“This is the acceptable time for you to arise and begin your journey, dear friend. This long, often dark, and usually strange journey—which all in search of God must undertake—is a journey inward; for He dwells within you. He is within all who have been baptized in His name, and who abide in the state of His grace.”

Above is the opening paragraph from an article entitled, “Now is the Acceptable Time,” written by Catherine Doherty in 1955, reprinted in the January 2024 issue of the publication Restoration.

Catherine goes on to reflect on the journey of Epiphany, using the images of gold, frankincense, and myrrh along with the “surrender” necessary to imitate Mary. Catherine ends the article with a rather poignant thought, “There is no way to Jesus but through Mary. Without Mary, there would be no Christmas, nor Epiphany. No magi, no kings …The star is Mary. Without Mary, we would have no Golgotha, nor Cross, nor Easter! Without Mary, you would not be a Catholic, nor would I.”

As we enter into the Lenten Season on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, let Mary be our companion along our 40-day journey that leads us to the Cross and the empty tomb! Now is the acceptable time to enter into prayer with Mary. I suggest the Stations of the Cross, a beautiful Lenten tradition in so many parishes (an article on the Stations of the Cross may be found in this issue on p. 10). Look also for opportunities for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament or for reading the Sacred Scriptures.

MARY, OUR COMPANION
Now is the acceptable time to enter into fasting with Mary. Whatever form your fasting may take —fasting from food, television, social media, or socializing during Lent, fill up that time with Mary, praying the rosary. Now is the acceptable time to enter into acts of charity with Mary. Recall her words at the Wedding in Cana, “Do whatever He tells you.” Let not some random act of kindness go undone. Don’t turn away from the person in need on the street corner. Look for some way to give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothing and housing to those who lack the things we often take for granted: Lent 2024 is full of promise!

On January 5, Pope Francis challenged a group of pilgrims from Florence, Italy: “Be close to the people we help. … When you give to the poor, do you look in the eyes of the person, touch their hand, or throw the money there? Touch, touch poverty, touch, encourage them to develop a heart that touches, to look and to understand.” These words are similar to what he said on his first visit to South America, “When you see the poor, look them in the eyes and talk to them.” Now is the acceptable time because the works of mercy never end!

2024 LENTEN YOUTH PROJECT
In that spirit, the funds raised in this year’s Lenten Youth Project will be used to feed the poor of southern Missouri directly through five food pantries scattered “from east to west,” in southern Missouri. Those pantries include Sacred Heart, Webb City; Saint Joseph, Springfield; Saint Sylvester, Eminence; St. Mary Cathedral, Cape Girardeau, and Ste. Marie du Lac, in Ironton. As so many of our parishes participate in local food pantries, it was difficult to decide which ones to support, but I think these particular pantries are a good representation of the commitment of our diocese in serving the poor and feeding the hungry.

It may be hard to believe but statistics tell us that 21% of children in the Ozarks face food insecurity. That figure, one in five children, is higher than the Missouri average. These children often go to bed hungry and wake up the next morning not knowing when they will have their next meal. They go to school hungry and have difficulty learning because of being hungry. They may or may not qualify for a reduced lunch and when they come home from school, the refrigerator is empty. I call upon all the youth of our diocese during this 2024 Lenten Youth Project to rise to the challenge and do what you can to raise funds for these hungry children and the pantries scattered throughout our diocese that serve them. Let’s make a difference in childhood hunger.

“O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.”

 

Published in the February 02, 2024 issue of The Mirror.
Photo Credit: Getty Images

January 22 is the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, marking the 1973 Supreme Court decision that struck down a Texas statute banning abortion, and thus legalizing the procedure across the United States. All of us are aware of the 2022 Dobbs Decision by the Supreme Court which reversed the 1973 ruling, stating that the right to an abortion is not a constitutional right. That decision returned to the state level the issue of legalizing abortion. 

So where does that leave us today? Powerful abortion forces with unlimited finances and influence are targeting states like Missouri to try to overturn our laws protecting human life. Through a ballot initiative and signature collection, they are attempting to codify the right to abortion in our State Constitution. I ask that you DECLINE TO SIGN. 

