us all seek greater understanding amongst God's people. So many people who historically have been disenfranchised continue to experience sadness and pain, yet they endeavor to persevere and remain people of great faith. We encourage our pastors to encounter and more authentically accompany them, listen to their stories, and learn from them, finding substantive ways to enact systemic change. Such encounters will start to bring about the needed transformation of our understanding of true life, charity, and justice in the United States. Hopefully, then there will be many voices speaking out and seeking healing against the evil of racism in our land.

"As we anticipate the Solemnity of Pentecost this weekend, we call upon all Catholics to pray and work toward a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray for a supernatural desire to rid ourselves of the harm that bias and prejudice cause. We call upon Catholics to pray to the Holy Spirit for the Spirit of Truth to touch the hearts of all in the United States and to come down upon our criminal justice and law enforcement systems. Finally, let each and every Catholic, regardless of their ethnicity, beg God to heal our deeply broken view of each other, as well as our deeply broken society."

Reflection Starter from Pierre Teilhard De Chardin, SJ

"In the final analysis, the questions of why bad things happen to good people transmutes itself into some very different questions, no longer asking why something happened, but asking how we will respond, what we intend to do now that it happened." - Father Pierre Teilhard De Chardin, SJ

On Virtual Public Engagement

"Most public involvement practitioners could write a book about the sometimes unusual encounters of working in the public realm. . . . [W]orking with the public and stakeholders is occasionally colorful, and yet more often than not, critical to overall program or project success. These times are no different. Public engagement and continued project development do not need to come to a halt during a time of social distancing, in fact, communication must increase.

"The public still needs - and is often required - to have a meaningful voice in infrastructure projects. Stakeholders still have key knowledge and information that can help inform solutions. We still have a duty to reach underserved populations."

The design firm HDR recently offered a number of steps that may be used to create a virtual engagement program.

To access the complete list, please visit:

HDR: When the Open House Is Closed; A Playbook for Virtual Public Engagement

Suggestions for Combining Exercise and Social Distancing

The Bolton, MA, Trails Committee is offering a number of suggestions designed to keep one entertained while exercising and social distancing. These suggestions include plogging and taking a photo and sharing it on social media.

To access a copy of the complete list of these suggestions (and related links), please visit:

Bolton Trails Committee: Trail Maps

Background information:

Bolton Trails Committee

Town of Bolton

Wikipedia: Bolton, Massachusetts

Pope John Paul II: Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Part 51

In 2003, on Holy Thursday, 2003. Pope John Paul II issued what would be his final encyclical: Ecclesia de Eucharistia, "On the Eucharist and Its Relationship to the Church." This encyclical contains much to prayerfully ponder/meditate on. The encyclical's Chapter Five, The Dignity of the Eucharistic Celebration, continues as follows:

"51. The development of sacred art and liturgical discipline which took place in lands of ancient Christian heritage is also taking place on continents where Christianity is younger. This was precisely the approach supported by the Second Vatican Council on the need for sound and proper "inculturation". In my numerous Pastoral Visits I have seen, throughout the world, the great vitality which the celebration of the Eucharist can have when marked by the forms, styles and sensibilities of different cultures. By adaptation to the changing conditions of time and place, the Eucharist offers sustenance not only to individuals but to entire peoples, and it shapes cultures inspired by Christianity.

"It is necessary, however, that this important work of adaptation be carried out with a constant awareness of the ineffable mystery against which every generation is called to measure itself. The "treasure" is too important and precious to risk impoverishment or compromise through forms of experimentation or practices introduced without a careful review on the part of the competent ecclesiastical authorities. Furthermore, the centrality of the Eucharistic mystery demands that any such review must be undertaken in close association with the Holy See. As I wrote in my Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Asia, "such cooperation is essential because the Sacred Liturgy expresses and celebrates the one faith professed by all and, being the heritage of the whole Church, cannot be determined by local Churches in isolation from the universal Church".¹⁰¹

Note

¹⁰¹No. 22: AAS 92 (2000), 485.

Franz Berwald: Symphony No. 2 in D major

It's time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Franz Berwald's Symphony No. 2 in D major (Sinfonie capricieuse) as played by Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester, conducted by Okko Kamu:

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings that result when people work collaboratively.

