Year of Faith: The Church - Contending With The Chaos Of Sin

We had an interesting Bible Study on the book of Acts last night which brought up, among many other topics, the unique purpose and character of the Church as it began to form in the earliest days of humanity's creation. Often we only think of the Church as having come about through the work of Jesus. In reality, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church  tells us, the Church began to come together as God's response to the reality of sin that had come into the world through the first act of disobedience by Adam and Eve in the Garden;

761 The gathering together of the People of God began at the moment when sin destroyed the communion of men with God, and that of men among themselves. The gathering together of the Church is, as it were, God's reaction to the chaos provoked by sin. This reunification is achieved secretly in the heart of all peoples: "In every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable" to God.

While this 'reunification' is remains incomplete we remain a 'pilgrim people' drawing ever closer to our God in eager anticipation of that day when all relationships, both among ourselves and between us and God, are healed and restored. Such a profound and inspiring theme to carry with us during this season of eager and excited anticipation. During Advent we not only recall the coming of Jesus into the world 2000 years ago, but we prepare our own hearts for his on-going 'birthing' in our daily lives, and look forward to his returning in glory to bring us all home where our collective story began.

As Advent continues, and in keeping with our Year of Faith, take some time to reflect on this unique and exciting nature of the Church and how, through our willingness to continue this journey together and how,  by the generous grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father we may work together to overcome 'the chaos provoked by sin'.

To help in your reflections, the Church's own examination on the subject in its Dogmatic Constitution on The Church in the Modern World may be of help;

From the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council

The eschatological character of the pilgrim Church

The Church, to which we are all called in Christ Jesus and in which we acquire holiness through the grace of God, will reach its perfection only in the glory of heaven, when the time comes for the renewal of all things, and the whole world, which is intimately bound up with man and reaches its perfection through him, will, along with the human race, be perfectly restored in Christ.

Lifted above the earth, Christ drew all things to himself. Rising from the dead, he sent his life-giving Spirit upon his disciples, and through the Spirit established his Body, which is the Church, as the universal sacrament of salvation. Seated at the right hand of the Father, he works unceasingly in the world, to draw men into the Church and through it to join them more closely to himself, nourishing them with his own body and blood, and so making them share in his life of glory.

The promised renewal that we look for has already begun in Christ. It is continued in the mission of the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit it goes on developing in the Church: there we are taught by faith about the meaning also of our life on earth as we bring to fulfillment – with hope in the blessings that are to come – the work that has been entrusted to us in the world by the Father, and so work out our salvation.

The end of the ages is already with us. The renewal of the world has been established, and cannot be revoked. In our era it is in a true sense anticipated: the Church on earth is already sealed by genuine, if imperfect, holiness. Yet, until a new heaven and a new earth are built as the dwelling place of justice, the pilgrim Church, in its sacraments and institutions belonging to this world of time, bears the likeness of this passing world. It lives in the midst of a creation still groaning and in travail as it waits for the sons of God to be revealed in glory.

Peace and God Bless

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The Year Of Faith: October 11, 2012 – November 24, 2013

 In promulgating the year of faith (October 11, 2012 to November 24, 2013), Pope Benedict XVI has set aside a special year for Catholics throughout the world to rediscover, and share with others, the precious gift of faith entrusted to the Church and the personal gift of faith that we have each received from God the father, God the son, and God the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Father notes insightfully that faith is not content alone. It is not merely knowledge of those intellectual propositions that one might find in the Catechism of the Catholic Church or in the documents of Vatican II. One can read and know what’s in these documents or may know the content of doctrine and devotion without ever having faith. Faith believes, but it believes ultimately in “someone”! To profess faith is to believe in one God who is love: the Father, who in the fullness of time sent his Son for our salvation; Jesus Christ, who in the mystery of his death and resurrection redeemed the world; the Holy Spirit, who leads the church across the centuries as we await the Lord’s glorious return (porta fidei, 1).

Why a Year of Faith?
Pope Benedict XVI has called for this special year as an invitation to “an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the one Saviour of the world” (Apostolic Letter, Porta Fidei, 6). He hopes it will inspire in all believers, “the aspiration to profess the faith in fullness and with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope. It will also be a good opportunity to intensify the celebration of the faith in the liturgy, especially in the Eucharist, which is ‘the summit towards which the activity of the Church is directed... and also the source from which all of its power flows’ (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 10). At the same time, we make it our prayer that believers’ witness of life may grow in credibility. To rediscover the content of the faith that is professed, celebrated, lived and prayed, and to reflect on the act of faith, is a task that every believer must make his own, especially in the course of this Year” (Porta fidei, 9).

Although there will be many public celebrations and common confessions of faith, the specific aim of this year is that every Christian may rediscover “the journey of faith so as to shed ever clearer light on the joy and renewed enthusiasm of the encounter with Christ” (Apostolic Letter, Porta Fidei, 2).

