Postscripts From The Catholic Spitfire Grill

(Houston Chronicle)

This building is both the house of God on earth (domus Dei) and a house fit for the prayers of the saints (domus ecclesiae). (from Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship 16)

The dedication of a cathedral is a once-in-lifetime (or several lifetimes) experience. I was privileged to attend the dedication of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston on April 2, 2008. It’s hard to know where to begin. All of the elements of this place and this ceremony draw your mind and heart to God. The light, the art, the architecture, every detail works together to speak to the human heart and draw it to communion with Our Creator. Even before the official dedication, it was hard to think of this place as anything but holy and consecrated. Our local news channel ran a documentary about the building of the cathedral and as it began to take shape the workers began to be uncomfortable with doing the ordinary messy work of construction in what was clearly going to be such a special place. They asked our bishop, when it would become sacred ground and the bishop assured them that it wouldn’t be until the rite of consecration. The evening before the dedication, vespers was held in the cathedral and even though the water in the baptismal font was not blessed those who were present were drawn to bless themselves with it.

Without a meditative dimension, Christian architecture risks reducing the mystery of divine presence to either social action or to a comfortable domesticity. (Built of Living Stones 258)

As I entered the cathedral and took my seat, and began to pray, I meditated on scenes from the Old Testament and considered that I was about to share in much the same sort of experience that the ancient Hebrews did at the dedication of of the Tabernacle and the Temple as they awaited the shekinah of God. As I listened to the glorious music, the air seemed to quiver with anticipation and even heaven rejoiced at at what was to come.

When the Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself is speaking to his people and Christ, present in his own word, is proclaiming the Gospel. (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n.29)

If you are not Catholic, or a student of architecture, you may not know that cathedrals are not just big beautiful churches.

An octagon is an ancient form for baptismal fonts, the eight sides symbolize the Resurrection as the “eighth day of creation” when Jesus made the world anew in hope.

Prayer of the Blessing of the Water

God of Mercy, you call every creature to the light of life, and surround us with such great love that when we stray you continually lead us back to Christ our head. For you have established an inheritance of such mercy, that those sinners, who pass through water made sacred, die with Christ and rise restored as members of his body and heirs of his eternal covenant. Bless this water; sanctify it. As it is sprinkled  upon us and through this church make it a sign of the saving water of baptism by which we become one in Christ, the temple of your Spirit. May all here today, and all those in days to come, who will celebrate your mysteries in this church, be united at last in the holy city of your peace. May God, the Father of mercies, dwell in this house of prayer. May the grace of the Holy Spirit cleanse us, for we are the temple of his presence.

Next came the Liturgy of the Word. Cardinal DiNardo presented the lectionary to the lectors and the psalmist and proclaimed, “May the word of God always be heard in this place, as it unfolds the mystery of Christ before you and achieves your salvation within the church.” The simple act of proclaiming the words of God from the ambo, set this place apart forever for this purpose.

We don’t have relics from all of the saints honored along the sides of our nave….pictured below.

After the deposition of the relics…

The Prayer of Dedication

Father in heaven, source of holiness and true purpose, it is right that we praise and glorify your name.

For today, we come before you, to dedicate to your lasting service this house of prayer, this temple of worship, this home in which we are hourished by your word and your sacraments.

Here is reflected the mystery of the Church.

The Church is fruitful, made holy by the blood of Christ; a bride made radiant with his glory, a virgin splendid in the wholeness of her faith, a mother blessed through the power of the Spirit.

The Church is holy, your chosen vineyard; its branches envelop the world, its tendrils, carried on the tree of the cross, reach up to the kingdom of heaven.

The Church is favored, the dwelling place of God on earth; a temple built of living stones, founded on the apostles with Jesus its cornerstone.

The Church is exalted, a city set on a mountain: a beacon to the whole world, bright with the glory of the Lamb, and echoing the prayers of her saints.

