Christ Instituted the Holy Eucharist on the evening before his death, "on the night when he was betrayed" (1 Corinthians 11:23), when he gathered the Apostles around him in the Upper Room in Jerusalem and celebrated the Last Supper with them.
"For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said 'This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also the chalice, after supper, saying, 'This chalice is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me' (1 Corinthians 1123:25).
This, the oldest account of the events in the Upper Room at the last Supper, is by the Apostle Paul, who was not an eyewitness himself, but rather wrote down what was being preserved as a holy mystery by the young Christian community and was being celebrated in the liturgy.
The celebration of the Eucharist is the heart of the Christian communion. In it the Church becomes Church. We are not Church because we get along well, or because we happen to end up in the same parish community, but rather because in the Eucharist we receive the Body of Christ and are increasingly being transformed into the Body of Christ.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
What is the Holy Eucharist?
1. "THANK YOU JESUS" for the Gift of Yourself.
Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament in which Jesus Christ gives his body and blood - HIMSELF - for us, so that we too might give ourselves to him in love and be united with him in Holy Communion. In this way we are joined with the one body of Christ, the Church.
2. Jesus sacrifice on the cross is made present.
After baptism and confirmation, the Eucharist is the third sacrament of Initiation of the Catholic Church. The Eucharist is the mysterious center of all these sacraments, because the historic sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is made present during the words of consecration in a hidden, un-bloody manner. Thus the celebration of the Eucharist is "The source and summit of the Christian Life" (Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium,11).
3. Eucharist unites us with the Love of Jesus for us.
Everything aims at this; besides this there is nothing greater that one could attain.
When we eat the broken bread, we unite ourselves with the love of Jesus, who gave his body for us on the wood of the Cross;
When we drink from the chalice, we unite ourselves with him who even poured out his blood out of love for us.
We did not invent this ritual. Jesus himself celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples under the signs of bread and wine and commanded them from then on, even after his death, to celebrate the Eucharist. "Do this in remembrance of me" (1 Corinthians 11:24)
Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament in which Jesus Christ gives his body and blood - HIMSELF - for us, so that we too might give ourselves to him in love and be united with him in Holy Communion. In this way we are joined with the one body of Christ, the Church.
2. Jesus sacrifice on the cross is made present.
After baptism and confirmation, the Eucharist is the third sacrament of Initiation of the Catholic Church. The Eucharist is the mysterious center of all these sacraments, because the historic sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is made present during the words of consecration in a hidden, un-bloody manner. Thus the celebration of the Eucharist is "The source and summit of the Christian Life" (Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium,11).
3. Eucharist unites us with the Love of Jesus for us.
Everything aims at this; besides this there is nothing greater that one could attain.
When we eat the broken bread, we unite ourselves with the love of Jesus, who gave his body for us on the wood of the Cross;
When we drink from the chalice, we unite ourselves with him who even poured out his blood out of love for us.
We did not invent this ritual. Jesus himself celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples under the signs of bread and wine and commanded them from then on, even after his death, to celebrate the Eucharist. "Do this in remembrance of me" (1 Corinthians 11:24)
St. Josephine Bakhita, 8th February
She was born in a reasonably rich family at Olgossa village in Darfur region of Sudan in the year 1869. But in about 1877, she was kidnapped by Arab slave traders and was forced to walk barefoot for about 600 miles. Then she was sold and resold several times.
She even forgot the name given to her by her family but took the name given by slave traders, Bakhita. The name Bakhita in Arabic means Lucky. She was also forcefully converted to Islam. She suffered a lot as a slave from her cruel masters till the year 1883, when she was brought by an Italian vice-consul by name Calolisto Legnani.
They returned to Italy from the present Khartoum in Sudan, which was still under siege. On November 29, 1889, an Italian court decided that Bakhita was not a slave. Then she was baptized on January 9, 1890 with the name Giuseppina Margherita. She then took her vows in the Canossian Convent on December 8, 1896. In the monastery she was employed as a cook, sacristan and porter (door keeper).
People of Schio believe that during World War-II, Schio escaped without a casualty due to the presence of the saintly Bakhita, even though there was bombing. She died on February 8th, 1947.
She is venerated as a modern African Saint. She was declared blessed on May 17, 1992 and canonized on October 1,2000 by Pope John Paul-II.
