Monatsbote
January 2007
Volume 119
Issue 1
The Newsletter from Holy Trinity, "the
Dear Monatsbote Readers,
Whenever I have the privilege
of baptizing a child, I realize that our God is a God of new beginnings. Every child is a sign of God’s continuing of
the work of creation.
We are in the midst of the
Christmas season, seeing the Child in the manger at Bethlehem, a new beginning
of the mystery of Salvation.
The beginning of a New Year is
always a precious new beginning. I do
not refer only to those New Year’s resolutions that may not make it through the
month of January….or maybe they will.
New Year’s can be a time of
great spiritual renewal….. Forgiving old injuries and hurts. Making new friends. Loving growing children in new ways. Caring for elderly relatives with a sense of
dedication and gratitude.
Realizing, in this way, that
we are part of God’s continuing Providence.
In the Book of Revelation He says: “Behold I make all things NEW!”. HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR.
Fr.
Naughton
Commentary
Those of you with
sharp eyes (and who sit in the front pews) may have wondered about the very
beautiful chalice that is often used on special feasts such as Christmas,
Easter and Trinity Sunday. The
following is a reprint from the November 1945 issue of Monatsbote which provides interesting details about
this remarkable sacred vessel. --- Editor.
When the Golden Jubilee of the new church was approaching (1927) it was felt that for this occasion the parish should have a new chalice. From the start, the parishioners were told that it was not to be a gift of a single individual or a church society, but of the whole parish. Consequently all were invited to contribute gold, silver and precious stones, or cash. In the course of time, hundreds of gold rings, gold watches, chains and other gold ornaments were sent to the rectory, and, above all, gold pieces. All these things were melted and sent to a first-class firm in Germany, Messrs. Koesters & Seegers, Kevelaer, who at the request of Rev. Bernard Wildenhues, SJ had submitted an original sketch of a chalice, which was accepted by the pastor (Rev. Charles P. Gisler, SJ).
At
first it had been the intention to buy a chalice of solid silver only, but of
exquisite workmanship, to cost about $600.
But as gold, precious stones and money began to pour in from all sides,
it was decided to have a chalice of solid gold, with a large number of
jewels. It is of Roman design, of
exquisite workmanship – no factory work; everything made by hand requiring
months of labor.
The
cup is ornamented with six pictures, representing Christ the King, the
Annunciation, the Blessed Trinity in Heaven, the Baptism in the Jordan, the
Blessed Trinity with Jesus Christ Crucified, and the Transfiguration. The base contains six pictures of saints, in delicate enamel: St. Ignatius, St.
Charles Borromeo, St. Peter Canisius, St. Francis Xavier, Blessed Nicholas von
der Flue (the Swiss national saint) and the Little Flower. The artist had been expressly told not to
put the picture of the Little Flower on the chalice, but he seems to have
misunderstood the order.
The
chalice contains about one hundred fifty precious stones – pearls, rubies,
amethysts and diamonds. Stem and base,
and also the lower part of the cup, are made of the most delicate filigree
work. The whole chalice is a
masterpiece of workmanship, a worthy gift of the parishioners to the Blessed
Trinity, to whom the church is consecrated.
May the blessing of the Blessed Trinity rest upon all who have
contributed toward the chalice.
Archdiocesan Reorganization News
As of this writing there have been no official developments regarding the planned closing of Holy Trinity. Since the meeting on November 26, 2006 at which Archdiocesan spokesperson, Rev. Mark O’Connell came to tell us of the current proposal to merge Hoy Trinity with the Cathedral, to transfer the Latin Indult to Mary Immaculate of Lourdes in Newton, and to appoint a Chaplain for ethnic-German Catholics we know only that many parishioners and friends of Holy Trinity have sent letters and e-mail messages to the Cardinal, to Fr. Mark and to other officials to express their views on the subject. We understand that at least some of these messages have been circulated within the Chancery but we do not, as yet, have any sense of how they are being evaluated. December 2006 Calendar.
Reflection
In the very life of the Blessed, to be nothing in them-selves, but
vessels wherein God can pour in the fullness, and bliss, and richness, and
transporting, overpowering, overwhelming sweetness and tenderness of His Love,
and they, not of themselves, but through and with His Own Love, shall love
Himself.
