Father Gilles' Archive Pages

Friday, November 23, 2018

The Lord's Day Rest versus Work

In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity (Jeremiah 31:31-34) every person can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.

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ABOUT SUNDAY WORK

A priest’s point of view

Over the years I've been privileged to live and labour as a priest of our Lord Jesus Christ. It has become apparent to me and perhaps increasingly to the faithful that priests work on the Lord’s Day, on Sunday. We still live under the obligation to rest one day a week because for our good He wants us to enjoy abundant life, to “keep holy the Lord’s Day”; that is, to rest and not to work or worry the whole day long, and to spend the day with our family and friends.

Since we priests labour on Sunday, we must transfer part of our Sunday obligation to rest and spend time with family on another day, preferably in connection with Sunday, such as on Monday or Saturday. Another issue touches all those who approach us on the Sunday – before or after Masses for example – with requests which require follow up later. Sunday is not a good day to approach our priests with anything requiring us to remember details later. We are ready to receive personal news, to hear penitents in the confessional, to offer the Anointing of the Sick on the spot, to simply pray particularly for someone or formulate a blessing. However, multiple encounters prevent efficient memory; so if anyone wants follow up, they would do better to get back to us during the week.

It's not because we don't care, but simply that since the matter is personal and important to the seeker, then their motivation about it will definitely cause them to remember it and so it makes sense that they take charge of the follow up. From the priests' point of view, there usually are several such conversations on Sunday, sometimes all in the space of just a few minutes. Some may be able to remember so many varied encounters that come in rapid succession, but I tend to forget most or all of them! In fact, I don’t even remember who left an item with me unless it is labelled. My mind doesn't work like a computer where everything is on the desktop where I left it last time I was there.

Attempting to recover a lost memory of someone making a request or suggestion before or after Mass on Sunday can be a very tedious process. I must tell everyone not to try to "do business" or approach me regarding anything other than what is immediate, on Sunday before or after Masses. Though you may have a very clear memory of approaching me or another priest on a given Sunday; as generally happens, after Sunday is over, most priests have no recollection whatever of it.

It is very misleading for me to allow anyone to have the impression that what he or she may say to me on Sundays will be retained or that anything I say will be remembered or followed up on. I try to always say this, but can't always when they catch me between two other people or two duties, or with my mind full of personal and spiritual considerations of my own. It is best to seek particular services from priests by putting the request to them during the week through normal channels.

While it makes sense to try to accomplish practical matters during the week, the “divine renovation” approach to the Sunday Assembly can arrange in advance to provide a wider range of services on Sunday. A “Hospitality Desk” can be set up with one or more people ready to take note of specific requests, registrations for various activities and learning opportunities, and try to answer any number of questions that people might bring. Parish staff and volunteers could be formed to be the face and voice of the Church in rendering such a service in a way that creates opportunities for people to feel as though they are welcome and belong to the Parish faith community.

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God's point of view – “You shall keep holy the Lord’s Day.” (Exodus 20:8, 31:14)

The Lord's Day belongs to Him; so we are not to conduct any kind of business on this day, meaning trying to make progress in our work activities, domestic tasks, or even Church work. Our entire and only preoccupation on this day is to give glory to God, to honor Him, to consider his Word and ponder it, to reflect on his ways and take to heart his Word and see how it may apply to our lives. It's a day for worship, spiritual renewal, community, family life, celebration, leisure, and rest.

God did not make this a command to tyrannize our lives, but only because we had forgotten how to live well. God doesn’t want us to give Him back the “Lord’s Day” for his own benefit, but for ours. Only when we make sufficient room for God in our lives can He free us from the harmful effects of the tyranny of our own impulses, wants, desires, ambitions, fears, and needs.

We are to spend the whole day in the company of family and friends, to remember to love and be loved, to celebrate God and each other’s lives. We can help each other enjoy solitude and silence, physical activity, and rest. We remember we are creatures and children of God, that life is brief, filled with beauty, goodness, and all God's good gifts, and that our eternal destiny is of great importance. We are, at least once a week, to enjoy being alive and remember why we are alive, how it is that our life is a gift, where we come from and where we are going.

A parishioner’s point of view

From our human and personal point of view, the normal times, places, and means for carrying out Fabrique and Parish activity is during the week, when we have access to means to take notes and do whatever is needed to assure the proper follow up that may be required by each need or request. We can make special provision to assist the stranger and welcome those who come to the Sunday Assembly and orient them for later follow up without turning the day into a working ministry day.