St. Colette, 7th February
Background:
St. Colette was born at Corbie in Picardy, France on January 13th, 1381. Her father was Robert Boellet and mother Marguerite Moyon. The birth name of St.Colette was Nicole Boellet. Colette's mother Marguerite prayed to St.Nicholas for a child and St.Colette was born when her mother was 60 years old. Her conception was a miracle of St.Nicholas.
St.Colette received the habit of the Third Order of Francis in 1402. She founded the Colettine Poor Clares, a reformed branch of the Order of Saint Clare. She also founded 18 monasteries. She prescribed extreme poverty, observance of perpetual fasting and abstinence to the members.
Miracles:
She used to go to all places by bare foot. When, once she stayed in the house of her friend, the house ownder;s wife was having major difficulties in child birth for a third child. Colette went to a nearby church and prayed. The house owner's wife later gave birth to a girl child and that child later entered the monastery of Colette and became the biographer of Colette (Pierinne).
One day a man brought child, died at birth to the parish priest for baptism. But the priest refused and advised the man to go to the nuns. The man then came to mother Colette and she gave her veil to the father of the dead child in it and take to the priset's house with the dead child, the child was conscious and was crying. The priest then baptized the child. Colette died on March 6,1447.
She was beatified by pope Clement-XII on January 23,1740 and canonized by pope Pius-VII on May24, 1807.
She is the patron of women seeking to conceive, expectant mothers and sick children.
St. Colette was born at Corbie in Picardy, France on January 13th, 1381. Her father was Robert Boellet and mother Marguerite Moyon. The birth name of St.Colette was Nicole Boellet. Colette's mother Marguerite prayed to St.Nicholas for a child and St.Colette was born when her mother was 60 years old. Her conception was a miracle of St.Nicholas.
St.Colette received the habit of the Third Order of Francis in 1402. She founded the Colettine Poor Clares, a reformed branch of the Order of Saint Clare. She also founded 18 monasteries. She prescribed extreme poverty, observance of perpetual fasting and abstinence to the members.
Miracles:
She used to go to all places by bare foot. When, once she stayed in the house of her friend, the house ownder;s wife was having major difficulties in child birth for a third child. Colette went to a nearby church and prayed. The house owner's wife later gave birth to a girl child and that child later entered the monastery of Colette and became the biographer of Colette (Pierinne).
One day a man brought child, died at birth to the parish priest for baptism. But the priest refused and advised the man to go to the nuns. The man then came to mother Colette and she gave her veil to the father of the dead child in it and take to the priset's house with the dead child, the child was conscious and was crying. The priest then baptized the child. Colette died on March 6,1447.
She was beatified by pope Clement-XII on January 23,1740 and canonized by pope Pius-VII on May24, 1807.
She is the patron of women seeking to conceive, expectant mothers and sick children.
Monday, January 27, 2014
St. Angela Merici, 27th January
She was born on March 21, 1474 and joined the Third order of St. Francis. She started her religious carrier by giving regular religious instructions to small girls. A miracle has happened in her own life. When she was on religious tour of the Holy Land with others, she became suddenly blind, when they were near Crete. When others intended to return home due to this unfortunate incident, Angels compelled them to proceed further with her. She visited all holy places as scheduled with others with the same enthusiasm of a person with eye sight. When returning she got her eye sight again when praying before a crucifix, at the same place where she originally lost her eye sight.
She started the foundation of the "Company of St.Ursula" (venerated as a leader of women) with twelve virgins, on November 25, 1535, to impart Christian education to future wives and mothers, to lead a good life. Even though the members of the group have to follow the rules of virginity, poverty and obedience, they can live in their homes and take no formal vows. St.Angela was elected its Superior on March 18, 1537.
She died on January 27, 1540.
She was beatified by pope Clement-XIII on April 30, 1768
and canonized by Pope Pius-VII on May 24, 1807.
She started the foundation of the "Company of St.Ursula" (venerated as a leader of women) with twelve virgins, on November 25, 1535, to impart Christian education to future wives and mothers, to lead a good life. Even though the members of the group have to follow the rules of virginity, poverty and obedience, they can live in their homes and take no formal vows. St.Angela was elected its Superior on March 18, 1537.
