March Adult Meeting

Agenda

Opening Questions Do you know anyone who has received the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick? What were the circumstances? Do you know anyone who is badly sick? How do you think they would feel if they were healed? Present these questions as a way of creating a mindset for the meeting. They are meant to focus the parents’ minds on things they already know (often intuitively), so that they can apply that knowledge to a new learning experience. Lead the discussion toward the following conclusion: Jesus had great compassion for the sick and the suffering, and he performed many healing miracles to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God. But Jesus Himself did not avoid pain or death; rather, He underwent the most agonizing suffering to save us from our sins by dying on the cross. Because of His suffering and death, we know that He understands our own sorrow and pain and that we can unite our suffering with His on the cross for the redemption of sin.

Opening Questions Do you think it is possible to learn or become stronger from suffering? Do you know anyone who has changed for the better because of suffering? What is the best thing we can do with our suffering? Present these questions as a way of creating a mindset for the meeting. They are meant to focus the parents’ minds on things they already know (often intuitively), so that they can apply that knowledge to a new learning experience. Lead the discussion toward the following conclusion: Jesus had great compassion for the sick and the suffering, and he performed many healing miracles to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God. But Jesus Himself did not avoid pain or death; rather, He underwent the most agonizing suffering to save us from our sins by dying on the cross. Because of His suffering and death, we know that He understands our own sorrow and pain and that we can unite our suffering with His on the cross for the redemption of sin.

Opening Questions Which do you think is the most important: the healing of the body or the healing of the soul? Would you agree that our culture tends to banish suffering and death from public view? What effect do you think this might have on our culture and our families? Present these questions as a way of creating a mindset for the meeting. They are meant to focus the parents’ minds on things they already know (often intuitively), so that they can apply that knowledge to a new learning experience. Lead the discussion toward the following conclusion: Jesus had great compassion for the sick and the suffering, and he performed many healing miracles to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God. But Jesus Himself did not avoid pain or death; rather, He underwent the most agonizing suffering to save us from our sins by dying on the cross. Because of His suffering and death, we know that He understands our own sorrow and pain and that we can unite our suffering with His on the cross for the redemption of sin.

Introduction: The Meaning of Suffering

Blessed Chiara Badano Not too long ago there was a beautiful Italian teenager who loved to play tennis. She loved to socialize with her friends. She was full of life and joy. 1. One day after experiencing excruciating pain in her shoulder during a tennis match she discovered that pain was linked to bone cancer that had developed in her. 2. This began the battle that eventually ended her life at the very young age of 18. 3. While this story seems quite tragic, what is beautiful about it is the way she engaged in that battle. Through her suffering she displayed truly heroic love and virtue.

Blessed Chiara Badano Bl. Chiara suffered through the cancer with incredible joy. When her hair would fall out from the chemo and radiation she would hold it up toward heaven and say, “For you Jesus.” She continually kept a beautiful smile on her face. Her friends would come to visit and comfort her and would leave comforted and more cheerful themselves. She would take walks with other patients to cheer them up despite the excruciating pain she was in.

Blessed Chiara Badano She asked to be buried in a wedding dress after she passed. Her parting words to her family and friends were: “Goodbye. Be happy because I am happy.” In 2010, she was the first member of Generation X to be Beatified. I encourage you learn and read more about her when you can.

Blessed Chiara Badano Chiara is a beautiful example of the fact that suffering is not meaningless. Our suffering is meant to be redemptive. When we unite our sufferings to the crucified Christ powerful things can happen. (The fact that Chiara is on the path to sainthood means that miracles have come about through her intercession!) Those of us who have watched someone close to us suffer and or even die from a horrible illness like cancer or something else have born witness to how horrible and tragic an experience like this can be. Jesus may not always take away our sufferings and bring about miraculous healings, although that does happen sometimes, but He doesn’t abandon us during those times. Jesus comes and meets us in our suffering and suffers with and for us. Jesus gives our suffering meaning and makes it redemptive. In the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick Jesus meets us and gives us the grace we need to get through the suffering and experience healing or (like Blessed Chiara) the strength we need for the final journey home to Heaven.

Jesus came to accomplish an even greater healing than physical healing alone. This greater healing was victory over sin and death through His Passion, Death and Resurrection. Our suffering now has redemptive value if we patiently endure it and join it with the suffering of Christ. This is why St. Paul could say, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake.” (Colossians 1:24)

Anointing of the Sick: Healing in Obedience to Christ Jesus gave his twelve Apostles the authority to drive out demons and heal the sick. The Catechism states that the Church continues this healing mission by taking care of the sick and accompanying them with prayer.

The Sacrament of Anointing “Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.” (James 5:14-15) This Sacrament is meant to strengthen those who suffer from illness. In some cases healing of the particular illness may occur as a result of receiving this Sacrament but in many cases it is a Sacrament that provides grace and comfort in a time of illness and suffering.

Who can receive the Sacrament? Any baptized Catholic who is in danger of death from serious illness or old age (CCC 1514) It can be received more than once-even for the same illness if that illness gets worse. The person receiving it does not have to be conscious at the time of reception.

How is it celebrated? “The priests of the Church--in silence--lay hands on the sick; they pray over them in the faith of the Church…. They anoint them with oil blessed, if possible, by the bishop” (CCC 1519). The priest or bishop prays: “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in His love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up” (CCC 1513). Anointing can take place in a person’s home, a hospital, or in a church. It can be celebrated by an individual or a group. It is best celebrated when it includes the Eucharist and after the person has gone to Confession. The celebration is based in the elements found in the letter of St. James What a beautiful and powerful prayer! In this Sacrament, Jesus comes to us and comforts us in our suffering.

