The Illusion of Self-Striving: Why Holiness Cannot Be Earned

[00:02:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Oh, we do that.

[00:03:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Good morning.

[00:03:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
We welcome any visitors who join us for worship today as we celebrate Feast of the Holy Family.
[00:04:04] Please turn off your cell phones or set them to silent mode.
[00:04:08] For safety reasons, we ask that all children be accompanied by an adult when attending the restrooms.
[00:04:15] Our presider for this Mass is Father Mark Lawler.
[00:04:20] Our Gathering Hymn is in your Gather Hymnal, number 455, Once in Royal David's City.
[00:04:26] That's number 455.
[00:04:29] Please stand and join us.

[00:04:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Once in royal David's city Stood our lowly cattle shed
[00:05:02] Where a mother lay her baby In a manger for his bed Mary was and mother mild Jesus Christ her little child
[00:05:30] He came down to earth from heaven, whom is God and Lord of all.
[00:05:44] And his shelter was a stable And his cradle was a stall With the poor and meek and lowly

[00:06:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
The intentions for this morning's Mass for the eternal peace of Ronald D'Amico and the eternal peace of Joseph G. Barney.
[00:06:33] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[00:06:37] Amen.
[00:06:37] The Lord be with you.

[00:06:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
And with thy spirit.

[00:06:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
[00:06:59] Lord Jesus, you call us to new life in the Spirit.
[00:07:03] Lord, have mercy.

[00:07:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Lord, have mercy.

[00:07:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
You are the Good Shepherd, leading and guiding your flock.
[00:07:10] Christ, have mercy.

[00:07:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Christ, have mercy.

[00:07:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
You intercede for us with your Father.
[00:07:17] Lord, have mercy.

[00:07:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Lord, have mercy.

[00:07:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

[00:07:37] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.
[00:07:48] We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give thanks for your great glory.
[00:08:03] Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father, Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son,
[00:08:20] Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father You take away the sins of the world Have mercy on us You take away the sins of the world Receive our prayer
[00:08:49] You are seated at the right hand of the Father Have mercy on us For you alone are the Holy One You alone are the Lord
[00:09:11] You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.

[00:09:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Let us pray.
[00:09:44] O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of Your house, delight one day in eternal rewards.
[00:10:10] Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
[00:10:13] Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

[00:10:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Amen.

[00:10:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
A reading from the book of Sirach.
[00:10:39] God sets a father in honor over his children.
[00:10:43] A mother's authority he confirms over her sons.
[00:10:47] Whoever honors his father atones for sins and preserves himself from them.
[00:10:53] When he prays, he is heard.
[00:10:55] He stores up riches who reveres his mother.
[00:10:58] Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children.
[00:11:02] When he prays, he is heard.
[00:11:05] Whoever reveres his father will live a long life.
[00:11:10] He who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.
[00:11:15] My son, take care of your father when he is old.
[00:11:18] Grieve him not as long as he lives.
[00:11:21] Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him.
[00:11:25] Revile him not all the days of his life.
[00:11:31] Kindness to a father will not be forgotten.
[00:11:34] Firmly planted against the debt of your sins, a house raised in justice to you.
[00:11:43] The Word of the Lord.

[00:11:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Thanks be to God.

[00:12:03] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let's pray.

[00:12:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in His ways Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in His ways
[00:12:37] Blessed are all who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
[00:12:47] By the labor of your hands you shall eat.
[00:12:52] You will be blessed and prosper.
[00:12:59] Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his way.
[00:13:13] Your wife like a fruitful vine In the heart of your house Your children like shoots of the olive All round your table
[00:13:35] Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in His way.
[00:13:48] Indeed, thou shalt be blessed, the man who fears the Lord.
[00:13:58] May the Lord bless you from Zion.
[00:14:04] May you see Jerusalem prosper all the days of your life.
[00:14:17] Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in His grace.

[00:14:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians.
[00:14:47] Brothers and sisters, put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
[00:14:58] Bearing with one another and forgiving one another.
[00:15:01] If one has a grievance against another, as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
[00:15:07] And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.
[00:15:12] And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body.
[00:15:20] And be thankful.
[00:15:21] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitudes in your hearts to God.
[00:15:34] And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
[00:15:43] Wives, be subordinate to your husbands as is proper in the Lord.
[00:15:47] Husbands, love your wives and avoid any bitterness toward them.
[00:15:53] Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.
[00:15:57] Fathers, do not provoke your children so they may not become discouraged.
[00:16:04] The Word of the Lord.