Lord, send your Spirit from heaven to make this church an ever-holy place, and this altar a ready table for the sacrifice of Christ.

Here may the waters of baptism overwhelm the shame of sin; here may your people die to sin and live again through grace as your children.

Here may your children, gathered around your altar, celebrate the memorial of the Paschal Lamb, and be fed at the table of Christ’s word and Christ’s body.

Here may prayer, the Church’s banquet, resound through heaven and earth as a plea for the world’s salvation.

Here may the poor find justice, the victims of oppression, true freedom.

From here may the whole world clothed in the dignity of the children of God, enter with gladness your city of peace.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

Then the the walls of the church and the altar were anointed with sacred chrism

With this prayer we are reminded of the grace-filled events that occur on and around the altar. The Cardinal prayed:  

We now annoint this altar and this building May God in his power make them holy, visible signs of the mystery of Christ and his Church.

(Houston Chronicle)

To represent the twelve apostles the walls of the church are anoited in twelve places. The candles permanently mark these twelve place of consecration. Sacred chrism is used to set this place aside as a place of Christian worship. (If you put on your x-ray glasses, my husband is standing behind this pillar next to the guy with the blue shirt. Because he came straight from work, we arrived at different times and I was on the other side of the church. We waved to each other once. [grin])

(Houston Chronicle)

Next a large brazier of incense is placed on the altar and braziers of incense were taken around the nave. The Cardinal prayed:

Lord, may our prayers ascend as incense in your sight. As this building is filled with fragrance, so may your Church fill the world with the fragrance of Christ.

The incensation of the nave of the church marks it as a place from which the prayers of the faithful (Revelation 8:3) are also lifted up to God. The people gathered are incensed first because we are the living temples of God and each faithful member, a spiritual altar.

Media Coverage of the Dedication Channel 13 has some excellent background pieces on the construction of the co-cathedral.

“Today bring to Me the Souls who have become Lukewarm,

and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: ‘Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.’ For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy.” 

Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen. 

and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice.”
   

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.

O God, how generously Your mercy is spread everywhere and You have done all this for man. Oh how much You must love him, since Your love is so active on his behalf. O my Creator and Lord, I see on all sides the trace of your hand and the seal of Your mercy, which embraces all created things. O my most compassionate Creator, I want to give You worship pm behalf of all creatures and all inanimate creation; I call on the whole universe to glorify Your mercy. Oh how great is  Your goodness, O God! (1749)

and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.

Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

“If souls would put themselves completely in my care, I myself would undertake the task of sanctifying them, and I would lavish even greater graces on them. There are souls who thwart My efforts, but I have not given up on them; as often as they turn to Me, I hurry to their aid, sheilding them with My mercy, and I give them the first place in My compassionate Heart. (59)

and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence.    

Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, “Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart.” Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father’s favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion.”  

Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.

That an integral part of celebrating the Feast of Divine Mercy is receiving some mercy yourself in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). So perhaps today is a good day to begin making a thorough Examination of Conscience in preparation for that, and spend some additional time examining your conscience with the Corporal and Spritual Works of Mercy focusing particularly on sins of omission is a good idea. (Please note that this is 100% my personal opinion and not based on any official church recommendation of which I have awareness.)

“Today bring to Me those who do not believe in God and those who do not know Me, 

I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.“  

Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

The Spiritual Works of Mercy:

1. Admonish sinners.
2. Instruct the uninformed.
3. Counsel the doubtful.
4. Comfort the sorrowful.
5. Be patient with those in error.
6. Forgive offenses.
7. Pray for the living and the dead.

May the Morning Star which never sets find this flame still burning:
Christ, that Morning Star, who came back from the dead,
And she his peaceful light on all mankind,
Your Son who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.

“Today bring to Me all Devout and Faithful Souls,

and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls brought me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were a drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness.” 

Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.

What is the Divine Mercy Message?

“Today bring to Me the Souls of Priests and Religious,

and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind.”

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service,* that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.