Dear Parishioners,
One benefit of writing this weekly bulletin message is that
my thoughts / message can potentially reach more people each Sunday. I am physically unable to preach at every
Mass in our parish each weekend, but all of you, my parishioners, can read what
I have to say weekly here in the church bulletin. Moreover, since I post this same message
online (www.fr-ed-namiotka.com)
others who are not in the parish (or may be away) can have this same
opportunity via the internet.
Corpus Christi (The Most Holy Body
and Blood of Christ) is a time for us to reflect on the precious gift that
we have in the Most Holy Eucharist. While
this solemnity is celebrated universally on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, the Church in the United States
celebrates Corpus Christi on the Sunday following Trinity Sunday.
I have had the opportunity during my life to see both Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI when they were in the
USA—Philadelphia, Miami, Denver, East Rutherford (New Jersey) and Washington,
DC—in addition to meeting Pope St. John Paul II in Rome. There was always a
great deal of preparation before
meeting a pope. I remember various
details like being thoroughly scrutinized by the US Secret Service, patiently waiting in a secure area for hours before the Pope’s arrival, making
sure I was wearing a nice vestment and looking my very best, etc. There was plenty of preparation to meet the Vicar
of Christ. Yet, don’t we have
someone much more important than the pope present on our altars at every Mass—Jesus Christ himself. How do we prepare for Him?
I suggest that we think about a few things as we prepare to meet Christ at each Mass:
·
Do
I take seriously the hour fast from food and drink prior to
receiving Holy Communion? (This fast
would also include items like gum and
breath mints.)
·
Am
I sure that I am in not in the state of serious sin before receiving Holy Communion? If I am, I should refrain from receiving Holy
Communion until I first make a sacramental Confession.
· When
I receive—whether it is on the tongue
or in the hand--do I do so with the
proper reverence and respect that I should show to the Son of God? Am I dressed in a manner befitting a meeting
with the Son of God? (Would you actually
dress this way if you were to meet the Pope, a Bishop or some other dignitary?)
·
Do
I make a proper thanksgiving after
receiving Holy Communion? The religious
sisters taught me at the time of my First
Holy Communion to tell Jesus that I love Him, to thank Him for everything
that He does for me, to petition Him for what I need in my life and to tell Him
that I am truly sorry for all of my sins.
I think that these components of a proper thanksgiving are still relevant
today. There is nothing more frustrating
to me as a priest than those who continually leave Church directly after receiving Jesus in Holy Communion without making a
proper thanksgiving.
· If
I am unable to receive Jesus in Holy Communion because of some circumstance
of my life, do I make a Spiritual Communion instead? Request that
Jesus come to you spiritually in your heart since you cannot now receive Him in
Holy Communion.
While the suggestions listed here are
far from complete, if we believe and realize that we truly have
Jesus, the Son of God present on our
altars and in our tabernacles, then I think that the way we pray, worship and
receive Holy Communion should reflect this core belief.
Fr. Ed
Namiotka
Pastor
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