I am deeply inspired and strongly challenged by the enthusiasm, talent, and generosity of the children of God. I deeply appreciate you and love you for the zeal you have for God, for his Church, and for his people. You and so many are doing so much and juggling so many duties that you share your ideas when you can for fear of forgetting them in the confusion of your relentless activity and the boiling thoughts of your very active mind and imagination. I understand that.

It remains a great challenge for us, who live in such a secularized and individualized culture and society, to obey the third commandment and give back to God the day that belongs to Him and not to us. We get so caught up in what we do and care about that we can actually forget or lose sight of the most important things, those that really matter for the good conduct of our lives and happiness, and those that really last. It is precisely for this reason that God has given this commandment.

God’s solution to the threat and reality of our slavery to time is to give us time as a gift. We can actually receive time from God as a gift when we accept to give Him back the seventh day, the Sabbath. It’s a hard challenge for us to do this. As we try to resist the frantic pace of society around us, it is as if we were paddling against the current. Every effort we expend to do this, to obey the Lord and honour Him, He will reward with the freedom of the children of God and renew the joy of our youth. He has promised, and He is faithful. Blessed be God, our Father, and Jesus our Lord.

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I first wrote about this at St. Luke Parish in Dollard-des-Ormeaux QC September 12, 2008, updated it November 26, 2014 after ending my time in the Parish and moving on to serve as Family Life Chaplain for the OEPS of the Diocese of Montreal, and finally updating it November 23, 2018 for my original website.

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© 2006-2021 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal QC
© 2006-2021 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC

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Sunday, September 30, 2018

New Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary - by Fr. Gilles A. Surprenant - August 2018 at MHA

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Most Holy Rosary – Phrases added according to St. John Paul II (2002) at Lourdes Shrine (and other phrases composed by this priest*)

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus –

Messianic Mysteries* – Monday* / at dawn* 6:30

– The Eternal Word with God in the beginning, God of Adam and Eve, and Noah;

– The Almighty who called Abram to go out to the Promised Land;

– The Living Flame who from the Burning Bush sent Moses to save his people;

– The Son of Man, the Promised One, who called the prophets to prepare his way;

– The Messiah, Suffering Servant of Israel who came to serve, suffer, and die;

Joyful Mysteries** – Tuesday* / at morning* 8:30

The Annunciation – Who wanted to take on our human condition;

The Visitation – Who did wonders for you;

The Nativity – Who found no room in the home of men;

The Presentation – Who enters the Temple to purify it;

The Finding of Jesus – Who returned to Nazareth and was subject to you and Joseph ;

Hidden Life Mysteries* – Wednesday* / at mid morning* 10:00

– Refugee Child whom you and Joseph his parents protected and nurtured in exile;

– Cherished Son & Heart of your Family whom you & Joseph loved & served;

– Apprentice to Joseph who mentored Him in life, work, and devotion;

– Craftsman & Good Neighbour who worked wonders with wood and with people;

– Shoot of Jesse who like you waited patiently to do the Father’s will;

Luminous Mysteries** – Thursday / at noon* 12:00

The Baptism of Jesus – In whom the Father is well pleased;

Wedding at Cana – Who makes sacramental Marriage the sign of the eternal Covenant;

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God – Whose Kingdom is so very near to us;

The Transfiguration – Whose glory transforms us in his image;

The Institution of the Eucharist – Who offers us the New Covenant in his blood;

Sorrowful Mysteries** – Friday / at mid afternoon* 15:00

The Agony in the Garden – Who asks that the Father’s will be done and not his own;

The Scourging at the Pillar – Whose wounds heal us;

The Crowning with Thorns – Who is turned to mockery;

The Carrying of the Cross – Who collapses to the ground to lift us up from our falls;

The Crucifixion & Death of Jesus – Who commends his spirit into the hands of his Father;

Glorious Mysteries** – Saturday* / at evening* 18:30

The Resurrection – Who in the Father and the Holy Spirit rises from among the dead;

The Ascension – Who makes us reign with Him in loving service;

The Descent of the Holy Spirit – Who sends the Holy Spirit from beside the Father;

The Assumption of Mary – Who makes of you the living Temple of the Lord;

The Crowning of Mary – Who makes of you the Mother of the Church;

Eschatological Mysteries* – Sunday* / at twilight* 21:45

– Prophet of the Final Tribulation who by your tears exhorts the faithful & warns humanity;

– High Priest of Divine Mercy who prepares his Bride for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb;

– Lord of Armageddon who sends Michael to expose Satan and break earthly strongholds;

