16 September ~ St. Ninian

Posted on by Fr. Peter

Bishop and confessor; date of birth unknown; died about 432; the first Apostle of Christianity in Scotland. The earliest account of him is in Bede (Hist. Eccles., III, 4): “the southern Picts received the true faith by the preaching of Bishop Ninias, a most reverend and holy man of the British nation, who bad been regularly instructed at Rome in the faith and mysteries of the truth; whose episcopal see, named after St. Martin the Bishop, and famous for a church dedicated to him (wherein Ninias himself and many other saints rest in the body), is now in the possession of the English nation. The place belongs to the province of the Bernicians and is commonly called the White House [Candida Casa], because he there built a church of stone, which was not usual amongst the Britons”. The facts given in this passage form practically all we know of St. Ninian’s life and work.

The most important later life, compiled in the twelfth century by St. Ælred, professes to give a detailed account founded on Bede and also on a “liber de vita et miraculis eius” (sc. Niniani) “barbarice scriptus”, but the legendary element is largely evident. He states, however, that while engaged in building his church at Candida Casa, Ninian heard of the death of St. Martin and decided to dedicate the building to him. Now St. Martin died about 397, so that the mission of Ninian to the southern Picts must have begun towards the end of the fourth century. St. Ninian founded at Whithorn a monastery which became famous as a school of monasticism within a century of his death; his work among the southern Picts seems to have had but a short lived success. St. Patrick, in his epistle to Coroticus, terms the Picts “apostates”, and references to Ninian’s converts having abandoned Christianity are found in Sts. Columba and Kentigern. The body of St. Ninian was buried in the church at Whithorn (Wigtownshire), but no relics are now known to exist. The “Clogrinny”, or bell of St. Ringan, of very rough workmanship, is in the Antiquarian Museum at Edinburgh.

The Pope in Scotland

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Today begins the journey of Pope Benedict to Great Britain and this morning he is in Scotland.  I have the BBC streaming on my computer whilst I write this.  One of the things that amazed me was when the Pope climbed in the famous Popemobile when he left the Palace of Holyrood House he draped the new Tartan around his shoulders!

Although it is being called the Papal Tartan it is actually the St. Ninian’s Day Tartan and it was designed by an American!  The BBC is having great fun with that.

It has been designed by Matthew Newsome who is a Catholic and director of the Scottish Tartans Museum in North Carolina.  St. Ninian brought the Gospel to Scotland over 1,600 years ago.  The Pope is in Great Britain for a visit as well as the canonization of John Henry Cardinal Newman on Sunday.  Included in the Tartan are two lines one of white and a pair of red ones representing the crest of Cardinal Newman.  There is also a yellow line that represents the color of the Vatican.

Each of the white lines has eight threads, one for each of the Catholic Diocese in Scotland.  There are 452 threads in the design from  pivot to pivot, representing the number of Catholic parishes in Scotland.  As you can see Tartans are designed with much care and with a lot of meaning.

The Tartan was presented to the Scottish Parliament by Keith Patrick Cardinal O’Brien and was seen being warn by both First Minister Alex Salmond and Scottish Labor Parties Ian Gray at First Minister Questions this past week.

His Holiness will be in Scotland for the weekend.

Primary Election

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I have to admit I love politics.  I love the process, sometimes I like the outcome and sometimes I don’t but that is the way it works here in America.  Bunch of people run, some win and some loose and then you have to make it work.

Yesterday, here in Massachusetts, we had the primary election.  Nothing big on the ballot and by that I mean the top of the ticket was unopposed on all of the ballots.  I am unenrolled so I get to choose, I actually think I should get to take all the ballots but I also don’t want to go to prison!  There was a libertarian ballot but no one was on it.  I guess you have to print it but it does seem like a waste to me.

So the results came in and I do not think anyone was surprised here in Massachusetts anyway.  I understand there was a big upset in Delaware and the “Tea Party” Republican won.  I have to admit I am fascinated by the Tea Party Folks.  I think we are starting to see the development of a third party that might actually have some power.  I don’t always agree but then again I do not 100% agree with any of the parties.

