Fr. Bill's Weekly Message for The feast of the Lord's Body and Blood, 6/1/97
Dear Parishioners:
The feast of the Lord's Body and Blood is a wonderful time to look at the many names we use for the Eucharist. They all are important.

Eucharist, because it is an action of thanksgiving to God. The Greek words 'eucharistein' and 'eulogein' recall the Jewish blessings that proclaim - especially during a meal - God's works: creation, redemption, and sanctification.

The Lord's Supper, because of its connection with the supper which the Lord took with his disciples on the eve of his Passion, and because it anticipates the wedding feast of the Lamb in the heavenly Jerusalem.

The Breaking of Bread, because Jesus used this rite, when as master of the table, he blessed and distributed the bread above all at the Last Supper. By following the example of Jesus we signified that all who eat the one broken bread, Christ, enter into communion with him and form but one body in him.

The Eucharist assembly (synaxis), because the Eucharist is celebrated amid the assembly of the faithful, the visible expression of the Church.

The memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection. The Holy Sacrifice, because it makes present the one sacrifice of Christ the Savior and includes the Church's offering. The term holy sacrifice of the Mass, "sacrifice of praise," spiritual sacrifice, pure and holy sacrifice, are also used, since it completes and surpasses all the sacrifices of the Old Covenant.

The Holy and Divine Liturgy, because the Church's whole liturgy finds its center and most intense expression in the celebration of this sacrament; in the same sense we also call its celebration the Sacred Mysteries. We speak of the Most Blessed Sacrament because it is the Sacrament of sacraments.

Holy Communion, because by this sacrament we unite ourselves to Christ, who makes us sharers in his Body and Blood to form a single body. We also call it the holy things (ta hagia; sancta) - the first meaning of the phrase "communion of saints" in the Apostles' Creed - the bread of angels, bread from heaven, medicine of immortality, viaticum.

Holy Mass (Missa), because the liturgy in which the mystery of salvation is accomplished concludes with the sending forth (missio) of the faithful, so that they may fulfill God's will in their daily lives (CCC #'s 1328 - 1322).

This is the summit of our liturgical lives. There is no greater prayer than that of the Mass. No greater way to praise God than to share in the Eucharist. It is because of this that I ask everyone to be spend a few minutes before you leave home and prepare your heart to hear and worship God in Mass. The more prepared we are to open our hearts to God the more we will be able to receive from Him.

Let us meditate on what is in the heart of Jesus for you and me. If we only knew what is in His heart.

God bless,

Fr. Bill




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