Edward
Bouverie Pusey (1800-1882)
Note: Edward
Pusey was a friend of Cardinal Newman in the Oxford Movement in England in the
mid-1800’s.
January 2007 Calendar
|
Mon 1 |
Octave of the
Nativity. 12 Noon Mass in
Latin. The Mass will be offered for
Charles & Joan O’Connell. |
|
Jan 7 |
10 AM Mass in English/German. Frauenbruderschaft. The
Mass will be offered for Frank & Louise Freier. 12 Noon Low Mass in Latin. Holy Trinity Trebles.
The Mass will be offered for Virginia Teehan. Holy Trinity Trebles rehearsal
follows Noon Mass. CAS Concert. Three Kings Concert with
Sängerchor-Boston, 3:00PM Reception
in Medeiros Center to follow. |
Jan 14
|
10 AM Mass in English/German. Männerbruderschaft. The
Mass will be offered for Theresa Kaufman. 12 Noon Mass in Latin.
Holy Trinity
Latin Schola. Holy Trinity Trebles rehearsal follows Noon Mass. Holy Name Society meeting in Conference Room, 1:30 PM. |
|
Sat 20 |
Holy Trinity German Choir rehearsal, 1:00 PM. |
|
Jan 21 |
10 AM Mass in
English/German. Family Mass. Holy Trinity German Choir. The Mass will be offered for Robert Dreist. 12 Noon High Mass in
Latin. Schola Amicorum. Holy Trinity Trebles rehearsal follows Noon Mass. |
|
Sat 27 |
Holy Trinity German Choir rehearsal, 1:00 PM. |
|
Jan 28 |
10 AM Mass in English/German. Immaculate Conception Sodality. The Mass will be offered for the living and deceased members of
the Catholic Women’s Guild. 12 Noon Mass in Latin.
Preces
Cantatae. The Mass
will be offered in Thanksgiving for the fiftieth anniversary of the
ordination of Rev. Hugh H. O’Regan.
Reception in the Medeiros Center will follow the Mass. Holy Trinity Trebles rehearsal follows Noon Mass. |
Ø
Felicitations to Rev.
Hugh H. O’Regan who will celebrate the Golden Jubilee of his ordination back on
February 2, 1957 with Masses offered at Holy Trinity, St. James the Greater,
St. John the Evangelist in Wellesley (where he celebrated his first Solemn
Mass). May God grant you many more
years in His “branch of service!”
Ø
Also, all at Holy
Trinity send prayerful wishes and gratitude for the joyful sacrifice to two
Latin congregation seminarians – Edgar Perry and Stephen LeBlanc – who are in
their sacred vocation journey at Our Lady of Grace in Denton, Nebraska. Edgar has arrived at the Deaconate and will
hear “Thou are a priest forever..” in January 2008. We look forward to sharing that most special moment
Ø
From “Razzi” Syberts
comes news of her dear husband’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Edward survived successful knee surgeries
and recovered pretty well from the effects of a stroke but now requires
full-time skilled nursing for his safety.
(We recall a quiet, handsome ex-sailor who gave freely of his artistic
and mechanical talents to Holy Trinity and shared his wife’s passion for horses
in Millis where they operate a teaching equestrian farm.) “Razzi” visits him daily in a local familiar
facility. She is “still struggling with
not having him home.” Please remember
them in your prayers! (135 Forest Rd.,
Millis MA 02054.)
Ø
Holy Trinity offers deep
sympathy to the loved ones of Mary (Grueter) Lodi (among whom is her sister,
Sr. Marguerite, OSF). Mary’s final
illness was severe and lengthy. May she
now enjoy the peace of Christmas among her pre-deceased husband and family
members. R.I.P. Also: The Immaculate
Conception Sodality mourns the death of Ida Eckland, age 97. Ida had moved from the family home in Milton
some years ago to be near her sister, June, in Cherry Hill, N. J. However, she was interred in Wollaston. Kindly remember these two women of Holy
Trinity in prayer.
