October is the Month of the Holy Rosary, and it’s also Respect Life Month. Consider saying a rosary for all the moms, dads, and babies out there who need our support - or join us for a lunch and a rosary on Saturday (more on that below).
This month we have a piece from Fr. Andrew connecting worship in the early Church to the practice of Eucharistic adoration - which is available every Tuesday at Newman, so let’s fill out the schedule!
Why can’t we eat at Mass?
Well, we do eat at Mass. It’s a matter of WHAT we eat at Mass, or rather whom. As Catholics, we do what we do because it’s what Jesus wants us to do, and what Sacred Scripture instructs us to do. A visitor might ask, having visited a parish - why is it that we worship in the way we do? The simple answer is, it’s because we’ve always done it this way. There are only a few concrete references to what Christians did to worship in the bible. The main one is in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. In this passage, St. Paul tells them to eat at home so as not to bring divisions and cliques into the prayer that at that time was called “The Lord’s Supper.” It seems that in the early Church, almost immediately the central act of worship was receiving the body and blood of the Lord, and it was to be done with reverence and charity.
Around the year 155 A.D. a letter called the “Apology of Justin Martyr” was written to the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius, where he illustrates how Christians worship:
“On the day called the sun, a meeting is held of all who live in the cities or in the fields, and there, while the time permits, the Memories of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read. When the reader is finished, the president makes an exhortation and invitation to imitate these beautiful examples. Then we get up and we all get together and raise our prayers. After they are finished, as we have said, bread, wine and water are offered, and the president, according to his strength, also raises his prayers and thanksgiving to God and the whole people exclaims, saying: “Amen”. Then comes the distribution and participation made to each of the foods consecrated by thanksgiving and sent to absentees by deacons.”
Once again, we see that the central act of Christian worship is communal Eucharistic worship, not based on age or demographic - but of a geographic region. Sounds a bit like a parish, doesn’t it? We also see in this letter intimations of the reserving of the Holy Eucharist, and a theology practiced, even if unexplained, that the presence of Jesus remains even after the conclusion of the Mass, hence the bringing of the Eucharist to those who are sick and in prison, and the reserving of the Eucharist in tabernacles.
St. Augustine speaks of the worship of the Lord as a pre-requisite for eating of the Lord in Holy Communion: “and no one eats that flesh, unless he has first worshipped: we have found out in what sense such a footstool of our Lord's may be worshipped, and not only that we sin not in worshipping it, but that we sin in not worshipping.”
The word footstool is a reference to scripture where the temple is seen as the Lord’s “footstool” - basically, an earthly expression of the divine nature of God. Jesus is incarnate in the flesh, and it is our way to the divine and eternal. This passage is part of a greater understanding of Eucharistic adoration. During the Mass, there is a moment of Eucharistic worship even before receiving of Communion, and if we were to deny this, we would deny our own reception of Communion. “Behold the Lamb of God.” This is a phrase of Eucharistic Adoration. In this way, prolonged periods of Adoration are not a ‘culmination’ of faith, but a preparation to receive with greater devotion our Eucharistic Lord in this earth, and to be with him eternally in the life to come. The more we recognize the Lord in the Flesh here below, the more quickly (and likely) we will recognize him in the life to come, and to refuse to recognize him on the Eucharist on earth is a rejection of scripture, a rejection of the earliest Church’s expression of this faith, and of the later theological development. To not adore the Lord in the Eucharist is to reject him. So I guess what I’m saying is go to Adoration, because it makes the Mass more fruitful, and prepares us for heaven.
This video sums it all up in a beautiful and striking visual beyond words: The Veil Removed. Check it out.
God Bless - Fr. Andrew Infanger
Looking ahead…a non-exhaustive list:
Saturday, October 8 at 12:00pm | St. Robert YAM Flannel Fest (RSVP)
Celebrate the Month of the Holy Rosary in your fall flannel by joining St. Robert Young Adult Ministry for chili and prayer in the Mary garden! Fall flannel attire is encouraged, and please bring a donation for the Women's Care Center of Milwaukee in recognition of Respect Life Month - cash or new baby items are welcome. Hit up strobertYAM@gmail.com with any questions.
Sunday, October 9 at 2:30pm | Old St. Mary’s UPLIFT Young Adult (RSVP)
UPLIFT Young Adult is a monthly faith formation opportunity put on by the Family of Four Parishes, welcome to all. This Sunday, come hear from Anne Haines, the Executive Director of St. Bakhita Catholic Worker, on their amazing mission, their community, and how it pertains to our lives. Sessions start with communal prayer in the Church of Old Saint Mary before heading to the Parish Center for the speaker portion, including Q&A, food, and beverages.
Saturday, October 15 at 10:30am | Fides Patrum - St. John Cassian on Prayer: Conference 9
Come for Jesus, stay for coffee, and linger for knowledge! Fides Patrum (formerly known as “Patristics Ponderings”) is underway this fall, organized by St. Robert parishioner and seminarian Josh Miller. Seminars follow the 9am Mass at the Newman Center, in conjunction with Via Coffeehouse. For more information and the rest of the schedule, see here. We recommend getting on the Fides Patrum email list if you’re interested in this sort of thing (contact Josh at joshrmiller11@gmail.com).
Monday, October 17 at 7:00pm | Meet Your Fathers Forum - St. Ignatius of Antioch
The organizers of Fides Patrum invite all to a series introducing some of the most important Fathers of the Church. Join us on Monday, October 17 at the Salzmann Library at St. Francis de Sales Seminary for the first talk of the series on St. Ignatius of Antioch hosted by Fr. Justin Kizewski, a patristics scholar and current Director of Intellectual Formation at the seminary. You can find more details about this forum here.
Tuesday, October 18 at 7:00pm | Brewing the Faith WAUKESHA (Brew City Catholic)
Join Brew City Catholic at Raised Grain Brewing in Waukesha, WI, to meet some friends new or old and hear a great message led by some other awesome young adults. Your first beer is on BCC!
Friday, October 28 through Sunday, October 30 | CYE Silent Retreat (apply)
Members of St. Robert YAM will be attending Catholic Youth Expeditions’ silent retreat over the last weekend of October - we’d love to have you join! Check out the sample itinerary below. This retreat is open to all young adults 30 and under and spots are limited, so apply via the CYE website ASAP. Let us know at strobertYAM@gmail.com if you plan to go and would like to try to carpool with us. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity for spiritual growth (and tasty food and relaxation) with the beautiful Missionaries of the Word.
Saturday, November 22 | Inheritance Conference (sign up)
From Brew City Catholic: At this conference for young adults, we invite you to explore your inheritance. We invite you to come meet amazing people, be inspired, and encounter Jesus like you never have before. Inheritance is a chance to get away. Come and rest, be at peace, be renewed, and be re-energized through the sacraments, prayer, and community.
Every Tuesday - Adoration (sign up)
All are encouraged to make a weekly commitment to adoration at the Newman Center - hours are available from 8am-10pm every Tuesday, provided we have a full schedule. Sign up today to spend some time with the Lord!
Every Wednesday evening - Cor Jesu
Young adults from across the area come to St. Robert for adoration and confession at 7pm, Mass at 8pm, and a social after. Young men are also invited to join for a 6pm dinner beforehand at the JPII House.
Every Saturday morning - Mass and Via Coffee
All are welcome at Panther Catholic Newman Center (3001 N. Downer Ave) for 9am Mass followed by socializing upstairs at the Via Coffeehouse on Saturday mornings.
A Very Important Poll
Make your voice heard on the most important topics of the day :)