Dear Parishioners,
Trinity Sunday focuses on the mystery of the Triune Godhead as
revealed to us by Jesus. Recall that the Jewish people were strict monotheists. It must have been quite a
startling revelation for them that the One True God is a unity of three Divine
Persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus made known the mystery of the
Trinity for us. The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central
mystery of the Christian faith and of Christian life. God alone can make it
known to us by revealing himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Catechism
of the Catholic Church, #261) This teaching is not something
that we would be able to figure out for ourselves without God’s
revelation.
Next week, we will celebrate Corpus Christi (which is celebrated in the universal Church on a Thursday—the day of the Last Supper —but moved to Sunday in the United States). This solemnity is all about the gift of the Holy Eucharist. How can the Son of God be truly present under the form of bread and wine? The Catechism instructs us:
It is highly fitting that Christ
should have wanted to remain present to his Church in this unique way. Since
Christ was about to take his departure from his own in his visible form, he
wanted to give us his sacramental presence; since he was about to offer himself
on the cross to save us, he wanted us to have the memorial of the love with
which he loved us "to the end," even to the giving of his life. In
his Eucharistic presence he remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who
loved us and gave himself up for us, and he remains under signs that
express and communicate this love. (CCC, #1380)
Volumes have been written and
countless sermons preached over the centuries on both of these topics. From a
pragmatic point of view, why not take time during the next few weeks to reflect
on the wisdom of the Catechism as it tries to enlighten us about our
Catholic faith? We should continually seek greater understanding and clarity as
we try to delve more deeply into the precious mysteries of our faith that have
been revealed to us.
I plan to have an outside
Eucharistic Procession with Benediction around our grounds (weather permitting)
at the end of the 4:30 PM Mass on Saturday, June 1st. This will be
an opportunity to give special honor to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament,
especially during this time of Eucharistic Revival taking place in the United
Sates.
Also in a few weeks (June 20 to 22), our parish will spend 40 Hours in adoration of Jesus in the
Most Blessed Sacrament. We will add two additional evening Masses at 7 PM
on Thursday and Friday evenings (June 20-21) and close the 40 Hours at a Mass
on Saturday (June 22) at a special 10 AM Mass. This day is fittingly the feast
of the patron of our parish, St. Thomas
More. Please take the time to sign-up with a commitment to spend an hour or
more of your time in His divine presence. May we always realize Who we have before us on our altars
and in our tabernacles and Who we
are privileged to receive in Holy Communion: Jesus, the Son of God.
With the beautiful spiritual days
ahead, may God grant the necessary graces to our parish to remain ever faithful
to Him and to grow in the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Most
Holy Eucharist.
Fr. Ed Namiotka
Pastor
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