MEDITATION Sunday, January 26, 2020

The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

See Worship Book 871 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

(Isaiah 9:1) On September 30 of last year, Pope Francis issued a letter declaring that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time was to be set aside every year as the “Sunday of the Word of God.” The Holy Father urged pastors to celebrate this day with special homilies, added reverence to the Scriptures in Mass, and by encouraging us to take up the Scriptures anew and find in them the treasures of God’s word for our lives. In his letter, Pope Francis spoke about how we cannot read the Bible in the same way we read any other book. “Since faith comes from hearing,” he wrote, “and what is heard is based on the word of Christ, believers are bound to listen attentively to the word of the Lord, both in the celebration of the liturgy and in their personal prayer and reflection” (Aperuit Illis, 7). This “attentive listening” means asking the Holy Spirit, who has inspired the Scriptures, to breathe life into the words we read. It means trying to silence the other voices in our minds and quiet our anxious hearts so that we can hear God’s voice speaking to us. As Pope Francis wrote, “Without the work of the Spirit, there would always be a risk of remaining limited to the written text alone.” But as we take in God’s word prayerfully, it becomes for us “the living word of God, experienced and handed down in the faith of his holy people” (9). God has a message just for you today, and that message may well be embedded in the readings you will hear at Mass. It will be something personal and inspiring. No one else will hear these readings in exactly the same way that you will. No one else will receive exactly the same message that you will. So practice the attentive listening that Pope Francis described. What is he saying to you? How will the “great light” of God’s word shine in your heart today (Isaiah 9:1)?

“Come, Holy Spirit! Open my ears and my heart to your word today.”

Reprinted with permission from The Word Among Us

Tax Letters Regarding Contributions If you would like to receive a letter with the total amount you have contributed to St. Louis Church during the 2019 calendar year, please email Mark at markmstlouis@comcast.net, drop a note in the collection or call the parish office at 651-224-3379. Advance to Free Parking Ample free and dry parking is available for weekend Masses throughout the year in the Andersen Human Services Building just across Tenth Street. Enter and Exit on Minnesota Street.

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday, January 27 2 Samuel 5:1-7,10; Psalm 89:20-22,25-26; Mark 3:22-30: Tuesday, January 28 2 Samuel 6:12-15,17-19; Psalm 24:7-10; Mark 3:31-35 Wednesday, January 29 2 Samuel 7:4-17; Psalm 89:4-5,27-30; Mark 4:1-20 Thursday, January 30 2 Samuel 7:18-19,24-29; Psalm 132:1-5,11-14; Mark 4:21-25 Friday, January 31 2 Samuel 11:1-10,13-17; Psalm 51:3-7,10-11; Mark 4:26-34 Saturday, February 1 2 Samuel 12:1-7,10-17; Psalms 51:12-17; Mark 4:35-41 Sunday, February 2 Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 24:7-10; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40

Prayer Requests If you or someone you know is in need of prayers, please call or email the parish office and we will add their names to our ongoing parishioners and friends list of intentions:markmstlouis@comcast.net or call 651-224-3379. Also, kindly us know when the names of people should be removed.

Please pray for our parishioners and friends of St. Louis Church who are sick: Please pray for our parishioners and friends of St. Louis Church who are sick: Mark Joseph Acesor, Bill, Sharon Bigot, Tim Brandenburger, Christy, Ginny Collins, Monty Denniston, Estrella DeVeyra, Shirley Dufresne, Barb Arland-Frye, Greg Ennis, William F. Faulkner, Anne Hallgren, Lee Hallgren, Margaret Ann Hennen, Gus Hasouris, Lary Haupt, Sister Marie, Ruth Murray, Robert and Gretchen Naegeli, Tom Nutter, Mary Bartel O’Connell, Zachary Redland, Joan Schmitt, Roy Sheehan, Jean Sluss, Paul Steffel, Brian Walstad, Justin Woessner.

Totus Tuus Application deadline is Friday, Feb. 3. Is God calling you to serve as a Totus Tuus Team Missionary in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis this summer? We need men and women age 18-26 committed to their Catholic faith who feel called to share it with youth (grades 1-12) in local parishes, May 29-July 28, 2020. Missionaries will receive $2,520 for their service. To apply visit www.archspm.org\totustuus or contact Nancy Schulte Palacheck at 651-291-4489 or schulten@archspm.org for additional information.

ENTRANCE HYMN 543 • Christ is the world’s Light

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 871 • The Lord is my light and my salvation.

POSTCOMMUNION HYMN 605 • O Jesus, joy of loving hearts

CHORAL MUSIC AT THE 11:00 AM MASS

Arise, shine Kenneth Jennings (1925-2015) Arise, shine, for thy light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. — Isaiah 60:1-3.

Communion Venite post me Graduale Romanum, Mode VIII “Follow me; I will make you fishers of men.” Whereupon they, leaving their nets and their boat, followed the Lord. — Matthew 4:19,20.

Antiphon Sub tuum præsidium Mode VII Under thy protection we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our needs, but from all dangers deliver us always, Virgin Glorious and Blessed.

— Oldest extant Hymn to the Blessed Virgin; circa 250 A.D.

O salutaris Herbert Howells (1892-1983) A translation of the Latin text may be found at Hymn 757.

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TUESDAY ORGAN RECITALS, 12:35 pm — 1:05 pm 28 January 2020 • Dr. Kris Rizzotto

Director of Music, Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Golden Valley, MN.

OPEN BELL DATES: The following dates are still open in February for anyone wishing to have the bells rung in memory or in honor of a loved one: February 3rd-4th, 7th-8th, 10th-11th, 18th-19th, 23rd-24th and 29th. Please call the rectory during office hours to make arrangements. MASS INTENTIONS

Monday, January 27 St. Angela Merici 6:45 †Roland and †Kathy Bartell 12:10 †Al Matt Tuesday, January 28 St. Thomas Aquinas 6:45 †Thomas McCoy 12:10 Mark Mullaney Wednesday, January 29 6:45 Kenneth Schwartz 12:10 †Tom Lesnar and †Lowell Maag Thursday, January 30 6:45 Mark Mullaney 12:10 Michaela and Ron Lynaugh Friday, January 31 St. John Bosco 6:45 †Beverly Radio 12:10 †Larry Lenscth Saturday, February 1 6:45 Jamie Pribyl 5:00 Anna Hewitt Sunday, February 2 The Presentation of the Lord 7:00 Living and Deceased Parishioners and Friends of St. Louis Church 9:15 Brigid McGough 11:00 †Paula Ayotte Lucas 12:30 †Lawrence Lenertz, Sr.

Restoration Collection This Weekend to help with the expenses incurred by the extraordinary maintenance and repair projects recently completed and currently underway.

OPEN WINDOW THEATRE is reopening in a NEW location in Inver Grove Heights with the Redemption Season and ANIMA Cultural Series! Our main-stage plays The World Over and Tolkien are powerful and poignant stories of love, loss, faith, and hope. And join us for MIKE MANGIONE in concert on Thursday, January 30th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15-$30, now available online at openwindowtheatre.org or by phone at 612-615-1515. Discounts available for season subscribers and groups of 10+.

Agape Dinner for Widows and Widowers Share in this Agape Dinner (communal meal) in token of Christian fellowship Saturday, February 15 from 10:00am to 1:00pm. All Widows and Widowers are welcome. Registration is at 9:00am. 10:00am Mass and presentation by very Reverend Charles Lachowitzer, Moderator of the Curia and Vicar General. Dinner to follow in St. Peter’s Hall. The cost is $10. RSVP by February 7. To secure your reservation, please mail payment to: Church of St. Peter, 1250 South Shore Drive, Forest Lake, MN 55025.

NET Lifeline Mass with Archbishop Hebda & Father David Blume Vocations Focus – “Is God Calling You” February 1, 6-9 p.m., NET Ministries, 110 Crusader Ave. W., West St. Paul. For 8-12th graders in Minnesota! NET Ministries celebrates Net Lifeline with a focus on Vocations. Archbishop Hebda will celebrate the Lifeline Mass. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Father David Blume, Director of Vocations will team up with great priests, dynamic sisters and brothers and seminarians! The February Lifeline focus is to ask: “Lord, how are You calling me to follow You?” The Lord Jesus is calling a select group of courageous young women and men, just like you, to commit your existence totally to Him…. possibly as a Catholic priest, religious sister or brother. It’s the Call of a lifetime! Save the date. Bring a friend. Expect great things. The event will conclude at 9:30 p.m. For more information, see www.netusa.org/lifeline

The Temperament God Gave You Still Time to Register for Cana Group Study! Meetings are bi-weekly, January through May. How does understanding temperaments help us to become a better spouse and parent? Discover how understanding temperaments will develop in us greater compassion and communication skills, equipping us to more effectively encourage, motivate and strengthen our spouse and children. Learn how temperaments affect our spiritual life and how to use this information to grow closer to God. Join a Cana group to renew yourself so every moment spent with your husband and children counts. Invite your friends! Register today for a group near you at: https://canafamilyinstitute.com/find

PARISH CALENDAR Monday, January 27 Rosary in the Church 11:40am Tuesday, January 28 Organ Recital following the 12:10 Mass Wednesday, January 29 Eucharistic Exposition 11:00am to 12 Noon

Masses and Bells at St. Louis 2020 For those wishing to reserve a Mass intention, there are envelopes in the vestibule of the church and the chapel. The Stipend is $10 per Mass. The ringing of the Bells can also be reserved using the Bell Envelopes in the vestibule of the church. The offering for the Bells is $25.

Catholic Spirit Make it your New Year’s resolution to be a Catholic in the know. Subscribe to The Catholic Spirit for local, national and world Church news, inspiring faith stories, and a Catholic take on issues shaping our culture. You can receive The Catholic Spirit at no cost by contacting your parish office and asking to be added to your parish list. Questions or story ideas? Contact us at CatholicSpirit@archspm.org. The Catholic Spirit is the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

9 Days for Life Join thousands of Catholics nationwide in the annual Respect Life Novena, Tuesday, January 21 - Wednesday, January 29. Get daily intentions, brief reflections, and more. Sign up at www.9daysforlife.com! Lost and Found We have a variety of items in the sacristy in our Lost and Found box. If you think one or more of them may be yours please stop after Mass to retrieve it.

VISIT OUR WEBPAGE AT: STLOUISKINGOFFRANCE.ORG

PLEASE LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. VISIT OUR FACEBOOK LINK AT: https://www.facebook.com/SLKOFMN/

RING OUT, O BELLS… DATE REQUEST FOR INTENTION REQUESTED BY January 29 †Terry Devitt 80th Birthday Memorial A friend of Judge Devitt February 1 Amy Young Happy Birthday (February 2) Nancy and Bruce Lindberg February 2 †Lawrence Lenertz, Sr. Memorial Loving Grandson Freddy

FEATURED ON THE COVER: Children of the parish fascinated by the crèche. The little French Church happily honors the venerable French (and Italian) custom of keeping the crèche on display for forty days. So, from Christmas Day (December 25) until the feast of the Presentation of the Lord (a.k.a. Chandeleur, or Candlemas), February 2, we maintain the manger scene.