In a letter dated Dec. 11, 2023, the Missouri Bishops stated, “Though several initiatives are being contemplated and none have yet to be finalized for the November 2024 ballot, we encourage all Catholics and people of goodwill to safeguard as much as possible the fundamental principle of the right to life. We also support efforts that seek to reduce or eliminate the underlying social causes for abortion by expanding care and resources available to mothers. Even with legal protections for the unborn, as we have in our state today, more can still be done to build a culture of life.” 

If these petition initiatives do materialize, they could have different titles, all trying to get you to support abortion under such jargon as “women’s rights,” or “women’s health care,” or “women’s reproductive rights,” while avoiding the use of the word “abortion.” Whatever title the proposals may take, the end goal is the same – to legalize abortion. Remember, simply put – DECLINE TO SIGN.
Some of these proposals include the elimination of Parental Consent laws, allowances for partial-birth and late-term abortions on demand, the elimination of health and safety standards so that anyone could perform abortions without a healthcare license and taxpayer-funded abortion would become legal. These national efforts have been successful in Minnesota, Ohio, and Kansas, and are now amping up in Missouri. In the coming days, I will be meeting with the Vitae Foundation, Missouri Right to Life, and others to outline an appropriate strategy to counter the efforts of these out-of-state influences with their financial resources. One thing we can do – DECLINE TO SIGN. 

JAN. 22 DAY OF PRAYER
To mark the January 22 Day of Prayer, I will offer Holy Mass and the Rosary in St. Agnes Cathedral, 5:30 p.m., on Mon., January 22. Similarly, I will celebrate Holy Mass and the Rosary in St. Mary Cathedral, 5:15 p.m., on Fri., January 26. Pope St. John Paul II said so eloquently, “A great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world. Through special initiatives and in daily prayer, may an impassioned plea rise to God, the creator and lover of life, from every Christian community, from every group and association, from every family, and from the heart of every believer” (“Evangelium Vitae,” [“The Gospel of Life,”]). I invite everyone to attend and help pray for the conversion of those in the abortion industry and for a true realization of a culture of life! 

And, as part of the “new initiatives” called for by St. John Paul II, I will celebrate Holy Mass on Fri., April 19, followed by the Dedication and Blessing of the much-anticipated LifeHouse Crisis Maternity Home and AfterCare Program in Cape Girardeau. This will truly make a difference in walking with “moms in need,” by increasing support for pregnant and parenting mothers. I often challenge those who criticize the pro-life movement, saying that we only care about the child at birth and do nothing after birth, to visit LifeHouse and see the programs that are offered, accompanying women for up to two years, in Springfield and now in Cape Girardeau. And remember, DECLINE TO SIGN! 

“O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.”

 

Published in the January 19, 2024 issue of The Mirror.
Photo Credit: Getty Images

As we continue with the Eucharist Revival throughout the United States, hopefully each one of us is being challenged in our attitude and our understanding of the unique treasure the Eucharist is in the midst of the Church.
Every year a list goes out to the pastors assigning a date to each parish for an Annual Solemn Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament which may be found on pp. 6-7 of this issue. The Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church, Canon 942 states, “It is recommended that in these churches and oratories an annual Solemn Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament be held for an appropriate period of time.” The traditional three[1]day celebration is referred to as “40 hours,” but if that is not possible, at least one day of Adoration from morning until night should be held, ending with Mass or Benediction.

Extended Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament requires organizing adorers who will give themselves the gift of an hour (or more) of time before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. I was recently having a conversation where I recalled my time as head of the Adoration Committee for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Archbishop Rigali wanted Adoration offered in every parish every week, whether it be a simple holy hour or a 24/7 chapel, whatever the parish could do. And it was then that I came to realize that our most precious commodity is not our money, but rather our time. If I were a missionary asking for a donation, people could donate and be done with it. But asking for an hour of someone’s time was like pulling teeth. And yet, when one gives oneself the gift of an hour before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, it becomes contagious! People look forward to their time alone with the Lord, they hunger for it, a desire grows for the silent presence with Our Lord and the Blessed Sacrament.

IMPORTANCE OF THE MASS FOR A CATHOLIC
I know that many of our parishes follow the schedule for Solemn Adoration but possibly the pastor could use your help to organize adoration volunteers. Fr. Pius Parsch, who wrote amongst other things the four-volume commentary on the liturgy reflected:

“Whoever intends to live with the church must make the Holy Eucharist the primary concern of his or her life. But they can accomplish this only by participating as actively as possible with the priest in offering the sacrifice and by receiving Holy Communion as part of the sacrificial banquet.”