There are two things that I would like to see over the next 7 weeks.  The first is, if a candidate is on the ballot then they should be treated as a candidate by all involved and not left out because of some other requirement.  Let me explain.  Last night, there was a debate between some of the candidates for governor here in Massachusetts.  I say some because we have four names on the ballot but because of regulations placed on candidates by the radio station that sponsored the debate, the Green Party candidate was left off.  Well I feel that is censorship.  Like it or not she will be on the ballot on November 2nd.  Will she win, I doubt it, but neither will the independent candidate that is on the ballot.  Let’s here from all of the candidates.

The second thing is, don’t vote based on what other people say about the candidates.  Do your own research, read what they have written, watch debates, and ask questions.  Do not go by what someone else will tell you because they will be biased for or against but they will be biased.  Make up your own mind based on your own research.  Take the time, and be prepared.

So the primary season is no over and the race to the end will no begin.  Some candidates are saying it is time to take the country back.  Well I am not sure who has it or who we need to take it back from but 2 years ago the majority of We the People who voted voted a certain way, if a majority of We the People vote a different way this year then so be it.  Our country is not perfect, but it will only win if we find a way to work together.

This morning I posted on my facebook page that I would like all the candidates to tell me what they will do to make things better, tell me what you will for the economy, jobs, the poor, the rich whatever it is.  Let the other guy tell me what he will do.  When we get into the he said she said thing then it boils down to the lesser of 2 evils.  I want you to convince me to vote for you based on what you stand for, you as a person, what is your political philosophy, what is your vision of America.  Tell me about you not about the other guy.  You know, you don’t even have to mention their name because I already know who you are running against.  Just tell me about you.

Good luck to all the candidates.  All of you, those who won and those who lost, is what makes America great.  You put yourself out there, raised money, had debates, and did what you thought was right.  I believe that all of the candidates, and those in office, are doing what they think is best and how can we say that is wrong.  We may not agree, but your vision is your vision.  Lets see how well you do selling it.  Then the hard work beings, governing that’s where the rubber meets the road.

Thank you for your service, all of you!  You are all great Americans and in my book you are all Patriots!

Sermon ~ Sunday Before the Exaltation of the Cross

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Sermon Audio

Yesterday, as a nation, we paused to remember the events 9 years ago that shook our world and changed the very way we live. I am sure we all remember, as if it happened yesterday, where we were when we first heard the news that our country has been attacked. Last night I watched a program that played the news as it happened on that day and it brought back all kinds of memories for me.