A Spirit of Unity

America is an amazing country. In any crisis throughout our nation's history, people have pulled together in a spirit of community to see one another through difficult times. The situation we have found ourselves in over the past few months, battling a pandemic that has swept through the entire world, has revealed this spirit once again. When Liz Klinger of San Francisco, California, learned that the hospital where her mother works had a mask shortage, she decided to act, not just for her mom but for the entire country. In an interview with SFGate, Klinger said, "My mom is a nurse, and she told me they weren't being provided masks on her floor, which was obviously kind of concerning. . . . And I was hearing through the grapevine that my mom's experience was far from the only experience like that - U.S. healthcare workers across the country need masks."

Klinger connected with Chloe Albert, who works in health care supplies. Albert informed Klinger of the long waiting period for new masks. They realized that the quickest way to get new masks was to appeal to people with their own private supplies. So Klinger and Albert joined together to form a website called Mask Match to connect people who had their own small supplies of masks with hospitals experiencing shortages. The donations began to pour in.

Another vital supply in battling this pandemic, both in hospitals and in our own homes, is hand sanitizer. We have faced major shortages from the earliest days of the outbreak. So distilleries, which usually produce alcoholic beverages, began to utilize their facilities to produce hand sanitizer and the kind of alcohol used as a disinfectant. "I'm most proud of the people on our staff," Travis Barnes told Fox News. Barnes is a disabled veteran who owns the Indiana-based Hotel Tango Distillery, which is the first combat-disabled, veteran-owned distillery in America. As soon as Barnes heard of the need, he switched his operation over completely to making sanitizer. He said, "There hasn't been any hesitation from day one. We've seen people step up every day in extraordinary ways. I hope we can continue to help each other, support our neighbors and come out of this thing stronger than before."

From small companies to large, Americans are turning their ingenuity towards addressing the health crisis. A Business Insider headline read, "Tesla, Apple, and Ford are stepping up to address global shortages of ventilators, hand sanitizer, face masks, and gowns." And in another amazing story we learned of how individuals are helping out from their own homes by running simulations on their computers to help scientists weed through data to find treatments for their patients. Reporting on the story, KFOX radio wrote on their website, "To find treatments, scientists need a ton of computing power to simulate how various proteins interact.  So the website FoldingAtHome.org has been asking people to download software that lets your computer run simulations when you're not using it. Over 400,000 people have signed up. And the raw computing power combined is already close to three times faster than the world's fastest supercomputer."

When you look at these kinds of stories, you have confidence in America's ability to weather any crisis. We simply have to remember that we are so much stronger when we collaborate with each other, and that is exactly what so many people have been doing. So have faith that we will come through this and be stronger for the fight we have engaged in together.

This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column by Father Ed Dougherty, M.M., The Christophers' Board of Directors ; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.

Background information:

The Christophers

Reflection Starter from Dwight D. Eisenhower

"No one can always be right. So the struggle is to do one's best, to keep the brain and conscience clear, never to be swayed by unworthy motives or inconsequential reasons, but to strive to unearth the basic factors involved, then do one's duty." - President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Coronavirus-related New England Municipal Government News Headlines

Recent news stories related to municipal government in New England (and issues being faced on the local level) include these articles:

CT: Shelton lays off 14 fulltime city employees (Connecticut Post)

ME: ‘Back to Basics’: Cumberland/North Yarmouth plans limited summer rec programs amid pandemic (The Forecaster)

MA: Hull bans ice cream trucks for summer season (The Patriot Ledger, Quincy)

NH: School reopening task force seeks input from parents, educators (Keene Sentinel)

RI: Town working on rules to make backyard fires legal (The Valley Breeze)

VT: Grants now available for some downtown Montpelier businesses (Burlington Free Press)

National: Coronavirus distance learning leaves outnumbered counselors scrambling (USA Today)

Background information:

City of Shelton, CT

Town of Cumberland, ME

Town of North Yarmouth, ME

Town of Hull, MA

Town of Cumberland, RI

City of Burlington, VT

Pope John Paul II: Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Part 50

In 2003, on Holy Thursday, 2003. Pope John Paul II issued what would be his final encyclical: Ecclesia de Eucharistia, "On the Eucharist and Its Relationship to the Church." This encyclical contains much to prayerfully ponder/meditate on. The encyclical's Chapter Five, The Dignity of the Eucharistic Celebration, continues as follows:

"50. In this effort to adore the mystery grasped in its ritual and aesthetic dimensions, a certain 'competition' has taken place between Christians of the West and the East. How could we not give particular thanks to the Lord for the contributions to Christian art made by the great architectural and artistic works of the Greco-Byzantine tradition and of the whole geographical area marked by Slav culture? In the East, sacred art has preserved a remarkably powerful sense of mystery, which leads artists to see their efforts at creating beauty not simply as an expression of their own talents, but also as a genuine service to the faith. Passing well beyond mere technical skill, they have shown themselves docile and open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

