Sunday, August 12, 2012

     This Sunday, as we continue reading from John 6, we hear the Lord Jesus declare: “The bread I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” These are stunning words that promise and foretell the gift we receive today in the Eucharist, when the bread and wine truly become the Lord’s own Body and Blood. One great practice is to make an act of faith in the Lord’s Real Presence in the Eucharist, to profess our faith in His words so that even when we are distracted or our feelings pull us in other directions, we might approach with a firm belief. Here is one an act of faith in the Eucharist that you might pray:

My Lord Jesus Christ,
I believe that you are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.
I believe that in Holy Communion
I shall receive your Sacred Body and your Precious Blood.
My faith in your real presence in the Holy Eucharist
is firmly founded on your word, O eternal Truth, who said:

“My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.”
My Saviour and my God,
with the angels who surround your altar and throne,
I bow down in humble adoration before your Majesty.

     This Wednesday, August 15, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a holy day of obligation, a way the Church reminds us that what we celebrate is so important to our faith that we need to be here and enter into it at Mass, to let it shape our lives. We believe that when the course of her earthly life was completed, Mary was assumed into Heaven and given a share in the Resurrection of Christ, her son. We are also called to share in his Resurrection, but Mary is unique in that she experiences it even now, while all of the other faithful wait until Christ comes again in glory at the end of time. Please join us for our Holy Day Masses at 7:00pm on Tuesday (Vigil Mass) and on Wednesday at 6:30am, 9:00am and 7:00pm.

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