Pastor's Blog

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 on it must be burned, including any clothing.  Mothers and fathers should keep a cloth diaper or something similar over their shoulder in case their child spits up after Communion. The cloth is then be given to the Priest to be burned. Any non-porous material that gets Holy Communion on it should be given to the Priest to be carefully cleaned thrice with soap and water.

Other things that are to be burned: Old paper/wooden icons, wooden crosses, palms/pussy willows; Tissue/paper towel that has been used to wipe Holy Chrism, Holy Unction Oil, or anointing oil (from vigil); Tissue/paper towel that held Prosphora/Antidoron and has crumbs on it or which was used to trim/clean vigil lamps.

Note: Please do not keep items to be burned in a closed plastic bag.  This holds in moisture and causes mold and decay.  Also, some people have the practice of burning/burying remnant scraps of blessed Pascha food, cups/spoons use for kollyva, stems from blessed grapes, etc.  This is not a church rule and need not be done.

Other: Holy water can be poured into potted houseplants or onto a garden or wooded area in a location that is not walked over; Antidoron crumbs or flowers from the chapel can likewise be put into a non-trodden area.

There is a small, brass can in the back of the chapel which is reserved for the items listed above. Feel free to place any of your religious refuse in to be burned and disposed of properly. Please do not use this can for any other refuse.

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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 Spoon as the Priest communes us, and allow him to draw the Spoon out, with our lips closed, thus wiping the Spoon clean. We should never pull our heads away while the spoon is still in our mouths. We then carefully wipe our lips on the communion cloth and reverently withdraw from the Holy Chalice to take the Antidoron.

The most critical concern for us when we commune is to make certain that we do nothing that might accidentally tip or knock the Holy Chalice or Spoon from the Priest’s hand. As well, when we partake of the Antidoron, we should be very careful not to let any crumbs drop to the floor.

After the final blessing, the Communion Prayers of Thanksgiving are read by the Readers. If we have been accounted worthy to receive the Immaculate Mysteries, we stay quietly in the Church contemplating the Mysteries of God and His mercy, as the prayers exhort us to do. We should refrain from greeting friends and acquaintances until after we have left the Church proper. The Priest is still consuming the Mysteries which remained and is cleaning the Chalice. Our Lord is still present in the Altar. An atmosphere of quiet reverence, therefore, should always be maintained within the Church.

Many adults are already aware of these basic rules of piety however it is important that they also teach them to their children.

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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 which Christ bestows upon His faithful servants. If, however, we are negligent and careless when receiving the Divine Fire, our communion is unto judgment and condemnation.

Therefore, after we commune, we should be very careful about putting anything in our mouth that we do not intend to swallow. It is possible for some of the Holy Mysteries still to be on our teeth or in our mouth, so we should always be watchful, after communing:

  1. Not to smoke (an unhealthy and unclean practice which Christians must avoid anyway) or chew gum at any time for the next few hours.
  2. To train small children not to put their fingers in their mouths.
  3. Not to spit for any reason.
  4. Not to brush one’s teeth or to gargle–both of which involve spitting–before evening, or at least until several hours have passed and one has eaten a meal.
  5. If you are ill and are vomiting, you should not commune unless your illness is life-threatening. If you suddenly become ill after communing, carefully clean up the vomit and bury it in a safe place that will not be stepped on.

Note: All Orthodox faithful are encouraged to come forward after the dismissal to venerate the Holy Cross and receive Antidoron from the Priest. Some Orthodox do not allow those who have communed and already taken Antidoron to come forward at this time, however this is not a church rule and is not practiced in our parish.