"The architectural and mosaic splendours of the Christian East and West are a patrimony belonging to all believers; they contain a hope, and even a pledge, of the desired fullness of communion in faith and in celebration. This would presuppose and demand, as in Rublëv's famous depiction of the Trinity, a profoundly Eucharistic Church in which the presence of the mystery of Christ in the broken bread is as it were immersed in the ineffable unity of the three divine Persons, making of the Church herself an 'icon' of the Trinity.

"Within this context of an art aimed at expressing, in all its elements, the meaning of the Eucharist in accordance with the Church's teaching, attention needs to be given to the norms regulating the construction and decor of sacred buildings. As history shows and as I emphasized in my Letter to Artists,¹⁰⁰ the Church has always left ample room for the creativity of artists. But sacred art must be outstanding for its ability to express adequately the mystery grasped in the fullness of the Church's faith and in accordance with the pastoral guidelines appropriately laid down by competent Authority. This holds true both for the figurative arts and for sacred music."

Note

¹⁰⁰Cf. AAS 91 (1999), 1155-1172.

Vocal Spectrum: "When I See an Elephant Fly"

It's time for some more barbershop harmony. Here is a presentation of "When I See an Elephant Fly" by Vocal Spectrum:

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of Your evangelists.

George Weigel on an Extraordinary Evangelization outreach in London

"I'd heard about Father Alexander Sherbrooke long before we met in June 2011; Father Sherbrooke had been a mentor for young friends of mine who had worked at St. Patrick's Church in London as pastoral assistants and catechists. When we finally got to know each other in person, I had that wonderful experience of knowing, almost instantly, that here was someone with whom I would remain in serious (but also rollicking) conversation - someone on whose friendship I could rely as spiritual ballast.

"What Father Sherbrooke has done at St. Patrick's in his 17 years as its pastor is little short of miraculous. Soho Square, where the parish is located, is in London's West End, a thoroughly decadent part of the city that caters to every imaginable human appetite. The church's roof was penetrated by a Luftwaffe bomb during World War II and the parish was in tough shape, pastorally and financially, when Father Sherbrooke arrived.

"Then came the miracles of grace, channeled through constant prayer, hard work, pastoral imagination, and support from the pastor's many friends and followers."

In a recent commentary, George Weigel (columnist and Distinguished Senior Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington, DC) reflected on the outreach of Fr. Sherbrooke and St. Patrick Parish during these times of the coronavirus challenge.

To access Mr. Weigel's complete post, please visit:

The Boston Pilot: Echoes: The Catholic Difference: Extraordinary evangelization in extraordinary times (27 MAY 20)

Reflection Starter from Wilfred Peterson

"Walking uplifts the spirit. Breathe out the poisons of tension, stress, and worry; breathe in the power of God. Send forth little silent prayers of goodwill toward those you meet. Walk with a sense of being a part of a vast universe. Consider the thousands of miles beneath your feet, think of the limitless expanse of space above your head. Walk in awe, wonder and humility. Walk at all times of the day - in the early morning when the world is just waking up, late at night under the stars, along a busy city street at noontime." - Wilfred Peterson (in Bits & Pieces, July 1986)

Birthday Blessings, Bob!!!

Birthday greetings to Myrna's son Bob, whose birthday is today!!! May this day and the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

National Electrical Safety Month

The month of May is being observed as National Electrical Safety Month 2020, an observance designed to educate key audiences about the steps that can be taken in order to reduce the number of electrically-related fires, fatalities, injuries, and property loss. The theme for this year's observance is "Smart Home;' it is designed to focus on the lifesaving devices that keep a home smart, safe, and secure.

For more information about the observance of National Electrical Safety Month, please visit:

Electrical Safety Foundation International: National Electrical Safety Month

Edison Electric Institute: National Electrical Safety Month

Background information:

Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI)

Sensory Bags in Vermont Ambulances

Ambulances in Barre City and Montpelier, VT, are now carrying sensory bags designed to "help patients dealing with sensory overload stay calm in an emergency situation."

