Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception – Page 2

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News about the Cathedral and the Albany diocese.

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April 26, Visit of the Major Relic of St. Jean Marie Vianney

April 26, visit of the major relic of St. Jean Marie Vianney, patron saint of parish priests--his in-corrupt heart--to the Cathedral of the Immaculate...

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A Concert of Sacred Music

HAYDN Missa Cellensis in honor of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary A Concert of Sacred Music honoring the Patroness of the Cathedral and the Diocese of...

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From Fr. LeFort

First Friday Devotions Having recently completed my first year here with you, and being able to share my priestly ministry here at the Cathedral with Fr....

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Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

4 weeks ago

Join us at 12:15 p.m. for a livestream Piano Recital by Cathedral Organist and Associate Director of Music Dr. Pablo Gorin.

www.rcda.org/livestream

A PDF of the program is available here:
rcda145-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/cathedralmusic_rcda_org/EXsPrg_UJnhAoET6t-gCSYIBecOWQO6J… … See MoreSee Less

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Comment on Facebook 165150043844980_1175619882797986

Pablo, thank you so much for treating us to a superb Recital, Audrey & I very much enjoyed attending!! We've heard so many great things about your Piano Works, & you definitely did not disappoint us!!!!

Fabulous job Pablo!

Beautiful, Pablo!

Bravo, Pablo! What a treat to hear these iconic pieces performed so beautifully! I’m so glad I was able to attend. Thank you so much! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

1 month ago

For reflection on the Eucharist, we share the final paragraphs specifically discussing the Sacrament of the Eucharist in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The Eucharist – "Pledge of the Glory To Come”

1402 In an ancient prayer the Church acclaims the mystery of the Eucharist: "O sacred banquet in which Christ is received as food, the memory of His Passion is renewed, the soul is filled with grace and a pledge of the life to come is given to us." If the Eucharist is the memorial of the Passover of the Lord Jesus, if by our communion at the altar we are filled "with every heavenly blessing and grace,” then the Eucharist is also an anticipation of the heavenly glory.

1403 At the Last Supper the Lord Himself directed His disciples’ attention toward the fulfillment of the Passover in the kingdom of God: "I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” Whenever the Church celebrates the Eucharist she remembers this promise and turns her gaze "to Him who is to come." In her prayer she calls for His coming: "Marana tha!" "Come, Lord Jesus!” "May Your grace come and this world pass away!”

1404 The Church knows that the Lord comes even now in His Eucharist and that He is there in our midst. However, His presence is veiled. Therefore we celebrate the Eucharist "awaiting the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ,” asking "to share in your glory when every tear will be wiped away. On that day we shall see You, our God, as You are. We shall become like You and praise You for ever through Christ our Lord.”

1405 There is no surer pledge or dearer sign of this great hope in the new heavens and new earth "in which righteousness dwells,” than the Eucharist. Every time this mystery is celebrated, "the work of our redemption is carried on" and we "break the one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live for ever in Jesus Christ."

Act of Spiritual Communion:
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present
in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
_______
Photo credit: Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.; flic.kr/p/2gJqpzP
Photo cropped for post. … See MoreSee Less

For reflection on the Eucharist, we share the final paragraphs specifically discussing the Sacrament of the Eucharist in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The Eucharist – Pledge of the Glory To Come”

1402 In an ancient prayer the Church acclaims the mystery of the Eucharist: O sacred banquet in which Christ is received as food, the memory of His Passion is renewed, the soul is filled with grace and a pledge of the life to come is given to us. If the Eucharist is the memorial of the Passover of the Lord Jesus, if by our communion at the altar we are filled with every heavenly blessing and grace,” then the Eucharist is also an anticipation of the heavenly glory.

1403 At the Last Supper the Lord Himself directed His disciples attention toward the fulfillment of the Passover in the kingdom of God: I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Fathers kingdom.” Whenever the Church celebrates the Eucharist she remembers this promise and turns her gaze to Him who is to come. In her prayer she calls for His coming: Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!” May Your grace come and this world pass away!”

