The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
From The Font
"…in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…"
The word "Trinity" (Latin trinitas, Greek Αγία Τριάδα) does no appear in the Bible. It's not mentioned by St Paul or even by St John whose Gospel was written over 40 years after the phrase came into common usage in preaching and teaching… Some have even suggested that in the modern US, with all of our religious diversity, we should avoid using technical jargon that isn't directly in the Bible.
But I disagree for two major reasons. First, the teaching of Jesus may be simple at some points, but it's not reducible, especially by me or you, to common sense or other words. When the Church gives us a piece of vocabulary, it may create a barrier of learning for others, but it also creates a proper way of speaking about something sacred.
The phrase "Holy Trinity" isn't just shorthand for "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." It's also a way of understanding the unity of the Divine Godhead. It's a way of speaking about the proper corollary theology of God in His Divine unity and singularity.
That can seem obtuse and unnecessary and it might be unnecessary when we're chitchatting about religion on the lake or at work. But it becomes quite necessary when we start asking bigger questions about the nature of God or about the question of prayer… Should I pray to Jesus, God the Father or the Holy Spirit? Does it matter? Should I ask the Holy Spirit to help with some things, but ask Jesus for others?
It also becomes a serious matter when we want to understand the way in which the local Christian community is meant to be structured. If God is both a singular Godhead AND a tri-personal divinity, then that means our religion and its community must be organized in both a singular (hierarchical) way and in a communal (egalitarian) way. Again, not this isn't necessarily coffee talk, but it matters.
The other reason that I disagree that we should exclude non-biblical jargon is simply that our society loves mediocrity and we should reject that at every opportunity. No one is saved by taking the easier path. If the Lord has revealed something through His Church, then we should embrace it - however difficult.
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
By the time you read this, I will have completed the Camino of St James in northern Spain and will be cooling my heels (literally) in a van en route to Fatimá in southern Portugal.
Fatima is one of my favorite places in the world. It’s a place of profound peace and holiness. Of particular note are the graves of the two youngest children who witnessed the apparition - Francisco and Jacinta Marto. They are buried in the beautiful older basilica and as you approach the simple graves (which are covered with a marble tablet) the presence of God becomes palpable.
It’s always moving to me to think about how God has turned sorrow to joy. The lives of these little children were horrific. When Our Lady appeared to them, they were impoverished. Immediately, Mary asked them to take upon themselves suffering and penance for others. They were berated by their parents and families for their visions and arrested by the local police... And even when they were proven to have been telling the truth, they died of painful diseases before their tenth birthdays... It’s truly horrifying.
And yet... Their intercession is profoundly powerful and both are considered powerful saints on par with Cecilia and Philomena!
We can fairly ask why the need for all the suffering, especially for these sinless little children? Of course we could ask the same question of the Passion and Death of Jesus who was also sinless. Ultimately, the Lord uses suffering - which was the punishment assigned to Adam and Eve after the original Sin - to sanctify us and to save us. It can be hard to see the logic in that. And I don’t fault anyone who struggles to get their head around it. The reality, though, is that God does use suffering as a way of transforming us and Fatima is one of the most profound and powerful reminders of that fact.
While I’m here in Fatima, I will be praying at the tombs of shepherd children for all of you and, in particular, for those who are enduring suffering, fear, or unsurety. Unlike Lourdes, Fatima is not associated with healing. Rather, it’s associated with the transformation of suffering and grief to intercession, holiness, and peace. Above all, Fatimá is a place of peace which begins within the heart and extends to the whole world.
Of particular interest to us who are parishioners of St Edward, the great miracle of Fatima in 1917 took place on our feast day, October 13. That miracle remains the largest and most witnessed miracle since the parting of the Red sea back in the book of Exodus somewhere around 1250 BC. Somewhere around 75,000 people witnessed the miracle and several early videos were taken of the event by scoffers representing the communist news media of the day. In the midst of torrential storm, the children knelt to pray. Right at noon, the storm broke, the sun came out, and it appeared to dance around the sky changing colors and moving unnaturally for more than 10 minutes. It was both terrifying and astounding. When the miracle ended, the sloppy mud which had been everywhere was entirely dried up which many associated with the mud of Passchendaele - which I’ll leave you to research on your own.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Payton Trichell/family
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Dead members of our Parish Family
- Mon-Fri NO MASS (Fr Ryan in Europe, Returning May 31)
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Jason Jumonville/family
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Dead members of our Parish Family
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of MaryAnne Gilfoil
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/25 5:30p | None Scheduled | C VanderVieren | - |
| 5/26 9:30a | Annie & MaryKatherine | B Sullivan | - |
| 6/1 5:30p | None Scheduled | P Wilks | N Ernst |
| 6/2 9:30a | MaryKatherine & Courtland | K Collins | - |
| 6/8 5:30p | None Scheduled | MK Book | C VanderVieren |
| 6/9 9:30a | Cooper and Maura | D Ellerbee | - |
Stewardship Today’s second reading reminds us that we are the adopted sons and daughters–the heirs–of God. We are good stewards of our inheritance when we share our faith and fulfill Our Lord’s command to “go and make disciples of all the nations.”
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| April Budget | $ 8,444 |
| April Income | $ 11,478 |
| April Expenses | $ 12,122 |
| May Budget | $ 8,444 |
| May 19 Collection | $ 3,038 |
| May Income To Date | $ 7,127 |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and on Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Wednesday Morning Catechism about 9:30 a.m in Church and on Facebook and YouTube
- May 16-31 Fr Ryan on Pilgrimage / Camino
For Your Information:
ROSARY GROUP… a group of parishioners is meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join the group. If you need additional information, please contact the Coordinator, Louise Magoun, at 318-341-2403.
PILGRIMAGE!... Fr Ryan is leading a Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome in Italy in September, 2024. More information is available at HolyTravels.org/FrHumphriesItaly . Please pass the word around!
FORMED.ORG… FORMED has an entire page of weekly featured videos that are worth checking out at https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at http://signup.formed.org
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Anna Ginn (May 29), Mary Katherine Marsh (May 29)
Happy Anniversary Betty and Kenny Smith (June 1)
In Our Daily Prayers…
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
Our Pope Francis; Bishop Robert Marshall, and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, or otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn and Nap Book, Connie and Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret and Pat Gilfoil, Terry Farlow Hall, C.W. and Alyce Keene, Bill Kennedy, Hannah Wood McCarty, Ed Mills, Terry and Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Sue & Mike Rome
Those under full-time care: Frances Kennedy
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Lee Adams (Smith), Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), James Arceneaux (Book), Marie Farlow Bellard, Tommy Bickham (C Copes), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), David Cagnolatti, Willetta and Mac Cagnolatti, Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Jeannie and Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Bobbe and Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Jimmy Fordham (Gustafson & Fordice), Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Gail Gilfoil Graugnard, Charlotte Green, Theresa Gunter, Rita Hargrave, Ralph Harris (Gilfoil), Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Chelsea Keene & Andrew Lewis, Emery and Kale Kirkland (Gilfoil), Calvin “Beans” and Lynn Lisonbee, LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), James Albert Martin, Ruth McDonald (Copes), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Vickie Morelli (Ernst), John Neill, the family of Caryn Oliver, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), Tuleta Sasser(Wilks), Debbie Kedrick Sims, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Mary Claire Warner and her parents, MaryBeth and Steve, Randy Watts, Jr
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Callie Ezell, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Bruen Johnson, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Emmy Lu Marsh, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Marsh Wood