[00:16:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Thanks be to God.

[00:16:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
[00:16:50] Let the peace of Christ control your heart.
[00:16:58] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
[00:17:04] Alleluia!
[00:17:06] Alleluia!

[00:17:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
The Lord be with you.
[00:17:28] A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
[00:17:41] When the Magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you.
[00:17:57] Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.
[00:18:03] Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.
[00:18:10] He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled.
[00:18:19] Out of Egypt I called my son.
[00:18:26] When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.
[00:18:42] He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.
[00:18:49] But when he heard that Archelius was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there, and because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee.
[00:19:04] He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled.
[00:19:14] He shall be called a Nazarene.
[00:19:20] The Gospel of the Lord.
[00:19:22] On this feast of the Holy Family, we have this Gospel passage of their departure for Egypt because of the king who, you know, out of pure jealousy and
[00:19:50] Paranoia sought to kill Jesus.
[00:19:55] And so we see even the Holy Family had great challenges of having to go to another country.
[00:20:01] And finally, when it was safe, came back and settled in Nazareth.
[00:20:11] In this feast, I came across something from
[00:20:21] From my past, you might say, when I was in high school, just about almost 50 years ago, in an English class, we had an assignment to read part of the Canterbury Tales.
[00:20:38] When I say we had an assignment to read it, I don't know that I ever really got that far in that assignment.
[00:20:43] But certainly in that time, I never thought, well, at first I never had any thoughts in high school of ever being
[00:20:50] In ministry, in the priesthood, and I certainly never thought that I would ever be speaking about that assignment, which I don't even think I completed.
[00:21:00] But years later I came across the Canterbury Tales and I found in it there's a wonderful description of the life and ministry of a poor country priest.
[00:21:15] And that's something that I can relate to.
[00:21:18] I was at the bank recently and they said, what is your occupation?
[00:21:21] And I said, I am a poor country priest.
[00:21:26] Person at the bank didn't seem to believe that.
[00:21:30] But from the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer from centuries ago, the description, there was a good man of religion too, a country parson, poor, I warrant you,
[00:21:46] whose Christ-owned gospel truly sought to preach, devoutly his parishioners would he teach.
[00:21:55] Wide was his parish, houses far asunder, but never did he fail for rain or thunder or any state to visit the farthest, the small and the great.
[00:22:10] And so I can relate to that description, you know, from centuries ago, but the sense of being a priest of visiting families
[00:22:21] And, you know, our parish is, we have a pretty good-sized parish as far as territory.
[00:22:28] When I was in the mountains some years ago, I had, I was the only priest for about a thousand square miles, two counties.
[00:22:37] And that was even more so that some of the parishioners lived pretty far from, two parishes, from the parishes.
[00:22:49] One of the things I can relate to is this sense of visiting families.
[00:22:53] And I'd estimate I lost track long ago, but since I started really as a seminarian, I'm sure I visited well over a thousand homes.
[00:23:05] And in these visits,
[00:23:08] I have a certain perspective.
[00:23:09] All of us have our own families for a reference point and those of our close friends or our extended family.
[00:23:17] But you know, like I said, I've been in more than a thousand homes and I think I do have a certain perspective.
[00:23:24] And I would say that there's no such thing as a perfect family, but there's certainly families that are on a spiritual journey and are striving for holiness and virtue.
[00:23:37] And so I enjoy these visits.
[00:23:42] I've got lots of memories.
[00:23:44] I was actually at a home of a family last night, a brand new home for a meal and a blessing, you know, and over these many...
[00:23:57] Meals, I think I qualify to be a professional moocher, you know, all of these great things.
[00:24:03] And some of the things that happen in these home visits, I remember I was at one home once, a home at the lake, beautiful home, beautiful view, and the husband was kind of politically connected, and he was kind of going off on a lot of political debates and things, and I said,
[00:24:26] Ted, I would prefer not to talk about politics at the table.
[00:24:31] He just fired back, well, let's move to the parlor then.
[00:24:34] That's not what I mean.
[00:24:37] I'd rather not talk about politics tonight, you know.
[00:24:42] But it is a way to get to know people and to see.
[00:24:45] I see people in the parish, and sometimes people that are very active, and you get a little different view when you see people in their own home, in their own setting.
[00:24:57] and a sense of blessing.
[00:24:59] Last night I blessed this new home.
[00:25:01] They've only been three months in this new home.
[00:25:04] And a prayer, a prayer for sanctity.
[00:25:08] Certainly there's a prayer for safety and security, but also a prayer for devotion and peacefulness.
[00:25:16] We have in this Feast of the Holy Family
[00:25:19] These readings today are very much connected with family life.
[00:25:24] At first, reading from Sirach is kind of a timeless presentation of the ideals of family living, reverence and obedience to one's parents,
[00:25:39] and Compassion for parents as they reach old age and declining health.
[00:25:47] And we know parents have a tremendous responsibility to lead and to teach their children.
[00:25:55] In the rite of baptism, parents accept that they will be the first teachers of the faith and what they can learn at home and also the prayer that they will be the best of teachers
[00:26:10] I can remember when I was a seminarian at St. Minard, a family that I knew from a parish, a husband and wife and four little children, they came to see me at the seminary.
[00:26:24] And I was taking them to a few chapels and shrines connected with the monastery.
[00:26:30] And we went to this one shrine of St. Joseph, and one of the monks had carved this great
[00:26:37] A big image of St. Joseph out of wood.
[00:26:41] It was great carving.
[00:26:43] And right beside St. Joseph was the child Jesus.
[00:26:49] And he was holding a wooden plaque that had on the plaque IV.
[00:26:56] So the family asked me, what does that plaque mean?
[00:27:01] And I was thinking it was an abbreviation.
[00:27:04] So I was trying to make something work, you know, an IV.
[00:27:09] And I kind of just drew a blank, you know, a total blank.