1404 The Church knows that the Lord comes even now in His Eucharist and that He is there in our midst. However, His presence is veiled. Therefore we celebrate the Eucharist awaiting the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ,” asking to share in your glory when every tear will be wiped away. On that day we shall see You, our God, as You are. We shall become like You and praise You for ever through Christ our Lord.”

1405 There is no surer pledge or dearer sign of this great hope in the new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells,” than the Eucharist. Every time this mystery is celebrated, the work of our redemption is carried on and we break the one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live for ever in Jesus Christ.

Act of Spiritual Communion:
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present
in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
_______
Photo credit: Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.; https://flic.kr/p/2gJqpzP
Photo cropped for post.

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For reflection on the Eucharist, we share a paragraph from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s 2005 Encyclical Letter “Spe Salvi.”

18. Love of neighbour is thus shown to be possible in the way proclaimed by the Bible, by Jesus. It consists in the very fact that, in God and with God, I love even the person whom I do not like or even know. This can only take place on the basis of an intimate encounter with God, an encounter which has become a communion of will, even affecting my feelings. Then I learn to look on this other person not simply with my eyes and my feelings, but from the perspective of Jesus Christ. His friend is my friend. Going beyond exterior appearances, I perceive in others an interior desire for a sign of love, of concern. This I can offer them not only through the organizations intended for such purposes, accepting it perhaps as a political necessity. Seeing with the eyes of Christ, I can give to others much more than their outward necessities; I can give them the look of love which they crave. Here we see the necessary interplay between love of God and love of neighbour which the First Letter of John speaks of with such insistence. If I have no contact whatsoever with God in my life, then I cannot see in the other anything more than the other, and I am incapable of seeing in him the image of God. But if in my life I fail completely to heed others, solely out of a desire to be “devout” and to perform my “religious duties”, then my relationship with God will also grow arid. It becomes merely “proper”, but loveless. Only my readiness to encounter my neighbour and to show him love makes me sensitive to God as well. Only if I serve my neighbour can my eyes be opened to what God does for me and how much He loves me. The saints—consider the example of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta—constantly renewed their capacity for love of neighbour from their encounter with the Eucharistic Lord, and conversely this encounter acquired its real-ism and depth in their service to others. Love of God and love of neighbour are thus inseparable, they form a single commandment. But both live from the love of God Who has loved us first. No longer is it a question, then, of a “commandment” imposed from without and calling for the impossible, but rather of a freely-bestowed experience of love from within, a love which by its very nature must then be shared with others. Love grows through love. Love is “divine” because it comes from God and unites us to God; through this unifying process it makes us a “we” which transcends our divisions and makes us one, until in the end God is “all in all” (1 Cor 15:28).

Act of Spiritual Communion:
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present
in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
_______
Photo credit: Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.; flic.kr/p/5XsRBS
Photo cropped for post. … See MoreSee Less

For reflection on the Eucharist, we share a paragraph from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s 2005 Encyclical Letter “Spe Salvi.”

18. Love of neighbour is thus shown to be possible in the way proclaimed by the Bible, by Jesus. It consists in the very fact that, in God and with God, I love even the person whom I do not like or even know. This can only take place on the basis of an intimate encounter with God, an encounter which has become a communion of will, even affecting my feelings. Then I learn to look on this other person not simply with my eyes and my feelings, but from the perspective of Jesus Christ. His friend is my friend. Going beyond exterior appearances, I perceive in others an interior desire for a sign of love, of concern. This I can offer them not only through the organizations intended for such purposes, accepting it perhaps as a political necessity. Seeing with the eyes of Christ, I can give to others much more than their outward necessities; I can give them the look of love which they crave. Here we see the necessary interplay between love of God and love of neighbour which the First Letter of John speaks of with such insistence. If I have no contact whatsoever with God in my life, then I cannot see in the other anything more than the other, and I am incapable of seeing in him the image of God. But if in my life I fail completely to heed others, solely out of a desire to be “devout” and to perform my “religious duties”, then my relationship with God will also grow arid. It becomes merely “proper”, but loveless. Only my readiness to encounter my neighbour and to show him love makes me sensitive to God as well. Only if I serve my neighbour can my eyes be opened to what God does for me and how much He loves me. The saints—consider the example of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta—constantly renewed their capacity for love of neighbour from their encounter with the Eucharistic Lord, and conversely this encounter acquired its real-ism and depth in their service to others. Love of God and love of neighbour are thus inseparable, they form a single commandment. But both live from the love of God Who has loved us first. No longer is it a question, then, of a “commandment” imposed from without and calling for the impossible, but rather of a freely-bestowed experience of love from within, a love which by its very nature must then be shared with others. Love grows through love. Love is “divine” because it comes from God and unites us to God; through this unifying process it makes us a “we” which transcends our divisions and makes us one, until in the end God is “all in all” (1 Cor 15:28).