The Fruits of Anointing Strength, peace, and courage to overcome the difficulties of suffering Unity with the Passion of Christ Consecration of suffering for participation in salvation Forgiveness of sins Physical healing (if that is God’s will) Grace and preparation for the recipient’s final journey home Most of us would probably desire complete and total healing in receiving this Sacrament. That is a totally natural desire. In some cases, healing is a fruit of this Sacrament. However, in many cases physical healing may not take place. So what is the point of this Sacrament? How can we consider it fruitful when healing doesn’t take place?

Viaticum In conjunction with the anointing, a person may receive the Eucharist as viaticum or “food for the journey.” This is one of the greatest gifts of God’s mercy. It provides everything we need to get “home” to the Father.

The Triduum We will now take a brief break from discussing the Sacraments, and in preparation for our celebration of Easter we will briefly discuss the Triduum

What is the Triduum? The Triduum are the holiest days of the year in the Church calendar, beginning with evening Mass on Holy Thursday and ending with Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday. If you have never participated in the liturgies during the Triduum, go! Participate in them, and experience some of the most beautiful liturgies the Church has to offer. Participating in the Triduum liturgies really assists in entering into and celebrating Easter and the final days leading up to it.

The Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening. At this Mass we celebrate the institution of both the Eucharist and the priesthood. During the liturgy, the priest also washes the feet of 12 people from the congregation This is the ONLY Mass allowed to be celebrated on this day. In washing the feet of people from the congregation, the priest imitates Christ’s own actions at the Last Supper as a celebration of the humble service to which Christ calls us.

On Good Friday, we celebrate the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion We commemorate the Lord’s Passion in a Liturgy of the Word. We venerate the Cross. We pray for the Church and the world. The liturgy concludes with the reception of Holy Communion. This is the only day of the year that no Masses are celebrated anywhere in the world. Since the liturgy is not a Mass, no new hosts are consecrated, and we receive Communion from hosts consecrated the night before. This is also a day of fasting (2 small meals that do not equal 1 regular sized meal and 1 regular-sized meal) and abstinence (no meat).

Holy Saturday and the Easter Vigil The first part of the day continues in somber anticipation. Once evening falls, the Easter Vigil is celebrated. This is the first Mass celebrated since Thursday evening. The new Easter Candle is lit for the first time. Those going through RCIA are received and welcomed into the Church. We celebrate the Resurrection of Christ! We are encouraged to spend this day in anticipation of what is to come with our Blessed Mother. The Vigil is not supposed to be celebrated until dark and so you will notice that parishes won’t have their typical 4 or 5pm Saturday vigil masses but rather will move the celebration to 7:00 or 8:00pm. The Easter Vigil is the Church’s biggest and most important Liturgy. It is the longest Liturgy of the year, but also the most beautiful to witness: it is the celebration the summit and culmination of salvation history! It is also a beautiful opportunity to witness the celebration of all three Sacraments of Initiation. (Remember: RCIA stands for the “Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.”)

The Easter Vigil The Easter Vigil is the Church’s most joyous and beautiful liturgy, and something every Catholic should experience. The mass begins in darkness, in anticipation of the Resurrection. The Paschal Candle is lit, and each person is given a smaller, individual candle. The light of Christ then grows brighter as candle after candle is lit, each person using their candle to light the one of the person next to them, until the whole church is ablaze with warm and wondrous light. Then the triumphant liturgy continues. Christ is truly the Light of the World!

Easter Sunday This is a great day of feasting and celebrating, and we should spend it rejoicing in the glory, hope, and promise of the Resurrection of Christ! If you went to the Easter Vigil, you don’t need to go to Mass on Easter Sunday, however some people choose also to attend a Sunday morning Easter Mass because it completes the celebration in a beautiful way. We hope the activities we have included for you to do with your Children over the Triduum will help you enter more deeply into the celebration of the Triduum whether you are able to attend the Liturgies associated with each day or not.

Sacred Art Discussion: Healing of the Blind Man Whom do you see in this painting? What appears to be happening? People in the painting: Jesus and his Apostles, the blind man What is happening: Jesus is touching the blind man’s eyes to heal him

Sacred Art Discussion: Healing of the Blind Man Who do you think the man on the far right is? What does it look like he is doing? He looks almost identical to the blind man Jesus is healing to his left. Do you think he could be the same man? Why or why not? Let the conversation go in unexpected directions. It might seem odd for the painter to represent the same man twice in the same painting. Maybe the two men represent the blind man before and after he is healed. The man on the right isn’t holding his walking stick, and the blind man wouldn’t need it to help him walk anymore once he could see again! He is also looking up: looking up at Heaven, praising God for his miraculous healing?

Sacred Art Discussion: Healing of the Blind Man How might stories in Scripture help you better understand this artwork? The story of Jesus healing a blind man can be found in three of the four gospels: John 9:1-7, Mark 8:22-26, Mark 10:46-52, and Matthew 20:29-34. You may want to read one, some, or all of these passages. Maybe pick one and have the whole group read one, or divide them into smaller groups and have each group read one story. How do the different stories correspond to the painting? Allow the conversation to go in unexpected directions.

Sacred Art Discussion: Healing of the Blind Man Jesus said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Mark 2:17). How might this statement, together with this painting, relate to the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick?

Key Points in Our Readings this Month Jesus told the Apostles to heal the sick in His name. Our suffering can be redemptive if we unite it to Christ’s.

Key Points in Our Readings this Month The Triduum begins with evening Mass on Holy Thursday and ends with Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday. The Easter Vigil is the greatest celebration in the Church year.