Media report:

WCAX-TV: How 'sensory bags' in ambulances can help patients with autism

Background information:

Barre City Fire & Emergency Medical Services

City of Barre

Wikipedia: Barre (city), Vermont

Montpelier Fire and Ambulance Department

City of Montpelier

Wikipedia: Montpelier, Vermont

Fred Parris & The Satins: "In the Still of the Night"

It's time for some more doo wop. Here is a presentation of  "In the Still of the Night" by Fred Parris & The Satins:

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of hope.

John Grondelski on Lessons from Our Lord's Ascension

"'You are here to say goodbye to us, and we don't have a good word for it in English.The best is "au revoir" - we'll see you again.' - Richard M. Nixon, Farewell to White House Staff, Aug. 9, 1974

"Parting with someone is hard. There are partings that are difficult. I remember the look on my future wife after spending our first Christmas together with her family, as the bus pulled away from its stop, her standing on the curb. I also remember the time I left my daughter, as she began her gap year and would be on her own alone for the first time, in another country. I left her in the lobby of the dorm to walk across the road to the bus station, board a bus, and drive off into the night.

"Richard Nixon was right. We don't have a good word for it in English. Because, normally, we hope that a parting is only temporary. . . .

"The Ascension reminds us that not every parting is final. The Ascension is Jesus' au revoir. His auf wiedersehen. His hasta la vista. His do zobaczenia."

In a recent commentary, writer John M. Grondelski reflected on some lessons we can learn form Jesus' Ascension.

To access Mr. Grondelski's complete post, please visit:

National Catholic Register: Blogs: John Grondelski: 4 Lessons from Our Lord’s 'Au Revoir' (24 MAY 20)

Pope John Paul II: Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Part 49

In 2003, on Holy Thursday, 2003. Pope John Paul II issued what would be his final encyclical: Ecclesia de Eucharistia, "On the Eucharist and Its Relationship to the Church." This encyclical contains much to prayerfully ponder/meditate on. The encyclical's Chapter Five, The Dignity of the Eucharistic Celebration, continues as follows:
 

"49. With this heightened sense of mystery, we understand how the faith of the Church in the mystery of the Eucharist has found historical expression not only in the demand for an interior disposition of devotion, but also in outward forms meant to evoke and emphasize the grandeur of the event being celebrated. This led progressively to the development of a particular form of regulating the Eucharistic liturgy, with due respect for the various legitimately constituted ecclesial traditions. On this foundation a rich artistic heritage also developed. Architecture, sculpture, painting and music, moved by the Christian mystery, have found in the Eucharist, both directly and indirectly, a source of great inspiration.

"Such was the case, for example, with architecture, which witnessed the transition, once the historical situation made it possible, from the first places of Eucharistic celebration in the domus or 'homes' of Christian families to the solemn basilicas of the early centuries, to the imposing cathedrals of the Middle Ages, and to the churches, large and small, which gradually sprang up throughout the lands touched by Christianity. The designs of altars and tabernacles within Church interiors were often not simply motivated by artistic inspiration but also by a clear understanding of the mystery. The same could be said for sacred music, if we but think of the inspired Gregorian melodies and the many, often great, composers who sought to do justice to the liturgical texts of the Mass. Similarly, can we overlook the enormous quantity of artistic production, ranging from fine craftsmanship to authentic works of art, in the area of Church furnishings and vestments used for the celebration of the Eucharist?

"It can be said that the Eucharist, while shaping the Church and her spirituality, has also powerfully affected 'culture', and the arts in particular.

Reflection Starter from John Dewey

"Just as a flower which seems beautiful and has color but no perfume, so are the fruitless words of the man who speaks them but does them not." - John Dewey

Coronavirus-related New England Municipal Government News Headlines

Recent news stories related to municipal government in New England (and issues being faced on the local level) include these articles:

CT: How towns, cities in CT are honoring fallen heroes this Memorial Day (WTNH-TV)

ME: Brunswick presents flat municipal budget, but savings are not without costs (The Times Record)

MA: Cape towns hammer out safety guidelines to handle beachgoers (Cape Cod Times)

NH: Voters line up at Hopkinton, NH, drive-through (Valley News))


RI: Roots of shoreline repair: In E. Providence, trying a soft approach to erosion control  (Providence Journal)

VT: Being a firefighter in South Burlington during the coronavirus (Burlington Free Press)

National: Cities have been opening streets to people, and artists could help make them better (Complete Streets News)

Background information:

Town of Brunswick, ME

Town of Hopkinton, NH

City of East Providence, RI

South Burlington, VT, Fire Department

City of South Burlington, VT

Anniversary Blessings, Jan and Alison!!!

