“The Law of Prayer is the Law of Belief”

Dear Friends in Christ,

There is an ancient maxim of the Church, attributed to a fifth-century theologian named Prosper of Aquitaine, that states, “The law of prayer is the law of belief.” In other words, the way in which we worship at Mass reflects what we believe as Catholics. But what happens when the majority of Catholics no longer believe in what is celebrated on Sunday? A Pew Research Survey from 2019 found that 7 in 10 American Catholics interviewed did not believe that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Eucharist but rather viewed the Eucharist as a symbol. One does not have to be an expert in statistical analysis to see a correlation between the lack of belief in the true presence and a decline in weekly Mass attendance, not only here in America, but throughout Europe as well.

How can we cultivate a culture of worship that reflects our belief in the true presence, which is meant to be the source and summit of our faith? Will deepening our worship and reception of Our Blessed Lord increase our faith and Mass attendance? I firmly believe it will! To that end, after consultation with the Pastoral Council and in response to requests from parishioners, we will introduce kneelers at Communion for those who wish to receive while kneeling. While standing is now the common practice, the faithful still have the right to receive while kneeling; see the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, #160 and Redemptionis Sacramentum, #91. It is in keeping with a spirit of hospitality that we provide kneelers as well. Besides the hospitality factor, there are parishioners who wish to receive while kneeling but are physically unable to do so without a kneeler.

The second change we wish to introduce is a reversion to past practice, which is the common practice in parishes throughout the world. Namely, the priest and deacon will now distribute Holy Communion from the center aisle, not from the side aisles. In consulting the Pastoral Council and other members of the parish, it was agreed that this change made sense and that any logistical issues could be worked out over time. Church architecture has always given prominence to the sanctuary and the center aisle as a focal point. This can be seen throughout the Mass and is powerfully represented on Good Friday when the Church asks that only one cross be used for veneration during that most solemn part of the liturgy. Thank you for your patience in the weeks ahead as we get used to the new Communion line flow. I am confident that over time, the way we pray will not only reflect what we believe but will attract new members to our parish as well. Please, God, this increase in Eucharistic reverence will take root in the hearts of our children and bear the fruit of priestly vocations as well.

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, pray for us!

In Christ,

Rev. Jesse Bolger

Pastor

Going on in the Community

TRANSITUS – St. Francis of Assisi Celebration
Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore will preach at a Franciscan prayer service at the Shrine of St. Anthony on the 800th anniversary of the night St. Francis transitioned to eternal life. St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Order, died on the night of Oct. 3, 1226. Every year, around sunset on that day, Franciscan Friars around the world pray the Transitus, a special prayer service commemorating their founder’s death. Transitus at the Shrine of St. Anthony this year will be Oct. 3 at 7 p.m., hosted by the Franciscan Friars Conventual in the Shrine Chapel. Light refreshments will be offered after the service in the Shrine Dining Room. Please RSVP if you plan to attend to help Shrine staff prepare for the evening: secure.shrineofstanthony.org/a/transitus.

CRAB FEAST FOR HAITI
Join the Mortel High Hopes for Haiti Foundation on Oct. 3, 2026, in Baltimore for the 8th Annual Crab Feast for Haiti. Proceeds will help to feed and educate some of the poorest children in Haiti through the Mortel HHH’s schools, the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s mission partner in Haiti. Tickets are $95 per person, and the venue has plenty of parking! Visit highhopesforhaiti.org/event/crabs for more information.

COME AND SEE WOMEN’S RETREAT
Oct. 16–18, an opportunity for women in your parish who may be discerning a vocation to religious life to retreat and hear the Lord. The retreat will offer young women an opportunity to meet the Daughters of Charity in Emmitsburg, learn about our mission and community life, and prayerfully explore their vocation. To learn more, email sisterliz@doc.org.

WINE AT THE SHRINE
Oct. 10 from 1 to 6 p.m. Wine at the Shrine is a family-friendly fall festival on the grounds of the Shrine of St. Anthony benefiting the Franciscan Center of Baltimore and Little Portion Farm, two ministries bringing farm-fresh food to our neighbors in need. The festival includes wine, beer, and mocktail sampling, live music, food trucks, pumpkin picking, hayrides, and more. Details and tickets are available at wineattheshrine.org.