Hello friends!
I hope everyone has been enjoying the beautiful weather as of late. It’s always nice to get a preview of the warm summer days while still in the midst of spring. Something to think about, especially when the colder weather returns; all of that rain and snow in winter makes it possible to have a lush, green spring and summer. All right…enough about the weather!
There are some exciting days coming up on our liturgical calendar, not the least of which is today’s solemnity…the most holy day of Pentecost. This day marks the official end of the Easter season and our return to Ordinary Time. There used to be an octave of Pentecost (an eight-day period to reflect upon the mystery just celebrated, like the octaves of Christmas and Easter) but it was suppressed during the liturgical reform after the Second Vatican Council.
The next two Sundays are also very special and focus on the most important and foundational elements of our faith. First, we contemplate the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity; probably the most important and fundamental element of our faith, since it concerns the very nature of God Himself. The Oneness of God in three divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, forms the backdrop for our entire existence, in this life and the next. Second, the Sunday following Trinity Sunday is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, more popularly known as Corpus Christi. This day focuses on the very “source and summit” of our Christian life, as well as the source of the Church’s other sacraments…the Most Holy Eucharist! The living Body and Blood of Christ, consecrated and confected in the most holy sacrifice of the Mass, is the nourishment that strengthens us on this earthly pilgrimage. The Eucharist is the means by which we receive the outpouring of God’s sanctifying grace, and the way by which we advance on the path towards
holiness.
For us here at Blessed Sacrament Church, the solemnity of Corpus Christi is especially important since it is our parish feast day! On this day, which will be June 6th, we all have the opportunity to earn a plenary indulgence, which can be applied to ourselves or to the dead. I will be explaining more about this indulgence in the days ahead, as well as what indulgences are, and why we should strive to earn them when the opportunity presents itself. The weekend of Corpus Christi (June 5th and 6th) is also very special for our diocese since it is the weekend of ordinations to the priesthood. This year, 4 transitional deacons will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, June 5th, and most will offer their first Masses on Sunday, June 6th. Since without the priesthood, there is no Eucharist, it is very special for these men to offer their first Masses on the great day of Corpus Christi. Please remember them in your prayers as they approach this joyous and holy day:
Rev. Mr. Charles Johnson, Rev. Mr. Michael Johnson, Rev. Mr. Ryan Keating, and Rev. Mr. Daniel Ulmer.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help…pray for us!
May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved, with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen.
~Fr. Martin Gallagher