That statement, I believe, would be the beautiful impetus for a Eucharistic Revival not just in our diocese, but throughout the Church. It implies a two-fold understanding of the importance of the Mass in the life of a Catholic.
First, the Eucharist should be the primary concern of life because it is the greatest act of worship. In the Mass, we offer the Spotless Victim to the Father. In the Mass, we are in union with Christ who offers to God his life, and to the extent that each one of us unites ourselves with that offering, we receive the fruits of Christ’s sacrifice. In other words, what on earth is more important than the Mass? Second, in receiving Holy Communion, we receive the Body and Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus himself. There is no greater way to be united with Our Lord than receiving him in Holy Communion. But to receive worthily, fruitfully, one must examine him- or herself spiritually before coming to the Eucharist and if aware of mortal sin, they should receive the Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation before receiving Holy Communion. I am mindful of the quiet prayer the priest offers just before receiving Holy Communion, “May the receiving of your Body and Blood, Lord Jesus Christ, not bring me to judgment and condemnation …” It is a daily reminder for the priest (and bishop) that he, too, must be in a “state of grace” to offer Mass and receive Holy Communion worthily. If not, it leads to sacrilege and spiritual condemnation.
In 1992, after a fire in the royal palace and much family drama, the late Queen Elizabeth described the year as a “annus horribilis,” a horrible year. As we enter into 2024, let our focus on the Eucharist set the tone for a “annus mirabilis,” a wonderful, remarkable year, as we appreciate and grow in our love for Christ in the Eucharist. In the words of Pope St. John Paul II, “May our adoration never cease.”

“O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.”

Happy New Year to all and be assured of my prayers for a blessed new year of growing in holiness, becoming intentional disciples, and being sent to witness to the faith!

Published in the January 05, 2024 issue of The Mirror.
Photo Credit: Getty Images

The following letter was issued by Bishop Rice to all clergy of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau on Dec. 21, 2023. He wanted to issue it to all the Faithful as well, as his column in this issue of the diocesan newspaper:

Dear Bishop, Monsignors, Fathers, and Deacons,
The recent release of“Fiducia Supplicans,”(“Supplicating Trust”), has led the media to report erroneous headlines regarding the blessing of same-sex unions. To that end, I want to write directly to all the clergy of the diocese, offering an insight into this document.
For those who have read it, I identified 17 direct or indirect affirmations of the traditional understanding of the Sacrament of Marriage as between a man and a woman. I think this is so important to clarify that I am going to outline my references.
Beginning in the Declaration by Victor Manuel Cardinal Fernandez, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, His Eminence states, “This declaration remains firm on the traditional doctrine of the Church about marriage, not allowing any type of liturgical rite or blessing similar to a liturgical rite that can create confusion. (1) Any blessing would not “officially validate their status or change(ing) in any way the Church’s perennial teaching on marriage.”(2)
Paragraph three of the Introduction recognizes, “the document and its consistency with the Church’s perennial teaching.” (3) Paragraph 4 states, “it is a matter of avoiding that ‘something that is not marriage is being recognized as marriage.’”(4) “Therefore, rites and prayers that could create confusion between what constitutes marriage— which is the “exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally opened to the generation of children”—and what contradicts it are inadmissible”(5). This conviction is grounded in the perennial Catholic doctrine of marriage; It is only in this context that sexual relations find their natural, proper, and fully human meaning. The Church’s doctrine on this point remains firm.” (6)
It is also the “understanding of marriage that is offered by the Gospel… (7) The Church does not have the power to impart blessings on unions of persons of the same sex.” (8) Further, “the blessing given by the ordained minister is tied directly to the specific union of a man and a woman, who establish an exclusive and indissoluble covenant by their consent.”(9) This fact allows us to highlight the risk of confusing a blessing given to any other union with the right that is proper to the Sacrament of Marriage.”(10) Further, “A blessing requires that what is blessed be conformed to God’s will, as expressed in the teachings of the Church”(11) …such a blessing should “not convey an erroneous conception of marriage.”(12) Paragraph 30 highlights the need to avoid “all serious forms of scandal and confusion among the faithful … although in a (civil) union that cannot be compared in any way to marriage.”(13)
Finally, paragraphs 31-39, are clear that a blessing should “avoid producing confusion with the blessing proper to the Sacrament of Marriage,(14) should not become a liturgical or semi-liturgical act,(15) neither provide for nor promote a ritual for the blessing of couples in an irregular situation,(16) and to avoid any form of confusion or scandal … never imparted in concurrence with the ceremony of a civil union and not even in connection with them: clothing, gestures, words proper to a wedding.”(17)
With so many affirmations of traditional, sacramental marriage between a man and a woman, why the outrageous headlines? Well, you can blame it on sloppy journalism and “click bait” sensationalism. The Holy Father is asking for a “fatherly and pastoral approach” and compares the blessing to the use of “sacramentals.” “The request for a blessing, thus, expresses and nurtures openness to the transcendence, mercy, and closeness to God,”(18) the “desire to entrust themselves to the Lord and his mercy, to invoke his help, and to be guided to a greater understanding of his plan of love and of truth.”(19) However, being pastoral can sometimes be sloppy, confusing.

