Recently there has been published a missalette which embodies a rather new concept for popular participation at Holy Mass in our churches and chapels.
Tag: Abbot Marcel Rooney
Adaptation and renewal of Religious Life: Embracing the vow of obedience
Editor’s note: During the Year of Consecrated Life which ends on February 2, this is the last in a series based on the Second Vatican Council’s document, Perfectae Caritatis (Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life) written by Abbot Marcel Rooney, OSB, former abbot primate of the Benedictine order who now resides in Madison.
In this commentary on the Decree of the Second Vatican Council, On the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life (original = Perfectae Caritatis), we have been reflecting on how the Council Fathers envisioned a deep renewal of what the Church calls “the Consecrated Life.”
Number 14 of the decree speaks of one of the evangelical counsels, obedience. It is one of the most important ones, and gives a particular color to the entirety of Religious Life.
Pilgrimage: Sign of Christian hope
The Catholic Encyclopedia says, “A pilgrimage may be described as a journey to a sacred shrine or sanctuary for a religious motive.”
People have been making such special journeys for centuries. A pilgrimage expresses one’s faith — for a person believes that God is present in a special way at a particular shrine, because of the holy person(s) who lived or died there, and because of the holy things that happened in history there.
Prayer is the key: To developing a vocation to the consecrated life
Prayer is not always high on the list of priorities for many young people today, but it should be — especially if they want God’s help in deciding the future direction of their lives.
The Sacrament of Matrimony
By Abbot Marcel Rooney, OSB
This is the last article in the Abbot’s special Year of Faith series on the seven sacraments.
Rooted in scriptural images
The Catechism of the Catholic Church notes: “Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and concludes with the vision of the ‘wedding-feast of the Lamb’” (CCC 1602; Rev 19:7, 9; Gen 1:26-27).
No wonder that the Church’s theology of the Sacrament of Matrimony is deeply rooted in sacred Scripture.
The Sacrament of Holy Orders, part two
By Abbot Marcel Rooney, OSB
This is the second installment in a two-part series on the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
The ordination of priests
From the outset, the Rite of Ordination of a Priest places this sacrament in the context of Jesus, our great High Priest, choosing “certain disciples to carry out publically in His Name, and on behalf of mankind, a priestly office in the Church.”
As such, priests are called to be co-workers with the order of bishops.
The Sacrament of Holy Orders, part one
By Abbot Marcel Rooney, OSB
Priesthood in the New Testament
In the writings of the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the only priest, the sole mediator between God and humanity. This privilege comes from God’s special designation of Him at His baptism, as well as His redeeming work by the Paschal Mystery — His death, resurrection, and ascension.
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
By Abbot Marcel Rooney, OSB
The Church’s teaching on the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is deeply rooted in the teaching of sacred Scripture.
Sacrament of Penance: examination of conscience
By Abbot Marcel Rooney, OSB
We have seen, in the first article about this sacrament, that three things are necessary for its valid celebration: contrition for the sins one has committed; confession to a priest of all serious sins; and satisfaction of the penance which is asked of the penitent.
Sacrament of Penance is a gift to the Church
By Abbot Marcel Rooney, OSB
This is the first in a series of articles examining the theology and spirituality of the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation.
The Gospels bring out clearly that Jesus wanted to give authority regarding sin to His Church.
One example will suffice — John 20:21-23: “He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”