Harry's third and last scrutiny

[Andruschak]

As always, I have to scratch my head and wonder why the RCIA people get Year A gospel readings all the time. I went to the 9 AM mass where the Year C reading was of the woman taken in adultry. I can identify with the woman who must have been shaken by her near encounter with death, having done grievous sexual sins myself. And although both she and I were spared, those stern words from Christ echo in our minds…Go and sin no more. SIR! YES SIR!!

In contrast, the 11 Mass (with dismissal) was about Lazerous. I supposed the analogy is of Catecumans being reborn in the Church or something like that. But the 3rd Scrutiny for the Elect went well enough. Us Candidates remained in our pews as usual.

I have submitted my vacation request for 4 - 7 April to my Post Office supervisor. The clock is ticking.

I am now into a solid two hours of prayer a day, although at least one hour if it is at work muttering prayers while walking from one place to another. Not sure if that really counts. The Legion Of Mary TESSERA is now part of my morning prayer schedule at home. I sometimes wonder what Fluffy is thinking as I pet her in my lap with one hand while I recite the prayers.

 

[jmm08]

As always, I have to scratch my head and wonder why the RCIA people get Year A gospel readings all the time.

It makes sense to me. The RCIA people (mostly new) probably weren’t around to hear the readings a year or two or three ago.

May as well start off with year “A”.

And I imagine it makes it easier for those helping RCIA in any respect to prepare. Because they can use and improve their lesson plans (or any other plans) over and over.

jmm08

 

[Andruschak]

As far as the fasting/abstinance requirements of BSP/CFP go, I’m already there. I did not mean to jump the gun, but I started the mortifications concerning food last 13 November, as a trial run just to see what I was getting into. I could stop any time I wanted to, obviously. At age 62, I might not be required to fast at all.

I was surprised at how quickly I adapted, with a regretable relapse here and there, mostly over ice cream and pizza. But for the most part, it is two meals a day, meat or fish at dinner only. No meat or fish at supper. No snacks of solid food between meals. One quart of skim milk for breakfast for calcium, protein, and calories to get the day started.

Obviously I am hungry much of the time, but not uncomfortably so. I am down to 170 pounds and my physician is keeping a close watch on me. She lowered my Adalat prescription ( for high blood pressure) from 90 MG to 60 MG in response to my weight loss and the drop in blood pressure to a point where it was almost too low. I have been admonished not to lose more then one pound a week, and to drink fruit juice as needed to prevent too rapid a loss in weight.

For those of you who feel that the fasting/abstinace provisions are NOT supposed to be a diet, that this is somehow unspiritual, that this is not true mortification, I reply that our bodies are Temples Of The Holy Spirit, and proper maintenance of this temple is required. An OPINION only folks, not endorsed by my three cats.

(Right now Fluffy is in the heated cat bed on the kitchen window sill, with the sun on her back. Sleeping like an angel.)

 

[puzzleannie]

if all the prayers as well as the intercessions for each scrutiny are used, you will see they refer to those cycle A gospels each week, today it was Lazarus, the previous week it was the blind man, and the Samaritan woman. So it is kind of lost if the catechumens are not hearing those gospels proclaimed at the Mass during which the scrutinies are done. We never use the cycle A readings in this parish in years B and C, so we cover them after Mass in the Breaking Open the Word part of the RCIA class. Most of the candidates are present at the Mass where catechumens are having the scrutinies, and will come up with them, maybe they think they are missing out on something otherwise. The presentation of the Creed and the Our Father we do in the class or during the week depending on the group.

I am making a guess Fluffy and the other cats have no interest whatever in fast and abstinence, although they are probably very much in favor of fish on Friday.

 

[Andruschak]

I am making a guess Fluffy and the other cats have no interest whatever in fast and abstinence, although they are probably very much in favor of fish on Friday.

Which makes one wonder how cats, evolved from the desert, came to have such a devotion for deep sea tuna.