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The Southern Cross
April 12,1979
Horror Of Crucifixion
Brings Peace Of Easter
Behold the wood of the cross! Behold
the instrument ctt death!
Behold our Three Mile Island! Behold
Iran’s firing squads and Uganda’s troops!
Behold our instruments of death!
The death of Jesus stands out to this
day as totally unjust and unnecessarily
cruel. Jesus had become popular,
beloved by the people for his
compassion and his authoritative
teaching, which put the scribes and
Pharisees to shame. Because he was so
popular, he was a threat to the status
quo. His followers threatened to become
a movement outside their control. And
so the scribes and Pharisees, the
threatened ones, did what threatened
people always do: they lashed out
violently against the threat, against
Jesus.
On Good Friday, the Church recounts
the chilling story of the Good Man hated
by the hateful, utterly broken on the
wood of their cross. We are asked to
reflect on our own hatred and the
violence it begets. How many Christs
have we broken on how many crosses?
“My people,” cries out Jesus, “what
have I done to you and in what have I
offended you? Answer me!” He has
forgiven our sins and given us his own
life and in our brothers and sisters we
have crucified him again and again.
But the Lamb, though broken, is
undivided. Slain, he lives. The grim
horror of the crucifixion, an act which
by all rights should have alienated God
from man forever, results instead in the
perfect peace and joy of Easter. The
Crucified One, now risen, speaks only
“peace” to his scattered, sinful flock,
and so gathers them again in undeserved
love.
All of the conflict and tension of the
cross are resolved into the blessed peace
of Easter. In the Risen Christ we have
the firm hope that all of our conflicts
and tensions will end in peace, that all of
our sins may yet be pardoned, that all of
the darkness within and without us will
be dispelled by glorious light.
“Behold the wood” gives way so
dramatically and unexpectedly to
“Alleluia” that we are left stunned and
amazed.
Christ is risen!
Christ is truly risen!
Alleluia!
-DKC
Liturgy Corner
Rev. Douglas K. Clark
In addition to the principal Mass of Easter,
the Vigil celebrated during the night of Holy
Saturday, additional Masses are also celebrated
on Easter Sunday. They too retain the solemn
but joyful character of the Vigil. For one thing,
they too are characterized by the chant:
ALLELUIA, “Praise Yahweh” or “Praise God.”
The missal is very clear that “Alleluia” and its
verse are to be CHANTED, not recited, before
the gospel. Because nothing is deader than a
recited “Alleluia”, the missal specifically
suggests that it be omitted if not sung. But to
omit the “Alleluia” on Easter is unthinkable. If
we can’t bring ourselves to sing the song of
Easter (Alleluia) on Easter, then we might as
well admit that we are not Easter people and
quit calling ourselves “Christians.” Surely there
are plenty of very easy “Alleluia” musical
settings, such as the traditional Easter tone,
which any parish could learn to sing.
While we are on the topic of singing, the very
idea of a “low” (recited rather than sung) Mass *
on Easter is a contradiction in terms. On this
day of all days as much as possible should be
sung, by the people and, if possible the priest.
Priests need to be encouraged to sing the
prayers of the Mass, the preface and,
eventually, the Eucharistic prayer itself,
although the tones provided in the
sacramentary are not exactly breath-taking.
Others are available and could be sought out.
Yes, some people, unaccustomed to a joyful
celebration of the liturgy, with singing, may
object at first. But the mind of the church is
very clear: sung liturgy is normative and is to be
encouraged. Both Papal funerals and
installations last year were almost entirely sung
- including the opening rites!
The question of singing brings up a side
point: what about the Easter sequence.
Originally the sequence followed the “Alleluia”
and continued its tone (sequentia means
“following”). In the English missal, the
sequence is translated, and therefore needs new
music, which has not been provided, and has
been placed before the “Alleluia” it was
intended to follow. Whether recited by a lector
or the whole congregation, in prose or rhyme
(it is hardly poetry in its present English
version), the unsung sequence is a deadly lull in
the Easter Mass. It really should be sung by the
choir and could well be rendered in Latin if
English versions are not available. Otherwise,
the pastorally (if not rubrically) wise choice
would be to omit it as one would omit a recited
“Alleluia.”