Anniversary greetings to brother Jan and his wife Alison, whose wedding anniversary is today!!! May this day and the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Gaither Vocal Band: "We Have This Moment, Today"

As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of the Gaither Vocal Band presenting "We Have This Moment, Today":

Pope John Paul II: Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Part 48

In 2003, on Holy Thursday, 2003. Pope John Paul II issued what would be his final encyclical: Ecclesia de Eucharistia, "On the Eucharist and Its Relationship to the Church." This encyclical contains much to prayerfully ponder/meditate on. The encyclical's Chapter Five, The Dignity of the Eucharistic Celebration, continues as follows:

"48. Like the woman who anointed Jesus in Bethany, the Church has feared no 'extravagance', devoting the best of her resources to expressing her wonder and adoration before the unsurpassable gift of the Eucharist. No less than the first disciples charged with preparing the 'large upper room', she has felt the need, down the centuries and in her encounters with different cultures, to celebrate the Eucharist in a setting worthy of so great a mystery. In the wake of Jesus' own words and actions, and building upon the ritual heritage of Judaism, the Christian liturgy was born. Could there ever be an adequate means of expressing the acceptance of that self-gift which the divine Bridegroom continually makes to his Bride, the Church, by bringing the Sacrifice offered once and for all on the Cross to successive generations of believers and thus becoming nourishment for all the faithful? Though the idea of a 'banquet' naturally suggests familiarity, the Church has never yielded to the temptation to trivialize this 'intimacy' with her Spouse by forgetting that he is also her Lord and that the 'banquet' always remains a sacrificial banquet marked by the blood shed on Golgotha. The Eucharistic Banquet is truly a 'sacred' banquet, in which the simplicity of the signs conceals the unfathomable holiness of God: O sacrum convivium, in quo Christus sumitur! The bread which is broken on our altars, offered to us as wayfarers along the paths of the world, is panis angelorum, the bread of angels, which cannot be approached except with the humility of the centurion in the Gospel: 'Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof ' (Mt 8:8; Lk 7:6)."

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the priesthood and for the many good priests You have placed in our lives.

Br. Linus Martz, O.P., on the Priesthood of the Newly Ordained

"The Dominican brothers ordained last weekend, even with the restrictions from COVID-19, will soon start wearing any number of hats. Vicars, pastors, preachers, students, missionaries, professors, administrators, campus-hopping Thomistic Institute coordinators: the list of possible ministries goes on, and of course the newly ordained never lose their identity as Dominican friars. But whatever else will demand their attention, they will also now be priests, called to offer sacrifice: 'One does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was' (Heb 5:4)."

In a recent commentary, Brother Linus Martz, O.P., reflected on meaning of the priesthood of the newly ordained.

To access Br. Linus' complete reflection, please visit:

Dominicana: Bound in the Spirit, Priests for Jerusalem (26 MAY 20)

Reflection Starter from St. Philip Neri

" The best way to prepare for death is to spend every day of life as though it were the last." - Saint Philip Neri, whose memory the Church celebrates today (26 May)

Pope John Paul II: Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Part 47

In 2003, on Holy Thursday, 2003. Pope John Paul II issued what would be his final encyclical: Ecclesia de Eucharistia, "On the Eucharist and Its Relationship to the Church." This encyclical contains much to prayerfully ponder/meditate on. The encyclical's Chapter Five, The Dignity of the Eucharistic Celebration, begins as follows:

"47. Reading the account of the institution of the Eucharist in the Synoptic Gospels, we are struck by the simplicity and the 'solemnity' with which Jesus, on the evening of the Last Supper, instituted this great sacrament. There is an episode which in some way serves as its prelude: the anointing at Bethany. A woman, whom John identifies as Mary the sister of Lazarus, pours a flask of costly ointment over Jesus' head, which provokes from the disciples - and from Judas in particular (cf. Mt 26:8; Mk 14:4; Jn 12:4) - an indignant response, as if this act, in light of the needs of the poor, represented an intolerable 'waste'. But Jesus' own reaction is completely different. While in no way detracting from the duty of charity towards the needy, for whom the disciples must always show special care - 'the poor you will always have with you' (Mt 26, 11; Mk 14:7; cf. Jn 12:8) - he looks towards his imminent death and burial, and sees this act of anointing as an anticipation of the honour which his body will continue to merit even after his death, indissolubly bound as it is to the mystery of his person.

