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The Red Mass

The first recorded Red Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral of Paris in 1245. From there, it spread to most European countries. 

Around 1310, during the reign of Edward II, the tradition began in England. It was attended at the opening of each term of Court by all members of the Bench and Bar. 

In the United States, Red Mass was first held in 1877 at Saints Peter and Paul Church, Detroit, Michigan by Detroit College, as the University of Detroit Mercy was known at the time. UDM School of Law resumed the tradition beginning in 1912 and continues to hold it annually. 

In New York City, Red Mass was first held in 1928 at the Church of St. Andrew, near the courthouses of Foley Square, celebrated by Cardinal Patrick Joseph Hayes, who strongly advocated and buttressed the legal community's part in evangelization.^[2][3][4]

In Canada, the Red Mass was recommenced in Toronto in 1924. Its sponsorship was assumed by the Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel in 1931 and by The Thomas More Lawyers' Guild of Toronto since 1968. It was re-instituted in Sydney, Australia in 1931.

Habakkuk 

The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw.

O LORD, how long shall I cry for help,

and you will not listen?

Or cry to you "Violence!"

and you will not save?

Why do you make me see wrong-doing

and look at trouble?

Destruction and violence are before me;

strife and contention arise.

So the law becomes slack

and justice never prevails.

The wicked surround the righteous--

therefore judgment comes forth perverted.

If the righteous were healthy, wealthy & wise, while the wicked languished sick, poor and foolish, God would be a matter of self interest, not faith.

Are You Frightened of Holy Communion, even a little bit?

¶ When the Minister giveth warning for the Celebration of the Holy Communion (which he shall always do upon the Sunday, or some Holy Day, immediately preceding), he shall read this Exhortation following, or so much thereof as, in his discretion, he may think convenient.

DEARLY beloved. on Sunday next I purpose through God’s assistance, to administer to all such as shall be religiously and devoutly disposed the most comfortable Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ; to be by them received in remembrance of his meritorious Cross and Passion; whereby alone we obtain remission of our sins, and are made partakers of the kingdom of heaven. Wherefore it is our duty to render most humble and hearty thanks to Almighty God, our heavenly Father, for that he hath given his Son our Saviour Jesus Christ ,not only to die for us, but also to be our spiritual food and sustenance in that holy Sacrament. Which being so divine and comfortable a thing to them who receive it worthily, and so dangerous to those who will presume to receive it unworthily, my duty is to exhort you, in the mean season to consider the dignity of that holy mystery, and the great peril of the unworthy receiving thereof; and so to search and examine your own consciences (and that not lightly and after the manner of dissemblers with God; but so) that ye may come holy and clean to such a heavenly Feast in the marriage-garment required by God in holy Scripture, and be received as worthy partakers of that holy Table. 
   The way and means thereto is; First, to examine your lives and conversations by the rule of God’s commandments and whereinsoever ye shall perceive yourselves to have offended either by will, word, or deed, there to bewail your own sinfulness, and to confess yourselves to Almighty God, with full purpose of amendment of life. And if ye shall perceive your offences to be such as are not only against God, but also against your neighbours; then ye shall reconcile yourselves unto them; being ready to make restitution and satisfaction, according to the uttermost of your powers, for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other; and being likewise ready to forgive others who have offended you, as ye would have forgiveness of your offences at God’s hand: for otherwise the receiving of the holy Communion doth nothing else but increase your condemnation. Therefore, if any of you be a blasphemer of God, an hinderer or slanderer of his Word, an adulterer, or be in malice, or envy, or ill any other grievous crime; repent ye of your sins, or else come not to that holy Table. 
   And because it is requisite that no man should come to the holy Communion, but with a full trust in God’s mercy, and with a quiet conscience; therefore, if there be any of you, who by this means cannot quiet his own conscience herein, but requireth further comfort or counsel, let him come to me, or to some other Minister of God’s Word, and open his grief; that he may receive such godly counsel and advice, as may tend to the quieting of his conscience, and the removing of all scruple and doubtfulness.