[00:27:13] So a couple days later I saw one of the monks who was a friend of mine who used to work out in a gym.
[00:27:18] I said, Father, I got a question for you.
[00:27:20] I was at the St. Joseph's Shrine.
[00:27:21] And what does that IV stand for?
[00:27:26] And he looked at me and shook his head.
[00:27:29] The Roman numeral four, the fourth commandment.
[00:27:33] Honor your father and your mother.
[00:27:34] I said, oh, okay.
[00:27:36] So the next time I'm asked that question, I'll be ready for it.
[00:27:40] Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land the Lord shall give you.
[00:27:47] The second reading from Colossians really gives...
[00:27:54] A beautiful setting of these virtues, and this is part of the lectionary for weddings, and couples often choose this reading.
[00:28:03] There are many virtues expressed that are certainly important in the life of a community, certainly in the life of a family.
[00:28:12] Even the way that begins, the Apostle Paul says, clothe yourselves
[00:28:18] With heartfelt mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience bear with one another, forgive one another,
[00:28:30] and remember that love binds all these virtues together.
[00:28:35] Certainly a great way for a couple to begin their married life with that reading and also with the intent to strive for that prayerful description by the Apostle Saint Paul under divine inspiration.
[00:28:54] I think we can relate to something like that in our own families to bear with one another.
[00:29:01] Bear with one another through love and with patience.
[00:29:06] Just a couple days ago on Christmas I went to my hometown Salisbury and
[00:29:15] I have three brothers, so all four of us.
[00:29:20] It's really only twice a year that we sit down at a meal together.
[00:29:25] I see them periodically throughout the year.
[00:29:27] But when all four of us together, it's usually only Thanksgiving and Christmas.
[00:29:32] And I was thinking of that message of the Apostle Paul, bear with one another.
[00:29:37] I was thinking to myself, these guys have gotten a lot louder since last year, you know.
[00:29:44] My goodness.
[00:29:46] Tone it down a little bit, you know.
[00:29:47] But that whole sense of bear with one another.
[00:29:49] Patience.
[00:29:52] The Apostle Paul, he speaks of patience in a number of his letters, and I think he probably was relating maybe to himself as well.
[00:30:00] Preaching, saying, you know, we need to be patient with one another.
[00:30:03] I can think back of my mother, died 27 years ago, and I can look back and say, I should have been more patient with my mother.
[00:30:13] I think she had a master's degree in sarcasm and sometimes it was, I thought it was a bit outrageous, you know, but I should have been more patient with her.
[00:30:24] Again, we don't know how long our loved ones will be here.
[00:30:29] My mother died.
[00:30:30] Fairly young at the age of 59.
[00:30:33] So for us to be patient, I see couples a lot that are living those marriage vows for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.
[00:30:47] And I can understand the challenges in all of these aspects.
[00:30:51] There was a couple not long ago that were donating something for the rectory.
[00:30:57] I think it was a table for the rectory.
[00:30:59] And I went over to the house to pick it up.
[00:31:03] And the husband, who was kind of a character on a good day, he was in, you know, getting the forgetfulness, you know, kind of we might say dementia, being very repetitive.
[00:31:17] And he didn't realize it.
[00:31:18] It wasn't his intention.
[00:31:21] And so I get to the house, and he said, Father, my wife...
[00:31:30] She can spend money as fast as I make it.
[00:31:34] So we all had a nice laugh about it.
[00:31:36] Then about a minute later, he said the exact same thing.
[00:31:41] And then about another minute later, he said, and by this time you could tell the wife was, she was about at the end of her patience about to tell him to be quiet.
[00:31:51] But again, the whole sense is that when people are in declining health, that's when they really need our patience and our peacefulness.
[00:31:59] And again, I see this often in couples, some that have been married more than 50 or 60 years, that sense of helping one another.
[00:32:09] I had a wedding here yesterday, young couple, very young and bright,
[00:32:16] And again, I always pray for them because 40 or 50 years from now, you know, health might be a little different, things like that, but to carry through with those vows.
[00:32:31] It's a time...
[00:32:35] As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Holy Family, for us to pray for families, families that are struggling, families that have some resentment or some bitterness, certainly to grow in peacefulness and in charity, and certainly for us to treasure the times together.
[00:32:54] It is with sadness that I learn of divisions in families.
[00:33:00] I remember I came in touch with a friend of my parents from their youth in Queens, and I said, my mother asked me to ask you about your brother.
[00:33:13] And he said, I haven't spoken to my brother in 20 years.
[00:33:17] I thought, that's very sad, you know, brothers that hadn't spoken in 20 years.
[00:33:24] I heard a great story from, there's a sister, an Irish sister, Sister Berej McKenna, who she put out some books.
[00:33:33] One of her great books that I read was called Miracles Do Happen.
[00:33:38] And she relates this story that
[00:33:40] she had a ministry to priests especially priests who were struggling in their vocation but she had a this like a like an inspiration that she saw herself as like a tattered tent you know like a tent that was all torn up and the wind was blowing through it and all that and so she sees herself as this tent
[00:34:08] and sees the Lord walking along kind of like on a trail and he goes to step down and to go into this tent and she said Lord you're not going in there are you?
[00:34:23] It was an image of herself, and the Lord said, but I live in there.
[00:34:27] You know, the whole sense of the indwelling presence of the Lord and the Holy Spirit to guide us and to lead us.
[00:34:36] And certainly on the Feast of the Holy Family, we should certainly strive for that sense of peacefulness and prayer.
[00:35:03] I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
[00:35:12] I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.
[00:35:29] Through him all things were made.
[00:35:32] For us men, for our salvation, he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man.
[00:35:43] For our sake he was crucified on Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
[00:35:54] He ascended into heaven.
[00:35:57] I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
[00:36:20] I believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic Church.
[00:36:24] I confess one baptism
[00:36:26] For the forgiveness of sins, and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life, the world to come.
[00:36:34] Amen.
[00:36:35] In hope we pray for the needs of the church and the world.