– Judge of the Nations who will come on the clouds to separate the sheep from the goats;

– King of the Universe, the Lamb, eternal Light of the New Jerusalem;

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us (poor) sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

*Composed **translated 180929 revised 210126 by Fr Gilles A Surprenant, MHA Associate priest & poustinik, Montréal QC Canada

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Nouveaux Mystères du Très Saint Rosaire de la Bienheureuse Vierge Marie - par l'Abbé Gilles A. Surprenant - août 2018 à MHA

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Très Saint Rosaire – phrases ajoutées selon St Jean Paul II (2002) au Sanctuaire de Lourdes (et d’autres phrases composées par ce prêtre*)

Je vous salue, Marie, pleine de grâce, le Seigneur est avec vous. Vous êtes bénie entre toutes les femmes, et –

Mystères Messianiques* – lundi* / à l’aurore* 6h30

– Le Verbe Éternel avec Dieu au commencement, Dieu d’Adam et Ève, et Noé;

– Le Tout Puissant qui appela Abram pour aller vers la Terre Promise;

– La Flamme Vivante qui du Buisson Ardent envoya Moïse sauver son peuple;

– Le Fils de l’Homme, le Promis, qui appela les Prophètes à préparer sa venue;

– Le Messie, Serviteur Souffrant d’Israël venu pour servir, souffrir, et mourir;

Mystères Joyeux** – mardi** / au matin* 8h30

L’Annonciation – Celui qui a voulu prendre notre condition d’homme;

La Visitation – Celui qui fit pour vous des merveilles;

La Nativité de Jésus – Celui qui n’a trouvé aucune place dans la maison des hommes;

La Présentation au Temple – Celui qui entre dans le Temple pour le purifier;

Recouvrement de Jésus – Celui qui revint à Nazareth et fut soumis à vous et Joseph;

Mystères de la Vie Cachée* – mercredi* / en avant midi* 10h00

– Enfant Réfugié que vous et Joseph ses parents avez protégé et nourri en exile;

– Fils chéri & Cœur de votre Famille que vous & Joseph avez aimé & servi;

– Apprenti de Joseph qui l’a guidé dans la vie, le travail, et la dévotion;

– Artisan et Bon Voisin qui fit des merveilles avec le bois et avec les gens;

– Rameau de Jesse qui comme vous attend patiemment pour faire la volonté du Père;

Mystères Lumineux** – jeudi / à midi* 12h00

Le Baptême – Celui à qui le Père donne toute sa faveur;

Les Noces de Cana – Celui qui fait du Mariage sacramentel le signe de l’Alliance éternelle;

L’Annonce du Royaume de Dieu – Celui dont le Royaume est tout proche de nous;

La Transfiguration – Celui dont la gloire nous transforme à son image;

L’Institution de l’Eucharistie – Celui qui nous offre la Nouvelle Alliance en son sang;

Mystères Douloureux** – vendredi / en après midi* 15h00

L’Agonie au Jardin – Celui qui demande que soit faite la volonté du Père et non la sienne;

La Flagellation – Celui dont les blessures nous guérissent;

Le Couronnement d’épines – Celui qui est tourné en dérision;

Le Portement de la croix – Celui qui tombe à terre pour nous relever de nos chutes;

La Crucifiement et la mort – Celui qui remet son esprit entre les mains de son Père;

Mystères Glorieux** – samedi* / au soir* 18h30

La Résurrection – Celui qui avec l’Esprit Saint a ressuscité d’entre les morts;

L’Ascension – Celui qui nous fait régner avec Lui dans un service de charité;

La Descente de l’Esprit Saint – Celui qui envoie l’Esprit Saint d’auprès du Père;

L’Assomption de Marie – Celui qui fait de vous le Temple vivant du Seigneur;

Le Couronnement de Marie – Celui qui fait de vous la Mère de l’Église;

Mystères Eschatologiques* – dimanche* / au crépuscule* 21h45

– Prophète de la Tribulation Finale qui par vos larmes exhorte les fidèles et avertit l’humanité;

– Grand Prêtre de la Miséricorde Divine qui pare son Épouse pour les Noces de l’Agneau;

– Seigneur d’Harmaguédone qui envoie Michel exposer Satan et briser les bastions terrestres;

– Juge des Nations qui viendra sur les nuées pour séparer les moutons des chèvres;

– Roi de l’Univers, l’Agneau, la Lumière éternelle de la nouvelle Jérusalem;

Jésus, le fruit de vos entrailles (ou votre Enfant), est béni. Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous (pauvres) pécheurs, maintenant et à l’heure de notre mort. Amen.