She died on January 27, 1540.
She was beatified by pope Clement-XIII on April 30, 1768
and canonized by Pope Pius-VII on May 24, 1807.
What does Sacred Scipture say about the Sacrament of Confirmation?
In the Old testament, the People of God expected the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Messiah. Jesus lived his life in a special Spirit of love and of perfect unity with his Father in heaven.
This Spirit of Jesus was the "Holy Spirit" for whom the people of Israel longed;
- this was the same Spirit whom Jesus promised to his disciples,
- the same Spirit who descended upon the disciples fifty days after Easter, on the feast of Pentecost. - and it is again this same Holy Spirit of Jesus who descends upon everyone who receives the Sacrament of Confirmation.
In the Acts of Apostles, which were written a few decades after the death of Jesus, we see Peter and John traveling about to confirm new Christians by imposing hands on those who previously "had only been baptized in the name of Lord Jesus", so that their hearts might be filled with the Holy Spirit.
"From that time on the apostles, in the fulfillment of Christ's will, imparted to the newly baptized by the laying on of hands the gift of the Spirit that completes the grace of Baptism. For this reason in the Letter to the Hebrews the doctrine concerning Baptism and the laying on of hands is listed among the first elements of Christian instruction. The imposition of hands is rightly recognized by the Catholic tradition as the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation, which in a certain way perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the church" (Pope Paul VI).
This Spirit of Jesus was the "Holy Spirit" for whom the people of Israel longed;
- this was the same Spirit whom Jesus promised to his disciples,
- the same Spirit who descended upon the disciples fifty days after Easter, on the feast of Pentecost. - and it is again this same Holy Spirit of Jesus who descends upon everyone who receives the Sacrament of Confirmation.
In the Acts of Apostles, which were written a few decades after the death of Jesus, we see Peter and John traveling about to confirm new Christians by imposing hands on those who previously "had only been baptized in the name of Lord Jesus", so that their hearts might be filled with the Holy Spirit.
"From that time on the apostles, in the fulfillment of Christ's will, imparted to the newly baptized by the laying on of hands the gift of the Spirit that completes the grace of Baptism. For this reason in the Letter to the Hebrews the doctrine concerning Baptism and the laying on of hands is listed among the first elements of Christian instruction. The imposition of hands is rightly recognized by the Catholic tradition as the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation, which in a certain way perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the church" (Pope Paul VI).
St. Francis de Sales, 24th January
This saint was born in the noble Sales family of the Duchy of Savoy, on August 21,1567 in France and studied law in Padua. His father was Francoise de Sales, Lord of Boisy and mother Francoise de Sionnz. He was ordained as a priest in the Diocese of Geneva on December 8, 1602, where Calvinist sect of Christians were having very strong presence. Francis took very sincere efforts for converting Calvinist Christians to Catholicism.
He became the Bishop of Geneva at the age of 35 years. He often say that perfection in devotion can be preserved even in the family life, as in desert life. He started to write sermons and copied them by his hand and slipped them through doors of the houses that did not open for him. This is considered as the first use of religious tracts to communicate with people. He collaborated with St.Jane Francis De Chantal in founding the Congregation of Visitation, an Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary to observe and practice the virtues of humility, piety and mutual charity, in the visit of Holy Mary to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist.
He was made an official associate of the Capuchin Order, when he was Bishop. He died on December 28, 1622. He was beatified on January 8, 1661, by Pope Alexander-VII and canonized by the same Pope after four years on April 8, 1665. He is remembered as a patron of journalists because of the tracts he wrote.
He became the Bishop of Geneva at the age of 35 years. He often say that perfection in devotion can be preserved even in the family life, as in desert life. He started to write sermons and copied them by his hand and slipped them through doors of the houses that did not open for him. This is considered as the first use of religious tracts to communicate with people. He collaborated with St.Jane Francis De Chantal in founding the Congregation of Visitation, an Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary to observe and practice the virtues of humility, piety and mutual charity, in the visit of Holy Mary to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist.
He was made an official associate of the Capuchin Order, when he was Bishop. He died on December 28, 1622. He was beatified on January 8, 1661, by Pope Alexander-VII and canonized by the same Pope after four years on April 8, 1665. He is remembered as a patron of journalists because of the tracts he wrote.
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