One other note: on most Sundays of the
year, the sprinkling of the people with holy
water as a reminder of baptism may take the
place of the penitential rite at the beginning of
Mass. For some unknown reason, the sprinkling
and renewal of baptismal promises on Easter is
delayed until after the homily. Why not begin
Mass with the renewal of the baptismal
promises, followed by the sprinkling? The
penitential rite could well be omitted on Easter.
Also, having renewed baptismal promises
earlier, the Profession of Faith, which is merely
an elaboration of those promises could also be
omitted. And if the people do not know an
“asperges” song (or the Easter “Vidi aquam”),
why not have them sing the Gloria during the
sprinkling? By unloading the Easter Mass
somewhat, there would be room to elaborate
on the more important elements, such as the
“Alleluia” by singing them.
Have a joyful celebration of Easter!
THE CHURCH:
REFLECTIONS
— -
The Soulhern Cross
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Most Rev. Raymond W. Lessard, D.D., President
Rev. Joseph Stranc
Director, Department of Communications
John E. Markwalter, Editor
Rev. Dou9las K. Clark, Editorial Writer
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RESURRECTION -- “He is not here; he has been raised up. Remember
what he said to you while he was still in Galilee -- that the Son of Man
must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on
the third day rise again.” (Luke 24, 6-8) This painting of “The
Resurrection” is by the artist Perugino painted in the 15th century. (NC
Photo)
What One Person Can Do
The Christophers
IN ADVERSITY,
A SENSE OF MISSION
On December 19, 1978, the Op-Ed page of
the New York Times carried a letter written by
a Nicaraguan priest. His anonymity was
preserved because of serious threats on his life.
“The political climate in Nicaragua is grim,”
he writes. “In Esteli, a priest was shot and we
also are awaiting our hour. In a humiliating and
violent manner, soldiers broke into my church
and searched through everything. I am the
victim of constant psychological torture ... in
the night stones are thrown at my house, noises
are heard and steps . . . and this in the midst of
the most exhausting work.”
As I read this account, I thought of my own
priesthood. I live in a comfortable rectory, the
police are friendly and supportive; the political
climate may be charged with divided opinion
but religious freedom is secure and freedom of
speech is safely preserved. I felt privileged to be
an American.
The tone and quality of the priest’s letter
reminded me of one of St. Paul’s early epistles.
It moved me very deeply. May I share more of
that unknown priest’s letter with you?
“What will happen to us? Only the Lord
knows his plans and decisions. The only thing
that concerns me is that I remain true to Him.
Only now do I grasp what it means to give up
everything for the reign of God. I am proud to
take part in the suffering of my people. I feel
an inner power which drives me to continue.”
He then reflects on the possible dangers
which await him. “Anything can happen: They
can throw me into prison, torture me, or, once
I am caught, eliminate me. They have the
demonic power. I possess only the strength of
my conviction, but it is a match for theirs, and
will, I am certain, come through at the critical
time.”
He continues, “I am just as convinced today
as on the day of my ordination to the
priesthood that despite our Gethsemanes, the
reign of God comes ever and again throughout
history. In the midst of thousands of cares and
efforts, it has become clear to me that we are
useless servants and that the Lord, out of his
grace, has made us into apostles. That is the
reason I persevere. Successes are few.
Nevertheless, everything goes on.”
And then he concludes his letter, “The hour
of martyrdom in Latin America has already
broken upon us. But from our suffering and
blood, a new church will arise.”
God gave each one of us a different mission
in life. When we have the sense of what it is, we
grow stronger in adversity. When we lose it; we
lose our very selves.
For a free copy of the Christopher News
Notes, “Prayer,” send a stamped, self-addressed
envelope to The Christophers, 12 E. 48th St.,
New York, N. Y. 10017.
Some
ERA
Ideas
Joseph Breig
To anyone who is inclined to favor the
proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution (ERA) may I suggest
consideration of the fact that the ERA-pushers
howled down seven thoroughly reasonable
limitations on ERA proposed by former
Senator Sam Ervin.