*Composés **traduits 180929 révisés 210126 par Abbé Gilles A Surprenant, prêtre associé MHA & poustinik, Montréal QC Canada

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Sunday, April 22, 2018

Keeping Holy the Lord's Day

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Keeping Holy the Lord’s Day Michelle Arnold January 27, 2017

We often get questions at Catholic Answers about how Catholics should observe Sunday and the holy days of obligation. Are there restrictions on the types of activities they can engage in? Is it a sin to work, shop, or otherwise engage in public activities or personal chores on a day of rest? What can we do to make Sunday or the holy days special and not just a day of no work?

First of all, it is important to distinguish Sunday and the Christian holy days of obligation from the Jewish Sabbath. Sunday is not “the Sabbath,” and the Catechism of the Catholic Church makes this clear:

Sunday is expressly distinguished from the Sabbath which it follows chronologically every week; for Christians its ceremonial observance replaces that of the Sabbath. In Christ’s Passover, Sunday fulfills the spiritual truth of the Jewish Sabbath and announces man’s eternal rest in God. For worship under the law prepared for the mystery of Christ, and what was done there prefigured some aspects of Christ: those who lived according to the old order of things have come to a new hope, no longer keeping the Sabbath, but the Lord’s Day, in which our life is blessed by him and by his death (CCC 2175).

Sunday should not be called “the Sabbath”; rather, it is the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, when Christ rose from the dead. Each and every Sunday is a commemoration of that first Easter Sunday.

“By a tradition handed down from the apostles which took its origin from the very day of Christ’s Resurrection, the Church celebrates the Paschal mystery every seventh day, which day is appropriately called the Lord’s Day or Sunday.” The day of Christ’s Resurrection is both the first day of the week, the memorial of the first day of creation, and the “eighth day,” on which Christ after his “rest” on the great Sabbath inaugurates the “day that the Lord has made,” the “day that knows no evening” (CCC 1166).

General principles

What guidance does the Church offer for keeping holy the Lord’s Day? Since the Church is legislating for a global community of Christians with disparate circumstances in which they live out their Christian lives, it tends not to give specific permissions or prohibitions for honoring the Lord’s Day—and, by extension, the holy days of obligation—but offers general principles for Christians to consider. It is the work of each Christian to assess his circumstances and to do his best to act in accord with those principles.

The first and most fundamental obligation of Sunday and the holy days of obligation is to attend Mass. Christians are also to do their best, according to their state in life, to rest from work or business. The Code of Canon Law states:

On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to assist at Mass. They are also to abstain from such work or business that would inhibit the worship to be given to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, or the due relaxation of mind and body (canon 1247).

The Church provides that Catholics can meet the Mass obligation by attending Mass on either the Sunday or holy day or on the evening before at the vigil Mass.

Most Catholics understand the Mass obligation. It is the injunction to rest from unnecessary work or business that can be confusing. Does this mean they cannot shop, or eat out at a restaurant? Does it mean they cannot do their laundry or wash their car? What if they have a job that requires them to work on Sunday?

St. John Paul II, in his apostolic letter Dies Domini, wrote:

[Christians] are obliged in conscience to arrange their Sunday rest in a way which allows them to take part in the Eucharist, refraining from work and activities which are incompatible with the sanctification of the Lord’s Day, with its characteristic joy and necessary rest for spirit and body (67).

St. John Paul II’s key point is to urge Christians to arrange their Sunday rest in a way that allows them to go to Mass and to refrain from work. In other words, he is suggesting to Christians to plan ahead—to arrange their schedules, insofar as possible, to allow them to fulfill their obligation to attend Mass and to rest.

And how might one arrange one’s Sundays?

Job obligations. Perhaps right now your job requires you to work on Sunday. Are you able to attend the vigil Mass on Saturday? Are you able to attend an early morning or an evening Mass on Sunday? Does your employer allow you to indicate to him times you would prefer to have off? You may not be able to do anything about your work schedule now, but could you resolve to keep an eye out for opportunities to change it in the future?

Home obligations. What do you ordinarily do on Sunday now? Is there a way to rearrange your weekend activities to do ordinary household work (laundry, grocery shopping, home maintenance projects, chores) either on Saturday or on some other day of the week? Perhaps you won’t be able to arrange to do all of your Sunday work at other times, but could you work up to that goal by rescheduling just one chore at a time to another day?