"The account continues, in the Synoptic Gospels, with Jesus' charge to the disciples to prepare carefully the “'arge upper room' needed for the Passover meal (cf. Mk 14:15; Lk 22:12) and with the narration of the institution of the Eucharist. Reflecting at least in part the Jewish rites of the Passover meal leading up to the singing of the Hallel (cf. Mt 26:30; Mk 14:26), the story presents with sobriety and solemnity, even in the variants of the different traditions, the words spoken by Christ over the bread and wine, which he made into concrete expressions of the handing over of his body and the shedding of his blood. All these details are recorded by the Evangelists in the light of a praxis of the 'breaking of the bread' already well-established in the early Church. But certainly from the time of Jesus on, the event of Holy Thursday has shown visible traces of a liturgical 'sensibility' shaped by Old Testament tradition and open to being reshaped in Christian celebrations in a way consonant with the new content of Easter."

"Hymn to the Fallen"

As we continue our observance of Memorial Day, I offer this version of John Williams' "Hymn to the Fallen":

Memorial Day

Today is being observed as Memorial Day, a day designated to commemorate the men and women who died while in the military service.

We lift up to the Lord the souls of each of these men and women. We also thank Him, and them, for their sacrifice.

Your silent tents of green
We deck with fragrant flowers;
Yours has the suffering been,
The memory shall be ours.
                  – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

YouTube: Memorial Day 2019 - Freedom Isn't Free

Community in Mission: A Memorial Day Meditation on Honor (24 MAY 20)

Paul Greenberg: Remembering, We Forget (30 MAY 11)

Community in Mission: On the "Memorare" of Memorial Day (27 MAY 18)

Community in Mission: America, I Gave My Best to You - A Reflection on the Virtue of Patriotism (26 MAY 19)

Dominicana: Memory (27 MAY 19)

Foster's Daily Democrat: Dover Doin's: Take a moment to give thanks on Memorial Day (27 MAY 19)

John McCrae: "In Flanders Fields"

YouTube: Memorial Day

Related media reports:

Presidential Proclamation: Proclamation on Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2020

USA Today: Memorial Day: Remembering those we have lost (24 MAY 20)

The Boston Globe: Families of the fallen remember in private this Memorial Day (25 MAY 20)

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for Your constant presence.

Fr. Patrick Briscoe, O.P., on Where Christ Is Going

"I've noticed this quarantine that many of my brother priests have used their time to take on long overdue cleaning and building projects. Whether they've been emptying old closets or applying fresh paint to worn rooms, these priests have been Marthas,' busy about many things…'

"Every parish, for that matter, has been preparing to 'open up.' Every church has been sanitizing, hanging ropes, taping X’s, clarifying protocol. These efforts and more have been in the name of safely welcoming parishioners back. Parishes have been working to offer as much protection and reasonable precaution as possible.

"What is this work for? What is it really all about?"

In a recent commentary, Father Patrick Briscoe, O.P., reflected on how, no matter the "threat, weakness, failure, division, wound, or sorrow," "Christ alone offers victory. He alone offers true joy and lasting happiness."

To access Fr Patrick's complete post, please visit:

Aleteia: Fr. Patrick Briscoe, OP: Have we seen where Christ is going? (20 MAY 20)

Editor's note: Myrna and I are parishioners at Saint Pius V Parish, where Fr. Patrick is currently serving (until the end of June).

Reflection Starter from Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (who was born this date in 1803)

Pope John Paul II: Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Part 46

In 2003, on Holy Thursday, 2003. Pope John Paul II issued what would be his final encyclical: Ecclesia de Eucharistia, "On the Eucharist and Its Relationship to the Church." This encyclical contains much to prayerfully ponder/meditate on. The encyclical's Chapter Four, The Eucharist and Ecclesial Communion, continues as follows:

"46. In my Encyclical Ut Unum Sint I expressed my own appreciation of these norms, which make it possible to provide for the salvation of souls with proper discernment: 'It is a source of joy to note that Catholic ministers are able, in certain particular cases, to administer the sacraments of the Eucharist, Penance and Anointing of the Sick to Christians who are not in full communion with the Catholic Church but who greatly desire to receive these sacraments, freely request them and manifest the faith which the Catholic Church professes with regard to these sacraments. Conversely, in specific cases and in particular circumstances, Catholics too can request these same sacraments from ministers of Churches in which these sacraments are valid'.⁹⁷

"These conditions, from which no dispensation can be given, must be carefully respected, even though they deal with specific individual cases, because the denial of one or more truths of the faith regarding these sacraments and, among these, the truth regarding the need of the ministerial priesthood for their validity, renders the person asking improperly disposed to legitimately receiving them. And the opposite is also true: Catholics may not receive communion in those communities which lack a valid sacrament of Orders.⁹⁸

"The faithful observance of the body of norms established in this area ⁹⁹ is a manifestation and, at the same time, a guarantee of our love for Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, for our brothers and sisters of different Christian confessions - who have a right to our witness to the truth – and for the cause itself of the promotion of unity."