Christmas Eve 1838 Fr. Caleb Ives Exhorted his Republic of Texas mission flock in theses words. 


Last Sunday we did the same. In honor of a meeting of the Texas Navy and the Sons of the Republic of Texas who gathered in Matagorda to honor the memory of Samuel Rhodes Fisher, Secretary of the Texas Navy and, after being killed in a duel - true story - the first person buried from the newly established mission of Christ Church.


In viewing the Holy Eucharist through a slightly different lens, the 1789 Liturgy, I was struck by the different points of view occupied by the worshiper, as embodied in the language, then and now.


Today we approach the Altar as beloved children. Often disappointing Our Father, but always confident we will be welcomed.


Our forbearers were enjoined not to take too much for granted, not to presume upon a grace that is a gift to be given, not a right to be claimed.


"What we obtain too cheaply, we value too lightly."


If the law of prayer is the law of belief, are we doing our children and disciples a disservice to present the Lord of Hosts as the eternal suitor, continually seeking to embrace us despite our distain and disobedience; rather than as the eternal example which we must strive our best to emulate, counting on mercy when we inevitably fall short?

Who owns you?

Luke 15:1-10

All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."
So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

"Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

I can own a sheep. I can own a coin. But there is a disconnect between me and Jesus 1st listeners, they could and did own people.

Slavery was not a peculiar institution in the 1st century, it was as much a part of the world as money or animal husbandry. Jesus knew that, his hearers knew that. We no longer know that.

Lets make no mistake. These parables are about property. The sheep, the coin and the sinner are all the property of the one who looks for them. We are not accustomed to think of ourselves as being owned by God.

God however clearly sees it differently.

In Baptism, we say "you are marked as Christ's own forever." Are you?

Hate is the only beginning of True Love.

This is a tough text and a tough sermon, but I ask you to dig in and wrestle with it.

Podcast:

Did Jesus really say that?

Luke 14:25-33

Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, `This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions."

Maybe it means something easier in Greek?

Strong's Number G3404 matches the Greek μισέω (miseō), 1) to hate, pursue with hatred, detest 2) to be hated, detested; which occurs 42 times in 38 verses in the Greek concordance of the KJV.

Luke uses it like this:

Luk 1:71                That we should be saved4991 from1537 our2257 enemies2190, and2532 from1537 the hand5495 of all3956 that hate3404 us2248;

Luk 6:22                Blessed3107 are ye2075 , when3752 men444 shall hate3404 you5209, and2532 when3752 they shall separate873 you5209 [from their company], and2532 shall reproach3679 [you], and2532 cast out1544 your5216 name3686 as5613 evil4190, for the Son5207 of man's444 sake1752.

Luk 6:27                But235 I say3004 unto you5213 which3588 hear191 , Love25 your5216 enemies2190, do4160 good2573 to them which3588 hate3404 you5209,

Luk 14:26             If any1536 [man] come2064 to4314 me3165, and2532 hate3404 not3756 his1438 father3962, and2532 mother3384, and2532 wife1135, and2532 children5043, and2532 brethren80, and2532 sisters79, yea2089, and1161 his own1438 life5590 also2532, he cannot37561410 be1511 my3450 disciple3101.

Luk 16:13             No3762 servant3610 can1410 serve1398 two1417 masters2962: for1063 either2228 he will hate3404 the one1520, and2532 love25 the other2087; or else2228 he will hold472 to the one1520, and2532 despise2706 the other2087. Ye cannot37561410 serve1398 God2316 and2532 mammon3126.

Luk 19:14             But1161 his846 citizens4177 hated3404 him846, and2532 sent649 a message4242 after3694 him846, saying3004 , We will23090 not3756 have2309 this5126 [man] to reign936 over1909 us2248.

Luk 21:17             And2532 ye shall be2071 hated3404 of5259 all3956 [men] for1223 my3450 name's sake3686.

The study on our Children’s faith is outlined here:

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Are-Many-Christian-Teens--by-Bob-Johnson-100901-307.html?show=votes

Who is your Patron Saint?

