Homily of Fr. Eduard Perrone for Quinquagesima Sunday; Notes on Ash Wednesday and Lent

This is audio of Fr. Perrone's homily from this past Sunday at the 9:30 AM Mass in the Extraordinary Form. I uploaded it to YouTube with a snapshot from a previous Sunday.  My regrets that I have not taken time to set up a site for podcasts.

Grotto's pastor explains the importance of the forthcoming 40 Days of Lent and why we need it.

Please forgive the low quality as this was taken using an iPhone from the nave where it picked up echo, and a baby or two, and a few other noises. 

If you listen to one part of this homily and not the entire thing, you might walk away with a different impression. 

ASH WEDNESDAY AND LENTEN NOTES

This is probably a good time to mention some things coming up for Lent, starting with Ash Wednesday.  There will only be two Masses, with ashes distributed at the beginning (so get there early!).  The Masses are at 7:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

During Lent, Grotto will have it's great Fish Fry (which usually includes an option for baked fish).  In the past few years we have had talks in the gym towards the end of the dinner.  This year, Brother Esteban will be doing these.  I'll share a flyer on that in a moment. 

The Fish Fry runs from 4:30 to 6:30 PM.  The talk is at 6:00.  Now, Mass is delayed on Fridays in Lent to allow people more time to honor the Eucharistic fast after dinner. So, the Stations of the Cross are done at 7:00 p.m., and Mass follows after. 

Someone asked me today which Stations we use. In all the years I've gone, it's always been the classic St. Alphonsus Liguori version. 

Someone also asked me about Ember Days during Lent.  The 7:00 p.m. Mass on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, use the 1962 Missal (always subject to change and availability of a priest to celebrate that form).  One can always count on Ember Day Masses at the morning, 7:30 a.m. Mass at Grotto.  In any event, the spring Ember Days are the Friday and Saturday after Ash Wednesday.  I believe this will be the case this Friday morning and evening, and at 7:30 on Saturday morning.  You can always call the rectory to confirm.

Stay tuned to AssumptionGrotto.com for more news about Lent and various events coming up.

Here is the flyer.

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church;
it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
- Diane M. Korzeniewski

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Fr. Perrone: Disciplined behavior, meekness and love of Christ is what's needed

I had never seen statues and crucifixes covered before Palm Sunday until I got to Assumption Grotto in 2005.  I find these kinds of customs very spiritually enriching and I appreciate that my pastor and fellow parishioners take the time to make them happen.   Fr. Perrone did somewhat of an exposition on this very practice - of covering statues near the end of Lent - in his homily this past Sunday at the 9:30 AM Mass (Passion Sunday in the 1962 Missal). He focused on the last sentence at the end of the Gospel (John 8:46-59) where it says that Jesus hid Himself.  While his words transcend time and place, it seems especially applicable to the present situation we find ourselves in here in the United States.

Bringing this homily to you cost me a nickel and five Hail Mary's.  Consider adding prayers of your own for my pastor, in thanksgiving that he sent it.

It was rather customary in my youth to relate the covering of statues in the church on Passion Sunday to the closing words of the Gospel read for today: “Jesus hid Himself and exited from the temple.” Whether or not this liturgical tradition actually stemmed from those words, the fact is that the view of our beloved Lord (and His saints) has been removed from our eyes. It is the beginning of the gathering of the clouds that on Good Friday will entirely block the light of the Son from reaching the earth. Today then marks a decisive turn for us as we prepare ourselves for the dark days ahead: the time of Christ’s Passion.

Hiding Jesus from view is also symbolic of the ban against the Church and her teaching from public exposure. The jargon word is ‘marginalization’ and it well expresses the squeezing out of faith from public life. In seeing the progression of a stance adamantly antagonistic to Christianity generally and to Catholicism particularly we are discovering ourselves very much weak and ill-prepared to make a united and bold defense of what we believe and of what we have the God-given right and mandate to express and propagate to the world. The old apostolic vigor of the Church that carried the Gospel to all parts of the globe seems to have left us. Conversion and Evangelization have become clichés that apply only to personal spiritual states rather than to the universal mission of the Church to convert people and to evangelize nations. The world will always hate the Church as it has always hated Christ. This is nothing new. But the inability to muster the needed strength to combat the world and to preach Christ’s truth openly is indicative of these times when our Catholicism has lost much of its virility. The bravery of the apostles, the heroism of the martyrs, the convincing apologetics of the teachers, the disciplined witness of laity, the unshakable unity of Catholic family life, the service and educational institutions of a proud Catholic identity are–much like our covered images in church today–in hiding. Many of those who have managed to hold on tenaciously to the true faith have now retreated and insulated themselves, perhaps just in order to be able to survive in a time when they are opposed by oppressive forces from without and when they have looked about to find other Catholics standing together with them in a united witness only to discover that they stand largely alone.