Act of Spiritual Communion:
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present
in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
_______
Photo credit: Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.; https://flic.kr/p/5XsRBS
Photo cropped for post.

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Comment on Facebook Fortitude (Aquinas …

For reflection on the Eucharist, we share the Holy Father Pope Francis’ 2014 Angelus address on the Solemnity of the Epiphany.

"Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning!
Today we are celebrating the Epiphany, that is, the “manifestation” of the Lord. This Solemnity is tied to the biblical narrative of the coming of the Magi from the East to Bethlehem in order to pay homage to the King of the Jews: an episode on which Pope Benedict gave a magnificent commentary in his book on the infancy of Jesus. This precise moment was the first “manifestation” of Christ to the nations. Thus, the Epiphany brings to the fore the universal opening of the salvation brought by Jesus. The Liturgy today acclaims: “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you”, because Jesus came for us all, for every nation, for everyone!

Thus, this Feast lets us see a double movement: in one direction, the movement of God towards the world, towards humanity—the whole of the history of salvation, which culminates in Jesus—and in the other, the movement of men towards God—let us think of religions, of the quest for truth, the journey of the nations toward peace, interior peace, justice, freedom. And this double movement is driven by a mutual attraction. What is it that draws God? It is love for us: we are His children, He loves us and wants to free us from evil, from sickness, from death, and to bring us to His home, to His Kingdom. “God, by His sheer grace, draws us to Himself and makes us one with Him” (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, n. 112). And from us too there arises a love, a desire: the good always draws us, truth draws us, life, happiness, beauty attracts us… Jesus is the meeting point of this mutual attraction, of this double movement. He is God and man: Jesus. God and man. But who took the initiative? God, always! God’s love always comes before our own! He always takes the initiative. He waits for us, he invites us, the initiative is always His. Jesus is God made man, made flesh, He is born for us. The new star that appears to the Magi was a sign of the birth of Christ. Had they not seen the star, these men would not have set out. The light goes before us, truth goes before us, beauty precedes us. God goes before us. The Prophet Isaiah said that God is like the flower of the almond tree. Why? Because in that region the almond is the first to flower. And God goes ever before, He is always the first to seek us, He takes the first step. God goes ever before us. His grace precedes us and this grace appeared in Jesus. He is the Epiphany. He, Jesus Christ, is the manifestation of God’s love. He is with us.

The Church stands entirely within this movement of God toward the world: her joy is the Gospel, to mirror the light of Christ. The Church is the people who have experienced this attraction and bear it within, in their hearts and in their lives. “I would like to say—sincerely—I would like to say to those who feel far from God and from the Church—I would like to say respectively—to all those who are fearful or indifferent: the Lord is also calling you to be a part of His people and He does so with deep respect and love!” (cf. ibid., n. 113). The Lord is calling you. The Lord is seeking you. The Lord is waiting for you. The Lord does not proselytize, He loves, and this love seeks you, waits for you, you who at this moment do not believe or are far away. And this is the love of God.

