Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

News and Notes:

Today is the first day of the Year of the Eucharist, a special year to reflect on this Sacrament that nourishes us Catholics so that we may live and love as Christ taught us.  During the long period of the suspension of Masses that we have endured, we have had to abstain from Holy Communion.  As a result, perhaps we have experienced like never before a hunger, a longing for the Body and Blood of Christ.  To begin this Year of the Eucharist, I offer for your meditation a beautiful poetic prayer composed by Thomas Aquinas eight centuries ago.  It is a prayer that has been set to music by many composers, and captures the abundant blessings we receive in the sacred host we consume and the precious blood we sip:

O Sacred Banquet!
in which Christ is received;
the memory of his passion is contemplated;
the mind is filled with grace;
and a pledge of future glory is given to us. 
You have given them bread from heaven
Containing in itself all delight.

Let us pray; O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion; grant us, we beg you, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may constantly experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption…you who live and reign forever and ever.  Amen.

May the blessings of health and peace of mind be yours in the week ahead!