I wear on my wrist a small silver band with the name Fr. Mychal Judge. Fr. Mychal was the chaplain for the New York City Fire Department and was one of the first people killed when the towers came down. Fr. Mychal was ministering to people when he died. I wear this small band of silver to remind me why I do what I do. Each time I stand with one of you for confession, or one of the fire fighters I minister to. I think of Fr. Mychal on that day, standing in the lobby of the tower that would eventually take his life.
We remember all kinds of things. Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, all sorts of things. We remember things in our life at home and we remember things in our life at church. In the Orthodox Church we remember people after their death on the 40th day and then each years for the first three years. We sing memory eternal for them. We pray to the saints, people we have never met or will meet and we remember them at each and every Liturgical celebration. If there is one thing we Orthodox do best, that is remembering.
We also remember things that people have done to us. We remember the hurt, the pain, the sorrow from words people have spoken or not spoken. We remember the feelings we had when a person who we thought was a friend, threw us under the bus for no reason. We remember the hurt, when rumors circulate that you didn’t do something when you know that you did and vice versa.
In one of the Star Trek movies, the crew of the Enterprise meets a man who can remove all the past pain in peoples lives. He touches them and their pain is gone. He approaches Capt. Kirk to take away his pain. Kirk responds by saying I want my pain I need my pain for it makes me who I am. How many of us would say the same thing? How many of us will turn away from someone who could take our pain away and have it never return?
Why do we remember? Historians will tell us that we must remember history and study history so we do not make the same mistakes. We remember marker events in our lives as a way of celebration, although the older we get sometimes we do not want to remember those days as much, or perhaps we only remember every other one. We remember those who have gone before us so we do not forget. We read and study the lives of the saints so they can teach us how to live the Christian life. But sometimes those events bring back bad or unwanted memories. They remind us of the one we have lost to death or to loss of friendship. We remember those who used to come to church here and no longer do and it reminds us the events around those days and maybe it makes us sad.
We have pictures around our homes that remind us of people and events. We have albums filled with memories. But what do we do with the pain, the hurt, and the sorrow that those memories bring up in us? How do we deal with it?
We need to face that pain and that sorrow and we need to deal with it. We need to bring it to the foot of the cross and give it to Jesus and leave it there. When we confess we need to understand, really understand that we are forgiven and leave all the pain and sorrow at the feet of Jesus as He takes that sin away. We need to ask God to take the pain away.
The most quoted passage from Scripture is before us today. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but will have eternal life.” We see this on the end zone at football games amidst all the other Hi Mom signs! If we believe in Jesus then we have nothing to fear, we have nothing to worry about for Christ will take care of us in all that we do. He is here to take away the pain and the sorrow and makes us whole again.
We have a wonderful experience here in our Orthodox Church that other Christians do not have. We have sacramental confession. The ability to stand before God and confess all the we have done, and we do this in ear shot of another person the priest. After we confess the priest prays the prayers that assure us that our sins have been taken away and we need to have no further anxiety about them. They are gone forever, not only the sin but the pain and sorrow that is associated with that sin. It is gone forever, but we have to let go!
Most of us are like Capt Kirk, we want our pain we need our pain because it makes us who we are. Who would we be if our pain and sorrow were gone? We would be new creations, we would become new in the life of Christ and we would be free to worship Him the way it is intended to be. If we are shackled by pain and sorrow we cannot worship God as we should it holds us back and prevents us for authentic worship.
Give it all to Jesus and let Him free you from those shackles. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but will have eternal life.”
Blog

College Student Sunday

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Each Year, the Orthodox Church in the United States and Canada celebrates College Student Sunday. This the date for this celebration will be Sunday, September 29th.
The Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is the official campus ministry program of the Orthodox Church in the Unites States and Canada. The mission is to support fellowships on college campuses, whose members experience and witness to the Orthodox Christian Church through community life, prayer, service to other and study of the Faith.
Thousands of Orthodox College students in more than 300 chapters at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada comprise the OCF. All of the Jurisdictions of Orthodox in the USA and Canada are represented on the Board of Directors. I have the pleasure not only serving as Chaplain at Harvard University but also representing the Romanian Archdiocese on the Board of Directors.
In the last 10 years the number of chapters representing college and universities have expanded from 50 to more than 300. The OCF Chaplaincy program was developed four years ago in North Carolina with the first full time chaplain at Duke University and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. In 2005 all of the OCF Chaplains were invited to participate in the first Chaplains Conference to work toward communication and better coordination of Chaplains serving OCF.
There are several program sponsored by the National Office of OCF:
Real Break: an alternative spring break service-learning program, gives students an alternative to “traditional” spring breaks. In ten years, hundreds of students have traveled to Constantinople, Guatemala, Mexico, Alaska, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Canada and San Francisco.
College Conference: affords the students the opportunity to gather and grow in their faith annually. Since 2001, we have added three additional locations to the original site. Growing the number of participants from 200 to 400 with conferences in the east, south and west.
Day of Prayer: initiated by the first Student Advisory Board during Great Lent 2003; students from across North America participate in 24 hours of continuous prayer beginning on the first day of Great Lent.
The ministry of OCF is unique – fostering a love for Christ in places where He is ridiculed, questioned, and abandoned on a daily basis. Banning together as a community, OCF presents a witness on college campuses that Orthodox Christianity is alive and available to students. OCF sustains them through their challenging college years, and helps ensure the future strength of our Holy Orthodox Church.
Why not invite local college students to your church on Sunday, September 19th!

