Full of Grace

When the Angel Gabriel spoke to the Virgin Mary at the Annunciation, the angel greeted her with the words, “Hail, full of grace.” When we repeat these words in one of our best-known Catholic prayers, we add her name: “Hail, Mary, full of grace.” The fact that the angel did not use her name does not diminish the greeting given to Mary; it simply shows us the key to her identity: she was filled with the life and love of God.

The Easter Season gives special emphasis to the reality of our Baptism, since it is the cornerstone of our identity as Christians. In Baptism the life and love of God enters us in a particularly strong way, making us “full of grace.” As Christians, we have a special relationship with God and also with everyone who shares the life of grace. This includes a special relationship with the Virgin Mary.

Are we still full of grace? Well, we are not perfect. We do our best to cultivate the life of grace God gives us. As we do so, it is only right that we look to Mary, who is the Mother of all Christians. The month of May is especially dedicated to her, so this is a good time to remind ourselves that the Mother of Christ is our mother as well. She looks out for us and prays to her Son with us and for us. Pray an extra “Hail Mary” every now and then during this month as a powerful expression of faith that our holy Mother prays for us “now and at the hour of our death.”

Gratefully Yours,

The Sacramental Life

This time of the year is busy in our parish in a very wonderful way: the sacramental life of our parishioners is growing by leaps and bounds. Over 25 persons have received (or are receiving) the three Sacraments of Initiation, Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion. A great number of young people are getting ready for their First Communion, which will take place soon. Over 120 teenagers have received the sacrament of Confirmation. A good number of adults are preparing for their Confirmation on Pentecost Sunday (May 28th). Meanwhile, daily Masses, regular Confessions, Marriages, and Anointings of the Sick are taking place as always.

All of this reminds us that the sacramental life is the very heart of the Church. It is through the sacraments that the grace of God (a share in his own life) and the powerful, loving touch of Christ come to us. If your own reception of the sacraments has in any way been hindered, this is a good time to bring it back. If your reception of the sacraments, especially Reconciliation and Eucharist, is already a regular occurrence in your life, this is a good time to renew your thanks for these sacred opportunities to grow closer to the Lord.

As we continue to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, we rejoice that he is alive and among us, and that he touches us in every sacrament we receive.

Gratefully Yours,

The Easter Candle

One of the greatest symbols of our Easter celebration (which goes on until Pentecost, May 28th this year) is the Easter Candle. The Easter Vigil begins with a blessing of fire, followed by a blessing of the Easter Candle. Symbols are traced on the candle: a cross, sign of our salvation; the Alpha and Omega (first and last letters) of the Greek alphabet, showing that Christ is the Beginning and the End of all things; and the current date, showing that all times belong to Christ. Five symbolic “wounds” are inserted in the Candle, as the priest says, “By his holy and glorious wounds, may Christ the Lord guard us and protect us. Amen.” Then the Candle is lit with the blessed fire and carried in procession to the sanctuary, accompanied by the words, “The Light of Christ.”

Then the Easter Proclamation (Exsultet) is sung. Among other things, the Candle is likened to the pillar of cloud and fire that led God’s Chosen People out of slavery into the promised land—just as Christ leads us out of slavery to sin to the promised land of heaven. The flame of the candle, which has been spread to all the candles held by the faithful in the church, is described as “a fire into many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light,” just as the Light of Christ is never diminished by being shared.

This splendid symbol of the Risen Christ will remain near the ambo for the entire Easter Season; then it will be placed near the Baptismal font, where it remains for the rest of the year except for during funerals, when it is put in the sanctuary again. In this way we see how the Risen Christ guides us from our infancy, when we are baptized, to our death, when he leads us to heaven. May that Light of Christ be our guide always!

Gratefully Yours,