Dear friends,
As we celebrate the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time this weekend, we also celebrate our fathers through special remembrance of them in prayer. St. Joseph is the patron of all fathers, so during this Year of St. Joseph, I invite our dads to read the Apostolic Letter titled “Patris Corde.” It was written by Pope Francis to commemorate this special year, inviting us to increase our love for St. Joseph, to implore his intercession, and to imitate his virtues and zeal. Thank you, dear fathers, for all you do to make us who we are and, especially, for standing by us and encouraging us in our faith journey. Happy Father’s Day!
During this hurricane season, please make the necessary preparations to protect yourselves and continue to pray through the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor to avert the deadly storms and spare us from harm:
“Our Father in Heaven, through the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, spare us and our homes from all disasters of nature. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Also, I recommend that we pray Psalm 91 in appeal for God’s protection, verses 11 and 12: “For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways. With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”
As we enter the summer months of leisure and relaxation, I ask that you read a few paragraphs each weekend from Section Two, Article 3 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Sacrament of the Eucharist, as we reflect together and begin to more fully appreciate this precious and invaluable gift.
ARTICLE 3: THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST
- THE EUCHARIST - SOURCE AND SUMMIT OF ECCLESIAL LIFE
1324 The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life" (Lumen Gentium 11). "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch" (PO 5).
1325 "The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God's action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit."( Congregation of Rites, instruction, Eucharisticum mysterium, 6).
1326 Finally, by the Eucharistic celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all (Cf. 1 Cor 15:28).
1327 In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: "Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking" (St. Irenaeus, Adv. haeres. 4,18,5:PG 7/l,1028).
Be Blessed!
With love, Fr. John