Jacob’s Ladder 9/11

Posted on by Fr. Peter

I just got this via email from the band MacTalla Mor.  What an awesome song!

Listen to the Song Here

Flames shining bright in the darkest of nights, as they turn towards the light of the fire

Faces grow red as the hoses are fed, as they turn towards the light of the fire
Smoke bellows black as the water attacks, as they turn towards the light of the fire
September skies blue as the airplanes they flew, as they turn towards the light of the fire

They climbed up Jacob’s Ladder,
They climbed higher and higher
They climbed up Jacob’s Ladder,
They climbed into the fire

Ashes to ash and the memories they flash, as they turn towards the light of the fire
The metal will rust, so as dust to dust, they turn towards the light of the fire
A time and a place and a season for grace, as they turn towards the light of the fire
Though deep down they know that they cannot go home, still they charged towards the light of the fire

Higher, Higher, Higher, they turned towards the light of the fire
Higher, Higher, Higher, they turned towards the light of the fire
God’s angels ascended into heaven, gates wide open on 9/11
Higher, Higher, Higher, they turned towards the light of the fire
Climbing high on Jacob’s Ladder, they would never return from the fire
Higher, Higher, Higher, they turned towards the light of the fire
They climbed towards eternal fire, to a warrior’s funeral pyre
Higher, Higher, Higher, they turned towards the light of the fire
Higher, Higher, Higher, they turned towards the light of the fire

Higher, Higher, Higher, they turned towards the light of the fire (Repeat 4x)

Flames shining bright in the darkest of nights, as they turn towards the light of the fire
September skies blue as the airplanes they flew and they turn towards the light of the fire

They climbed up Jacob’s Ladder,
They climbed higher and higher
They climbed up Jacob’s Ladder,
They climbed into the fire…………

© 2006 MacTallaMor

Never Forget

Posted on by Fr. Peter
The Eleventh Of September
Written by Roger J. Robicheau ©2002
The Poetic Plumber www.thepoeticplumber.com
We mourn their loss this day this year
Those now with God, no danger near
So many loved ones left do stand
Confronting loss throughout our land
My heart goes out to those who do
No one can fathom what they view
I firmly pray for peace of mind
Dear God please help each one to find
And to our soldiers now at war
God guide above, at sea, on shore
They are the best, I have no doubt
Our country’s pride, complete, devout
The finest force you’ll ever see
All freedom grown through liberty
One final thought comes clear to me
For what must live in infamy
Absolutely – We’ll Remember
The Eleventh – Of September
©2002 Roger J. Robicheau

Open Letter to Muslims

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Dear Muslims,
I would like to tell you that not all Christians and not all Americans wish to burn your Holy Book.  This heinous act is being perpetrated in you by a very small insignificant group of people and not representative of all American and all Christians.

My faith teaches me that we are to love everyone.  We are to pray for everyone and we are to forgive everyone.  This is not easy but being a faithful person is not supposed to be easy.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Everything that a right believing Christian is to do is to be done from a place of love and fall into the trap of hate.  Hate is a destructive force in the lives of anyone.  Hate does not come from God the creator of all, hate comes from the Devil the Prince of Lies.  The actions of this man in Florida are not acts of love they are acts of hate and I condemn these actions as hate filled and unChristian.

I call on all people of all faiths to stand with me, shoulder to shoulder, and condemn all acts of violence and terrorism based on religion. I would ask you to call on your fellow Muslims and urge them not to play into this extremists hands by causing violence.  Acts of violence committed because of this mans actions will only fuel the fires of hate.  There has been enough death and enough killing.

