Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, a feast more commonly referred to by its Latin name, Corpus Christi. Yes, there is a city in Texas named for the Eucharist! The sacrament of the Eucharist is central to our Catholic faith and practice. As we gather weekly to celebrate the Mass, Jesus is made present for us in the Eucharist. When we approach the altar rail, we receive Him, truly present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. It is not only in the moment of Holy Communion or during Mass that He is present; Jesus remains present for us in the Eucharist in the Tabernacle. This feast offers us an opportunity to renew our reverence for Jesus when we receive Holy Communion, and to celebrate the gift of this sacramental mystery in our lives. There are two ways that the Church highlights and celebrates this mystery which I would like to call attention to today.
A Eucharistic procession, especially on the feast of Corpus Christi, is a time-honored devotion in which the Blessed Sacrament is carried, accompanied by the faithful, into the streets. It is a public manifestation of the Church’s faith and confidence in Jesus who is present in the Eucharist. The procession also marks a moment for the Church to pray publicly for the city or town, for society at large. This witness of prayer and devotion is evangelical and is meant to also invite our neighbors and community to have an experience of the presence of God in the world. Here in Fairfield, we will hold a solemn Eucharistic procession this afternoon, beginning from St. Thomas Aquinas Church (1719 Post Road). Please participate in this procession today, gathering at 1:30 PM in the parking lot at St. Thomas!
Eucharistic adoration is a devotional practice in which we contemplate the presence of Jesus while the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in a monstrance. Time spent in front of the Blessed Sacrament allows us to pause, recollect, and contemplate. It can be a refuge from the chaos of our lives as well as an opportunity to sanctify our time. One of my favorite aspects of Eucharistic adoration is that the time in prayer is unstructured. I can pray through certain devotions, read Scripture, or pause on one intention in a particular way. Bishop Caggiano would like to see perpetual adoration chapels established throughout Fairfield County. Here at St. Pius, our chapel is very close to being ready for truly perpetual, 24/7 adoration. We need about 30 volunteers, especially for the weekend hours. If you would like to make regular Eucharistic adoration part of your schedule, please sign up for an hour (even if someone else is already committed to the hour, you can still sign up). If you are feeling especially generous, consider taking one of the unclaimed weekend hours. You can visit www.st-pius.org/adore365 to sign up for an hour.
Peace,
Fr. Sam
