On the Solemnity of Pentecost and the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, I offered in my homilies on those two succesive weeks, my opinion on the most appropriate songs for those great celebrations, "The Spirit Is A-Movin'" and "On This Day The First of Days" respectively. I even suggested that praying to the Trinity the words of all the verses of that second song every Sunday would be a good spiritual practice to adopt in one's life.
Since Bishop Taylor has asked that his homily for this weekend of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord, be presented at all Masses throughout the diocese as we kick off the 3 year Eucharistic Revival that was adopted by our American Bishops in their November meeting of last year, I would like in my pastor's column to present the song that I believe is most appropriate for this wonderful feast. it is one that most, if not all of you know, "O Sacrament Most Holy." The first verse does indeed capture the essence of this feast and our belief in the "Real Presence" of the Lord that we are given to consume at every Mass. It goes "O Jesus we adore you, who in your love divine, conceal your mighty Godhead in forms of bread and wine." It clearly tells us that though it looks like bread and wine from the start of Mass until we consume it (and afterward in the tabernacle), it becomes, during the consecration of Mass, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord! This solemnity invites us to reflect on the sacredness of the Holy Eucharist (which hopefully our Eucharistic Adorers do for some or all of their holy hour with Jesus exposed for us to see sacramentally in the monstrance). The opening prayer of Mass this weekend prays that we may "revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourelves the fruits of your redemption." This "reverence" is to happen not only after we receive Jesus in Holy Communion in the prayers we pray individually to the Lord and songs with others who have received him, but also in the ways we conduct ourselves after we leave the Mass or the chapel.
I pray that we will all participate in this "Eucharistic Revival" that starts this weekend in the ways our Church gives us to participate in it, and grow in our witness to the Eucharistic Lord and in our longing for the banquet feast of heaven. I believe the refrain from the hymn I mentioned above is appropriate to use on this solemnity and every day of our lives. "O sacrament most holy, O sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving, be every moment thine."
Since Bishop Taylor has asked that his homily for this weekend of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord, be presented at all Masses throughout the diocese as we kick off the 3 year Eucharistic Revival that was adopted by our American Bishops in their November meeting of last year, I would like in my pastor's column to present the song that I believe is most appropriate for this wonderful feast. it is one that most, if not all of you know, "O Sacrament Most Holy." The first verse does indeed capture the essence of this feast and our belief in the "Real Presence" of the Lord that we are given to consume at every Mass. It goes "O Jesus we adore you, who in your love divine, conceal your mighty Godhead in forms of bread and wine." It clearly tells us that though it looks like bread and wine from the start of Mass until we consume it (and afterward in the tabernacle), it becomes, during the consecration of Mass, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord! This solemnity invites us to reflect on the sacredness of the Holy Eucharist (which hopefully our Eucharistic Adorers do for some or all of their holy hour with Jesus exposed for us to see sacramentally in the monstrance). The opening prayer of Mass this weekend prays that we may "revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourelves the fruits of your redemption." This "reverence" is to happen not only after we receive Jesus in Holy Communion in the prayers we pray individually to the Lord and songs with others who have received him, but also in the ways we conduct ourselves after we leave the Mass or the chapel.
I pray that we will all participate in this "Eucharistic Revival" that starts this weekend in the ways our Church gives us to participate in it, and grow in our witness to the Eucharistic Lord and in our longing for the banquet feast of heaven. I believe the refrain from the hymn I mentioned above is appropriate to use on this solemnity and every day of our lives. "O sacrament most holy, O sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving, be every moment thine."