Senator Ervin proposed, first, an amendment
to ERA to insure that women would be exempt
from being drafted into the armed forces and
from being sent into combat duty.
Second, Senator Ervin said there should be a
provision to preserve protective labor laws
already on the books of the nation and the
states - laws recognizing special needs of
women in shops, stores, factories, etc.
Third, Senator Ervin suggested that there be
no overthrowing of laws permitting mothers,
widows or wives to remain at home if they so
chose.
Fourth, he urged a guarantee of support for
children from father or spouse.
Fifth, provisions for privacy between men
and women should be retained.
Sixth, laws should be retained which make
sex offenses against women punishable as
crimes.
Seventh, Senator Ervin urged that ERA be
amended in such fashion as to recognize that
there are physiological or functional differences
between males and females.
What reasonable person could quarrel with
those seven proposed provisions? Yet the
promoters of ERA would have none of them.
Apparently they were determined upon a
constitutional amendment which, in violation
of all sense and all reality, would simply
pretend that there are no differences between
men and women.
And that is precisely what ERA would do, if
ratified by the states. It would wipe off the
books all the thousands of laws and regulations
adopted through the years which recognize that
women should be entitled to certain
protections and considerations.
It is as if someone were to propose an
amendment to the Constitution forbidding any
distinctions among persons because of age -
thus instantly eliminating all the child labor
laws which were laboriously won through the
centuries to protect children from being
victimized by cruel and unscrupulous
employers.
Constitutional law professor Joseph P.
Witherspoon of the University of Texas has
warned us further that if the states were to
ratify ERA, such ratification would “inevitably
be interpreted by the Supreme Court as ...
approval by the people of its 1973 (abortion)
decision and its declaration that the unborn
child is not a human person ...”
Certainly there ought to be equality of all
persons before the law. But gross inequality,
not equality, is what would result from the
simpleminded ERA amendment which denies
that there are any differences between males
and females.
Propagation of the Faith
REV. JOSEPH C. OTTERBEIN
Diocesan Director
P.,0. Box 8789, Savannah, Ga. 31412
There seems no better way to start these few
lines than with the words Jesus used the first
Easter: “PEACE BE WITH YOU!” Assuredly
that is my prayer for you who show the love
and concern for the missions that you do.
In telling of Jesus’ appearance to the
disciples Easter Sunday evening, St. John states
the MISSION of the disciples (and ours). “As
the Father sent me, so I send you,” Jesus said.
This mission, this sending forth, Jfesus indicated
that morning to Mary of Magdala. Mary was
standing outside the tomb weeping when she is
approached by a man she thought to be the
gardener. After Jesus is recognized by his
greeting, He tells Mary to “go to my brothers
and tell them that I am now ascending to my
Father and our Father, my God and your
God.” (Jno. 20:17) Mary was to go tell the
Good News. She went in great haste saying: “I
have seen the Lord!”
Good news must be shared. I recall another
woman who shared good news. Fatigued and
weary, Jesus sat by a well when a Samaritan
woman came to draw water. What a surprise
awaited her when Jesus asked for a drink of
water and opened a dialogue which would end
in His revealing to her that He was the Messiah.
This woman became so excited over the news
that she put down her water jar and hurried
back to the town to urge the people: “Come,
see the man who has told me everything I ever
did!” Every messenger of the Lord - (and
therefore every missionary) - never trusts his
human power of persuasion. His only hope is to
get the person to “come and see” - to look for
themselves. The seeker must come into His
presence; he must see with eyes of faith and
hope and love.
Both Mary Magdalen and the woman at the
well were persons who came and saw. They
became “BELIEVERS”. Their faith would
shine out and they could invite others to “come
and see” tho I am sure both women knew they
could not give others what was given them in a
direct encounter with the Lord. Would it not be
an ideal time to pray that faith will receive new
sparkle in the heart of every Christian this
Easter so we might walk in the newness of life
the Lord shares with us. And with that new
sparkle might we not all show eagerness to
share the treasures we will receive this Easter.
Lord, make us “believers.”
Thank you for your prayers for the
missionaries of the world. And thank you also
for the sacrifices you made during Lent in their
behalf. Happy Easter!