08/19/2026
A Message from Deacon John: Reverence and Respect
If you visit the Franciscan Monastery in Northeast DC, you may see a display of the Crown of Thorns, which we recall in the Third Sorrowful Mystery of the Holy Rosary. The crown is fashioned from a plant that grows in Jerusalem, and its thorns are more than three inches long.
During a recent Lent, we had a presentation on the Shroud of Turin. The presenter explained that Jesus suffered hundreds ofwounds, including many injuries caused when the Crown of Thorns was forcibly pressed onto his head. Many of these wounds are visible on the image of the Shroud.
When I look at the crucifix in our church, I sometimes feel that it is somewhat sanitized. It does not fully portray the brutality of Christ's Passion. Fr. Stack has spoken of a church with a more historically accurate crucifix, so graphic in its depiction of
Christ's suffering that the pastor chose to cover it with a cloth.
At times, reflecting on what Jesus endured for our salvation brings tears to my eyes.
We have two candles that burn in the church most of the time, one yellow and one red. The yellow one signifies that there is a first-class relic of St. Anthony behind it. The red one indicates that Jesus, the consecrated host, is in the tabernacle. Not a wafer of bread but actually Jesus. After all he suffered for us during his Passion, He has earned my/our respect and reverence!
Three of our most recent Popes have all emphasized the importance of reverence and silence in church:
• St. John Paul II: "The Eucharist is too great a gift to tolerate ambiguity and depreciation."
• Pope Benedict XVI: "The liturgy is celebrated for God and not for ourselves.
• Pope Francis: "Fraternity is beautiful...but it is the encounter with Jesus that gives meaning to our gathering. We must rediscover and value silence."
Their words remind us that silence helps prepare our hearts to encounter Christ. At times, however, our church can seem
more like a social hall than a place of prayer and reverence. At a recent meeting two concerns were discussed.
The first concern, those who receive Holy Communion and then leave Mass before the final procession and before the cantor has finished the closing hymn. Fr. Russell jokingly referred to them as "body snatchers." While the remark was made in humor, it raises an important question; is leaving early a reverent response to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? Is it respectful to our pastor, the cantor, and the congregation who remain until the liturgy has concluded? We are blessed to have Padua Hall next door, where we can gather after Mass to renew our friendships and build our parish community.
The second concern is even more serious. If you visit an older church, you may notice an altar rail with a gate. Its purpose is to separate the sanctuary-the sacred space around the altar-from the nave,
where the congregation gathers.
Out of reverence for the Blessed Sacrament, access to the sanctuary and sacristy has traditionally been limited. Recently, during
Eucharistic Adoration, someone was
observed entering the sanctuary and then the sacristy, retrieve a bottle of water bottle before returning to the church. Even if well-intentioned, entering these sacred areas
without permission is not appropriate.
Please do not enter the sanctuary or sacristy unless you have been invited or have an official ministry that requires you to do so. If you need to speak with Father or one of the deacons, knock on the side door in the hallway leading to Padua Hall.
May we all strive to deepen our reverence for the Real Presence of Christ and help preserve an atmosphere of prayer, silence, and respect within our church.