It just may be (hard to say it and mean it) that opposition and even persecution is exactly what the Church needs in order to get out from under this listless and inert posture. Maybe when we’re challenged to fight we’ll summon latent powers to defend Christ and His truth. Or perhaps the Lord is permitting us to fall flat so He can show the might of His arm, as He did so many times in history when the enemy was bigger and tougher than God’s people. Yet there is one indispensable thing found in every page of the Church’s history, and that is the valor of individuals in the Church, man by man, who have trained themselves to battle the world and the devil by having first battled themselves. The old saw about “the need for personal conversion” is as so much blah-blah; we’re tired of empty platitudes. The reason for our lethargic spirit and our restlessness is the same reason we have discovered ourselves being so easily overpowered by our opponents: we have not mended our ways, individual to individual. We are one-by-one sin-sick because we don’t really want to be changed people. It’s hard to change our ways, to think differently, to curb our desires, to temper ourselves. And in this way we fall back on a benign self-comforting thought that we are, after all, only weak human creatures and that we are at least not as bad as some others. And in this way little can be done because indolence and lassitude are allowed to have their sway.


We are hiding Christ from the world because we are diminished Christians ourselves. There’s not enough of the ‘soap’ of asceticism to cleanse us. We’ve cut ourselves too much slack and forgotten that we are always under the ‘dome’ of God who hears our secret thoughts and views our most private actions. We pray to Him when we’re needy, but complaining when we have to make a holy hour, or say the rosary, or do almost any extra besides what we’re obliged to do. We simply don’t have that apostolic spirit, that winning confidence, the sure-footedness of our convictions: all because we are personally feeble Christians. We cover Jesus’ eyes and ears (or so we think) and we uncover Him only when we’re in pain or threatened or need something from Him. Fine soldiers of Christ we are! And we then wonder why we are made sport of in the world and why government is gaining an upper hand over us, and why non-Christian religion is making imposing advances in our country and in the whole world. We need to be ashamed of ourselves (the Confiteor) and not ashamed of Christ (the Credo).


So perhaps we need a good scourging to bring out the Christ in us again. God often has strange methods. For myself, I’d rather see an army of Christian witnesses rise up spiritually indefatigable than to have a lashing that will chasten us or a purging that will fortify us. But I’m certain of this much: the Church can’t be defeated and truth will always reemerge. Christ won’t stay in hiding, and in the end He will slay His enemies by the sword of His mouth, making His enemies His footstool. If all this sound like military diction, it is so in fact. But it’s first of all a summons to fight the personal battle against our own wickedness before it is a call to take on the enemy at large.


Do not be distracted from the fundamental reform that is needed and become all enthused about the emerging conservatism in politics, or even in the Church. Talk is cheap, as they say. Disciplined behavior, meekness and love of Christ is what’s needed.


Let’s take Christ out of hiding by making Him alive in our own selves and then Christ-in-us will emerge the Victor, having conquered the world.

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Photopost: Lenten Monastic Meal with Fr. Perrone and Stations of the Cross



Father Eduard Perrone, pastor of Assumption Grotto in Detroit, offers a reflection on the importance of the Exodus
during the Lenten Monastic Supper held by the Assumption Grotto Knights of Columbus. 



As I have mentioned in several other posts, there has been a real changeup in the traditional lenten Friday fish-fry at Assumption Grotto.  How ironic that Grotto would buck with such tradition! Now hold on.... we woudln't want to ruin our reputation at the parish so I tell you that we have bucked newer tradition for a somewhat older tradition.  Alas! What is old is new again.

Fr. Perrone and the Grotto K of C cooked up the idea to have Monastic Meals on Fridays during Lent.  The men of the K of C make three kinds of soups from which people choose (and they have been very good, especially the Manhattan Clam Chowder I had last Friday).  Four slices of cheese, a bun and a piece of fruit area slo given along with a drink.  It opens at 4:30pm and ends at 6:30. 

What makes this so unique is the main attraction: Fr. Perrone offers a reflection as people eat.  This begins at 6:00pm. At 7:00pm, Fr. Perrone leads the Stations of the Cross using the St. Alphonsus Liguori booklets and Holy Mass follows that at about 7:25, give or take 5 minutes. This was moved on Fridays in Lent so people could honor the Eucharistic Fast.  The Holy Rosary is prayed in community afterwards, which most stay for.

Thus far, two of the talks have been uploaded in audio form in prior posts.  I hope to upload more. All talks are approximately 40-45 minutes. You can download from the post for MP3 players.

