From the Pastor - Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 3, 2024

Our readings today call us to love as Christ loves.

 

In our Gospel, Jesus says, “Love one another as I have loved you.” The ways Jesus has loved us and continues to love us are endless.

 

We are called to imitate this love. And He tells us the greatest way to do this when He said, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

 

It is difficult to live that out in our humanity. Yet, it is made much easier when we faithfully love Christ. The fact of the matter is, as our love for Christ increases, so too does our capacity to love others.

 

There are countless moments when we can do just that — for instance, waking up Saturday morning to attend daily Mass instead of sleeping in, or talking to God in the car on the way to work instead of listening to music. These are simple ways to express our love for the Lord by laying down our lives for Him.

 

The more we find ways to love the Lord, the more we will find it easier to put aside our selfishness and serve others.

 

Christ’s command to love others may seem daunting. Yet, Christ would never ask something of us that we cannot live out. All we need to do is take baby steps. Ask yourself, "How can I better love Jesus right now?" for it is in loving Christ that we will better love others, and it is in loving others that we love Christ Himself. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2024

 

Pastoral Pondering

Last week I had the opportunity of spending the afternoon with my childhood pastor, the Reverend Fred Thompson. He served as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Newton, NC for over 30 years. He is now 91 years old and continues to live a fairly independent life. We lost touch when my family moved from Newton to Hickory as I began grammar school but reconnected during my undergraduate studies at Lenoir-Rhyne College. We have stayed in touch since then. Such connections from the past are very important. At least in my case, Fred knew things about my parents and my adoption that I never did, and he is always happy to share a story or two.

 

I bring this up because memory, what we refer to in the Mass as anamnesis, is essential not only to our faith but to society as a whole. Our collective memory is important. Significant events of the past are passed on from one generation to the next, and we hopefully learn from our mistakes so that we don’t repeat them.

 

In the Catholic context, we are being obedient to Christ’s command at the Last Supper, do this in memory of me.” And it is through that remembrance that we cannot the past with the present and look with hope to the future – Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again. This is why Sacred Tradition is so very important to our understanding of the Faith. That which is handed over (traditio) is essential because it forms the framework upon which the Church travels throughout the centuries.

 

The same is true in families. In the past multiple generations would live together or in close proximity to each other. Children learned about life from a variety of family members with varying degrees of lived experience and a wealth of memory. With our society becoming more transitory and human interaction being impoverished by the reality of technology, families need to be very intentional about connecting with the past. It helps us all understand who we are, why we are here and for what we were made.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • November 14, 2025
As we approach the end of the liturgical year, our readings offer a sober reminder that this life is not our aim and that God’s justice will triumph in the end. Now is the time to get our priorities in order, putting God above all else as his faithful stewards. Our Lord brings home the urgency of right priorities in our Gospel passage from Luke, reminding the people around him who were looking at the temple nearby, “All that you see here—the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” Our Lord reminds us that all in this world is passing. We must keep our focus on eternity. Yet before the eternal bliss of heaven, we should expect to be tried and tested. “Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name.” Sounds scary. But if you are living a stewardship way of life, there is nothing to fear. You have a plan in place. All you need to do is stick with it. Put our Lord first in your time, with your talents, and through your use of treasure. This way of life is not easy. But Jesus promises it will lead to eternal salvation and the joy of union with Him. “You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance, you will secure your lives.” Onward, Christian stewards, the struggle is worth the joy that awaits! Pastoral Pondering On November 4th the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released Mater Populi Fidelis, a 20-page doctrinal note which was approved by the Holy Father. The Document addresses longstanding requests for clarification on Marian titles related to Mary’s cooperation in salvation. It emphasizes Mary’s unique role as Mother of believers while safeguarding Christ’s sole mediatorship, aiming to foster authentic devotion, Catholic fidelity, and ecumenical dialogue. The Note responds to decades of proposals, including petitions for new Marian dogmas, often amplified via social media and private revelations. It draws on Scripture, Tradition (e.g., St. Augustine), and prior papal reflections, including Joseph Ratzinger's 1996 and 2002 critiques of certain titles as unclear or prone to misunderstanding. The document appreciates popular piety but cautions against expressions that could confuse the faithful or obscure Christ's centrality. It promotes "participated mediation"—Mary's supportive role in union with Christ—without equating her to the Redeemer. The document goes on to underscore “approved titles/expressions” and “discouraged titles/expressions.” Those that are encouraged include: Mother of God (Theotokos), Mother of Believers, Spiritual Mother, Mother of the Faithful People of God, and Mediatrix (in a general sense of intercession). It notes that these underscore Mary's maternal bond with Christ and the Church, directing devotion to the Son. They are biblically rooted (e.g., John 19:26-27) and foster hope, tenderness, and unity. Those titles discouraged are Co-redemptrix and Mediatrix of All Graces. It notes that these risk eclipsing Christ's unique mediation (1 Tim 2:5) and redemption; not explicitly in Scripture or early Tradition; potential for confusion or imbalance in faith, especially ecumenically. I know in my own discussions over the years; it is very easy (especially for my non-Catholic relatives) to get confused over certain Marian titles. They can certainly be explained, but as the DDF points out, those titles that require greater explanation for common understanding should be discouraged. To be sure, you can find both titles used in various Catholic resources, and the document certainly does not forbid their use. Nonetheless, it approaches the topic in a balanced and pastorally sensitive way that recognizes the importance of Marian devotion and piety while, at the same time, reminding us all of the importance supporting and encouraging doctrinal harmony.