Ø
If you know our “lady in
white” (a.k.a. Marie Vital) you are aware of her great devotion to our Blessed
Mother, especially in the title of “Our Lady of Lourdes.” Marie procures and generously shares Lourdes
water, and its history of miracles, via small bottles which are found on the
liturgical literature table in Holy Trinity’s foyer. Born in Haiti, Marie recalls her pleasant childhood and her
sorrow at the abject poverty now rampant there. We, meanwhile, recall with gratitude the benefits of our
bountiful country. Thus, we can barely
imagine the worth of one dollar to our truly destitute Haitian brothers and
sisters. She asks for prayers only, but
we know a spare “bit o’ green” could be a lifesaver!
Ø
The Savin Hill Millers
(appropriately named) again lived up to their baking reputation this year on
Christmas Cookie Day. The milled
product flew magically, via the floury hands of Dolores, Richard, Doreen, Heidi
et al., into the oven with clocklike precision. The tally – over 3,000 scrumptious, decorated buttery gems! Many are sent to fortunate out-of-area
family and friends. How can we get on
that mailing list?
Ø
George Krim will soon be
taking another vacation – this time an “enforced” one at the New England
Baptist Hospital. In mid-January he
will undergo knee replacement surgery.
We pray all will go smoothly, George, and that your convalescence will
go swimmingly, perhaps in Florida waters!
We look forward to your return like the proverbial lion in March – once
again attacking the choir stairs and organ pedals with your inimitable style
and grace.
Ø
We would be remiss if we
didn’t acknowledge the unsung heroines and heroes of the cleaning and
decorating brigade who tackle the interior and exterior of our Kirche! Especially at Weihnachten their labors of love shine forth in the crèches,
floral placement, wreath hangings, and window candles – all quietly
accomplished. We, now non-participants
but delighted onlookers, offer our sincere gratitude.
Ø
Gratulieren
zum Geburtstag in Januar to: (3)
Linda (Kaufman) Neczypyr; (8) Nicholas
Marr; (11) Virginia Legner; (12) Michael Hager; (18) Howard Allgaier;
(21) James Mueller and Bill Ward:
(26) John Fishlein; (27) Rev.
John Ford. (For those who celebrate
this happy occasion in Heaven, please know you’re never forgotten.)
Ø It gladdens our hearts to
see new and old, familiar names on the “Good Will” page of the Monatsbote. Through a written testament of personal
devastation over Heilige Dreifaltigkeit’s tragic situation, we
learned of one of our “Mr. Anonymous” contributors. He mentioned that for some the possibility of our closing could
place one’s faith in jeopardy. What a
tragedy for our religious authorities to bear!
In solace, we offer the oft-recited and sung Prayer of St. Francis and
add: “Lord, help us keep up our
spirits!”
Ø In a lighter, but a rather
insidious note, we present the following: In February 2007, the first of the
new America’s Presidential dollar coins (a little larger than a quarter and
gold colored) will be introduced.
According to the Boston Globe, “the images will be slightly larger than
those on a quarter because space was freed up by moving some of the traditional
wording such as “In God We Trust” to the edge of the coin.” Prior to this, every coin and paper currency
of our country proudly bore this special phrase. What an affront to our Creator!
Pretty soon we’ll utter “IGST” the we say “TGIF!” This cause is probably not of Constitutional
Amendment status but a letter or e-mail of concern to the “powers that be”
might help. (How about a boycott or
girlcott! A newly “coined” word –
pardon the pun!
Christian Arts Series
On Sunday, January 7, 2007 (the Feast of the
Epiphany) Sängerchor-Boston will present a concert of carols and seasonal music
from Germany and Austria sung in German starting at 3:00 PM. In addition to compositions by Praetorius,
Cornelius and Silcher, there will be several pieces featuring the beautiful and
popular arrangements of Claus Hasbrouck, long-time Music Director of the
Sängerchor from years past. Please join us for this festive occasion,
celebrating the twelve days of Christmas at Boston’s “German Church”! Boston’s “Christmas Church” is the best place to
celebrate the Christmas Season!
|
Lectors for
English/German Masses |
|
Jan 7 |
Hildegarde Dreist |
|
Jan 14 |
Michael Hager |
|
Jan 21 |
Herbert Pflanz |
|
Jan 28 |
Richard Doucette |