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Weekly Bulletin September 1, 2024
by Terrie Evans
On this 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, we celebrate The World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation annually on September 1st. It is a call to Christians of all denominations to join together to pray and work for the care of our common home. Creation is the activity of God by which He brought all things into existence. Creation is said to be ex nihilo (out of noting) because there was no pre-existing material from which things are made. This day introduces us to the Season of Creation that will conclude on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Friday, October 4, 2024. The Theme for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation is “Hope and Act with Creation” from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans (8:19-25). The theme is for us to focus on the hope of Salvation that is born of Faith as we renew ourselves in the life of Christ. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI stated: “The harmony between the Creator, mankind, and the created world, as described by Sacred Scripture, was disrupted by the sin of Adam and Eve, by man and woman, who wanted to take the place of God and refused to acknowledge that they were his creatures. As a result, the work of ‘exercising dominion’ over the earth, ‘tilling and keeping it’ was also disrupted, and conflict arose within and between mankind and the rest of creation. Human beings let themselves be mastered by selfishness; they misunderstand the meaning of God’s command and exploited creation out of a desire to exercise absolute domination over it.”
On this day, families can make a Pledge of Commitment to Protect and Heal God’s Creation be realized: “We have come to renew our covenant with God and with one another in Christ Jesus, our Lord. We have come to help protect God’s creation. We have come as followers of Jesus to commit ourselves anew to one another and to heal injustice and poverty. We have come to stand together against all threats to life. We have come to discover some new beauty every day in God’s creation: The sunrise and sunset, birds, flowers and trees, rainbows in the sky, the stars, the many forms of life in the forest. We have come to listen to the ‘Music of the Universe’ water flowing over rocks, the wind, trees bending in the wind, raindrops patterning the roof. We will remember always that God speaks to us through the beauty of His creation, and we will try our best to answer God’s call to reverence all that He has created.” In Pope Francis’ Message, he said, “United in Faith and Action, we can make a difference. Caring for creation is not only an ethical responsibility, but a theological commitment that involves the whole of creation. Together we can witness to God’s love through concrete gestures and help build a world where humanity and nature live in harmony. It is special time for us to reflect on our role as stewards of the natural world.”
On Monday, September 2, Labor Day, we honor and recognize the American Labor movement and the contributions of those early laborers who helped in the development of the United States. Also called the Workingman’s Holiday, this day was created by the labor movement in the late 19th Century for a day set aside to celebrate labor. In 1887, Oregon became the first state in the U.S. to make Labor Day an official public holiday. By 1894, there were 30 states throughout the U. S. who were officially celebrating Labor Day and, in that year, Congress passed a bill recognizing the 1st Monday in September Labor Day and an official Federal Holiday. On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed the bill into law but, only making it a holiday for federal workers. Years later, by the 1930’s unions encouraged workers to strike to make sure they would get the day off. It was not until the Pullman Strike that it became a Federal Holiday. Many events are organized in major cities and small towns for Labor Day. In New York, the Labor Day Carnival and fireworks are held at Coney Island and in Washington, D.C. the United States Capital will hold the Labor Day Concert that features the well-known National Symphony Orchestra. Here is a Blessing for the Products of Human Labor: “Almighty and ever-living God, You have made us stewards over the created world, so that in all things we might honor the demands of charity. Graciously hear our prayers, that Your blessing may come upon all those who use these objects for their needs. Let them always see You as the good surpassing every good and love their neighbor with upright hearts. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.”
On Tuesday, September 3rd we celebrate the life of St. Gregory the Great (540-604) known as a reformer, excellent administrator and founder of the medieval papacy that exercised both secular and spiritual power during his reign from 590 until his death in 604. He is the personal patron of the popes although 15 other Gregorys followed him. Gregory was born in Italy during a time when commerce had declined, famine, the plague and war he would witness during his lifetime. He came from an aristocratic Roman family who owned properties throughout Rome and held estates in Sicily. Gregory was well educated, having legal training before entering public service as a magistrate in Rome. In 574, at the age of 34 he converted to a monastic life and established a Monastery on Caelian Hill, on family property in Rome, with his own money. He founded 6 more monasteries on family estates in Sicily while making sufficient property endowments for the Church. Pope Pelagius II made Gregory a Deacon in 579 and in 590, he unwillingly became Pope when he was elected after Pope Pelagius died from the plague that was rampant throughout Rome. During the plague, Pope Gregory the Great led a Penitential Procession to Sanat Maria Maggiore for the protection of Rome. When a vison of the Michael Archangel appeared to him, Pope Gregory was convinced Roem would be spared. A statue depicting Michael the Archangel was placed in the Castel Sant’ Angelo, the place where he saw the vison. Gregory’s 14 years as Pope were filled with many diplomatic triumphs. He strengthened the Church, sent missionaries to England, wrote about pastoral care and morality, encouraged monasticism, and transformed the liturgy. Without Gregory, Europe would have emerged more slowly from the Dark Ages that were caused by the barbarian invasion. He was a tirelessly energetic pope who believed that the Gospel was meant to be “Preached to all parts of the world.” Gregory was known as a charitable pope who abolished fees for burials and looked after those suffering from famine who would not allow injustice toward Jews. He reformed the Church’s worship, introduced the Gregorian Chant, wrote Hymns and was given the title, “Father of Christian Worship.” He was influenced by St. Augustine of Hippo, St. John Cassian, The Dessert Fathers, and St. Jerome. He wrote the rules for the life of a Bishop, a commentary on the Book of Job, and on the lives of many Italian Saints. Gregory is the only Pope between the 5th and 11th Centuries whose correspondence, writings and over 830 letters have survived. His writings offered practical wisdom for the Christians of his day saying: “Compassion should be shown first to the faithful and afterwords to the enemies of the Church.” Pope Gregory’s major worries and concerns during his reign were the city of Rome, the Roman See and Southern Italy. In Pope Gregorys’ official documents, he made extensive use of the term “Servants of the Servants of God” when describing the office of a Pope to be “The Servants of the Servants of God.” Pope Gregory the Great was declared a saint by popular acclaim immediately after his death in 604 with his relics enshrined in the Altar of St. Gregory housed at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. At the Church San Gregorio Magno al Celio in Rome, an ancient marble chair, the throne of Pope Gregory has been placed near the altar for the many visitors who honor the patron saint of musicians, singers, students, and teachers on his feast day. A Prayer to St. Gregory the Great: “O God, You look upon Your people with compassion and rule them with love. Through the intercession of Pope St. Gregory, give wisdom of the leaders of Your Church that the growth of Your people in holiness may be the everlasting joy of our pastors. Amen.”