Monthly Archives: December 2009

More on Church Attendance

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 24, 2009

Don’t be tempted to indulge yourself in not coming to church at the beginning of the service or leaving before it is over. Remember, each service is a complete unit and it can provide its full benefit only in its entirety. Just as food is tasty only when it is fully seasoned, so the service [...]

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Church Attendance

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 14, 2009

When the time comes, and especially the time put aside for God and His temple, a Feast Day or the hour of Divine Services, hurry to tear your self away from business and worldly cares and voluntarily and zealously offer yourself to God in His church. When you enter the church bring to mind the [...]

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Great Vespers as preperation for Divine Liturgy

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 5, 2009

We properly begin the weekend cycle of Divine Services with attendance at Great Vespers on Saturday evening. In order to understand what Feast or Saint is being commemorated at the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, it is absolutely necessary to attend the Vespers Service and hear the hymnody which both praises and describes the meaning [...]

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The Virtue of Punctuality

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 5, 2009

The time to arrive for any Divine Service is before it is scheduled to begin. Sadly, it has become the custom of most Orthodox Christians to come to Church late. We are not speaking here, about occasional tardiness due to unforeseen circumstances, but the habitual practice of being late due to a lack of concern [...]

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Disposing of Religious Refuse

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 5, 2009

As a general rule, things that are blessed or otherwise considered “holy” are never to be thrown away.  They are to be disposed of properly and respectfully, usually by burning. The following is a brief summary of how various holy things should be properly disposed of. Holy Communion: Any porous material that gets Holy Communion [...]

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Some Practical Reminders Concerning Holy Communion

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 4, 2009

When we receive the Immaculate Mysteries, we should always make sure that the communion cloth is held carefully under our chin, that our head is slightly tilted back and that our mouth is opened well enough in advance for the Priest to place the Spoon in it easily. We then close our lips on the [...]

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More Practical Reminders Concerning Holy Communion

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 3, 2009

Behold, I approach the Divine Communion. O Creator, let me not be burnt by communicating, For Thou art Fire, consuming the unworthy. But, rather, purify me of all impurity. ~Prayer of Saint Symeon the New Theologian If we approach Holy Communion with the above thoughts in mind, we will reap all of the spiritual blessings [...]

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