All Saints Parish Homilies and News

An echo opinion editorial published in NewJersey.com by the Pastor Rev. Alexander Santora, Our Lady of Grace in Hoboken, NJ.   Prayer and sacrifice Prayer During the Pandemic, May we who are merely inconvenienced, Remember those whose lives are at stake. May we who have no risk factors, Remember those most vulnerable. May we who have the luxury of work from home, Remember those who must choose between preserving their health and making their rent. May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close, Remember those who have no options. May we who have to cancel our trips, Remember those who have no safe place to go. May those who are losing our margin money in the tumult of our economic market, Remember those who have no margin at all. May we who settle in for a quarantine at home, Remember those who have no homes. With the coronavirus, Lenten sacrifice takes a serious turn | Faith Matters The late Rev. Gerard M. Santora, no relatio...

http://francoamerican.bangordailynews.com/2020/02/28/franco-american-news-and-culture/mercredi-des-cendres-franco-americans-and-lent/ Bangor Daily News blog Lent is the liturgical season that marks 40 days of prayer and repentance practiced by the faithful in preparation for celebrating the Easter Season. Franco-Americans are traditionally very observant about Lenten religious practices that have been defined by the Catholic Church. Officially, Lent lasts for 40 weekdays, beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Saturday, before Easter Sunday. Lenten symbols on the alter at Saint Charles Borromeo Church in Brunswick Maine During a special ceremony during the Mass, the priest and lay leaders greet the parishioners who advance to the alter, giving them a benediction, while putting blessed ashes on each of their foreheads. This is the blessing: En francais: Carême bénédiction – “Souviens-toi, ô homme, que tu es poussière et que tu retourneras dans la poussière.” (“Remembe...

How sacred images can lead to peace in the soul February 11, 2020 is the Feast Day for Our Lady of Lourdes. Check my Pilgrim's Story - Bringing Lourdes Home here. Also, check the link:  Praying With Icons here Echo essay published in Aleteia   by Philip Kosloski Religious icons and other beautiful images can elevate our prayer life and rescue us out of despair. While it’s true that prayer does not require the use of sacred images or icons, they certainly do help and can have a powerful effect on the soul. The Catholic Church has firmly believed in the importance of sacred art for centuries and even encourages it in the Catechism. Sacred art is true and beautiful when its form corresponds to its particular vocation: evoking and glorifying, in faith and adoration, the transcendent mystery of God – the surpassing invisible beauty of truth and love visible in Christ, who “reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature,” in whom “the whole fullnes...

https://oneturkeyrun.blogspot.com/2020/01/historic-structural-drawings-may.html I hope the All Saints blog readers will open this r eport (link above), published in The Washington Post, and the echo posted here, about the challenges involved in the proposed renovations to Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral. In fact, the interesting history and updated news reported in this article point to how important it is for architects to understand the intricacies involved in the past restorations of the Gothic Cathedral. In other words, a fully restored Cathedral de Notre Dame will involve architectural history and involve proposed current designs. Sadly, a complete restoration my not be possible. Construction of Notre Dame Cathedral de Paris began in 1160 AD.

My husband and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity see the Pietà when it was on exhibit at the New York World's Fair and two times when we were fortunate to see the masterpiece in Saint Peter's Bascilica.  This article was published in the newsletter Aleteia by E.M.Traverso.  7 Little-known facts about Michelangelo’s Pietà The most moving sculpture in Catholic art has a very interesting history. Out of the all the finest works of sculpture completed by Michelangelo, the Pietà is probably the one held most dear by Catholics. A lifeless Jesus is depicted in pose of spiritual abandonment on the lap of an angel-faced Mary. The whole composition evokes a deep sense of sorrow, symbolizing the very virtue after which it is named (piety, which may also be translated as pity or compassion). But not many Catholics may know that the Pietà traveled to New York in 1964 or that it was almost destroyed by a vandal in 1972. Here are some little-known facts about one of the...

My Bangor Daily News blog: Most notable 2019 French news- Fire in Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral :  PARIS, France - My heart breaks every time I see the photographs taken on April 15, 2019, when Notre Dame de Paris was ablaze. But, what happened to Saint Joan?  In my opinion, the devastation of the the Gothic icon Notre Dame Cathedral was the most significant 2019, news with lasting impact on French culture and history. Devastating Notre Dame fire in Paris, April 15, 2019

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Maria, gratia plena, Maria, gratia plena BRUNSWICK, Maine - Beautiful liturgy celebrated at St. John the Baptist in Brunswick on New Year's Day 2020, the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God,, with Father Tom Murphy, pastor, celebrant.  A feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the aspect of her motherhood of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated by the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church on 1 January, the Octave (8th) day of Christmastide. Singing the Ave Maria in Latin * , with organ accompaniment, as the Communion Hymn, was especially moving.  I regret not knowing the soloists' or organist's names, but they certainly moved the congregation with the solo and organ accompaniment.  Excellent acoustics in the St. John's sanctuary were perfect for the singing of this classic prayer and hymn. Nativity in St. John the Baptist Church, Brunswick, Maine, on New Year's Day 2020. * I've posted this hymn sung by Luciano Pavarott...