Resting. Sunday is not a day to do nothing. As St. John Paul II noted:

In order that rest may not degenerate into emptiness or boredom, it must offer spiritual enrichment, greater freedom, opportunities for contemplation and fraternal communion. Therefore, among the forms of culture and entertainment which society offers, the faithful should choose those which are most in keeping with a life lived in obedience to the precepts of the gospel (DD 68).

If you have a family, perhaps you might wish to get together as a family to plan special family activities for Sunday. This does not mean you need to spend money. Even what otherwise might be a “chore,” such as gardening or working on a home improvement project, might offer opportunities for “spiritual enrichment, greater freedom, [and] fraternal communion” when done together as a family.

If you are single, you could plan to spend the day with friends or with extended family. If you have a skill you truly enjoy, such as cooking or some other creative activity, perhaps you might offer it to someone in need. For example, perhaps you have an elderly neighbor who would enjoy a home-cooked meal. Perhaps there is a local charity that would be happy to accept hand-sewn clothing or hand-crafted toys for the needy in your community.

In short, Sundays and the holy days of obligation should be time each week, and several days throughout the year, to live out the joy of our Lord’s Resurrection.

Understood and lived in this fashion, Sunday in a way becomes the soul of the other days, and in this sense we can recall the insight of Origen that the perfect Christian “is always in the Lord’s Day, and is always celebrating Sunday” (St. John Paul II, DD 83).

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Friday, April 20, 2018

A World Day of the Poor Story – The Joy of Encounters Given and Blessed by God

In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity, as reported in Jeremiah 31:31-34, every human being can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.

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A World Day of the Poor Story – The Joy of Encounters Given and Blessed by God

It happened at the Late Sunday Mass on the first World Day of the Poor, November 19th, 2017, the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Two weeks later, a Deacon wrote this note which in turn received the reply which follows from the Priest.

Note from the Deacon:

Reverend Father, Two Sundays ago a crippled man entered after the last chance Mass had begun. He attracted my attention because of his demeanour.

He stood throughout most of the Mass. During the reception of Holy Communion I do not think he received. When I returned to my place he stood a little ways off from me. However, now he was in front of my line of sight and was facing toward me.

At the end of Mass, he stood with one hand on the horn of the bench where I was kneeling down following your blessing. I stood as usual as you processed to the confessional. I greeted you with my usual salutation, Praise be to God.

You passed this man as you briefly spoke with someone you appeared to know. The crippled man continued standing there awkwardly, and I resolved to bless him seven times (within my heart). Upon opening my eyes, I reached out and touched him with one finger on the hand, which continued resting on the horn of the bench in front of the kneeler.

I looked into his countenance and slowly he raised his head and faced toward me. Then, I held my gaze with his for what seemed like a very long time. I felt it was a great blessing for me.

I do not remember getting up and passing by him to bow before the Lord before taking my leave of the Church. However, on the return trip home I remained in a state of sustained joy. Several days later, it was brought to my attention that Sunday was the First World Day of the Poor.

An afterthought was that this man did not seek or gesture for money or help. He was just there. And it never entered my mind to offer him money. It was simply an encounter in the Lord's temple. A profound one at that.

Do you remember seeing the man I have described? Has he ever presented himself before (I do not recall ever seeing him there)?

Response from the Priest:

Reverend Deacon, I believe that was the same night when after hearing confessions I went to chat with a few people who had waited for me.

The poor man asked where he might use a phone to call for a cab. I brought him over to folks waiting for me because I just knew they would be willing to give him a lift, since they were going in his direction.

While we were talking about it a young woman came up and, having overheard, said that she was going very near to where he lived and would be delighted to give him a lift. So, that is how it ended. Divine Providence arranged for that poor man to be a blessing to many.

I was that priest, and I give testimony that this unfolded as reported by us. Fr. Gilles S.

Link to MORE INSPIRATIONAL TEXTS

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Father Gilles' Archive Pages

Friday, November 23, 2018

The Lord's Day Rest versus Work

Sunday, September 30, 2018

New Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary - by Fr. Gilles A. Surprenant - August 2018 at MHA

Nouveaux Mystères du Très Saint Rosaire de la Bienheureuse Vierge Marie - par l'Abbé Gilles A. Surprenant - août 2018 à MHA

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Keeping Holy the Lord's Day

Friday, April 20, 2018

A World Day of the Poor Story – The Joy of Encounters Given and Blessed by God

Seminar / Workshop on God - "Introduction to Prayer" - Marriage Preparation Course "From This Day Forward" - Saturday, November 2nd, 2024 at St. John Fisher Parish - Marriage is a great adventure for LIFE! Workshop Seminar 08.3

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