September 11th is a day when we should remember those who lost their lives due to the extreme positions of another small group of people.  It is a day that we should be praying for those who serve us and keep us safe each and everyday, not a day that will only continue the hate, the hate that brought down the Twin Towers, the hate that crashed into the Pentagon, and the hate that crashed into that field in Pennsylvania.  It has to end and it has to end now.

Please pray with me that this will come to an end.

Blessings,
V. Rev. Fr. Peter M Preble
Southbridge, Massachusetts 

Archbishop Nicolae on the Koran Burning

Posted on by Fr. Peter
(http://www.romarch.org/) Can a Christian encourage violence and hatred?
This past Sunday our Gospel passage was taken from the 22nd chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel. In that passage Jesus is asked about the Commandments and what the greatest commandment of the law was. Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the Prophets.” This is the basis of our Christian faith.
Last week, a pastor from Florida announced that on the anniversary of the September 11th attacks he was going to hold a Koran burning on the lawn of the church. He said that he is doing this as a warning to the Muslims around the world that we want no part of your faith or your laws. General David Patraeus, Commanding General of the American Armed forces in Afghanistan, has made a statement that if this proposed burning takes place it could very well lead to the deaths of US Service men and women serving in Afghanistan as well as other locations in the Middle East.
We enjoy freedoms in America that others do not enjoy: freedom to practice our religion and yes freedom of speech and expression. These freedoms are held in almost a sacred fashion and allow us to practice our faith as we wish. But with freedom comes a moral responsibility and if our actions will or potentially cause harm to others then we should not perform that action. The burning of the Koran on September 11th will only fuel anti American sentiment around the world and place our citizens in danger.
In view of the passage quoted above, we are commanded by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to love our neighbor. The actions of this pastor in Florida will not further the love of Jesus Christ but only spawn hatred and hatred is not an element of the Christian Faith. Hatred is a destructive force and blackens the soul. We must work to get rid of hatred from our life. We received the commandment to love our neighbor and treat our neighbor as we wish to be treated.
As we pause to remember those who gave their life on September 11, 2001 and those who have given their lives in defense of freedom around the world since, let us pray for a better understanding of who our neighbor is so we may love him as Christ is commanding us to do.
† Archbishop NICOLAE

