April 23, 2023

Third Sunday of Easter

by Fr. Boniface Endorf, O.P

Dear St. Joseph Parish Family,

We’re now in the Easter Season as we leave the Octive of Easter behind and await Ascension Thursday, when the resurrected Christ ascends to the Father in heaven, and Pentecost, when Christ sends the Holy Spirit upon His Church. If you’re looking for spiritual reading, this time is great to reading the Acts of the Apostles (just after the Gospel according to John). Acts recounts the adventurous early days of the Church, detailing the Apostles’ mighty deeds wrought after Pentecost. 

Mass Tidbit:

Now we’re getting off the Easter tangent and back to the Mass! We left off after the preparation of the altar and next comes the Prayer over the Offerings. This prayer is proper, which means it changes from week to week. For example, on Palm Sunday the text of the prayer was:

         Through the Passion of your Only Begotten Son, O Lord,

         may our reconciliation with you be near at hand,

         so that, though we do not merit it by our own deeds,

         yet by this sacrifice made once for all,

         we may feel already the effects of your mercy.

         Through Christ our Lord.

The Prayer over the Offerings thus prays that the sacrifice of the Mass, about to be made in the Eucharistic prayer, will be acceptable to the Lord and efficacious for us and the whole Church. Just after this prayer is the Preface and the beginning of the Eucharistic prayer.

God Bless,
Fr. Boniface