[00:36:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
That the Feast of the Holy Family and Christmas season may be inspiration for family unity, harmony, and healing.
[00:37:09] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:37:13] For the sick, the homebound, and for those with special health needs, let us pray to the Lord.
[00:37:21] As we remember our Savior's birth in Bethlehem, we pray that God's gift of life
[00:37:26] may be appreciated and nurtured.
[00:37:29] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:37:32] Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:37:33] For eternal rest for the faithful departed, especially those of our families and parish who have died this year and for all those involved in bereavement ministries.
[00:37:43] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:37:45] Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:37:46] For all those serving in the armed forces, police departments, and in emergency services, let us pray to the Lord.

[00:37:53] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Lord, hear our prayer.

[00:37:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Provocations throughout the Church to the Sacrament of the Holy Orders, Religious, Life, and Lay Ministries.
[00:38:01] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:38:05] For healing and recovery for those who struggle with addictions, loneliness, and depression, especially in the Christmas season, let us pray to the Lord.
[00:38:16] That our parishioners may strive to follow
[00:38:22] The peaceful and prayerful example of our patroness, St. Therese.
[00:38:28] Let us pray to the Lord.
[00:38:29] Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:38:32] For the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts.
[00:38:38] May they be answered in accord with God's will.
[00:38:42] Let us pray to the Lord.

[00:38:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[00:38:46] The eternal and gracious God.
[00:38:48] We lift up these prayers to you from our hearts.
[00:38:51] We pray that you grant them through Christ our Lord.

[00:38:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Amen.

