Parishioners (and non-parishioners) are encouraged to bring their own beeswax candles to be blessed at the High Mass at 7 pm on Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Please place your candles on the floor in front of the door that goes to the courtyard on the Epistle side of the church.
From The Liturgical Year by Dom Guéranger:
The mystery of today's ceremony has frequently been explained by liturgists, dating from the 7th century. According to St Ivo of Chartres, the wax, which is formed from the juice of flowers by the bee, always considered as the emblem of virginity, signifies the virginal flesh of the Divine Infant, who diminished not, either by his conception or his birth, the spotless purity of his Blessed Mother. The same holy Bishop would have us see, in the flame of our Candle, a symbol of Jesus, who came to enlighten our darkness. St Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, speaking on the same mystery, bids us consider three things in the blest Candle: the wax, the wick, and the flame. The wax, he says, which is the production of the virginal bee, is the Flesh of our Lord; the wick, which is within, is his Soul; the flame, which bums on the top, is his Divinity.
Formerly, the faithful looked upon it as an honour to be permitted to bring their wax tapers to the Church, on this Feast of the Purification, that they might be blessed together with those which were to be borne in the procession by the Priests and sacred Ministers; and the same custom is still observed in some congregations. It would be well if Pastors were to encourage this practice, retaining it where it exists, or establishing it where it is not known. There has been such a systematic effort made to destroy, or at least to impoverish, the exterior rites and practices of religion, that we find, throughout the world, thousands of Christians who have been insensibly made strangers to those admirable sentiments of faith, which the Church alone, in her Liturgy, can give to the body of the faithful. Thus, we shall be telling many what they have never heard before, when we inform them that the Church blesses the Candles, not only to be carried in the Procession, which forms part of the ceremony today, but also for the use of the faithful, inasmuch as they draw, upon such as use them with respect, whether on sea or on land, as the Church says in the Prayer, special blessings from heaven. These blest Candles ought also to be lit near the bed of the dying Christian, as a symbol of the immortality merited for us by Christ, and of the protection of our Blessed Lady.
Sponsorships needed for parish library
We are expanding the parish library with 75 volumes of the works of the greatest doctors of the church. If you would like to underwrite either the works of St. Thomas Aquinas or St. Augustine, we would be very grateful, and you would be doing a great service for the parish. A 31-volume set of St. Thomas, in a Latin-English side-by-side edition, costs $1,706 by the Aquinas Institute. A 44-volume set of St. Augustine with a new translation by New City Press cost$1,827.60 (a 40 percent discount). Both publishers still have some volumes to complete translating and printing before either set is complete, but the Augustine set is nearly complete, and the Aquinas set is more than half-way complete. These books are not to be checked out of the library, but to remain in the library and enjoyed on site.
Sacred Heart Perpetual Adoration Chapel:
The Sacred Heart Perpetual Adoration Chapel is the adoration chapel for the Dauphin Deanery. Adorers are needed from all the parishes in the deanery. Sacred Heart Chapel is under the guardianship of St. Margaret Mary Parish and you can find the chapel at 2836 Herr St., across from the St. Margaret Mary Parish School. Come and spend time with Christ in His chapel. You can stop in for a few minutes, become a committed adorer for a weekly hour, join an adorer as a prayer partner, or offer to be a substitute adorer. Whatever your availability there is a place for you at the chapel. Information please contact theway46@hotmail.com.
Legion of Mary:
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification:..." (First Epistle of St. Paul to the Thessalonians Chpt 4, vs 3). This is the goal of the Legion of Mary, to sanctify its members by actively bringing souls to Christ through the work of Our Lady. Please consider becoming an active member. Guests are always welcome to attend meetings. Contact Dan Jones at legionofmary@stlawrence.cc for more information. Meetings will be Mondays, at 5:45pm
Calling all Altar Boys and those interested:
Next meeting is Saturday, February 12. All boys of the parish who have received their First Holy Communion are invited to become altar boys. To do so, attend one of the monthly meetings, which happen on the second Saturday of each month after the 9am Mass.
Coffee and Doughnut Socials:
We are very happy to once again have our socials in the basement after the 9 am and 11 am Masses. We invite everyone to come and get to know your fellow parishioners. To get to the basement, please go through the courtyard (through the door on the Epistle side of the Church), or by exiting the front of the church and entering through the exterior door on Buttonwood Street.
Inquiry Class Reminder:
If you are not Catholic and are interested in Catholicism, or if you know of anyone who is at all interested, we hold an Inquiry class every Monday at 6pm in the school building behind church. This is a no commitment class and all one needs to do is show up. If you have questions, you are welcome to contact the office at contact@stlawrence.cc.
Openings in the Choir at St. Lawrence:
The choir has openings for additional dedicated volunteers and two qualified section leaders. Members are expected to be available for Thursday evening rehearsals, Sunday 11am Masses throughout the year, and for other important Feast Days as notified. Volunteers with previous choral experience are preferred, but those with strong desire may be considered at the discretion of the Music Director. Section Leader positions are available for Alto, and Tenor; all applicants must audition and demonstrate strong vocal musicianship. Inquiries can be directed to Paul Thomas May at music@stlawrence.cc
Music Lessons:
Would you like to have your children enrolled in music lessons? The State Street Academy (SSA), which is located in the St. Lawrence lower level, accepts students for a semester-length course of lessons in an instrument of choice with a recital at the end of the semester. There are skilled teachers for lessons in piano, violin, and voice among other instruments. In the coming semester the SSA will be able to offer instruction in harp if there is enough interest. For further inquiries on price and/or to reserve a spot for harp lessons, please send an email to Paul Thomas May at music@stlawrence.cc.
Sunday Socials: Help still needed!
Please consider helping with our Sunday Socials after the 9am and11am Mass. The goal is to have many volunteers so that volunteers only have to do their duty once every month or two.