• Audio: First Friday in Lent - Self-Control (While we should give alms and do charitable works, Fr. Perrone encourages us to not neglect penitential acts). 
• Audio: Third Friday in Lent - The Blessed Virgin Mary (The Solemnity of the Annunciation fell on this Friday)
• Audio: Fourth Sunday in Lent - The Exodus (Fr. Perrone explains the importance of this Old Testament book and the connections to worship). [not yet uploaded - check back soon]

The talks continue tonight!

PHOTOS FROM THE DINNER ON APRIL 1, 2011

People listen to Fr. Perrone as they eat soup prepared by the Knights of Columbus

Fr. Perrone at the podium

Some of the Knights

Fr. Perrone with some seminarians of the who were passing through that night
from the order of Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. 
At left is Matthew Schuster who is from Assumption Grotto.

After the talk, we went over to the parish church where we had Exposition all day as it is done on all First Fridays.

Exposition takes place every First Friday in the parish Church following the 7:30am Mass
until just before the 7:00pm Mass (or Stations of the Cross on Fridays in Lent).

Then, Stations of the Cross took place...

After Stations of the Cross, Mass in the Extraordinary Form began, and the Holy Rosary followed Mass.

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Lenten Recipe: Simple, Stove-top Tuna Casserole

I'm sitting at my computer on a vacation day after having made something for lunch.  I also have no qualms about eating leftovers.

For those who do not know, I have a cooking blog to collect recipes.  It is called The Old Country Kitchen.  I have not written much there, but hope to keep building it.  I eventually want to begin adding some hierloom recipes of my mothers - hence the name, "Old Country". 

Mom use to make Tuna Casserole on the stove-top using simple ingredients, mostly out of a can.  While I generally avoid using processed foods, especially out of a can, this is one meal I continue to make. It is an economical Friday meal. 

You can find the recipe, and suggestions for variations here: Simple, Quick Stovetop Tuna Casserole

It will be a great lunch, but I won't be eating this for dinner tonight because I'm going to Grotto to enjoy a "Lenten Monastic Supper" as I listen to Fr. Perrone's talk.  I just posted last night, audio from Fr. Perrone's talk on the Annunciation, which fell on Friday two weeks ago.  I just uploaded it last night.  Join us at Grotto for a Monastic Supper of soup, cheese, bread and a piece of fruit.  Doors open at 4:30 and Fr. Perrone talks at 6:00.  Stations of the Cross led by Fr. Perrone begin at 7:00 pm, then Mass using the 1962 Missal begins after that, around 7:25, give or take 5 minutes.  The Holy Rosary is prayed after all Masses.

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

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Audio: Fr. Perrone's Talk on the Annunciation (from Lenten Monastic Supper)

I am behind on uploading audio from Fr. Perrone's "Lenten Monastic Reflections".

This talk on the Annunciation was given on the Solemnity of the Annunciation, March 25th which fell on a Friday this Lent. Listen to him talk (approximately 42 minutes) about the Blessed Virgin Mary. I think you will agree that Fr. Perrone's grasp of the subject is deep.

I regret that the quality is lacking, with some echo. Last Friday's talk, which I hope to upload soon (on the Exodus), was recorded through the sound system, so I hope that will be better.

Father gave me permission to upload this. I have enabled downloading for those of you with MP3 players. Assume this to be copyrighted material and treat it as such. It is for personal use. Sometime in the not too distant future, I hope to begin podcasting these for ease of use.

I hope you will join us at Assumption Grotto tomorrow evening for a "monastic meal" of soup (3 choices - and quite good), cheese, bread, and a piece of fruit. You may eat earlier (doors open at 4:30 and it runs until 6:30), or you can eat as Father talks. The reflection begins at 6:00pm in the gym.

As you are listening, scroll down to see several other posts made today with time sensitive information.

• Hear the first "Monastic Supper Reflection" here.

Just a reminder.... this Sunday, following the Noon Mass, the family of Terry Schiavo will be at Assumption Grotto to talk on "Overcoming Suffering".  Please join us.  More details on their visit here.

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

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Laetare Sunday

You can listen to the Introit for today while reading the information below and looking at pictures.

Lent - Fourth Sunday: Introit from Corpus Christi Watershed on Vimeo.

[Reposting from a few years ago]

The fourth Sunday in Lent is known as Laetare Sunday when some parishes use the traditional rose colored vestments. I have long wanted to capture the beautiful rose, Roman chasuble during the extraordinary form (aka, Tridentine). In this week's Grotto News, Fr. Perrone explains:

Laetare means Rejoice! It is the first word of the Introit (opening song) of the Mass. What is there, you ask, to rejoice about? Is it merely the recognition that Lent is half done? That may be part of the reason, but I fear that with most Catholics doing little to nothing during Lent anymore, there’s little concern about being freed from fasting or from other penitential practices that aren’t being done in the first place. Even so, the deeper reason for being glad about this point in Lent is that we are the closer to Easter, the time when we will relive with Christ the joy of His resurrection.

