St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish

Wednesdays at 6:00 PM (unless otherwise noted) in the parish center at St. John the Baptist.  Please contact the office if you would like a workbook and/or online access.

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While we don't have a large high school presence at St. John the Baptist, we'd happily connect you with Kevin Molm (kmolm@diocesehelena.org; 406.389.7055) in the Chancery Offices if you would like more information on how to get involved with CYC (Catholic Youth Coalition) Board.

For information on Legedary Lodge, the diocesan youth summer camp, visit the website.

If you'd like to help organize high school catechesis and activities, contact the parish office!

Sign up for the CD/Mp3 of the month Club here!

Check out the Lighthouse Catholic Media Kiosks at our each church where you can find CDs, books, and DVDs!

The Precepts of the Church, originating from Catholicism's moral and doctrinal foundations, are the duties of every Catholic.
1. Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation and abstain from servile labor (Canon 1247).
2. Confess your sins at least once a year (Canon 989).
3. Receive the Holy Eucharist at least once a year (Canon 920 §1).
4. Observe the days of fasting and abstinence (Canon 1249).
5. Provide for the needs of the Church (Canon 222 §1).

Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation and abstain from servile labor.
The full text of Canon 1247 reads:  "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass; they are also to abstain from those labors and business concerns which impede the worship to be rendered to God, the joy which is proper to the Lord's Day, or the proper relaxation of mind and body."

Notice that we are required to "participate in the Mass" on Sundays and holy days, not receive the Eucharist on every Sunday and holy day.  Even when we are not in a state of grace to receive the Most Holy Eucharist, we are still obliged to participate in the Mass for the Mass serves a dual purpose:  the glorification of God and the sanctification of man.

Current Holy Days of Obligation in the US:
- Sunday (Solemnity)
- Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
     08 December
- Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
     25 December
- Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
     01 January
- Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
     Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter OR Seventh Sunday of Easter (varies by diocese but most are the latter)
- Solemnity of the Assumption
     15 August
- Solemnity of All Saints
     01 November

FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION
Holy days listed in Canon 1246 that are not days of obligation in the US:
- Epiphany
    06 January
- Corpus Christi (Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ)
     Thursday after Trinity Sunday (which is the first Sunday after Pentecost)
- St. Joseph
     19 March
- Sts. Peter and Paul
     29 June

In accord with Canon 1246 §2, some holy days in the diocese of the US have been transferred to Sunday: the Epiphany, the Ascension (in some dioceses), and Corpus Christi.  Hence the absence of them in the US list of holy days since they are covered by the obligation to participate in Mass on Sundays.  The Solemnities of St. Joseph and Sts. Peter and Paul have been abolished as holy days in the US (digging up more info on that).  Furthermore, in the US, the obligation to participate in Mass on Mary, Mother of God, the Assumption, and All Saints is abrogated (lifted) when the holy day falls on a Saturday or Monday.  Be that as it may, it is praiseworthy to observe the holy days even when the obligation has been lifted.

ABSTAINING FROM SERVILE LABOR
Relax.  This doesn't mean you cannot turn your oven on.  While servile labor may have originally been defined as work oriented to sustaining earthly existence or occupation, it has come to mean something different today.  Instead of forbidding any activity that requires physical exertion, we consider the orientation of the work.  That is to say, why are we doing it?  For an accountant, lawn work, which is traditionally considered a servile activity, might be recreational.  An accountant should, however, avoid doing tax returns on Sunday.

Confess your sins at least once a year.
(more info forthcoming)

Receive the Holy Eucharist at least once a year.
"This precept must be fulfilled during the Easter season unless it is fulfilled for a just cause at some other time during the year" (Canon 920 §2).  If you are unsure what classifies as "just cause," please speak with the Pastor.

Observe the days of fasting and abstinence.
FASTING
Current regulations in the US require fasting on:
- Ash Wednesday
- Good Friday

The Church has always encouraged fasting on Wednesdays (the day Judas betrayed our Lord) and Fridays (Christ's passion and death).  Fasting on Saturdays is often practiced in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and in preparation for devout keeping of the Sunday solemnity.  The Church specifically recommends fasting on Holy Saturday.

Fasting is obligatory from age 18 to 59, inclusive.  According to the Church's current norms, fasting means eating only one full meal per day.  Two smaller snacks may be eaten, sufficient to maintain one's strength, but they must not equal a full meal when combined.  No food may be taken between meals.  Expectant mothers, the sick, and those whose health or work would be seriously affected are not bound to fast.

ABSTINENCE
Every Friday throughout the year is a day of penance (Canon 1250) in remembrance of Good Friday and Christ's crucifixion.  As such, every Friday throughout the year is a day of abstinence, unless the Friday falls on a solemnity.  That's right, folks.  It's not just a Lent thing.  That being said, the US bishops conference obtained permission from the Holy See for Catholics in the US to substitute some other penitential or charitable work on non-Lenten Fridays if they so choose.  Lenten Fridays remain days of obligatory abstinence (i.e. you cannot substitute some other penitential work).

Abstinence means no meat (flesh and organs of mammals and fowl), meat gravy, or meat soup may be taken.  Abstinence is binding from age 14.

In the US, abstinence is required on:
- Ash Wednesday
- Fridays in Lent
- Non-Lenten Fridays, unless some other penitential work is substituted

"[...] pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance" (Canon 1252).

A BRIEF NOTE ON FORMER OBSERVANCES
It is praiseworthy to continue former penitential observances even if they are no longer obligatory.  Penance rectifies our self-centeredness, makes reparation for sin, strengthens our wills, and guides us in the footsteps of Christ.  It can be a pure form of love for God and can be offered for the conversion of sinners and for the holy souls in purgatory (TAN Books 2021 Saints Calendar).

Ember Days were former days of fast and partial abstinence (meat permitted only at the main meal) for the sanctification of the four seasons and for obtaining God's blessing on the clergy.  Ember Days are the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of the third week of Advent, the first full week of Lent, the week after Pentecost, and the third full week of September.

Former days of fasting and abstinence:
- Holy Saturday
- Vigil of the Immaculate Conception
- Vigil of Christmas

Former days of fasting and partial abstinence:
- Weekdays of Lent (full abstinence on Friday)
- Vigil of Pentecost

Provide for the needs of the Church.
(more info forthcoming)


Sources:  TAN Books 2021 Saints Calendar, Publisher's Notes; Codex Iuris Canonici (CIC; Code of Canon Law); Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC); this commentary from Central Macomb Vicariate (I think) for which the author link does not work

Wednesday mornings at 7:15 AM in the parish center at St. John the Baptist.  Please refer to the calendar for the most up-to-date schedule.
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