Your Christ the King Parish family has been very busy putting together a host of learning sessions, a Parish Mission which has been scheduled for February 16, 2013, a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in October of 2013, and a variety of Bible Studies, Retreats, Seminars and Workshops that will take place throughout the coming year. In addition, our parish website, www.christtheking.ca, facebook page, www.facebook.com/CTKRegina, and parish bulletins will be used to share invaluable resources and reflections to help you and your family answer the Holy Father's “summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the One Savior of the world.”


QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT THE “YEAR OF FAITH”

1. What is the Year of Faith?
At certain times in the history of the Church, popes have called upon the faithful to dedicate themselves to deepening their understanding of a particular aspect of the faith. In 1967, Pope Paul VI announced a Year of Faith commemorating the 19th centenary of the martyrdom of Sts. Peter and Paul. The 1967 Year of Faith called upon the Church to recall the supreme act of witness by these two saints so that their martyrdom might inspire the present day Church to collectively and individually make a sincere profession of faith.

This upcoming Year of Faith is an opportunity for Catholics to experience a conversion – to turn back to Jesus and enter into a deeper relationship with him. The Pope has described this conversion as opening the “door of faith” (see Acts 14:27). The “door of faith” is opened at one’s baptism, but during this year Catholics are called to open it again, walk through it and rediscover and renew their relationship with Christ and his Church.

2. Why is the Year of Faith this year?
With his Apostolic Letter of October 11, 2011, Porta fidei, Pope Benedict XVI declared that the Year of Faith will begin on October 11, 2012 and conclude on November 24, 2013. October 11, the first day of the Year of Faith, is the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) and also the twentieth anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. During the Year of Faith, Catholics are asked to study and reflect on the documents of Vatican II and the catechism so that they may deepen their knowledge of the faith.

3. How are Year of Faith and New Evangelization linked?
The New Evangelization is a call to each Catholic to deepen his or her own faith, have confidence in the Gospel, and possess a willingness to share the Gospel. The New Evangelization is first and foremost a personal encounter with Jesus Christ; it is an invitation to deepen one’s relationship with Christ. It is also a call to each person to share his or her faith with others. The Year of Faith, just like the New Evangelization, calls Catholics to conversion in order to deepen their relationship with Christ and to share it with others.

4. How does the Year of Faith affect the average Catholic?
Every baptized Catholic is called to be a disciple of Christ and proclaim the Gospel. The Year of Faith is an opportunity for each and every Catholic to live out the everyday moments of their lives with faith, hope and love. This witness is necessary for proclaiming the Gospel to family, friends, neighbours and society.



Prepared and published by Liturgy Committee                                                    
Christ the King Parish Regina
17 November 2012

Come Holy Spirit! Fill Us With The Fire Of Your Love!

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The Solemnity of Christ The King - Our Parish Patron - November 25, 2012

(edited from http://www.churchyear.net/ctksunday.html)

In addition to being the name-sake or patron of our Parish, the Solemnity of Christ the King celebrates the all-embracing authority of Christ as King and Lord of the cosmos. This highest of Catholic Feasts  is celebrated on the final Sunday of Liturgical Year, the Sunday before Advent. This year, the feast falls on November 25th.

Pope Pius XI instituted The Feast of Christ the King in 1925. The Feast of Christ the King was instituted during a time when respect for Christ and the Church was waning, when the feast was most needed. In fact, it is still needed today, as these problems have not vanished, but instead have worsened.

Today individualism has been embraced to such an extreme, that for many, the only authority is the individual self. The idea of Christ as ruler is rejected in such a strongly individualistic system. Though many balk at the idea of kings and queens, believing them to be oppressive, these individuals miss the point: Christ's kingship is one of humility and service.

Jesus said: You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them...But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to become great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:42-45).

Jesus knew the oppressive nature of secular kings, and in contrast to them, he connected his role as king to humble service, and commanded his followers to be servants as well. When we celebrate Christ as King, we are not celebrating an oppressive ruler, but one willing to die for humanity and whose "loving-kindness endures forever." Christ is the king that gives us true freedom, freedom in Him. Thus we must never forget that Christ radically redefined and transformed the concept of kingship.

The earliest Christians identified Jesus with the predicted Messiah of the Jews. The Jewish word "messiah," and the Greek word "Christ," both mean "anointed one," and came to refer to the expected king who would deliver Israel from the hands of the Romans. Christians believe that Jesus is this expected Messiah who came to free all people. He came to free us and the world from sin and death. Thus the king of the Jews, and of the cosmos, is king of all and of the world to come:

“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Pope Benedict XVI, declared A YEAR OF FAITH in honor of the 50^th anniversary of 2^nd Vatican Council, which begins from 2012 Christ the King Feast to 2013 Feast of Christ The King. We are very specially Blessed and honoured since our Patron is Christ the King.

The Liturgy Committee of Christ the King invites and welcomes all to join us for the Special celebration we have planned.

A special reminder to everyone of us to wear red, gold or white on the weekend of the feast of Christ the King November 25^th 2012.

As we inaugurate the 2012-2013 Year of Faith throughout the world, let us take time this year to reflect in a special way how we might live more fully the Kingship our Lord Jesus Christ invites us to share.

May Christ The King be our God and Guide.

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