Mass Schedule – Sexagesima (January 31, 2016)
01, St. Ignatius Antioch
02, Purification of the BVM
03, St. Blaze
04, Feria
05, St. Agatha
06, Feria
+ Wednesday Agape & Christian Education for all ages is into the Pre-Lenten term meets this Wednesday, February 3, 2016. We will begin serving the meal at 5:45 pm and after a time fellowship we have classes for all age groups. All blessings!
+ Tuesday, February 2, is the day of purification, renewal, and hope. On this day, exactly 40 days after Christmas, we commemorate Mary’s obedience to the Mosaic law by submitting herself to the Temple for the ritual purification, as commanded in Leviticus. According to the Gospel of Luke “And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord: As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord: And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Catholic women imitate Mary, in a sense, with the rite of the Churching of Women. Also, according to Luke, Our Lady and St. Joseph presented Jesus to the Temple for His “redemption,” also per the Law, which “redemption” is why February 2 is called The Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
+ After the Apostles, Ignatius was the second bishop of Antioch in Syria. His predecessor, of whom little is known, was named Euodius. Whether he knew any of the Apostles directly is uncertain but they were only a generation at most removed. Little is known of his life except for the very end of it. He was arrested late first century or early second century by the Imperial authorities, condemned to death, and transported to Rome to die in the arena. The rulers hoped to terrify Christians by treating their priests and bishops so brutally. Instead, Ignatius took the opportunity to encourage the bishops, priests, deacons and laity, speaking to groups of Christians at every town along the way and writing letters to the metropolitan Churches and Bishops. When the prison escort reached the West coast of Asia Minor, it halted before sailing and delegations from several Asian churches were able to visit Ignatius, to speak with him at length, to assist him with items for his journey, and to bid him an affectionate farewell and commend him to the grace of God. He wrote seven letters that have been preserved: five to congregations that had greeted him, en masse or by delegates (Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, Philadelphians, and Smyrnaeans), one to the congregation that would greet him at his destination (Romans), and one to Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna and a disciple of the Apostle John. His letters are available in several modern translations. The themes with which he is chiefly concerned are (1) the importance of maintaining Christian unity in love and sound doctrine (with warnings against factionalism and against the heresy of Docetism — the belief that Christ was not fully human and did not have a material body or really suffer and die), (2) the role of the Bishop as a focus of Christian unity, (3) Christian martyrdom as a glorious privilege, eagerly to be grasped.
+ All Saints Men’s Group will meets each Tuesday at 7:00 a.m. in undercroft of the parish church.
+ Our Monday Morning Bible Study is also into its Pre-Lenten term. The Bible study meets each Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. For further information contact Priscilla King at kingplk@gmail.com.
+ The Holy Communion is celebrated Monday through Saturday at 12:15 p.m.
+All Saints parishioner may obtain a Mass card from the Church office. A Mass card is a greeting card given to someone to inform him or her that a deceased loved one or friend was remembered and prayed for at a weekly Mass. It is a specifically Christian way to express one’s love. Call Julie McDermott at the Church office (434-979-2842) and she will help you fill out the form. The celebrant will sign the card and we will mail it from the Church to the family of the loved one.