June 23, 2019 – Corpus Christi

from the desk of Fr. Sinoj Pynadath HGN

I.  Corpus Christi:  This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Corpus Christi. It is a Feast that signifies three important aspects of the Blessed Sacrament: the sacrifice, the Sacrament and the Real Presence. This doctrinal feast gives us an opportunity to give God thanks for Christ’s abiding presence with us in the Eucharist and to honor Him there; to reflect and refresh our Faith and devotion surrounding the Mystery of Eucharist; and to appreciate and make use of the great gift of the Holy Eucharist, both as a Sacrament and as a sacrifice. 

II.  The Real Presence:  Our Faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament derives from the very promise of Christ to give us His Body and Blood for our spiritual food and drink. Theologians explain the Real Presence by a process called transubstantiation: the entire substance of bread and wine is changed into the entire substance of the risen, living, and glorified Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, retaining only the accidents (taste, color, shape) of the bread and wine. The Eucharist is really Jesus Christ, in the fullness of everything that makes him He. Can there be a religion in which God is closer to man than our Catholic Christianity?

III. Become presence:  Let us confess the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist by receiving him with true repentance for our sins, due preparation and reverence. Let us offer our lives on the altar along with Jesus’ sacrifice, asking pardon for our sins, expressing gratitude for the blessings we have received and seeking His graces. And by receiving Holy Communion let us be Christ-bearers and conveyers to others, through love, mercy, forgiveness and humble sacrificial service.

IV.  Annual Ice Cream Social:  Wednesday June 26th at 6:30 p.m., a day to commemorate our Patron, St. Stephen and come together to celebrate his patronage and our communion in his name as a parish. Let us celebrate and share the “sweetness” of our parish community and extend it to others in our society. Please refer to the bulletin for all the details.

V.  Notable Feasts: Through this week we have few important solemnities too: The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Sts. Peter and Paul. When John gave courageous witness to Jesus before His death and resurrection, Sts. Peter and Paul gave powerful witness to Jesus after His resurrection. We have stained glass windows for both of these great saints in our church; we also have a stained glass window showing Saint Peter ordaining our patron, Stephen, as a deacon, along with a window showing Saul involved with the martyrdom of our patron.  All of these windows are on the south side, over the confessional Let us celebrate their feasts with a desire to be inspired to become better witnesses to Christ. Catholic families have the practice of enthronement, consecration and dedication of themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. That implies the official and social recognition of the rule of Jesus over our families. May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus rule our homes!

ANIMA CHRISTI

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ,
wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen
me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds hide me.
Permit me not to be
separated from you.
From the wicked foe, defend
me.
At the hour of my death, call
me and bid me come to you.
That with your saints I may
praise you.
For ever and ever. Amen.