Notes

⁹⁷No. 46: AAS 87 (1995), 948.

⁹⁸Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on Ecumenism Unitatis Redintegratio, 22.

⁹⁹Code of Canon Law, Canon 844; Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, Canon 671.

Fernando Ortega: "All Creatures of Our God and King"

As we continue our Sunday celebration, I offer this version of Fernando Ortega presenting "All Creatures of Our God and King":

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Today the Church celebrates the Seventh Sunday of Easter. The assigned readings are Acts 1:12-14, 1 Peter 4:13-16, and John 17:1-11A. The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 27 (Psalm 27:1, 4, 7-8).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial psalm for 7th Sunday of Easter, year A (24th May, 2020)

The Gospel reading is as follows:

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began. I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word."

Reflections on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Seventh Sunday of Easter (May 24, 2020)

The Gregorian Institute at Benedictine College: This Sunday: the Great Commission and the Pandemic (21 MAY 20)

The Perspective of Justice: The Mission in the World (Seventh Sunday of Easter A)

Let the Scriptures Speak: Between Ascension and Pentecost (Seventh Sunday of Easter A)

The Word Embodied: The Beyond (Seventh Sunday of Easter A)

Historical Cultural Context: The Meaning and Types of Prayer (Seventh Sunday of Easter A)

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the beauty of Your creation.

Msgr. Pope on Some Lessons for the Church from the Shutdown

"The first reading from Sunday's Mass (6^thSunday of Easter) has a certain application for the Church today in this time of plague. Even though some dioceses are resuming public Masses on a limited basis, there are some practices adopted during the shutdown that we should maintain. . . .

"Clearly, we in the Church have been rocked back on our heels. The cessation of public Mass would have been unthinkable just a few months ago; when it happened, many Catholics were shocked and outraged. This worldwide crisis - which has killed many, sickened even more, and brought economic and personal difficulties upon millions - has also pushed the Church to do things in new ways. For too long, parish evangelization has largely consisted of opening the doors and hoping people will come. During the shutdown we have been forced to reach out as never before.

"This outreach has included live-streaming liturgies and/or recording them. Our parish meetings have had to shift to virtual platforms and attendance has been quite good; there are no longer the concerns over traffic or being out late at night. We had long discussed adding a virtual option to our bible studies and catechetical instructions. When the shutdown came, we had to walk the talk: our twice-weekly Bible studies are now both live-streamed and recorded. This has increased our reach in both numbers and distance. The numbers who 'attend' have increased and we have folks participating from all across the US as well as from a few foreign countries."

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on some of the blessings the COVID-19 shutdown has brought to the Church.

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: Lessons from the Shutdown (17 MAY 20)

Reflection Starter from Pope Francis

"Men and women of prayer safeguard the basic truths. They repeat to everyone that this life, despite all its fatigue, trials, and difficult days, is filled with a grace at which we marvel. As such life must always be defended and protected." - Pope Francis

Pee Wee King and the Golden West Cowboys: "Tennessee Waltz" and "You Belong to Me"

As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of Pee Wee King and the Golden West Cowboys presenting "Tennessee Waltz" and "You Belong to Me":

Birthday Blessings, Alan!!!

Birthday greetings to brother Alan, whose birthday is today!!! May this day and the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Birthday Blessings, Richard!!!

Birthday greetings to brother Richard, whose birthday is today!!! May this day and the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Pope John Paul II: Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Part 45

In 2003, on Holy Thursday, 2003. Pope John Paul II issued what would be his final encyclical: Ecclesia de Eucharistia, "On the Eucharist and Its Relationship to the Church." This encyclical contains much to prayerfully ponder/meditate on. The encyclical's Chapter Four, The Eucharist and Ecclesial Communion, continues as follows:

"45. While it is never legitimate to concelebrate in the absence of full communion, the same is not true with respect to the administration of the Eucharist under special circumstances, to individual persons belonging to Churches or Ecclesial Communities not in full communion with the Catholic Church. In this case, in fact, the intention is to meet a grave spiritual need for the eternal salvation of an individual believer, not to bring about an intercommunion which remains impossible until the visible bonds of ecclesial communion are fully re-established.