[00:39:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
All of the hymns for the rest of the Mass will be from the Gather Hymnal.
[00:39:05] So our next hymn is number 435, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, number 435.

[00:39:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
God rest you merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.
[00:39:34] Remember Christ our Savior, was born on Christmas Day.
[00:39:42] To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy
[00:40:08] In Judah this blessed name was born, And lay within a manger upon this blessed board, For which his mother Mary did not maintain score, O tidings of comfort and joy,
[00:40:37] of Christ Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Catholic Church, Catholic Church, Catholic Church, Catholic Church, Catholic Church, Catholic Church, Catholic Church, Catholic Church, Catholic Church, Catholic Church, Catholic Church,
[00:41:43] of Christ Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Christ of Latter-day Saints Christ of Latter-day Saints

[00:42:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the Almighty Father.

[00:42:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy church.

[00:42:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
We offer you, Lord, the sacrifice of conciliation, humbly asking that through the intercession
[00:42:45] Of the Virgin Mother of God and Saint Joseph, you may establish our families firmly in your grace and your peace through Christ our Lord.
[00:42:59] Amen.
[00:43:00] The Lord be with you.
[00:43:01] And with your spirit.
[00:43:02] Lift up your hearts.

[00:43:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
We lift them up to the Lord.

[00:43:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
[00:43:12] It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere, to give you thanks, Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord.
[00:43:27] For through him the holy exchange that restores our life has shown forth today in splendor.
[00:43:35] When our frailty is assumed by your word, not only does human mortality receive unending honor, but by this wondrous union we too are made eternal.
[00:43:49] And so, in company with the choirs of angels, we praise you, and with joy we proclaim.

[00:44:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
The Lord is Lord, Lord of all, and under the gold of your glory.
[00:44:30] Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.
[00:44:31] Blessed is he who comes in your name.
[00:44:35] Hosanna!

[00:44:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Hosanna in the highest!
[00:44:51] You are indeed holy, O Lord.
[00:44:53] and all you have created rightly gives you praise for through your son our Lord Jesus Christ by the power and working of the Holy Spirit you give life to all things and make them holy and you never cease to gather a people to yourself so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name therefore O Lord we humbly implore you
[00:45:19] By the same Spirit graciously make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration, that they may become the Body and Blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose command we celebrate these mysteries.
[00:45:37] For on the night he was betrayed, he himself took bread, and giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread,
[00:45:47] And gave it to his disciples, saying, Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.
[00:46:17] In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice, and giving you thanks, he said the blessing, and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying, Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
[00:46:46] Do this.
[00:46:47] Memory of me.

[00:47:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
The mystery of faith

[00:47:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Save us, Savior of the world, for by your cross and resurrection you have set us free.

[00:47:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the saving Passion of Your Son, His wondrous Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven, and as we look forward to His Second Coming, we offer You in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice.
[00:48:04] Look, we pray, upon the oblation of Your Church, and recognizing the sacrificial victim by whose death You willed to reconcile us to Yourself.
[00:48:15] Grant that we who are nourished by the Body and Blood of your Son and filled with His Holy Spirit may become one body
[00:48:24] One Spirit in Christ.
[00:48:26] May he make of us an eternal offering to you so that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect, especially with the most blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her spouse, with your blessed apostles and glorious martyrs, with Saint Therese and with all the saints on whose constant intercession in your presence
[00:48:51] We rely for unfailing help.
[00:48:53] May this sacrifice of our reconciliation, we pray, O Lord, advance the peace and salvation of all the world.
[00:49:03] Be pleased to confirm in faith and charity your pilgrim church on earth with your servant Leo, our pope, and Michael, our bishop, the order of bishops, all the clergy, and the entire people you have gained
[00:49:20] Listen graciously to the prayers of this family whom you have summoned before you.
[00:49:27] In your compassion, O merciful Father, gather to yourself all your children scattered throughout the world.
[00:49:36] To our departed brothers and sisters and to all who were pleasing to you at their passing from this life, give kind admittance to your kingdom.
[00:49:46] There we hope to enjoy forever the fullness of your glory through Christ our Lord through whom you bestow on the world all that is good.

[00:50:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Through him and with him and in him
[00:50:07] O God, Almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is Yours, forever and ever.

[00:50:24] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen, Amen, Amen.

[00:50:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
[00:50:53] Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
[00:50:59] Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
[00:51:09] and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil deliver us lord we pray from every evil graciously grant peace in our days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blood as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our savior jesus christ
[00:51:39] Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles, Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will, who live and reign forever and ever.
[00:52:02] The peace of the Lord be with you always.
[00:52:05] And with your spirit.
[00:52:06] Let us offer each other a sign of peace.

