Our Greatest Treasure

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, often referred to as “Corpus Christi.” The Eucharist is our greatest Treasure, and is at the center of our life as Catholics. Jesus tells us clearly, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” (Jn. 6:53-54) We believe that when Jesus said “This is my body….This is my blood” during the Last Supper, he meant what he said. And he gave his Apostles and their successors the power to “do this,” that is, to continue to transform bread and wine into his living Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

We call the transformation of bread and wine into the living presence of Christ transubstantiation. The bread and wine keep their outward appearance in every respect, but the reality—the substance—is changed. After the Consecration of the Mass, they are no longer bread and wine. They are the living presence of Jesus Christ. To be sure, this is beyond our power to understand completely, although we know that with God all things are possible.

As we celebrate this great solemnity, let’s remember also that the word “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving” in Greek. Let’s give thanks for the great Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, and lead lives characterized by gratitude and love.

Gratefully Yours,

Synodality

Sunday, June 4, is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. We worship the Three Persons in One God, a perfect, divine Community of Love.

At St. Edward the Confessor and San Felipe de Jesús, we are also calling June 4 “Synodality Sunday.” Leading up to this day there have been articles in the Bulletin describing how we plan on becoming a synodal parish. On “Synodality Sunday” we will have a special announcement at all Masses, and following all Masses tables will be set up near “Welcoming Jesus” where you can get more information and, if you like, sign up for a listening session.

Created in the image and likeness of God, who is a Community of Love, we are called to live as a community of love. This requires communication on our part; and one of the essential elements of communication is listening. For this reason, the listening sessions we are having in our parish are very important. They will help us grow as a community. I do hope that you will participate in one of these listening sessions.

Many thanks to the members of our Synodality Committee for all they are doing to make synodality a reality in our parish. May we live our faith in the Blessed Trinity by growing as a community of love!

Gratefully Yours,

Come, Holy Spirit

As we celebrate Pentecost on May 28th, three symbols can help us appreciate the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Scriptural account of the first Pentecost (in Acts 2:1-11) tells us that the coming of the Holy Spirit was signaled by the sound of a strong driving wind. Wind is invisible, like the Holy Spirit; we do not see the wind, but we see and feel its effects. The same is true of the Holy Spirit. Also, we could say that the wind was like the breath of God himself. (In fact, the Latin word for breath is spiritus.)

The Acts of the Apostles tell us that tongues of fire appeared and came to rest on each of the Apostles. Fire shows us the warmth of love and the light of faith; these are two important aspects of the life and work of the Holy Spirit in us.

Another symbol of the Holy Spirit is found in the Gospel accounts of the Baptism of Christ. They tell us that the Holy Spirit appeared over Christ in the form of a dove. The dove is a sign of peace; one of the clearest signs that we are being guided by the Holy Spirit is that we have true inner peace.

Today we rejoice in the many ways that the Spirit of God works in us and around us. May all we do be guided by the Holy Spirit!

Gratefully Yours,