From the Pastor October 18/19

Pope Leo’s First Official Document

Several years ago, I vacationed in the west of England. One of my objectives was to visit a palatial great houses and gardens that belong to the British Nobility. I forget its name but the one I visited is rated one of the most splendid. As I toured the great house listening to an audio guide, one of the stops was before a 17th Century portrait of a past noble owner. He was identified as “George “Soandso,” 1st Lord Bosworth, 3rd Earl Carlile, Marquess of Shropshire, or some such title. I began to wonder what the hierarchy of British Nobility is. Who outranks whom? I asked one of the docents and she admitted she didn’t know but suggested I ask a more experienced guide whom I could locate in the next room. I found him and he gave me the ranking, but then he said, “I think I have that right?” Later I consulted Google and came up with articles with two different sets of rankings.

It is the same with Papal Documents. Do they have a hierarchy of importance? Last week Pope Leo XIV issued his first official document Dilexi Te, On Love for the Poor. The Vatican classified Dilexi Te as an Apostolic Exhortation. I wondered where an Apostolic Exhortation was placed in the hierarchy of papal writings. Like the ranking of British Nobility, it depends on who you ask. My research found several. I decided to follow the one I found in America Media, a Jesuit publication.

It claims the highest communication is an Apostolic Constitution. Those familiar with the documents of the 2nd Vatican Council will recall four of them were given this classification. They address important topics of faith and morals and can make pronouncements on Church dogmas. While usually the result of the input from a council of bishops the last three popes have used them as a tool of governance. 

The one most Catholics are familiar with are Encyclicals. They are addressed to the bishops of the church and through them the laity. Encyclicals usually address a serious social issue relevant around the world. Pope Francis’ 2020 letter “Fratelli Tutti” On Fraternity and Social Friendship critiqued the worldwide response to COVID 19. Pope Leo is reported to be preparing an encyclical regarding the influence of Artificial Intelligence on the world.

Below an encyclical comes an Apostolic Exhortation. They don’t explicitly define doctrine but offer encouragement to specific communities towards a goal or practice. At times they are follow up communications reemphasizing or clarifying the topic discussed in an encyclical. Next comes a series of communications that offer governance to the Church. The most important is called an Apostolic Letter. Apostolic Letters address important issues of governance and administration in the Church. Below the rank of Apostolic Letters comes Decrees which are statements by the pope or a Vatican office that clarifies existing Church law. While usually released by a Vatican office they are signed by the pope. Followed them comes “Motu proprio” decrees. They are documents released on the pope’s own authority. They usually tweak Church practices and laws or extend particular rights and practices to certain church groups. 

Finally, the lowest level of papal announcements are his homilies, talks given at the Sunday Angelus in St. Peter’s Square and Wednesday audiences, or off the cuff remarks to the press on the return flight from an overseas journey. You might think I forgot the famous Papal Bull. Well, that is the overall classification given to any written document signed by the pope and marked with a wax seal. Bull is Latin for seal. I started out intending to write about Pope Leo’s Apostolic Exhortation but it will have to wait until next week. 

Up for A Challenge?

The Lord is building the house we call Holy Redeemer Church. The 2025 Capital Campaign is underway. It has already received donations and pledges of $240,000. About a third of the way to our goal. A generous donor has a challenge for us. They are willing to match donations to the 2025 Capital Campaign, dollar for dollar, up to a total match of $50,000. The challenge is on until the middle of November. 

Registered parishioners who have yet to donate to the Capital Campaign received a second letter from Fr. Sullivan, a project brochure, and pledge card asking for your gift to the Capital Campaign. Over the next three years we will raise $750,000 for several projects. 

In 2022, the parish raised $1.2 million dollars to help fund the addition for the elevator and renovations to the church. What would a truly sacrificial gift to the Capital Campaign look like for you? If you gave a gift to the 2022 Campaign, could you double or triple your gift to this campaign if you spread it over three years? I especially want to encourage parishioners who didn’t contribute in 2022. It is evident from the results; the money was well spent. Please prayerfully reflect on your gift to the Capital Campaign and make it as generous as possible. 

October Is Pro-Life Month

October is Pro-Life Month and we would like to call your attention to an important event planned for the month. 

The Massachusetts Legislature came close to legalize physician assisted suicide during last year’s session. It will most certainly be considered again this coming year. Everyone needs to be better educated on this issue. Canada legalized physician assisted suicide in recent years and it has had a harrowing effect on its health care system. 

The Cape Cod Pro-Life Alliance is sponsoring a talk by Fr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk (Fr. Tad), a priest of the Fall River Diocese and Director of the National Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, a nationally recognized speaker on physician assisted suicide and end-of-life care, on Wednesday Oct. 22, 5:45 PM at Corpus Christi Parish Center, East Sandwich. Admission is free, pizza and refreshments will be provided. Come learn more about this issue.

Pray the Rosary in October

October is also the month of the Rosary. Pope Leo has asked every Catholic to pray the Rosary for peace in our world, especially Gaza and Ukraine, every day of October. Please plan to pray this intention this month. 

Celebrating the Sacrament of the Sick

We will celebrate the Sacrament of the Sick at all Masses this weekend. The Sacrament is often familiarly called “The Last Rites” but it isn’t meant for only the dying. It is a Sacrament of Healing and intended for the elderly, those suffering from chronic illnesses or those anticipating surgery or other serious medical procedures. If you fall into any of those criteria plan to participate in the celebration after the homily next weekend.