[00:52:12] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
In Jesus' name, amen.

[00:52:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
You take away the sins of our glory and have mercy on us.
[00:53:00] Abba, you take away the sins of the world and mercy on us.

[00:53:26] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Abba, you take away the sins of the world

[00:53:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Behold the Lamb of God,
[00:53:56] Behold Him who takes away the sins of the world.
[00:54:00] Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
[00:54:06] Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

[00:54:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Christ Christ Christ Christ Christ Christ
[00:55:27] Let us pray.

[00:55:45] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let us pray.
[00:56:00] Let us pray.
[00:56:29] Let us pray.
[00:56:45] Let us pray.

[00:57:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Our first communion hymn is 422, Gift of God, number 422, and we'll be singing the Christmas verses.

[00:58:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Word of mercy, word of justice, Word of prophet, word of poet,
[00:58:25] Holy Word of God made flesh, gift of God, O Emmanuel, gift of God, O Emmanuel, in the stillness of the nightfall.
[00:58:43] In the stillness of each heartbeat In the silence you are here
[00:59:03] Gift of God, O Emmanuel You are bread for all the hungry Gift of God, O Emmanuel You are drink for all the thirsty Gift of God, O Emmanuel You are sacrifice and feast Gift of God, O Emmanuel
[00:59:35] With the shepherds and the angels, with the hand of our man Magi, we lift up our prayers to you.
[01:00:02] To a world of strife and conflict To a world of fears and hatred Comes the gentle Prince of Peace
[01:00:30] To a world of grief and sadness, to a world of pain and suffering, comes the hope of joy renewed.
[01:00:57] To a world that yearns for meaning To a world of many hungers Comes the living bread of life
[01:01:25] Let the stars of nighttime praise you.
[01:01:31] Let the holy darkness praise you.
[01:01:39] Let creation join in song.
[01:01:49] Gift of God, O Immanuel

[01:02:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Our next communion hymn is number 448, Away in a Manger, number 448.

[01:02:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
In a manger, no crib for our bed The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet bed The stars in the sky looked down where he lay
[01:03:02] The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes The little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes
[01:03:26] I love Thee, Lord Jesus, low down from the sky, and stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
[01:03:51] Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to save those by before me.
[01:03:55] I pray, bless all the dear children in my tender care, and bid us for heaven to live with thee.
[01:04:33] Let us pray.

[01:05:14] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.
[01:05:57] Thank you.

[01:06:39] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Let us pray.
[01:06:47] Bring those you refresh with his heavenly sacrament, most merciful Father, to imitate constantly the example of the Holy Family so that after the trials of this world they may share their company forever through Christ our Lord.

[01:07:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
On Wednesday, adoration will begin at 6 o'clock p.m., followed by a vigil mass at 7 o'clock p.m. On Thursday, there will be one mass at 10 a.m. to celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
[01:07:27] There are still a few 2026 St. Therese calendars left.
[01:07:32] Grab your copy before they are gone.
[01:07:34] Please take one per family.
[01:07:37] Feeling spiritually stuck?
[01:07:39] Start the new year with a faith-sharing experience.
[01:07:43] Join a group reading The Seven Pillars of Catholic Spirituality.
[01:07:48] Details are in this weekend's bulletin.
[01:07:51] Parish and faith formation offices will be closed on Thursday, January 1st.
[01:07:57] On behalf of the priests, deacons, and staff, we wish you a blessed new year.
[01:08:04] Please check the bulletin for more information about what's happening here at St. Therese.

[01:08:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
The Lord be with you.

[01:08:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
And with thy spirit.

[01:08:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and Holy Spirit.
[01:08:20] Amen.
[01:08:21] Go in peace.

[01:08:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Thanks be to God.

[01:08:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Please join in our recessional hymn of joy in your gather books number 428, Go Tellin' on the Mountain, number 428.
[01:08:34] Please join us.

[01:08:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Go tell it on the mountain Over the hills and everywhere Go tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born While shepherds kept their watching O'er silent flocks by night Behold throughout the heavens
[01:09:10] They're sure to hold me high
[01:09:17] Go tell it on the mountain Over the hills and everywhere Go tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born The shepherds feared and trembled When low above the ark
[01:09:41] Rang out the angel chorus That hailed our Savior's birth Go tell it on the mountain Over the hills and everywhere Go tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born

[01:10:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Happy New Year!