Sexagesima Sunday!

Today is Sexagesima Sunday! Sexagesima means "60 days" which is roughly what we have until Easter. This is part of the Season of Septuagesima - which is not officially celebrated in the "Ordinary Rite" - however is still observed in the "Extraordinary Rite" as a preparation for Lent.

Today's Gospel reading (Extraordinary Rite) is the Parable of the Sower, Luke 8:4-15 -

At that time, when a very great
multitude was gathered together and
hastened out of the cities unto Jesus,
He spoke by a similitude: The sower
went out to sow his seed: and as he
sowed, some fell by the wayside, and
it was trodden down, and the fowls of
the air devoured it. And other some fell
upon a rock: and as soon as it was
sprung up, it withered away, because
it had no moisture. And other some fell
among thorns, and the thorns growing
up with it choked it. And other some
fell upon good ground: and being  
sprung up yielded fruit a hundredfold.
Saying these things, He cried out: He
that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
And His disciples asked Him what this
parable might be. To whom He said:
To you it is given to know the mystery
of the kingdom of God, but to the rest
in parables: that seeing they may not
see, and hearing may not understand.
Now the parable is this. The seed is
the word of God. And they by the
wayside are they that hear: then the
devil cometh and taketh the word out
of their heart, lest believing they
should be saved. Now they upon the
rock are they who, when they hear,
receive the word with joy; and these
have no roots: for they believe for a
while, and in time of temptation they
fall away. And that which fell away
among thorns are they who have
heard and, going their way, are
choked with the cares and riches and
pleasures of this life, and yield no fruit.
But on the good ground are they who
in a good and perfect heart, hearing
the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit
in patience.

And again, we have the denial of OSAS! Those who represent the seed which fell upon the rocks, they "hear, receive the Word with joy... and in time of temptation fall away." You cannot "fall away" from something you were not part of! OSAS is DENIED! The same holds true for those who represent the seed which fell among the thorns - distracted by the "cares, riches and pleasures of this life... yield no fruit."

BE THE GOOD GROUND!

 

 

The Season of Septuagesima

 

The Season of Septuagesima starts with Septuagesima Sunday and lasts through Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday - and the beginning of the Season of Lent. Of note, the icon in the picture above is an Eastern icon. The Season of Great Lent for Orthodox Christians this year began on February 6th and lasts through Easter Sunday - which again, is a different date than Latin Rite Catholics. Orthodox Easter this year is on April 16th, and for Latin Rite Catholics (and most all other Christian sects) Easter is celebrated on April 9th (more on the date(s) of Easter in a later post during the Lenten season).

For Latin Rite Catholics the pre-Lent season of Septuagesima includes Sexigesima Sunday and Quinquagesima Sunday (60 and 50 days, respectively, and not precisely, before Easter). Of note, in 1969 Pope Paul VI removed the Season of Septuagesima from the liturgical calendar, however in the Extraordinary Rite - this season is still recognized and celebrated.

Septuagesima includes the denial of Once Saved, Always Saved (OSAS), and this declaration, being an Epistle and scriptural reading, makes it very difficult for one to adhere to this anti-scriptural teaching! Of course, I am referring to St. Paul's lesson on "running to win the race..." from 1 Cor. 9:24-27 - and in verse 27 where he points out that even he, the Apostle, St. Paul, after preaching the Gospel, could be disqualified from the prize (eternal life with God and the Saints)! If you have a valid and respectful argument for OSAS, I encourage you to post it in the comments below, and we can discuss this further. Even in the game of Monopoly ®Parker Brothers, the card can be "sold!" 

Your comments and respectful valid arguments are encouraged in the comments below.

Septuagesima!

 Wow!, I let this one sneak up on me! It is now Septuagesima Season!

Septuagesima - 70 days - (not precisely) before Easter. The Septuagesima Season takes us to Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. However, especially in the Extraordinary Rite, the vestments have already changed back to purple - as this is a season of penance in preparation for Lent.

This season includes Sexagesima (60 days) and Quinquagesima, (50 days) before Easter.

More to follow!

The Synod on Synodality

In a commentary on the National Catholic Register by Fr. Raymond J. de Souza he presents that Cardinal McElroy has been arguing to overturn core Catholic teachings and that the synod is the correct place to do this. 

What is the purpose behind overturning "core Catholic teachings?" That asked, let me also ask, is the synod also the place to destroy the arguments for overturning "core Catholic teachings?" Are there any grassroots efforts going on prior to these proposed synodal meetings (one this fall, 2023, and another in October 2024) to stand UP for "core Catholic teachings?" What can WE do, as Catholic faithful, to support "core Catholic teachings" and influence these synods to "stand fast; and hold the traditions you have learned" (2 Thes. 2:25)? 

Your comments greatly appreciated...

Sources:

de Souza, R.J. (2023). The cat's out of the bag now, with the Synod on Synodality. National Catholic Register. https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/the-cat-s-out-of-the-bag-now-with-the-synod-on-synodality 

Candlemas!

 It is Candlemas!

Christmastide has ended... Epiphany continues until Ash Wednesday, when we start the Season of Lent.

 Candlemas celebrates the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple as well as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

Who Founded the Catholic Church?

 Quite simply put:

I snagged this from a Facebook post by Dr. Taylor Marshall...

Mic drop!

Do you believe you have a valid argument against this? Post it in the comments below!

Christmastide is ALMOST over!

Tomorrow is Candlemas - it is the last time in the lectionary (extraordinary rite) that the infancy of Jesus is mentioned for this liturgical year (Feast of the Presentation of Jesus and the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary). See Luke 2:22-40.

With Candlemas Christmastide is officially ended. We are still in the Season of Epiphany until Lent begins, which is February 22nd this year. So, one last time for this liturgical year...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!