Laurence

Deacon, and Martyr at Rome, 258

Laurence the Deacon, one of the most popular saints of the Roman Church, was martyred during the persecution initiated in 257 by the Emperor Valerian. That persecution was aimed primarily at the clergy and the laity of the upper classes. All properties used by the Church were confiscated, and assemblies for Christian worship were forbidden. On August 4, 258, Pope Sixtus the Second and his seven deacons were apprehended in the Roman catacombs. They were summarily executed, except for the archdeacon, Laurence, who was martyred on the tenth.

Though no authentic “Acts” of Laurence’s ordeal have been preserved, the tradition is that the prefect demanded information from him about the Church’s treasures. Laurence, in reply, assembled the sick and poor to whom, as archdeacon, he had distributed the Church’s relief funds, and presented them to the prefect, saying, “These are the treasures of the Church.” Laurence is believed to have been roasted alive on a gridiron.

The Emperor Constantine erected a shrine and basilica over Laurence’s tomb, which is in a catacomb on the Via Tiburtina. The present Church of St. Laurence Outside the Walls, a beautiful double basilica (damaged in World War II), includes a choir and sanctuary erected by Pope Pelagius the Second (579-590) and a nave by Pope Honorius the Third

(1216-1227).

Laurence is the subject of a small round glass medallion, probably dating from the fourth century, now in the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

It bears the simple inscription, “Live with Christ and Laurence.”

The Greek word from which we get our English word “martyr” simply means “witness;” but, in the age of the persecutions, before Constantine recognized the Church early in the fourth century, a “martyr” was generally one who had witnessed even to death. For Laurence, as for all

the martyrs, to die for Christ was to live with Christ.

Almighty God, who didst call thy deacon Laurence to serve thee with deeds of love, and didst give him the crown of martyrdom: Grant we beseech thee, that we, following his example, may fulfill thy commandments by defending and supporting the poor, and by loving thee with all our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Is MasterCard my family? Is Visa my church?

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ... Matthew 25:35-40

• When I am hungry, Mastercard gives me food.
• When I am thirsty, Visa gives me drink.
• When I am naked, American Express clothes me.

In days gone by, family, clan, tribe and church were our bankers and our safety nets.

When your son married the whole town gathered to build the new couple’s house.

Friendly?  Generous?

Probably not much more so than we are today.

Rather I think it was enlightened self-interest. Today it is your son’s house, tomorrow my barn, next year a coral or a silo for somebody else. That is how everybody got paid back. If a crop failed, or a working family member was injured, the congregation shared out the load and everybody suffered a little so that no one suffered too much.

In Guns, Germs and Steel, Jared Diamond makes a convincing argument that the best place for a tribal chief to store his surplus food is in his neighbor’s stomach.

But we no longer see our families, or neighbors or our Church as our primary source of help and credit. We look to the plastic, write a convenience check, press 1 for cash advance - and we do not even sit across the desk from a human banker, let alone share our dream for a new house, or our fear of a lean winter with our neighbors.

This mechanical credit gives us an illusion of autonomy. We are disconnected in a way no ancestor could have survived – And the distance is increasing.

To serve their own ends of power and privilege the organs of government in the West have for 60+ years waged a steady and relentless campaign to concentrate all generosity in the Sovereign.  As the government does more and more. Food, clothing, shelter, health care, education, and public safety – the role of the community in each of these becomes less and less.

• The food bank has been diminished by the LoneStar Card.
• The alms house has become the projects.
• The Sisters of Mercy has been replaced by Medicaid.
• The parochial school withers as the public school becomes ever more like the penal system.
• The culture that less than a century ago would still have raised a posse to chase the thief, now stands aside from crime – not wanting to get involved.

But we are involved. We are all interconnected we are all a part of one another. The illusion of autonomy is just that an illusion! 

If I depend on credit cards and government, all if have done is exchange a dependency on friends and neighbors, people I know and who know me, for a dependency on strangers and intuitions, people I do not know, who do not know – or care – about me.  

And I am the poorer for it, by more than just the annual percentage rate.

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