Let us ask God, on behalf of the whole Church, let us ask for the joy of evangelizing, for we were “sent by Christ to reveal and communicate the love of God to all men and to all peoples” (Ad Gentes, n. 10). May the Virgin Mary help us all to be missionary-disciples, little stars that mirror His light. Let us pray too that hearts be open to receiving the proclamation, and that all men and women may be “partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel” (Eph 3:6)."

Act of Spiritual Communion:
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present
in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
_______
Photo credit: Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.; flic.kr/p/Dbzziv
Photo cropped for post. … See MoreSee Less

For reflection on the Eucharist, we share the Holy Father Pope Francis 2014 Angelus address on the Solemnity of the Epiphany.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning!
Today we are celebrating the Epiphany, that is, the “manifestation” of the Lord. This Solemnity is tied to the biblical narrative of the coming of the Magi from the East to Bethlehem in order to pay homage to the King of the Jews: an episode on which Pope Benedict gave a magnificent commentary in his book on the infancy of Jesus. This precise moment was the first “manifestation” of Christ to the nations. Thus, the Epiphany brings to the fore the universal opening of the salvation brought by Jesus. The Liturgy today acclaims: “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you”, because Jesus came for us all, for every nation, for everyone!

Thus, this Feast lets us see a double movement: in one direction, the movement of God towards the world, towards humanity—the whole of the history of salvation, which culminates in Jesus—and in the other, the movement of men towards God—let us think of religions, of the quest for truth, the journey of the nations toward peace, interior peace, justice, freedom. And this double movement is driven by a mutual attraction. What is it that draws God? It is love for us: we are His children, He loves us and wants to free us from evil, from sickness, from death, and to bring us to His home, to His Kingdom. “God, by His sheer grace, draws us to Himself and makes us one with Him” (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, n. 112). And from us too there arises a love, a desire: the good always draws us, truth draws us, life, happiness, beauty attracts us... Jesus is the meeting point of this mutual attraction, of this double movement. He is God and man: Jesus. God and man. But who took the initiative? God, always! God’s love always comes before our own! He always takes the initiative. He waits for us, he invites us, the initiative is always His. Jesus is God made man, made flesh, He is born for us. The new star that appears to the Magi was a sign of the birth of Christ. Had they not seen the star, these men would not have set out. The light goes before us, truth goes before us, beauty precedes us. God goes before us. The Prophet Isaiah said that God is like the flower of the almond tree. Why? Because in that region the almond is the first to flower. And God goes ever before, He is always the first to seek us, He takes the first step. God goes ever before us. His grace precedes us and this grace appeared in Jesus. He is the Epiphany. He, Jesus Christ, is the manifestation of God’s love. He is with us.

The Church stands entirely within this movement of God toward the world: her joy is the Gospel, to mirror the light of Christ. The Church is the people who have experienced this attraction and bear it within, in their hearts and in their lives. “I would like to say—sincerely—I would like to say to those who feel far from God and from the Church—I would like to say respectively—to all those who are fearful or indifferent: the Lord is also calling you to be a part of His people and He does so with deep respect and love!” (cf. ibid., n. 113). The Lord is calling you. The Lord is seeking you. The Lord is waiting for you. The Lord does not proselytize, He loves, and this love seeks you, waits for you, you who at this moment do not believe or are far away. And this is the love of God.

Let us ask God, on behalf of the whole Church, let us ask for the joy of evangelizing, for we were “sent by Christ to reveal and communicate the love of God to all men and to all peoples” (Ad Gentes, n. 10). May the Virgin Mary help us all to be missionary-disciples, little stars that mirror His light. Let us pray too that hearts be open to receiving the proclamation, and that all men and women may be “partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel” (Eph 3:6).

Act of Spiritual Communion:
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present
in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
_______
Photo credit: Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.; https://flic.kr/p/Dbzziv
Photo cropped for post.

Likes: 4
Shares: 2
Comments: 0

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April 26, Visit of the Major Relic of St. Jean Marie Vianney

A Concert of Sacred Music

From Fr. LeFort

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