The Divine Liturgy ~ The Liturgy of Preparation

Posted on by Fr. Peter
In my previous posts I have commented on the Divine Liturgy as a whole as well as the Vestments of the Ministers and the prayers before the Liturgy. In this post I will explain the Liturgy of the Preparation or the Proskomedia.
The Proskomedia is a service that prepares the bread and wine for use during the Divine Liturgy. This service is usually done long before the people arrive but after the prayers before the Liturgy and the Vesting of the clergy.
The service usually takes place on the table of preparation of the table of oblation inside of the Holy Place. Set in the apse of the Church this place represents the cave of Bethlehem. In ancient times this was actually another room in the Church and the faithful would leave their offerings there. The brad and wine can be offered for an individual living or dead.
First a word about the bread that is used. The bread (prosfora) is baked using a very simple recipe and in the Byzantine tradition one loaf is used and in the Slavic tradition five loaves are used representing the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. The bread used in Orthodox Liturgy is leaved, yeast is added. Questions are always asked why we use leavened bread when at the Last Supper unleavened bread was used. “Christ ‘leavens’ our lives, so to speak, and the purpose of the Eucharistic celebration is not to ‘recreate’ or ‘reproduce’ a past event but, rather, to participate in an event that is beyond time and space and which, in fact, continues to happen each time the Eucharist is celebrated in fulfillment of Our Lord’s command.” oca.org
There are several items needed for this service.
1. The Chalice that will hold the water and wine
2. The Diskos that will hold the bread
3. The spear that will be used to cut the bread
4. The veils used to cover the chalice and diskos
The service begins with the prayer:
You redeemed us from the curse of the law by your precious blood. Nailed to the cross and pierced by a lance, you poured out immortality upon mankind. O our Savior, glory to You!
Then begins the preparation of the bread. Pressed into the loaf of bread is seal with various markings on it. In the center, marked with the symbols, IC XC NI KA “Jesus Christ Conquers.” This is called the lamb and the actual part that is used to commune the faithful. It is cut out of the center of the bread with the following words:
Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter.
Like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, like these he never opens His mouth.
He has been humiliated and has no one to defend Him.
Who will ever talk about his descendants?
Lifting the lamb the priest says: Since His life on earth has been cut short.
The lamb is then lifted out of the center of the loaf and turned upside down where a cross is cut in the bottom with the following prayer:
The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world is sacrificed for the life of and salvation of the world.
Placed upright with the IC XC on the top in the center of the diskos. The priest then takes the spear and on the part of the lamb marked IC pushes the spear into the lamb with the following words:
One of the soldiers pierced His side with a lance…
The he takes wine and pours it into the chalice:
And immediately there came out blood and water; and this is the evidence of one who saw it and know that he speaks the truth.
The chalice is now blessed:
Blessed is the union of your Holy Things, always, now and eve and unto ages of ages.
On the left hand side of the loaf is a small triangle that represents the Mother of God. This is removed from the loaf and place on the left side of the lamb on the diskos:
In honor and memory of our most blessed, glorious lady, the Birthgiver of God, and ever-virgin Mary, through whose intercessions, O Lord, accept this sacrifice on your heavenly altar. On your right stands the queen, robed in gold.
On the opposite side of the lamb are now placed the nine ranks. There are three rows of three small triangles cut from the loaf and represents:
1. Michael and Gabriel and all bodiless powers
2. John the Baptist and all the Prophets
3. The Apostles
4. Our Holy Fathers and Teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom. Athanasius, Cyril, Spyridon, and the Holy Hierarchs.
5. First Martyr Stephen. Demetrius, George, Theodore the Recruit, Theodore the Commander, Thecla, Barbara, Paraskeve, Catherine and all the holy Martyrs.
6. The God-bearers: Anthony, Euthymios, Sava, Onufrius, Athanasius of Athos (We add Herman of Alaska the First Sanctified of America) and our mothers: Pelagia, Theodosia, Anastasia, Efpraxia, Fevronia, Theodulia, Efrosyne, Mary of Egypt and all the Holy Mothers.
7. The Wonder-Workers: Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John, Panteleimon and Hermolaus.
8. Righteous Ancestors of God: Joachim and Anna, the saint of the day and all the saints.
9. John Chrysostom or Basil, depending on what Liturgy you are using.
Next there are three triangles placed on the diskos in front of the Lamb for the following:
1. The Bishop of the Diocese
2. The leaders of the country
3. Founders of the Church
Remembrance is then offered for all priests, deacons and Monastics. For the sick the suffering, for this holy place, missionaries, travelers etc. The living and the dead are commemorated, the bishop that ordained the priest if he is now deceased or if serving in a different diocese. Finally the priest asks prayers for himself with the following words:
O Lord, in your great mercy, remember me, and unworthy man; forgive me all my trespasses, voluntary and involuntary and because of my sins, do not withhold the grace of your all-holy Spirit from these gifts here presented.
Incense is then offered and blessed.
The star is placed over the diskos. This star represents the star that went forward and halted over the place of His birth in Bethlehem. It also serves to hold the veil off of the discos.
Three veils are used, two small and one large. The two small represent the swaddling clothes that Jesus was wrapped in after His birth and the large one represents the cloth that he was wrapped in when he was taken down from the cross.
After the veils are in place a final blessing is pronounced over the gifts:
O God, our God, who sent the heavenly bread, the nourishment of the whole world, our Lord and God Jesus Christ, savior, redeemer, and benefactor who blesses and sanctifies us, bless this offering and accept it at your heavenly altar. As you are good and love mankind, remember those who have brought is and those for whom it was brought and preserve us from all fault in the holy service of your divine Mysteries. For sanctified and glorified if your honorable and magnificent name: of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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