Closed Sundays

[to the extent possible]

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

A day of grace and rest from work

2184 Just as God "rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done,"121 human life has a rhythm of work and rest. The institution of the Lord's Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives.122

2185 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body.123 Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.

The charity of truth seeks holy leisure- the necessity of charity accepts just work.124

2186Those Christians who have leisure should be mindful of their brethren who have the same needs and the same rights, yet cannot rest from work because of poverty and misery. Sunday is traditionally consecrated by Christian piety to good works and humble service of the sick, the infirm, and the elderly. Christians will also sanctify Sunday by devoting time and care to their families and relatives, often difficult to do on other days of the week. Sunday is a time for reflection, silence, cultivation of the mind, and meditation which furthers the growth of the Christian interior life.

2187 Sanctifying Sundays and holy days requires a common effort. Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord's Day. Traditional activities (sport, restaurants, etc.), and social necessities (public services, etc.), require some people to work on Sundays, but everyone should still take care to set aside sufficient time for leisure. With temperance and charity the faithful will see to it that they avoid the excesses and violence sometimes associated with popular leisure activities. In spite of economic constraints, public authorities should ensure citizens a time intended for rest and divine worship. Employers have a similar obligation toward their employees.

121. Gen 2:2.
122. Cf. GS 67 § 3.
123. CIC, can. 1247.
124. St. Augustine, De civ. Dei 19, 19: PL 41, 647.

Minor Leaguer Grant Desme to the Seminary

Wow. From one team of Angels to another. Not just a "minor leaguer," but a leading prospect for the A's.

Where else but ESPN:

As a top prospect for the Oakland Athletics, outfielder Grant Desme might've gotten the call every minor leaguer wants this spring.

Instead, he believed he had another, higher calling.

Desme announced Friday that he was leaving baseball to enter the priesthood, walking away after a breakout season in which he became MVP of the Arizona Fall League.

"I was doing well at ball. But I really had to get down to the bottom of things," the 23-year-old Desme said. "I wasn't at peace with where I was at."

A lifelong Catholic, Desme thought about becoming a priest for about a year and a half. He kept his path quiet within the sports world, and his plan to enter a seminary this summer startled the A's when he told them Thursday night.

General manager Billy Beane "was understanding and supportive," Desme said, but the decision "sort of knocked him off his horse." After the talk, Desme felt "a great amount of peace."

There's just something about that "being knocked off the horse," isn't there?

That's awesome. God-speed to you, Grant. Look forward to being able to call you Father Desme, God-willing. Maybe someday we'll road trip out to hear one of your homilies.

Elisabeth: The Littlest Survivor

Very touching, personally, that she shares my wife Suzanne's middle name: Elisabeth.

From Daily Mail, via Verum Serum:

No one believed that [3 week old] Elisabeth Joassaint could have lived as the family home was crushed by the weight of its upper storey.

It was a full seven days later that a French rescue team returned to the ruins to search for the baby’s body – and heard faint cries.

Incredibly, Elisabeth was alive in a tiny hollow beneath the devastation, still lying on the bed where her mother Michelene had placed her moments before the quake hit on January 12.

Yesterday Mrs Joassaint, 22, sat in the shade of a makeshift tented hospital, clutching Elisabeth and giving thanks for what she called ‘a miracle and the mercy of God.’

Absolutely. And Amen.

Elisabeth: The Smallest Survivor

Day of Prayer and Penance for Life

At least three friends (that I'm aware of) are among the almost 250 from our diocese who have joined the hundreds of thousands who have converged upon our nation's capitol for this year's MARCH FOR LIFE.

January 22 is a dark mark in the history of our great nation. January 22, 1973 was the day that the famous Roe v. Wade decision came out of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Our household and family join with them in a vigil of prayer for an end to abortion in our country.

If you can, please join us tonight (Friday night) at Holy Family for an observation of what the U.S. bishops have requested of the faithful: A day of Prayer & Penance for Life. The Holy Rosary will be said and the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available at 5:30 P.M. Mass (using the Propers for the Mass for Peace and Justice) begins at 6:30 P.M. And a light soup and bread dinner (donations suggested) will be served in the community center after Mass.

This is the second year we've observed this at Holy Family. God-willing, maybe one of these years will be the last.

Thomas Xavier Halbrook, 4 months, 2005

One of the other dads over at Catholic Dads had some suggestions from his pastor for things you might consider doing if you can't make it to Reconciliation and/or a Mass today...

• Make a visit to any Catholic church to spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament
• Spend some extra time in prayer at home, e.g. pray a family rosary
• Abstain from meat
• Fast for the day, from a meal, or from snacks between meals
• Give up television, music, video games, or some other entertainment
• Donate monies saved from above to any pro-life group or agency

Matthew James Halbrook, 5 months, 2007

"In all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass 'For Peace and Justice' (no. 22 of the 'Masses for Various Needs') should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day." - General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 373

Joseph Michael Halbrook, 6 months, 2009

"Openness to life is at the center of true development. When a society moves toward the denial or suppression of life, it ends up no longer finding the necessary motivation and energy to strive for man's true good. If personal and social sensitivity towards the acceptance of a new life is lost, the other forms of acceptance that are valuable for society also wither away. The acceptance of life strengthens moral fiber and makes people capable of mutual help. By cultivating openness to life, wealthy peoples can better understand the needs of poor ones, they can avoid employing huge economic and intellectual resources to satisfy the selfish desires of their own citizens, and instead, they can promote virtuous action within the perspective of production that is morally sound and marked by solidarity, respecting the fundamental right to life of every people and every individual." - Pope Benedict XVI