Mass for the Dead    Tuesday March 4, 2025

Brothers and sisters,  our Calendar of Saints began with Praying for the dead.

Early Christians gathered in the catacombs of Rome for funerals, celebrating the Eucharist and singing hymns and psalms of hope together  as they buried their dead.

Then, on the anniversaries of death, to keep the remembrance alive, they once again gathered at the tombs  to break bread and share the cup, always keeping  their dead associated with the Eucharist, always remembering that Christ’s death was offered for all.

Today we’re gathered, like they were in the catacombs, to break bread and share the cup with our  deceased in mind.

As we picture their faces, whisper their names , offer  our prayers for them…   We’re offering the sacrifice Jesus offered to redeem the whole world.

I confess, etc.

The  Gospel  Mark 10:28-31

Peter began to say to Jesus,

‘We have given up everything and followed you.”

Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you,

there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters

or mother or father or children or lands

for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel

who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:

houses and brothers and sisters

and mothers and children and lands,

with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.

But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

After the Gospel:

Tomorrow is Ah Wednesday.

Today is not too late for a Lenten resolution.

In Catholic grade school, right before Lent, Sister would ask us to write down  something we’d give up for Lent.

It was our test, to  see if we could do it for all 40 days.

Favorite choices were: giving up bubble gum, possibly candy, but never giving up the double feature at the Saturday matinee.

The monks at St. Meinrad follow a time-honored practice of Bona Opera, or Good Works, as described  in Chapter 49 of the Rule of Benedict, on the Observance of Lent: about the monk adding  something over and above the usual measure, denying himself something in preparation for Easter, but only with the prayer and approval of the abbot, to prevent vainglory.

Each monk is given a decorated  parchment page, resembling a contract, on which he writes two things: something positive he will do, and something he will give up, then presents it to the Abbot for his signature and blessing.

One junior monk, a rather quiet guy,  indicated:

# 1 Each night after supper, I will spend ten minutes in the Eucharistic Chapel,

# 2 On Tuesdays, Donut Day at breakfast, I will not take any donuts. 

Sounds good to me.

When the Abbot  returned the form, both suggestions were changed:

First, every other night, spend ten minutes in the Eucharistic Chapel,

         And every other night, visit the brothers in the Infirmary. 

Second,    On Tuesdays, take  ONE  donut for breakfast.

Sometimes, the greatest sacrifice is not to do our own will, but to do the will of another.

Whatever our Bona Opera for Lent this year, may it be a sacrifice pleasing to God.