In a related way, we are also to be glad in that Lent’s practices are accomplishing their intended purposes in firming up our Christian life and in making reparation for our sins. I make my complaint again: one can’t get happy (Laetare) over this if no penances have been done. Without Lent, without discipline and the austerities appropriate to the season, there will be so much less the experience of rejoicing. That’s a tough message to sell nowadays. People want what they want when they want it. Without self-denial, however, there will be no contrast in the Christian life that will make one have a deeper appreciation of its joys. It’s those who know how to do penance who get the most delight out of being a Christian, and maybe out of life in general.

"Our help is in the name of the Lord..."

"Be blessed by Him in Whose honor thou art burnt. Amen"

May our prayers rise to heaven and be as pleasing to God as the sweet smell of incense.

"I will wash my hands among the innocent: and will compass Thine altar, O Lord..."

"My Lord and my God!"

"My God and my All"

"What shall I render to the Lord for all He hath rendered unto me? I will take the Chalice of Salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord. Praising, I will call upon the Lord and I shall be saved from my enemies."

" Ecce, Angus Dei..."




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Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Lenten Monastic Suppers with talks by Fr. Perrone (Audio)

The first Lenten Monastic Supper, sponsored by the Grotto Knights of Columbus was a success.  The doors opened at 4:00 and they served until 6:30pm.  Rather than the traditional fish fry, the Knights offered three choices of soups, along with bread, cheese, fruit and a drink.  It is $8 and features a reflection by Grotto's pastor, Fr. Eduard Perrone.  There was no Monastic Supper this past Friday because the gym was being set up for the St. Joseph's Dinner.  Remaining dates:  March 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22 (no reflection on the 22).

AUDIO (FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT)
We have audio (pardon the echo), and I offer it below.  I regret not getting this into a podcast form.  For now, it is available for listening on the web. 

First, Father explains the rationale for having "Monastic Suppers".  He fully expects people to be eating while he talks, but asks for meditative silence.

The subject of the first talk is self-control.  Either "be controlled" or "be in control".  He talks about penitential acts - something often cast aside in favor of more positive things.  St. Paul says that you must put to death what is earthly in you.  What did he mean by that? Father Perrone explains.

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For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

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Photopost: Annual St. Joseph Dinner at Assumption Grotto

Each year, on the Sunday closest to St. Joseph's feast day, we have a grand celebration for the beloved saint at Assumption Grotto through the generosity and hardwork of the Romano family and volunteers.  It's a long-standing tradition of the parish.  We had our dinner following the Noon Mass this past Sunday.  This post features photos. 

You may notice in some shots, in the center of the gym is what appears to be a display with something missing.  Well, that something is a large statue of St. Joseph which unfortunately broke.  There was a statue and even though it was small, we know just how big St. Joseph is.

Unfortunately, I had only one lens with me that did not permit me to get a broad shot. Fortunately, aspiring photographer and parishioner, Christopher Rochon, had his camera and sent me a few shots to post.

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LENTEN MONASTIC SUPPER RESUMES THIS FRIDAY


I do have audio of Fr. Perrone's talk from the first "Lenten Monastic Supper" which took place on the first Friday in Lent.  It's too late for me to post on it tonight, so hopefully, I can get it posted tomorrow. 

Because of work taking place to set up for St. Josephs in the gym, there was no Monastic Supper for the 2nd Friday in Lent.  It resumes this Friday.

Do consider coming this Friday for a real change-up on meatless Fridays with our Monastic Supper.  It features a choice of 3 different kinds of soup, 4 nice slices of cheese, bread, fruit and a drink.  As Fr. Perrone explained in his first talk, he fully expects people to be eating while he is offering his reflection, just as is done in monasteries when readings take place during meal times.  It opens, I believe, at 4:30pm and the talk takes place at 6:00.  To allow time for the Eucharistic fast, Father moved the Stations of the Cross to the 7:00pm timeslot, and pushed Mass back after that (about 7:20-25). 

Watch for a post on the audio.

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For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

What are you reading for Lent?

I would imagine some of you are reading the Holy Father's Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem To The Resurrection.  I want to read this, but had decided over a month ago that I would read, The Science of the Cross by Edith Stein.  Perhaps I will have time for both. 

I am going to continue to post during Lent, but I will reduce my posting to allow for more spiritual reading and prayer. 

Are you planning to read some spiritual works for Lent?  If so, what are you reading now?


LENTCAzT's by Father Z
Just a reminder, that Father Z is making daily podcasts during Lent, with each being about 5 minutes.  You can listen on computer or on a podcast device. 

• 1st Sunday in Lent
• Father Z's Homepage

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For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.