Twice, the phrase, “faithful people of God,” is used in the document. I assume that such faithful people of God desire to live according to the Church’s moral law. Whether one is heterosexual or homosexual, in the confessional we hear of the struggles people have regarding chastity and when one expresses sorrow for sin and the desire to sin no more, we offer the mercy of God through absolution. The question is whether a “same sex couple” who are “faithful people of God,” would identify themselves to a priest and ask for a blessing? Paragraph 31 is important here. “These forms of blessings express a supplication that God may grant those aids that come from the impulses of his Spirit—what classical theology calls, “actual grace”—so that human relationships may mature and grow in fidelity to the Gospel; that they may be freed from their imperfections and frailties, and that they may express themselves in an ever increasing dimension of the divine love.”(20)

Is that what a couple would intend when they would come up and ask for a blessing from a priest or deacon? Are they asking that their imperfections and frailties mature and grow in fidelity to the Gospel? Paragraph 40 further states, “there is no intention to legitimize anything, but rather to open one’s life to God, to ask for his help to live better, and also to invoke the Holy Spirit so that the values of the Gospel may be lived with greater faithfulness.”(21) Again, the question is whether that is the intention of a couple who would ask for a blessing or are they simply looking for some type of validation of their lifestyle? Any blessing requested would be spontaneous, non-liturgical with a simple gesture, asking the Lord to help the people to “live better.”
The document rightly states, “The Church is thus the sacrament of God’s infinite love. Therefore, even when a person’s relationship with God is clouded by sin, he can always ask for a blessing …”(22) In addition, such a request “is an opportunity for a renewed proclamation of the kerygma, an invitation to draw ever closer to the love of Christ.”(23)
In the days and weeks to come, many more will weigh in on the consequences of this document. For now, let us be at peace and convey to our people that the Sacrament of Marriage within the Church and our teachings regarding sexuality remain unchanged.

+The Most Rev. Edward M. Rice

“Fiducia Supplicans” may be viewed in its entirety by searching its title at https:// www.vatican.va. A news story on the release of “Fiducia Supplicans,” may be found on p. 4 of this issue of The Mirror.

[1] Fernandez, Victor Manuel Cardinal, Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration: “Fiducia Supplicans” (“Supplicating Trust”), On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings; Presentation, par. 3 (18 December 2023).
[2] Ibid., par. 4.
[3] Fernandez, Victor Manuel Cardinal; Matteo, Armando Monsignor; Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration: “Fiducia Supplicans” (“Supplicating Trust”), On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings; Introduction, par. 3 (18 December 2023).
[4] Ibid., par. 4. [5] Ibid., par. 4. [6] Ibid., par. 4. [7] Ibid., par. 5. [8] Ibid., par. 5. [9] Ibid., par. 6. [10] Ibid., par. 6. [11] Ibid., par. 9. [12] Ibid., par. 26. [13] Ibid., par. 30. [14] Ibid., par. 31. [15] Ibid., par. 36. [16] Ibid., par. 38. [17] Ibid., par. 39. [18] Ibid., par. 33. [19] Ibid., par. 30. [20] Ibid., par. 31. [21] Ibid., par. 40. [22] Ibid., par. 43. [23] Ibid., par.44.

Published in the December 22, 2023 issue of The Mirror.
Photo Credit: Getty Images