From the Pastor - Dedication of Lateran Basilica

By John Putnam • November 7, 2025
Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome — the cathedral church of the Pope and the mother church of all Christendom. While this feast honors a sacred building, it also reminds us of a deeper truth: we, the People of God, are the living temple of His presence. In the first reading, Ezekiel describes life-giving water flowing from the temple, bringing renewal wherever it goes. This image calls us to be channels of God’s grace in the world. St. Paul tells us, “You are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you” (1 Cor 3:16). As stewards, we are entrusted with the sacred task of caring for this temple — our own hearts and our parish community — so that God’s presence may shine through us. In the Gospel, Jesus cleanses the temple, declaring that His body is the true dwelling place of God. Through our baptism, we sare in this mystery and are called to reflect God’s holiness in all we do. Today’s feast is an invitation to renew our commitment to the Church — to participate actively in her mission, to serve generously, and to let our lives be signs of God’s living presence in the world. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering Last year, I noted that the norm for the distribution of Communion in the United States is standing and on the hand. I brought it up because parishioners were questioning why Bishop Martin, when he visited the parish, did not utilize the altar rails. This is not the norm universally, but each conference of bishops is asked to adopt that posture which is to be normative. The USCCB website states the following: The General Instruction asks each country's Conference of Bishops to determine the posture to be used for the reception of Communion and the act of reverence to be made by each person as he or she receives Communion. In the United States, the body of Bishops has determined that "[t]he norm... is that Holy Communion is to be received standing, unless an individual member of the faithful wishes to receive Communion while kneeling" and that a bow is the act of reverence made by those receiving (no. 160). The right to receive Communion on the tongue or on the hand and whether to receive kneeling or standing belongs to the individual. The normative practice, however, is clear and is set by the body of bishops. https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-eucharist/the-reception-of-holy-communion-at-mass When we began offering the Traditional Latin Mass a number of years ago, we added the altar rails to meet the requirements of that particular celebration. The use of the rails gradually became the norm at the parish because more and more people started to use them. Many believe it promotes reverence and devotion. At the same time, obedience is a virtue, and I think it is important to be united with other parishes in the Diocese and return to the normative practice as noted above, which we will implement here at St. Mark on the First Sunday of Advent, November 30. ( Correction: The previous sentence was updated to clarify that this change applies only at St. Mark .) As noted above, each individual retains the right to kneel to receive the Eucharist. I also want to be clear that love and devotion for the Eucharist can be expressed in any number of ways within the life of the Church. No one can argue that the Diocese of Charlotte does not have a deep love for the Eucharist. It is the center of our lives, and it is certainly the center of our parish here at St. Mark. From our love for the Eucharist flows our commitment to effective catechesis, evangelization, and our tremendous outreach to the poor. Those things remain unchanged. Any time changes are made, especially in the liturgy, it touches people deeply. My hope is that after almost 11 years as your pastor, you know how much I love and care for you and for the liturgy entrusted to us. I simply believe that it is better that we are faithful to the liturgical norms given to us by legitimate Church authority as outlined in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. Personal preferences, including my own, which go beyond these norms should not encroach on the liturgical celebration. As our Holy Father reminds in his pontifical motto, In Illo Uno Unum (In the One (Christ) we are one), in the liturgy and in our Catholic life.