"This was the approach taken by the Second Vatican Council when it gave guidelines for responding to Eastern Christians separated in good faith from the Catholic Church, who spontaneously ask to receive the Eucharist from a Catholic minister and are properly disposed.⁹⁵ This approach was then ratified by both Codes, which also consider - with necessary modifications - the case of other non-Eastern Christians who are not in full communion with the Catholic Church.⁹⁶

Notes

⁹⁵Decree on the Eastern Catholic Churches Orientalium Ecclesiarum, 27.

⁹⁶Cf. Code of Canon Law, Canon 844 §§ 3-4; Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, Canon 671 §§ 3-4.

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the many ways in which we encounter You each day.

Maureen Crowley Heil on Seeing the Face of Christ Each Day

"On my very first mission trip, I spent a good amount of my time working with Saint Mother Teresa's Sisters, The Missionaries of Charity, in the slums of Cite Soleil, Haiti. My days rotated among three of their sites - a babies' home for dying orphans, an HIV/AIDS hospice, and a wound care clinic for the homeless of Port-au-Prince.

"Days began early with a 5:30 a.m. Mass, followed by Morning Prayer in Haitian Creole and English. After a light meal, our assignments began. At the end of long days of ministering to the poor, we would meet back at the Mission House for a community meal and retreat to the roof to escape the heat and reflect on our day.

"We would ask ourselves a central question: 'Where did you see the face of Christ today?'"

In a recent commentary, Maureen Crowley Heil, Director of Programs and Development for the Pontifical Mission Societies, Boston, reflected on how we are seeing acts of courage, of kindness, of Christ around us each day.

To access Ms. Heil's complete column, please visit:

The Pilot: Echoes: Maureen Crowley Heil: Where Did You See the Face of Christ Today? (22 MAY 20)

Reflection Starter from St. Bernardine of Siena

"Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfill the task at hand." - Saint Bernardine of Siena

Pope John Paul II: Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Part 44

In 2003, on Holy Thursday, 2003. Pope John Paul II issued what would be his final encyclical: Ecclesia de Eucharistia, "On the Eucharist and Its Relationship to the Church." This encyclical contains much to prayerfully ponder/meditate on. The encyclical's Chapter Four, The Eucharist and Ecclesial Communion, continues as follows:

"44. Precisely because the Church's unity, which the Eucharist brings about through the Lord's sacrifice and by communion in his body and blood, absolutely requires full communion in the bonds of the profession of faith, the sacraments and ecclesiastical governance, it is not possible to celebrate together the same Eucharistic liturgy until those bonds are fully re-established. Any such concelebration would not be a valid means, and might well prove instead to be an obstacle, to the attainment of full communion, by weakening the sense of how far we remain from this goal and by introducing or exacerbating ambiguities with regard to one or another truth of the faith. The path towards full unity can only be undertaken in truth. In this area, the prohibitions of Church law leave no room for uncertainty,⁹² in fidelity to the moral norm laid down by the Second Vatican Council.⁹³ 

"I would like nonetheless to reaffirm what I said in my Encyclical Letter Ut Unum Sint after having acknowledged the impossibility of Eucharistic sharing: 'And yet we do have a burning desire to join in celebrating the one Eucharist of the Lord, and this desire itself is already a common prayer of praise, a single supplication. Together we speak to the Father and increasingly we do so "with one heart"'.⁹⁴

Notes

⁹²Cf. Code of Canon Law, Canon 908; Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, Canon 702; Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, Ecumenical Directory, 25 March 1993, 122-125, 129-131: AAS 85 (1993), 1086-1089; Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Letter Ad Exsequendam, 18 May 2001: AAS 93 (2001), 786.

⁹³"Divine law forbids any common worship which would damage the unity of the Church, or involve formal acceptance of falsehood or the danger of deviation in the faith, of scandal, or of indifferentism": Decree on the Eastern Catholic Churches Orientalium Ecclesiarum, 26.

⁹⁴No. 45: AAS 87 (1995), 948.

Luigi Rodolfo Boccherini: Symphony No. 8 in A major

It's time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Luigi Rodolfo Boccherini's Symphony No. 8 in A major, as played by the London Mozart Players, conducted by Matthias Bamert: