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ft|Çà YÜtÇvxá VtuÜ|Ç| 115 Trinity Drive Center Township Aliquippa, PA 15001
Phone:724-775-6363 Fax: 724-775-3848 Website: www.sfcabrini.us E-mail: [email protected]
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The Body and Blood of Christ -- Faith has many important facets that are effective in our lives. Prayer and worship connect us to the God who created us and who daily gives us purpose and provides for us. Times of community and fellowship unite us with our family in faith to realize that we are not alone on our journey of love with God. Outreach and charity put our faith into action so that we can be the hands and heart of Jesus in the world and provide for the needs of others. Yet, at the heart of our faith, its essen-tial foundation, is the gift of God himself to his people, the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the memorial of God’s great act of love for us, the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus. The Eucharist is the Body and
Blood of Christ made truly present so that we might be nourished to do the work of God in the world. The Eucharist is the source of our life as people of faith and that to which we return all that we have received in thanksgiving to God. Inspired by this Feast of Cor-pus Christi and as we journey On Mission for The Church Alive! may our love for the Eucharist increase so that our faith may re-main strong in the midst of change. Visit onmissionchurchalive.org to learn more and to stay informed.
Report for May 27, 2018 482 donors; 1,403 envelopes mailed (34%)
Weekly Offertory (includes Ascension) ············· $ 8,596 Weekly Off. Online (149 donors) ······················ $ 1,582 Food Bank ························································· $ 107 Parish Share 2018 ············································ $ 501 Total Collection ················································ $ 10,786 Over/(Under) Weekly Off. Budget………….. $ (2,822) Over/(Under) Annual Off. Budget to Date……..$ (5,757) Last Sunday of May 2017 ································· $ 12,986 Parish Share 2018 Year-to-date ······················· $ 99,068
Financial Stewardship For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt. 6:21
NEEDS YOUR HELP!
No previous experience necessary! We have an awesome support team!
WE ARE IN NEED OF CATECHISTS FOR THE FOLLOWING CLASSES:
Sunday: (2) Grades 8 and Grade 4
We are also seeking ADULT CLASSROOM AIDES to assist in paperwork and activities for
Sunday Grades 2, 4, 5 and 6. No speaking parts! JUST your help!
Get the latest news and information about St. Frances Cabrini right from your smartphone or tablet! Visit us at www.sfcabrini.us.
Religious Education Contact: Deanna Stacho 724-774-4888, [email protected]
Youth Ministry Contact: Cory Bates, 724-987-0201, [email protected]
Attention All Families -- It is of extreme importance to register for the Fall classes. Several Sunday classes have limited seating. Register online or stop by the office. Vacation Bible School -- We are seeking adults to take our happy campers through Panda Land for our annual Vaca-tion Bible School. College students are welcome. Call the office for further information. Student VBS Meeting -- A meeting for all students inter-ested in volunteering for VBS is scheduled for this Thurs-day, June 7, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. in the trailer behind the school building. Office Hours -- 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Youth Group Meeting -- Join the youth group this Sunday, June 3, at 7 p.m. for fellowship and snacks. Contact Cory (number listed above) or Rose Mary Fix at (724-494-7743) for more information. All high school students are welcome regardless of their faith background. Faith for-mation does not end at Confirmation.
Adoration for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi -- Sunday, June 3, after the 11:30 a.m. Mass until 5 p.m. when we will conclude with Vespers and Benediction. While we always have adoration annually on this feast, this year Bishop Zubik has asked for a special time of Eucharistic Adoration to pray for our parish, our new parish grouping, the clergy and for the Church of Pittsburgh as we prepare to implement On Mission for the Church Alive! Please consider at least a short visit with the Lord, on this Lord’s Day with your family.
Thanks -- We just received a check from Amazon Smile Foundation for $29. The first quarter of 2018, (January to March) purchases of $5,800 were made at smile.amazon. com designating St. Frances Cabrini as the intended char-ity resulting in this nice donation. Thanks again!
Holy Name Society Monthly Mass and Meeting -- Sunday, June 10, meet at 8:45 a.m. in the church vestibule for our procession into Mass. Our meeting follows Mass in Room 108. All men are invited.
Newly Baptized in Christ: Jade Amelia, daughter of Justin & Brianne (Dalton) McDaniel. Let us pray for her and support and encourage Jade in word and ex-ample as she grows in knowl-edge and love of God, and of our common Catholic faith.
Parish News Contact: Parish Office 724-775-6363, [email protected]
Your shopping matters. Shop for Father’s Day at
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/25-1118535 and Amazon donates to St. Frances Cabrini Church.
High School graduates headed off to college – Our parish is working with Newman Connection to connect grad-uating high school students to their college local Catholic Campus ministry. Newman Connection is a non-profit organization working with campuses nationwide to refer graduating high school students to Catholic campus min-isters who in turn invite incoming students to get involved before they even arrive on campus. As you know, college graduates who have been active in campus ministry are more likely to attend Mass, to volunteer for leadership roles in parishes once they return to their parish from college, and to consider religious vocations. As part of our pastoral responsibility, we want to support these stu-dents as they embark on this next step in their lives. Please email Fr Martin at [email protected] and pro-vide the names of your 2018 high school graduates, their email address and the name of the College (and city) where they are continuing their studies. With this infor-mation, Newman Connection will be able to successfully connect the students to their college faith community. The youth of our parish are our future! Help us help them!
Pray for our infirmed and homebound
A life filled with worry & stress leaves no room for hope or faith.
Please Note: To be added to this list, a family member is asked to please con-tact the Parish Office at 724-775-6363 or email [email protected]. First Friday Communicants will remain on the list indefinitely; all others will remain for one month unless renewed by a family member.
Hallie H. (toddler) Chuck Bedekovich Steven Cercone Michael Chapes Filomena DeChellis Erma DiNardo Ida DiNardo Mike Fordyce JoAnne George Isaac H. (infant) Norma Hornick Eddie Jozsa Roberta Jozsa Hannah K. (toddler) Fr. Joseph Kleppner
Jim LoFaso Shirley Lopata Vivian McGinnis Jeldo Montini Peter Paul Angela Ross Helen Schreiber Marjorie Sewasky Sue Sokol Don Talbot Bill Vickodil Keith Waddell Doris Yaros Alan Zanker
Journeying With Grief -- If you or someone you know has recently lost a loved one, consider joining the "Journey With Grief" group. This is a six-week program in which the bereaved journey through their grief toward healing. It is a process of understanding and working through the tasks of grief in a supportive and caring atmosphere. The group will be led by Sr. Margie Frazer, CSJ, Pastoral As-sociate at Our Lady of Fatima Parish. Participants will meet in the Fatima House Chapel on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. beginning June 6. To register or for further informa-tion, please call Sr. Margie at 724-375-7626.
Alaska Cruise -- Join Fr. Daniel Sweeney on board the ms Westerdam for a Land & Sea Journey, departing Au-gust 5, 2018. Holland America will expand your view of Alaska and explore the Great Land. 7-night cruise, 1 night Anchorage, 2 nights Denali, 1 night Fairbanks. Only 6 seats left. For information contact Ambassatour Travel 724-375-8687.
Substance Abuse Ministry (S.A.M.) June Meeting -- will be held on Wednesday, June 6, at 6:30 p.m. in Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Beaver, with the Rosary, fol-lowed by Mass at 7 p.m. and conclud-ing with a meeting in Keating Hall. All
are welcome.
Around the Diocese and beyond
Monday: Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Tuesday: St. Boniface Wednesday: St. Norbert Friday: The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Saturday: The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Monday: 2 Pt 1:2-7; Ps 91:1-2, 14-16; Mk 12:1-12 Tuesday: 2 Pt 3:12-15a, 17-18; Ps 90:2-4, 10, 14, 16; Mk 12:13-17 Wednesday: 2 Tm 1:1-3, 6-12; Ps 123:1b-2; Mk 12:18-27 Thursday: 2 Tm 2:8-15; Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-10, 14; Mk 12:28b-34 Friday: Hos 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9; Is 12:2-6; Eph 3:8-12, 14-19; Jn 19:31-37 Saturday: 2 Tm 4:1-8; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Lk 2: 41-51 Sunday: Gn 3:9-15; Ps 130:1-8; 2 Cor 4:13 -- 5:1; Mk 3:20-35 Today’s Readings
First Reading -- This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you (Exodus 24: 3-8). Psalm -- I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord (Psalm 116). Second Reading -- Christ is the mediator of a new covenant (Hebrews 9:11-15). Gospel -- This is my body. This is my blood of the covenant (Mark 14:12-16, 22-26).
The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass (c) 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.
Sunday June 3 – The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ TW 9 a.m. †Josephine Danko, Anniv. (Family) MB 11:30 a.m. †Family & Friends of Smoot Family (Jane Smoot & Family)
RA 6 p.m. †Larry Musante, Anniv. (Wife and Children) Monday June 4 - Weekday
RA 8:30 a.m. †Jim McAllister, B’Day (Crudden Family) Tuesday June 5 - Saint Boniface
MB 8:30 a.m. †Alberta Wegner (Daughter, Terri DeChellis) RA 6:30 p.m. †Serafino DeSantis (Wife & Children)
Wednesday June 6 - Weekday TW 8:30 a.m. †Jim McAllister (Mary & Pete Weisenmiller)
Thursday June 7 - Weekday MB 8:30 a.m. †Philip Incorvati (Anne & John Michael)
Friday June 8 - The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus MB 8:30 a.m. †Jim Kunzmann (Joyce Ott)
Saturday June 9 - Vigil: Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time MB 4 p.m. †Anita & †Melissa Hermick (Mary Lou Turbish)
Sunday June 10 – Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time MB 9 a.m. †Larry Kempa (Teresa and Maria Capelli) TW 11:30 a.m. †Rudy Cellini (Children, Grandchildren, Great Grandchild)
MB 6 p.m. †Josephine Ayoob (Lynn & Bruce Simmeth)
RA 6:30 p.m. †Dorothy Tranelli (Family)
1-5 p.m. Caregiver Workshop
12:30-5 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration
Readings for the Week June 3, 2018
Saints & Special Observances The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
Mass Intentions (TW: Fr. Tom Wilson; RA: Fr. Regis Alberth; MB: Fr. Martin)
The Sanctuary Candle acknowledging the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament resident in the tabernacle is burning this week in loving memory of †George Letender Love, Ro-chelle Barness. May the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Al-tar be praised, adored and loved in all the tabernacles of the world even until the end of time.
The Holy Family Candle is burning this week in loving memory of †Josephine Danko, Anniv. from family. Jesus, Mary and Jo-
seph, in you we contemplate the splendor of true love, to you we turn with trust. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, bless us now and at the hour of our death.
Sanctuary Candle / Holy Family Candle Contact: Parish Office 724-775-6363, [email protected]
Deepest Sympathy to the family of †Joe Shahen. May the angels lead him into paradise. May the martyrs come to welcome him, and take him to the
holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
As I mentioned previously in the May 13 bulletins of all four church-
es, the first task which confronts our
new parish grouping is the establish-
ment of an INTERIM WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULE to commence
October 15, 2018, the effective date
of the new appointments.
This is challenging, particularly be-
cause all four parishes have already
experienced Mass time changes in
the last two years.
The purpose of that previous bulletin
insert was to consult broadly regard-
ing this new schedule, believing that
the more perspectives involved, the better the solution will be. Perhaps
the result might not be “Interim” at
all, but permanent. That would elimi-nate yet another change in 2019.
CURRENT MASS SCHEDULE and INFORMATION REPORTED to the DIOCESE
Comments: 1) I suggested subdividing our region into a “northern” sector (Center and Monaca) and a “southern” sector (Aliquippa
and Hopewell). There should be accessible Mass times in each sector. For example, there should be a Saturday evening
Mass in each sector. That suggestion seemed to be well received.
2) For the sake of our parents and children, it would be ideal if there would be minimal disruption in the schedule of religious education classes. Classes will continue to be held at all four chuches in Fall 2018.
3) In general, worshipers seem to prefer earlier (4 or 4:30) rather than later (5 or 5:30) Saturday evening Masses.
4) The Sunday evening Mass is really a regional Mass, and so its location can be moved. In fact, other adjoining group-
ings may offer a Sunday night Mass. If so, our grouping would not need to offer one.
5) Ideally, the interim Mass schedule would allow for two priests to say all the Masses to accommodate those occa-sions when one of the three assigned priests is unavailable (vacation, retreat, other, etc.) This seemed near impossible to
achieve given the popularity of Masses in the 9 a.m. to 12 noon time frame.
From the previous bulletin insert, I received ten responses with comments and suggestions. I have tried to summarize
them without comment or evaluation on the reverse. The Parish Councils of all four churches, as well as their On Mis-sion teams will be meeting this Thursday evening, June 7, to arrive at a decision about Mass times that takes attendance,
parking and seating capacity into account. This will be given to our regional vicar at a June 11 diocesan meeting. It is
not too late to email suggestions and comments to [email protected] or drop them at the Parish Offices. Thanks in advance for your input and helpful insights.
St. Frances St. John O. L. Fatima St. Titus
Avg weekend attendance 1,083 648 770 481
Seating capacity 550 400 680 630
Parking 300 150 185 150
Mass / attendance 4p / 301 5:30p / 178 5p / 187 4p / 206
Mass / attendance 9a / 306 8:30a / 175 8:30a / 199
Mass / attendance 10a / 275
Mass / attendance 11:30a / 302 11a / 295 11a / 384
Mass / attendance 6p / 174
Father Martin
(merged into one by 2021)
Father Joachim Morgan, O.S.B.
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An older couple was lying in bed one night. The husband was almost asleep when his wife started reflecting on all the love they had shared. The old gentleman is about asleep when she nudges him and says, "Honey, do you remember how we used to hug?" The old gentleman says, "Yes, dear," and rolls over and gives her a big hug." Then he was almost asleep again, when she nudges him and says "Honey do you remember how we used to kiss?" "Yes, dear," and he rolls over and gives her a big kiss. He was almost asleep when she again nudges him again and says, "Honey, do you remember how you used to nib-ble on my ear?" The old guy throws off the covers, some-what frustrated, sits up in bed, and gets up. The wife says, "What are you doing?" In an exasperated tone he says, "I'm going to go get my teeth."
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # I am trying to make new friends without using Facebook, but while applying the same principles. Every day I walk down the street and tell passers-by what I have eaten, how I feel at the moment, what I have done the night before, what I will do later, and with whom. I give them pictures of my family, my dog, and of me gardening, taking things
apart in the garage, watering the lawn, standing in front of landmarks, driving around town, having lunch, and doing what anybody and everybody does every day. I also listen to their conversations, then give them the "thumbs up" and tell them I like them. And it works! I already have four people following me: Two police offi-cers, a private investigator, and a psychiatrist.
Lord’s Laughter A joyful heart is a good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. Prov. 17:22
Sunday, Jun 03, 2018SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUSCHRISTI)I give myself to youIt’s pleasant to enjoy the affection of neighbors, friends, andassorted relatives. But some forms of love go beyond congenial, allthe way to profound. Take the love between two people thatcompels them to vow a lifelong bond. How about the devotion ofparents for their children that makes no sacrifice seem too great, noburden too much to bear? Men and women alike pledge their livesto the church, and many others dedicate themselves to serving thecommon good by means of their professions. To whom or to whatdo you say: “Take it, this is my life”?
TODAY'S READINGS: Exodus 24:3-8; Hebrews 9:11-15; Mark 14:12-16,22-26 (168). “He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it tothem, and said, ‘Take it; this is my body.’ ”
Monday, Jun 04, 2018Is that you?“That’s me,” one 10-year-old insists to another as they watch anaction movie, choosing to be the character who is the mostpowerful, the most beautiful, or even the goofiest. A goodstoryteller knows that listeners need to identify with the characters,but it can be a shock if your character turns out to be the villain, aswhen the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders realize that Jesus’upside-down parables are calling them out. Jesus faced opposition—even violence—when his critics realized they were beingchallenged. That’s what Jesus does—he challenges yourassumptions about yourself. When by your own lack ofcompassion, your injustice, you are confronted by the hard truth ofthe gospel, you still have to say, “That’s me.”
TODAY'S READINGS: 2 Peter 1:2-7; Mark 12:1-12 (353). “They wereseeking to arrest him . . . for they realized that he had addressed theparable to them.”
Tuesday, Jun 05, 2018MEMORIAL OF BONIFACE, BISHOP, MARTYRA gospel for hungry hearts and mindsAs Christians we’ve not always done evangelization well. SaintBoniface (c. 680-754), a Benedictine monk and bishop, had amixed history in this regard. There are stories about him literallytrampling the religious traditions of other cultures but also abouthim embracing the customs of people and inviting them to see theirown lives in light of the gospel. What’s your take on evangelization?Hammer or gospel in hand? Consider the words of the U.S. bishopsin their statement Go and Make Disciples: “Evangelization happenswhen the word of Jesus speaks to people’s hearts and minds.Needing no trickery or manipulation, evangelization can happenonly when people accept the gospel freely, as the ‘good news’ it ismeant to be, because of the power of the gospel message and theaccompanying grace of God.”
TODAY'S READINGS: 2 Peter 3:12-15a, 17-18; Mark 12:13-17 (354).“Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord . . . .”
Wednesday, Jun 06, 2018MEMORIAL OF NORBERT, BISHOPEncounters of the third kindDid you know there are members of Catholic religious orders whoare laypeople? Some of them belong to what are called third, ortertiary, orders, and most major religious orders include them.
Members are men and women who do not necessarily live incommunity but nonetheless participate in the good works of thelarger order to which they belong. Saint Norbert was one of the firstchurch figures to initiate a third order. He prepared a set ofreligious practices that those in secular life could follow. If you feelyourself drawn to a religious lifestyle despite being firmly anchoredin a secular life, explore the possibilities third orders offer.
TODAY'S READINGS: 2 Timothy 1:1-3, 6-12; Mark 12:18-27 (355). “Heis not God of the dead but of the living.”
Thursday, Jun 07, 2018Work on your sainthoodLots of saints walked the earth who haven’t yet claimed a date onthe church calendar. Even if they never do, that doesn’t take awayfrom their brilliant witness. Consider Anna Dengal, who graduatedfrom medical school in England in 1919. Convinced that her skillscould be better used in India, she became the only doctor serving10,000 sick and dying women and children. Realizing she could“love her neighbor” better with a little help, she established theMedical Mission Sisters. Their goal remains “to be a healingpresence at the heart of a wounded world.” Share the mission: Visitthe sick.
TODAY'S READINGS: 2 Timothy 2:8-15; Mark 12:28-34 (356). “ ‘To loveyour neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings andsacrifices.”
Friday, Jun 08, 2018SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUSThe heart of the matterIf you were raised in a Catholic home, you probably have amemory of a statue or picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Youmay have looked at it a thousand times without really “seeing” it.Take a moment today to recollect the image as vividly as possible.Recall that the heart is the symbol for, among other things, love,charity, understanding, compassion, and courage. Remember that itis a key organ in the human body, connecting the spiritual with thematerial, the mind with the body, the intellect with emotions. Thenreflect on the ways that the love of Jesus has sustained you everyday of your life.
TODAY'S READINGS: Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9; Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19;John 19:31-37 (171). “One soldier thrust his lance into his side, andimmediately blood and water flowed out.”
Saturday, Jun 09, 2018MEMORIAL OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARYLove with no strings attachedWhat would it be like to have an “immaculate heart”? Might it be tohave a heart that loved unconditionally? When we are honest aboutit, much of what we call “love” is actually a sort of quid pro quo,this-for-that exchange of affection. We love those who love us inreturn, who treat us well, who respect us. There’s nothing wrongwith that, but can we open our hearts a bit more to embrace thosewho do not return our love in equal measure? Can we go so far asto love our enemies? A tall order but one worth striving for—animmaculate heart that loves unconditionally, as a mother loves herchild, as Mary loved her son. Practice loving without conditions.When you pray today, ask for an immaculate heart.
TODAY'S READINGS: 2 Timothy 4:1-8 (358); Luke 2:41-51 (573). “Hismother kept all these things in her heart.”
Invest just five minutes a day, and your faith will deepen and grow—a day at a time©2018 TrueQuest Communications. TakeFiveForFaith.com; [email protected]. All rights reserved. Noncommercial reprints permitted withthe following credit: Reprinted with permission from TakeFiveForFaith.com. Scripture citations from the New American Bible Revised Edition. Formore information about TAKE FIVE and our regular contributors, go to PrepareTheWord.com. Free daily email and app available online atTakeFiveForFaith.com/subscribe.
For Sunday, June 3, 2018
God Sees the Worth in All of UsThe Solemnity of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/060318.cfm
Exodus 24:3-8 Hebrews 9:11-15 Mark 14:12-16, 22-26
When I first got married, I was clueless about food and cooking. My husband wasn’t much more skilled, and together our repertoire of recipes was a rotation of frozen pizzas, tostadas, and takeout. I once bought potatoes thinking I could find a way to use them but, not so surprisingly, they were promptly tucked to the back of the pantry and forgotten about. We quickly learned that forgotten food soon becomes rotten food.
A simple lesson in biology or life experience has taught us all the same. Living creatures don’t last forever. Whether it’s potato skins or a pet dog, there is a finality to everything we touch on this earth. And for some, this sense of finality creates disordered ambition and laws.
In the U.K., the world witnessed this when the judges looked at a young child named Alfie Evans and decided that since his physical body wasn’t functioning to their standards, he was better off not being a part of this world. And then Ireland overturned the ban on abortion. The human body is being treated like potato skins in modern culture. When its physical use or desirability has expired, it is disposable.
But as Catholics, we live a radical opposite truth which culminates in the Eucharist. The feast and readings this weekend are a powerful reminder that God deeply loves humanity in all our forms. The human body and its potential is vastly set apart from the rest of our passing world.
In the gospel, Jesus takes ordinary things that we are used to seeing consumed and disposed of after they are no longer useful: bread and wine. And he gives us his very self with them, making it the sign of the new covenant. He literally overturns everything we think we know of how things should work. The bread is now no longer just passing food that will eventually spoil. It becomes his flesh and our food from heaven. The wine is no longer a simple fermented drink but the blood of the covenant and the promise of our future in his courts.
On this feast, we have the antidote to the darkness in our world. The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ proves to us that the body is good by giving us his Body. Our call as disciples is to proclaim this boldly in a culture of waste that idolizes productivity. We have a God that is always with us under the appearance of bread! Bread which was once just for our bodies is now bread from heaven meant for our souls as well. We can clearly see that the body and soul have infinite value in the gospel today. God gives himself to us in a hidden and earthly way, a way in which we can easily be united with him physically every single week.
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It’s a powerful reminder that God can and does take things that we see no real value in and brings about incredible good. The things that appear somewhat insignificant to us become the means of the new and lasting covenant we hear in the gospel today. Where the world says certain people have no value, Christ invites all to life with him. Where the world says that our bodies are our only measure of worth, Christ invites us to the banquet where our souls are filled. Where the world says broken bodies should be disposed of, Christ invites us to eat his flesh so our bodies can live forever.
As we seek to follow Christ, our challenge is to live the truth of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ in everything I do. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1324) says that the Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life”. Everything we do should flow to and from that life source. Practically for me, this means looking at the small and hidden moments in my life and challenging myself to make them more true and eucharistic. The way that I treat my children, how I handle bills, and even the way I speak to the cashier at the store can all be moments where I affirm the truth that Jesus is with us in the Eucharist. If my source and life is truly Jesus, if I am really sustained by his Body and Blood, it is natural that there be good fruits of the Spirit in my daily life and in how I treat others. For me, it is a challenge to live counterculturally and go out of my way to partake in the Eucharist as often as possible. Everything I do can have eternal value if it is flowing to and from the heart of Jesus in the Eucharist.
On this feast, let us all reflect on the deep love God has for each and every person and commit ourselves to living in such a way that our lives reflect this truth. Our first step is by worthily receiving him often and making our entire lives more eucharistic by showing up to Mass with an expectant heart, going out of the way to find adoration, arriving at Mass early and staying a minute longer to adore Jesus, and living an intensely Christian life that is bold and radical and flowing from his Body and Blood.
Angie Windnagle
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PRAYER
This the truth each Christian learns, Bread into his flesh he turns, To his precious blood the wine:
Sight has fail’d, nor thought conceives, But a dauntless faith believes, Resting on a pow’r divine.
Here beneath these signs are hidden Priceless things to sense forbidden; Signs, not things are all we see:
Blood is poured and flesh is broken, Yet in either wondrous token Christ entire we know to be.
Whoso of this food partakes, Does not rend the Lord nor breaks; Christ is whole to all that taste:
Thousands are, as one, receivers, One, as thousands of believers, Eats of him who cannot waste.
—excerpt from the Sequence at Mass
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SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODYAND BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUS
CHRISTI), CYCLE B
03 Jun 2018SUNDAY SUMMARY
Exodus 24:3-8 The people of God accept the Blood of the covenant.
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18 We take the cup of salvation and trust in the name of our God.
Hebrews 9:11-15 Christ is the mediator of the everlasting covenant.
Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 Jesus offers the bread and wine, his Body and Blood, as the new covenant.
Homilist’s overview of JuneLiturgical themes and feasts
Four solemnities frame the month: the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (3), the Most SacredHeart of Jesus (8), the Nativity of John the Baptist (24), and Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles (29).Add in the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (9) and that represents a lot of love poured outfor this church. It seems almost fitting that World Blood Donor Day (14) arrives with Flag Day. Somuch blood is offered in the past on behalf of the future.
As we settle back into Ordinary Time, we’re aware of the suffering that still plagues moderngenerations. World Day for Child Victims of Aggression (4), World Environment Day (5), WorldOceans Day (8), World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (15), International Widows’ Day (23), and WorldDay Against Drug Abuse and Trafficking (26) all testify to how much life is yet at risk. These secularobservances speak to the sacred ones as heart speaks to heart. As long as there are vulnerablechildren, elders, widows, the substance-enslaved, a planet in jeopardy, the work of love is not done.
Just as Jews celebrated their holy law in April, Lailat Al-Qadr (10) is when Muslims honor thereceiving of their sacred texts. Eid Al-Fitr (15) completes the month-long Ramadan fast. We honorfathers on the 17th; the faith of our fathers remains a sacred text we continue to read.
The inner wordWhat’s in your heart?
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ has a long history—as a devotion whenfew actually received Communion and as the subject of festive processions. Today we look to it as acelebration of the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives as Christians and Catholics.
As written in the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, “The liturgy isthe summit toward which the activity of the church is directed; it is also the fount from whichall her power flows.” How is what I do aimed at liturgy, especially the celebration of the Mass?How does what I do flow from liturgy? How can I avoid making liturgy merely another thing Ido?
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In what ways do I find myself renewed by the celebration of the sacraments, especially theEucharist?What is my understanding of the sacrifice of the Mass? How do I enter into that sacrifice, andhow does it open up into the rest of my life? How can I lead others into it?
Exploring the wordWritten in flesh and blood
No sound is so sweet to our ears as those three powerful words: “I love you.” But as extraordinaryand meaningful as those words are, if words are all we get, they can become pretty thin. Everyhuman exchange has to have more than words behind it. If we want to buy something, there has tobe cash or valuables to back up the transaction. If we want to engage an organization, there’s got tobe paperwork. If we want to clinch the deal, we’ve got to sign a contract. If we really love someone,we have to produce a ring or a home or a hug or an hour of our time. Words can be beautiful, butexperience teaches us that words are not enough. If we don’t see the signs that show us the wordsare for real, then they are no better than lies.
That’s how rituals came into being, because of the human need for signs and testimony. We can say,“I love you”—but are we willing to say it before the priest? We can call ourselves Catholic—but dowe join the assembly when it gathers? We might declare that we saw something at the scene of thecrime—but will we tell it to the judge? Ritual is the difference between a private word and a publicone, between talking and testifying. When we profess our commitments here, in the presence of thefaithful, they become more than words. They become signs of our covenant.
The story of the covenant
Covenants, in Hebrew and Christian scripture at least, are pretty simple. They’re personal. They’reunequal. And they are bloody.
But apart from those factors, they take many forms. When Adam declares Eve bone of his bone andflesh of his flesh, the traditional three elements were clear: the intimate, the physical, even the“unequal” part, which is preserved in many cultures and fundamentalist interpretations of thepartnership between men and women.
Most early covenants were between kings and their subjects. Most biblical covenants were betweenGod and a person in leadership (like Abraham, Moses, David) or the nation as a whole (conductedthrough God’s prophet). In all of these sacred contracts, there was much to be gained for the weakerparty if the promise was upheld, things like protection, God’s favor, and the good life. The strong onealso gained: in taxes, power, or, in the case of God, the delight of walking with the beloved people inclose companionship. But the breaking of the covenant could lead to bloodshed: The subject couldlose his or her life. So, obviously, could the king.
But how could God possibly suffer if we broke faith with the divine covenant? Can God’s feelings behurt? Can God lose anything in glory or dignity or sovereignty? Certainly, when we are unfaithful,God can “smite” us. The Bible has lots of stories of “smiting,” and the Christian teaching on judgmentreminds us that there are definite consequences to turning away from God’s love. Perhaps a moreaccurate way of understanding this is to recognize that, in turning from the source of life and love,we “smite” ourselves.
The covenant, new and revised
But until the revelation of Jesus, it was hard to imagine that God had anything to lose by enteringinto covenant with us. God had no flesh to write into the bargain. God had only the divine word togive. When the divine word became flesh, however, the story took a radically different turn.Suddenly, the covenant with creation became deeply personal for God. And yes, there was blood init.
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The truth is, God always had a very personal connection to creation, the kind of love that desiresand aches and celebrates and mourns along with the beloved. But, like a lover who is disregarded orwhose attempts at love are regularly rejected, God found the pull of sin in our sphere to be toooverwhelming for us. God’s love for us was veiled like the sun behind a cloud, and soon we stoppedbelieving in it. So God chose to become as visible to us as we are to ourselves.
Applying the Word
God testifies to love
Saint John Vianney, the Curé of Ars, once came upon a workingman sitting before the tabernacle.The poor man certainly had other places to be and other pressing matters to attend to, so naturallythe priest was curious as to why he lingered in church so long. “What are you doing?” Father Johnasked at last. The man simply glanced back to the tabernacle and said, “I look at Him. He looks atme.”
When Jesus became one of us, humanity had the chance to look God in the eye and to see Godlooking back at us. When we contemplate the image of Jesus on the cross, in the Sacred Heart, ormany other wonderful artistic portrayals, we are assisted in making that same connection. But Jesusleft a more eloquent and vital testimony of his love behind for us. When we eat this bread and drinkthis cup, we take part in a covenant of God’s love for us that speaks its commitment again andagain.
Through this great covenant, we encounter God in ritual, but the encounter doesn’t end here. Weincorporate—take into our own bodies—God’s life and love and become that Body and Blood forothers. We also learn to see that God looks back at us everywhere we go, in the beauty of nature, inthe love of those around us, and through the eyes of the poor. God looks at us: Do we look back?
Related scripture links
Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh: Gen. 2:23-24 Covenants with individuals: Gen. 9:9-17; 15:1-21; Exod. 19:1-8; 2 Sam. 7:8-16
Covenants through the prophets: Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 34:23-31; Isa. 7:10-15
Catechism links
Eucharist: CCC 737; 790; 1000; 1088; 1099; 1113-1121; 1210-1211; 1322-1405
Al ic e Cam i l leAlice Camille is a religious educator, scripture commentator, and author of many books including ThisTransforming Word and other titles found at alicecamille.com.
In other wordsThe Sunday gospel in everyday English
On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the day they prepare the Passover sacrifice, hisdisciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations so you can eat thePassover meal?”
He directed two of his disciples, “Go into the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Followhim. Ask the owner of whichever house he enters, ‘The Teacher wants to know, Where is my guestroom where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will show you a spacious second-story room, swept and ready. Prepare for us there.”
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The disciples left, came to the city, found everything just as he had told them, and prepared thePassover meal.
In the course of their meal, having taken and blessed the bread, he broke it and gave it to them.Then he said,
Take, this is my Body.
Taking the chalice, he gave it to them, thanking God, and they all drank from it. He said,
This is my Blood, God’s new covenant,
Poured out for many people.
“I’ll not be drinking wine again until the new day when I drink it in the kingdom of God.”
They sang a hymn and then went directly to Mount Olives (from Mark 14).
From A New Message 4 Next Week (actapublications.com <http://www.actapublications.com/>) based on The Message: Catholic/Ecumenical Edition by Eugene Peterson (ACTA Publications,2013).
Homily storiesFather Pietro's weekly loaf of bread
The pastor of the small farming village in Bari, Italy where my father was born was very gracious tome when I visited him. In the little church was a plaque thanking my dad and uncles for sending themoney from America to build the simple structure. He was most hospitable, offering to spend a dayto show me the sights of the rocky countryside. It was fascinating.
As we headed home, he stopped by a bakery that looked like an abandoned shack in the middle ofan empty field telling me they bake the best pane—bread—in the country. He walked out smiling witha round loaf two feet in diameter. He broke off two crusty warm pieces for us to enjoy, explaining thatit was his loaf for the week. He would enjoy its freshness the first two days in sandwiches and withfigs for breakfast. Then as it hardened he would mix pieces softened in moist salads. As dayspassed and it hardened even more, crusts would be tossed in soup. Any bits of bread remaining atweek’s end were ground into crumbs to be sprinkled over pasta. Nothing was wasted. He smiled atmy being surprised by his resourcefulness. With simple faith, he asked me if that wasn’t whathappens when we priests share the Eucharist on Sunday with the people.
It falls to each of us who partake to find the ways in which the Body of Christ will nourish us all week.
Fat her Dom in ic Grass iFather Dominic Grassi is pastor of St. Gertrude Catholic Parish in Chicago and the author of several books,including Living the Mass with Joe Paprocki (Loyola Press, 2005). He is the 2017 recipient of the St. JohnXXIII Award, which is given by the Association of Chicago Priests for excellence in priestly ministry and forsignificant contributions to the life of the Church of Chicago.
Homily storiesThe work of the people
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As a lover of words I was fascinated to learn that the root of the word liturgy comes from Latin for“work of the people.” What an amazing insight that brings to the central ritual of Christianity. Breakingbread with fellow Christians, remembering Christ, and sharing in his Body and Blood are actions thatearly Christians actually considered their work.
And what is work? Work has its roots in the Greek word for “activity.” Thus the liturgy is the activity ofthe people—that means you and I. It is something we are charged to do. We must take, eat, andremember Christ’s life. This is each Christian’s responsibility. It is our job to remember Christ in theactivity of sharing a meal in his name, and it is our job to remember that we have a covenant withGod that we will be God’s people and do God’s work, which as Jesus tells us today is to take and eathis Body and Blood and become one with Christ.
As Christians there’s no getting out of this work, but those who’ve been at it for a while say thebenefits are worth it.
Pat r ic e J . TuohyPatrice Tuohy, co-founder of TrueQuest Communications and publisher of PREPARE THE WORD, is anaward-winning writer, editor, designer, and author of a number of articles on Catholic life.
Homily storiesBread to share
I was in my friend Billy’s kitchen waiting for him to come downstairs so we could go out and play.Billy was the oldest of nine kids. Dinner was over, and his mother stood at the kitchen counter anddealt out the bread for eight sandwiches—12 pieces of bread, side by side, for the six kids who werein school, and four more pieces next to them to make the two sandwiches her husband would take towork with him. One after another she spread mustard on the left-hand slice of bread, and one-by-one she placed two slabs of bologna on the right-hand side. Swiftly and deftly she brought the twoparts of the sandwich together and wrapped the bundle tightly in waxed paper. She placed eachsandwich in a bag with two cookies and an apple and lined the bags in rows in their refrigerator, herhusband’s on the top shelf. Years later when I was making sandwiches for my daughters I thought ofBilly’s mom and wondered just how many sandwiches she has made in her lifetime.
In one of writer Andre Dubus’ short stories, a father reflects on the simple act of making sandwichesfor his kids. He draws a connection between his offering of bread and lunch meat with Jesus’ self-offering in the bread and wine of the Eucharist. Is it such a far stretch? Not when we do this inremembrance of him.
Tom Mc Grat hTom McGrath is the vice president for product development at Loyola Press. He was a co-founder ofTrueQuest Communications and, prior to that, director of publishing at Claretian Publications. He is author ofRaising Faith-Filled Kids <http://www.loyolapress.com/raising-faith-filled-kids.htm> and The MealBox <http://www.loyolapress.com/the-meal-box.htm> .
Homily storiesOne in Body and Blood
A local blood bank has the name LifeSource. Blood indeed is what keeps us alive as it coursesthrough our veins bringing in oxygen and taking out carbon dioxide. A simple transfusion of a pint ofblood can mean the difference between life and death. Infections carried in the bloodstream can be
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deadly. How our blood works appears so simple yet is very complex. Giving someone blood that isnot their identified type causes layers of problems and could even result in death.
Meanwhile we go on living and let the blood in our veins do its work. No wonder before the advent ofmodern medicine, blood had almost magical qualities to it. There were ritual bloodlettings.Exchanging blood made people “brothers” or “sisters.” Blessing with blood of sacrificial animalsprovided strength or purification. Covering oneself with the blood of an enemy made you stronger.
To say that we become the Body and Blood of Christ takes a leap of faith that many are not able tomake. To be transformed into the mysterious source of life that being the Body and Blood of Christ inour world demands is much more than many want to take on. Yet as Christians we must embraceand consume the Body as we bring our lips to the cup and pray “Amen.”
Father Dominic Gr assiFather Dominic Grassi is pastor of St. Gertrude Catholic Parish in Chicago and the author of several books,including Living the Mass with Joe Paprocki (Loyola Press, 2005). He is the 2017 recipient of the St. JohnXXIII Award, which is given by the Association of Chicago Priests for excellence in priestly ministry and forsignificant contributions to the life of the Church of Chicago.
Corpus Christi: The Solemnity of Body and Blood of Christ
On the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, we give special honor to Jesus, truly present in the most Blessed Sacrament of the altar. As Catholics, we worship the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, both during Mass and outside of Mass. We are encouraged to spend time in prayer before the Lord in the Eucharist. Many parishes offer regular exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance. We may also choose to visit the church at other times to adore the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle.
On the Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Church also recognizes the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests.
Prayer for Priests
Gracious and loving God, we thank your for the gift of our priests.Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.Set their souls on fire with love for your people.Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.Amen.
We close out this week with the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Gospel on the memorial, the Holy Family visits Jerusalem for Passover. When Mary and Joseph depart, Jesus is not with them. After three days of searching, they find Jesus in the temple.
Luke 2:48-52
When his parents saw him,they were astonished,and his mother said to him,“Son, why have you done this to us?Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”And he said to them,“Why were you looking for me?Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”But they did not understand what he said to them.He went down with them and came to Nazareth,and was obedient to them;and his mother kept all these things in her heart. We ask this through Jesus Christ,
Second Sunday After Pentecost World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests (June 8, 2018)
Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Second Sunday of Pentecost is taken from the Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, Revised Edition (Washington, DC: USCCB, 2007) 146.
Scripture text taken from Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2007, 2018, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington DC. All rights reserved.
Image: CNS/Stephen Whaley.
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Praying with Scripture CORPUS CHRISTI
Introductory Prayer “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, / his courts with praise.” (Ps 100:4)
This prayer and reflection guide can help you pray with the Bible and better understand Scripture. Begin with praise by praying the Canticle of Zechariah:
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hand of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
(Lk 1:68-79)
Scripture Reading for Corpus Christi “Faith comes from what is heard.” (Rom 10:17)
Read the scripture passage below.
Gospel Reading for Corpus Christi (Mark 14:12-16, 22-26)
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,when they sacrificed the Passover lamb,Jesus’ disciples said to him,"Where do you want us to goand prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
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He sent two of his disciples and said to them,"Go into the city and a man will meet you,carrying a jar of water.Follow him.Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house,'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest roomwhere I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"'Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready.Make the preparations for us there."The disciples then went off, entered the city,and found it just as he had told them;and they prepared the Passover.While they were eating,he took bread, said the blessing,broke it, gave it to them, and said,
Read the passage a second time out loud. Use the following suggestions as you re-read the words of Scripture:
Review the passage and underline the phrases that touch you or challenge you. Write down any thoughts that may come to you in this moment of quiet reflection. Savor the words of Scripture, and take a few moments to receive the Word into your mind and heart.
Reflection “The word of God is living and effective.” (Heb 4:12)
The Word of God is for everyone. Sometimes a verse may contain the Lord’s heart and voice for you today, sometimes it may be for a time years to come, or it may be speaking to someone else in the Body of Christ, or to someone who has not yet been received into the Body. Briefly consider the following questions without seeking an immediate answer. Simply allow the questions to stir your heart.
Does this reading apply to your life right now, or the life of someone you know? How does this Scripture strengthen the Body of Christ? How does it build the Kingdom of God?
Dialogue with God “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (Jas 4:8)
Spend some time in conversation with the Lord. These ideas may help:
Set your gaze on the Lord, with whom you are speaking. Consider the character of the Lord: his holiness, his goodness, and his love. If a question comes to your heart—related or not, present that question to the Lord. If the passage stirs up hopes or desires, confusion or doubts, present them to the Lord. The Lord knows your heart but wants you to freely share with him. Trust that the Lord receives your prayer and will answer you.
"Take it; this is my body."Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.He said to them,"This is my blood of the covenant,which will be shed for many.Amen, I say to you,I shall not drink again the fruit of the vineuntil the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."Then, after singing a hymn,they went out to the Mount of Olives.
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Contemplation “Come away by yourselves . . . and rest a while.” (Mk 6:31)
After thinking about how the passage applies to you and others, spend some quiet time with the Word. Consider these suggestions to guide your contemplation of the scripture reading:
Rest with this Scripture in the presence of God for a few minutes. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak. Listen for the Lord’s voice echoing within.
Is there something from the Scripture that touches you, that you would simply like to keep in your heart? Did you receive a new thought or inspiration that moved you? Write these inspirations down to discern God’s voice.
Concluding Prayer “Give thanks to him; bless his name.” (Ps 100:4)
In thanksgiving, conclude your prayer by praying the Canticle of Mary, the Magnificat: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.
(Luke 1:46-55)
Copyright © 2018, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Scripture excerpts taken from Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. All rights reserved. English translation of the Benedictus (Canticle of Zechariah) and the Magnificat (Canticle of Mary) courtesy of the International Consultation on English Texts (ICET).
Copyright ©2018 Catholic News Service–United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.
Quote from St. John Paul II, copyright © 2004, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City State. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Image: Heilige Bonifatius, Unknown, Rijksmuseum.
Bonifacec. 675 – 754
Feast Day—June 5
Saint of the Week
Boniface, the apostle of Germany, started out as an English monk, a popular teacher, preacher and writer who was ordained at 30. He compiled a Latin grammar and wrote many biblical instructions. But he felt called to missionary work, and in 716 landed in Friesland, now in the Netherlands. After a brief stay, he traveled to Rome, where he received a broad commission to
evangelize central Germany. By 722, he had become bishop of Germany, where he organized the church and secured its ties to Rome. Later, as archbishop of Mainz and papal legate, he was asked to reform the Frankish church. The patron saint of Germany was martyred in Friesland, the missionary ter-ritory he revisited in retirement.
He left his own safe Country to proclaim the Gospel among the Germanic peoples and Franks as a ‘foreigner by God’s will.’ Unafraid and undaunted, not only did he fight against the pagan cults of his time, but he did not even fear hostility when it was a matter of reforming the Christian life that already existed. —St. John Paul II, in a letter commemorating the martyrdom of St. Boniface, June 2004
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FACT OFFAITH
Corpus Christi: The Solemnity of Body and Blood of Christ
Second Sunday after Pentecost
On the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, we give special honor to Jesus, truly present in the most Blessed Sacrament of the altar. As Catholics, we wor-ship the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, both during Mass and outside of Mass. We are en-couraged to spend time in prayer before the Lord in the Eucharist. Many parishes offer regular expo-sition of the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance. We may also choose to visit the church at other times to adore the Blessed Sacra-ment reserved in the tabernacle.
Why does Jesus give himself to us as
food and drink?
Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist as spiritual nourishment because he loves us. God’s whole plan for our salvation is directed to our participation in the life of the Trinity, the communion of Fa-ther, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our sharing in this life begins with our Baptism, when by the power of the Holy Spirit we are joined to Christ, thus becoming adopted sons and daughters of the Father. It is strengthened and increased in Confirmation. It is nourished and deepened through our partic
ipation in the Eucharist. By eat-ing the Body and drinking the Blood of Christ in the Eucharist we become united to the person of Christ through his humanity. . . . In being united to the human-ity of Christ we are at the same time united to his divinity. Our mortal and corruptible natures are transformed by being joined to the source of life. . . .
By being united to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit dwell-ing in us, we are drawn up into the eternal relationship of love among the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As Jesus is the eternal Son of God by nature, so
we become sons and daughters of God by adoption through the sacrament of Baptism. Through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation (Chrismation), we are temples of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, and by his in-dwelling we are made holy by the gift of sanctifying grace. The ultimate promise of the Gospel is that we will share in the life of the Holy Trinity. The Fathers of the Church called this participation in the divine life “divinization” (theosis). In this we see that God does not merely send us good things from on high; instead, we are brought up into the inner life of God, the communion among
Pope Francis leads Benediction outside the Basilica of St. Mary Major on the feast of Corpus Christi in Rome
May 26, 2016 (CNS/Paul Haring)
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FACT OFFAITH
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In the celebration of the Eucharist (which means “thanks-giving”) we give praise and glory to God for this sublime gift.
When the bread and wine become the Body of Christ, why do they still look and taste like
bread and wine?
In the celebration of the Eucha-rist, the glorified Christ becomes present under the appearances of bread and wine in a way that is unique, a way that is uniquely suit-ed to the Eucharist. In the Church’s
traditional theological language, in the act of consecration during the Eucharist the “substance” of the bread and wine is changed by the power of the Holy Spirit into the “substance” of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. At the same time, the “accidents” or appear-ances of bread and wine remain. “Substance” and “accident” are here used as philosophical terms that have been adapted by great medieval theologians such as St. Thomas Aquinas in their efforts to understand and explain the faith. Such terms are used to convey the fact that what appears to be bread and wine in every way (at the level
of “accidents” or physical attri-butes––that is, what can be seen, touched, tasted, or measured) in fact is now the Body and Blood of Christ (at the level of “substance” or deepest reality). This change at the level of substance from bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is called “transubstan-tiation.” According to Catholic faith, we can speak of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist because this transubstantiation has occurred (cf. Catechism, no. 1376).
The introduction of this article is taken from the Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, Revised Edition (Washington, DC: USCCB, 2007) 146.
The articles “Why does Jesus give himself to us as food and drink?” and “When the bread and wine become the Body of Christ, why do they still look and taste like bread and wine?” are excerpts from The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist: Basic Questions and Answers, which was produced by the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and was approved by the full body of bishops at their June 2001 General Meeting.
Copyright © 2001, 2007, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.Image: CNS/Paul Haring.
USCCB
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The Saints and Eucharistic DevotionCATECHETICAL
CORNER by Norbertine Fr. Alfred McBride
“Devotions to the Eucharist
are invitations to prayer and
contemplation.”
Someone once said to St. Teresa of Avila, “If only I had lived at the time of
Jesus . . . If only I had seen Jesus . . . If only I had talked with Jesus.” Teresa responded, “But do we not have in the Eucharist the living, true and real Jesus present before us. Why look for more?” (Rebecca Jordan, “Inspiring Saint Quotes on the Eucharist,” April 30, 2010, www.starofthesea.net/index.php/ourparish/blog/203-in-spiring-saint-quoteson-the-eucha-rist [accessed July 14,2010]).
St. Thomas Aquinas tells us,”Oprecious and wonderful banquet that brings us salvation and con-tains all sweetness! Could any-thing be of more instrinsic value? Under the old law it was the flesh of calves and goats that was offered, but here Christ him-self, the true God, is set before us as food.” (Feast of Corpus Christi. Cited in Liturgy of Hours, Vol III, p. 610)
These saints, among many oth-ers, were devoted to the Mass and also to devotions associated with the Eucharist. Devotions to the Eucharist are invitations to prayer and contemplation. On Holy Thursday, after Jesus had transformed bread and wine into his Body and Blood and given the Apostles their First Communion, he proceeded to invite them to prayerful union with him. As they looked at him and the chal-ice in front of him, they heard him say, “I am the vine, you are
the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). They had received the Sacrament, but they had to live in faith-filled union with Christ so they could serve others. Prayer would help them do this.
Eucharistic devotions such as adoration, holy hours, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, and Eucharistic Congresses are all forms of prayer that increase our interior union with Christ. They help us gain more benefits fromthe Mass and deepen our desire to serve others. Placing yourself before the tabernacle is a com-mitment to be a sturdier branch on the vine, a healthier member of Christ’s Body, a heart open to the unseen power of prayer. Michael McDevitt writes, “The power of prayer is not about your power, but the power you have allowed inside. Christ him-self is the unseen power. You are infused with a power far beyond
anything you can imagine. St. Paul urges us to live by this faith: ‘We look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Cor 4:18) (Michael McDevitt, The Unseen Power of Prayer [Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor, 2008], 24).
Prayerful participation in the Mass needs the support of eucharistic devotional prayer to keep alive the continu-ing relationship with Christ. The branches need the vine. Devotional, meditative prayer is one way to do this. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta put itthis way: “You are called to do more than say, ‘I love you, Jesus.’ You are called to be your brother’s and sister’s keep-ers.” The motivation and power to do this comes from prayer, often done before the Blessed Sacrament as Blessed Mother Teresa did every day. She said,
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CATECHETICAL CORNER
“The fruit of silence is prayer.
The fruit of prayer is faith. The
fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service.”
“The fruit of silence is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service” (McDevitt, 137).
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen believed that his daily hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament was essential for hisministry as a priest. “The Holy Hour became like an oxygen tank to revive the breath of the Holy Spirit” (Treasure in Clay [New York: Doubleday, 1980], 202). Sheen constantly promoted med-itative prayer before the BlessedSacrament. “We become like that which we gaze upon. Looking into a sunset, the face takes on a golden glow. Looking at our Eucharistic Lord for an hour transforms the heart in a mysterious way” (Sheen, 198).
The Eucharistic procession thataccompanies the feast of Corpus Christi is a devotion that stirs the hearts of many to feel Christ’s loving presence more vividly. The pageantry that brings the Eucharist into city streets com-municates the warmth and inti-macy of this mystery. In 1264, Pope Urban IV extended the feast of Corpus Christi from Liege, Belgium, to the whole Church and commissioned Thomas Aquinas to compose a liturgy for it. The pope hoped the feast would improve the faith of the people in Christ’s real pres-ence in the Eucharist and coun-teract the heresy that denied it.The hymns and prayers and ser-mons Thomas provided were strong catechetical tools that
turned the tide in favor of a com-prehensive faith in the Eucharist.
All these testimonies emphasize the Church’s faith in the doctrine of the real presence of Christ’s Body, Blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist. It was Jesus him-self who defended this gift andmystery when he foretold it in his Bread of Life Discourse: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. . . . Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him” (Jn 6:51, 56). His listeners protested, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” (Jn 6:60). Jesus did not back off. He chal-lenged the apostles to believe him. Peter spoke for them. “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68). In the holy meal of the Last Supper, Jesus fulfilled his prom-ise by changing bread and wine into his Body and Blood. In the
Mass and Eucharistic devotions, we have this treasure of grace and prayer that is the summit and source of the Christian life.
In the sixteenth century, the denial of the Real Presence occurred again, along with a repudiation of the Mass as making present the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus. The Church’s response through the Council of Trent strongly reaffirmed these Eucharistic truths and spon-sored the revival of Eucharistic devotions initiated in the Middle Ages.
Perhaps the greatest eucharistic artwork from this period is Peter Paul Rubens’s oil painting enti-tled The Defenders of the Eucharist, created in 1625. Rubens reached back to the golden age of the Church Fathers as well as to outstanding saints of the Middle Ages and assembled seven of them in one scene, united in the one faith of the Church witness-ing their unity through the cen-turies of faith in the eucharistic presence of Christ.
Today that painting is on display in the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida. Beginning on the right side of the canvass, Rubens pictures St. Jerome, dressed as a cardinal receiving Communion. Next to him stands St. Norbert, clothed in his white habit and carrying the Eucharist beneath his robes. St. Thomas Aquinas stands in the center holding a book and extending his other hand to heaven, a gesture
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CATECHETICAL CORNER
proclaiming his defense of the Eucharist. Beside him is St. Clare of Assisi, holding a mon-strance that displays the sacred eucharistic host. To her left is St. Gregory the Great, the pope who wrote so many works con-tained in the Mass. Then comes St. Ambrose, who wrote about the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Rubens finishes his gathering of defenders of the Eucharist with St. Augustine, who included his reflections on this sacrament in his famous treatise on the Holy Trinity.
Rubens produced this paintingduring the Church’s Counter- Reformation efforts to defend and reclaim the authentic teachings about the Eucharist and the devotions that assisted believers to deepen their com-mitment to this mystery of faith (see the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, “Peter Paul Rubens and the Baroque,” Galleries 1-2, www.willemswebs.com/ringlingdocents/pages/Galler-ies 1&2.pdf [accessed July 14, 2010]).
The seven saints represented in this painting summarize our belief in the Eucharist. It is a sacrifice, the sacrifice of Jesus
made present in a sacramental way. It is a sacrament of the abiding presence of Christ in the transformed bread and wine become his Body and Blood. It is a sacramental meal begun on Holy Thursday and available to us in Holy Communion.
This sacrament is available to members of the Catholic Church who are in the state of grace. It is a transforming sacrament. The term “transubstantiation” means that the substance of bread and wine is changed into the sub-stance of Christ’s Body and Blood. In receiving Communion, we too undergo a gradual trans-formation into Christ and are called to spread his love given to us throughout the world.
I conclude with a few practices for parents and catechists to fos-ter eucharistic devotions.
Regularly attend weekend Mass with the family. Come for prayer before and after Mass.
Adore the raised Body and Blood of Christ at Mass with the silent phrase, “My Lord and my God.”
Participate in eucharistic ado-ration where possible. Genuflect with reverence before the Blessed Sacrament. Make visits to the Blessed Sacrament altar individually and with whole family.
Engage family in regular Scripture study and catechesis on the Eucharist.
Read lives of eucharistic saints such as St. Katharine Drexel and St. John Neumann.
We taste in you our living bread and Long to feast upon you still.
We drink of you our fountain-head, our thirsting souls to quench and fill. (O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts, Worship: A Hymnal and Service Book for Roman Catholics (Chicago: GIA Publications, Inc., 1986), 605, second stanza)
Copyright © 2011, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to duplicate this work without adaptation for non-commercial use.
Scripture texts used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, copyright © 1991, 1986, and 1970 by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC 20017 and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved.
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When Tommy and I first began dating, we knew right away
that all conventional “dating rules” would have to be thrown out the window. A distance of 1,226 miles forced us to rethink everything we thought we knew about relationships and romance. Spontaneous dates had to be planned months in advance (and involved the purchasing of a flight and the intense coordination of calendars). Physical affection was limited to when we were in the same place, which happened monthly at best. We discovered very quickly that it was going to be tough to be fully present to one another: even when you’re communicating regularly via text, Skype, phone calls, and carrier pigeons, it’s easy to get caught up in what’s right in front of your face and forget about the person you love who is well over a thousand miles away at that very moment.
Facing this challenge, and know-ing that success rates of long distance relationships weren’t necessarily the highest, Tommy and I set a rule from the start: we would talk on the phone, every night, if even for just a few minutes. These calls became the favorite part of my day. It was
our chance to refresh. We’d talk about what had happened at work, with our families, share thoughts on everything from TV shows to current events. They were precious conversations, as if we were going on a date every night. In those nightly phone calls, the distance was spanned, our hearts were shared, and our love grew. About a week or so after we met, right as we were about to hang up the phone, Tommy tentatively asked, “Would you like to pray together before we say goodnight?” My heart surged. At last, here was a man who not only spent hours on the phone sharing his heart and mind, but also wanted to lead us in prayer and bring me close to the heart of Jesus. As he ended the spontaneous prayer, Tommy said, “Mother Mary, lead us ever closer to the heart of your Son as we pray, Hail Mary…” There
are a few moments I knew that I was falling in love with Tommy. That was one of the first.
Every night since then, Tommy and I have prayed together when we say goodnight, ending with a Hail Mary. Those few moments of prayer, however quick they may be, are what ground us in the chaos and busyness that is life right now. No matter what is going on – no matter how many tasks need to be com-pleted or what stress has caused anxiety that day – that intimate moment of prayer allows us to be fully and completely present to one another. The world stops spinning, the chaos quiets, the emotions settle, and we are able to speak together to our Lord and share with Him the inner workings of our hearts.
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Growing Closer to the Heart
“Mother Mary, lead us ever closer to the heart of your Son as we pray, Hail Mary . . . ”
Kate and Tommy got married on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary (June 4 that year). While much of their relationship was long-distance, the acts of praying together and inviting others to pray with them on their journey to marriage can be great practices for all dating and engaged couples.
The liturgical memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary follows the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the devotions to the Immaculate Heart have been very widespread since the early 1900s. The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is the Friday after the Solemnity of the of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).
2This article was originally published on USCCB’s For Your Marriage website, www.foryourmarriage.org. Copyright © 2018, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington DC. All rights reserved.
On June 4, those prayers will be said together as husband and wife. On June 4, the inner workings of
two hearts will become one, and our very project of life will be to lead each other ever closer to the heart of Jesus. What better day to begin this adventure of drawing closer to Christ’s heart than on the feast day of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
To help us prepare for what is surely going to be the start of the best days of our lives, we invited our family and friends to join us in a Novena to the Immaculate Heart of Mary begin-ning on May 27 and ending on our wedding day. What better woman to petition for a holy and happy marriage than the most intense and perfect disciple of the Lord? Knowing that prayers are powerful and Mary’s inter-cession is perfect, we mailed prayer cards to our entire guest list with the following prayer:
Immaculate Virgin, by the holy will of your Son, my Lord Jesus Christ, you are my Mother in Heaven. Your Immaculate Heart is full of love, mercy and com-passion for sinners like me. I ask that you intercede for me today for Katie & Tommy to be prepared to enter into Holy Matrimony. May they take any opportunity to praise & affirm the talents & efforts of each other. May they offer their time, understanding, & hearts to one another. May they try to build a solid foundation of openness, trust, & virtue. May they cel-ebrate their coming vows & focus on the marriage they will build together & the holiness in which they will hopefully grow. May they treat each other with
a sacred trust that will build each other up and may they trust in the Lord above all else, becoming clear channels of His love. May they always go in the peace of Christ to love & serve Him.I trust in your intercession before the throne of God for my needs and the needs of this couple preparing for marriage. Please pray also that if my petitions of any sort are not in accordance with the will of God, that I may be, like you, conformed to His will and not my own.Hail Mary…Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Pray for Katie & Tommy. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us. Amen.
Sending out those prayer cards was easily the least expensive part of all the wedding materi-als we have purchased and pre-pared. It took just a couple of hours one afternoon to address and stuff the envelopes, but the reward has been immeasurable and truly humbling. Friends and family began to text and call to let us know that they were so moved by the prayer card
and honored that we would ask them to lift us up in the nine days preceding our wedding. My dad’s boss was moved to tears when she told him they had received the card. Some dear friends of ours left on pil-grimage to Rome a few days after receiving the prayer card and began their novena in the Eternal City, praying specifically for us at the tomb of Pope St. John Paul II. Tommy’s grandfa-ther started praying the prayer the day he received the card, just so he could “practice and get it right.” A fellow teacher at school came and found us in the coffee room and said, “It just captured you two so perfectly. Thank you for asking me to pray for you.”
No one really cares about the save-the-date or the invitation that gets mailed out. Those are expected to arrive. The invita-tions to the bridal shower, while cute, were eventually tossed, and the thank you notes we’ve written were read, stuck on the fridge for a few days, and then forgotten. But this prayer card, something so simple and easy to create and then send, elicited more excitement and support from the people we love the most because it has included our guests in the most important part of our wedding: our actual marriage and life together. In terms of a wedding, the tiny “details” which are so expensive and time consuming are far less significant than the most import-ant aspect of it all: our entrance into a sacred Sacrament and the beginning of our journey as husband and wife as we grow ever closer to the heart of Jesus together.
“What better woman to peti-tion for a holy
and happy mar-riage than the most intense and perfect
disciple of the Lord?”