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Cases of Childlessness

By Fr. Luke | Published: October 14, 2008

—Geronta, a husband and wife that both have Mediterranean anemia [1] asked us if they should try to have children. We told them to ask their spiritual father.
—Spiritual fathers should not tell such couples not to have children. They must guide them in philotimo, so as to struggle in abstinence (to abstain), and with discernment grant them economia.
—Geronta, there are couples who, although they live very spiritually and want to have children, are not able.
—The reason God does not give children to some is so that they will love all the children of the world as their own and help in their spiritual rebirth. There was once a man without children but, when he would walk out of his house, all the children of his neighborhood would run to him and surround him with such love. They wouldn’t let him leave and go to his job. See, God didn’t give him his own children but graced him with the blessing of loving all the children of his neighborhood as a father and in his own way to help them spiritually. The judgments of God are fathomless. Read more →

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Human Logic and the Will of God for Childbearing

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 13, 2007

Oftentimes couples express to me their insecurity regarding the topic of childbearing, and they ask my opinion. Some only want one or two children, while others want to have many. It would, however, be to their advantage to leave the issue of childbearing to God—to entrust their lives to divine providence and not try to implement their own plan. They must have faith that God, Who cares for the birds of the air, will care much more for their children. There was once a sailor who married at eighteen years old. He was poor, and so was the girl he married. They rented a basement to live in. The girl also found a little work. In this way they lived quite sparingly. Just imagine it: for a table they used a leftover crate from some peaches they once bought. Later they began having children, living very frugally in order to raise them. And yet, little by little, they became prosperous homeowners. Read more →

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Difficulties in Childbearing

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 12, 2007

—Geronta, if a woman is not Orthodox, and if she is not able to conceive a child, is it alright for her to wear the belt we have blessed on the holy relics of St. Arsenios? [1]

—Does she believe in the power of the Saint or does she think that it will help in some magical way? If she believes in the Saint, it’s alright for her to wear it.

For some women who aren’t able to conceive children, the spiritual laws are at work, because they didn’t start families when they should have. They become very picky, “No, he has this problem and the other guy has these problems.” So, they make a promise to someone; but then they see someone else, so later they say “no” to the one to whom they had originally made a promise–and he, instead of seeing it as a blessing that she left him, goes and commits suicide. Eh, what kind of family is a woman like this going to make? Other women aren’t able to have children because in their younger years they lived a wild life. Then others are troubled by their diet. Many foods contain lots of drugs and hormones. Read more →

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Saints Joakeim and Anna are the Most Dispassionate Couple

By Fr. Luke | Published: December 6, 2007

—Geronta, tell us about Saints Joakeim and Anna, the ancestors of God. You once started to speak of them.

—Since I was little I’ve had a great veneration for the Holy Ancestors. Surely I’ve told one of you about wanting them to give me the name Joakeim when they made me a monk. We owe them so much! Saints Joakeim and Anna are the most dispassionate couple ever! They didn’t have a fleshly mind in the slightest. Read more →

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Through Asceticism, Man Becomes Immaterial (Part II)

By Fr. Luke | Published: November 30, 2007

I know a layman who became holy with the asceticism he practiced. Yes, not many years ago there was a man and his son who worked for years on the Holy Mountain. Later, a good job opportunity presented itself back in his homeland, and the man decided to leave and take his son with him so that the entire family could be together again. His son, however, had been greatly affected by the ascetic life of the monks; and remembering the worldly life with its many pressures, he didn’t want to follow his father and return to the world. “Father, since you have other children,” he told him, “leave just one of them in the Garden of the Panagia.” Because he insisted, his father was forced to leave him. That little warrior was illiterate, but he was very softhearted and had much philotimo and simplicity. He considered himself totally unworthy to become a monk because he thought that he wouldn’t be able to fulfill his monastic duties. Read more →

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Through Asceticism, Man Becomes Immaterial

By Fr. Luke | Published: November 15, 2007

—Geronta, you once had told us: “A blockade is needed in spiritual warfare.” What did you mean?

—In a war they try to blockade the enemy. They surround him, confine him within the city walls, and deprive him of food. Then they cut off his water: for if the enemy is left without basic supplies and ammunition, he will be forced to surrender. Therefore, I mean to say that in the same way, with fasting and vigil, the devil is disarmed and retreats. “Through fasting, vigil, and prayer, thou didst receive heavenly gifts…”, as the hymn says. [1] Read more →

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Work Doesn’t Make the Man

By Fr. Luke | Published: November 7, 2007

—Geronta, when someone feels strained at work, what is to blame?

—Perhaps they don’t approach their work with good thoughts? If they confront it rightly, then whatever job they do will seem like a festival.

—Geronta, when someone is upset because his job is difficult or distasteful—for example, he works construction or washes dishes at a restaurant—how should he find peace? Read more →

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