Our First Communion Class will celebrate their retreat today, in a final preparation for their reception of their First Holy Communion on Saturday. They have already received the Sacrament of Penance as they have been preparing for this reception of the Bread of Life. Blessings upon them and their families as well as their catechists and teachers who have assisted them on this journey of faith. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement for our young parishioners.
Last week at the high school I was privileged to celebrate First Holy Communion for one of our students. It was a tremendous moment of grace for the school, and it served as a reminder of the grace of this Sacrament, our reverence toward the Most Blessed Sacrament, and our attentiveness to allow the effect of this Sacrament to inspire us and impact our life and the lives of those we encounter. It was the perfect opportunity to reflect on our own first reception of Communion, perhaps even to reflect on the most recent reception of Communion. Compare and contrast the two receptions. Is the mystery the same? The wonder? The awe? The hunger? The effects?
31 May 2020 was Pentecost. It was a very strange celebration of Pentecost but given the significance of gathering once again – it was the first Sunday that the pandemic restrictions were lifted, and people were once again able to congregate at Church in some unusual manner with an emphasis on safety – it was most appropriate that the lifted restrictions would happen on Pentecost. My scheduled Mass was six in the evening. A young man, who always attends that Mass with his family, was ready to receive his First Communion. We all were ready for our “First” Communion since we had not been able to congregate for Mass, or receive Eucharist, since 15 March.
With reverence, respect, and hands outstretched the young man received first. His family followed and then the congregation. In every individual the reverence, respect, awe, wonder, hunger, and joy were evident. Their last reception was on the 3rd Sunday of Lent, this was the final day of Easter. The desire for the Bread of Life was palpable. Is the desire still palpable?
May begins on Wednesday with the celebration of St. Joseph the Worker. We pray through the intercession of St. Joseph for the unemployed and underemployed to find meaningful, engaging work that will benefit them and the common good.
May, along with October, is a month dedicated to the Blessed Mother. During the month we will celebrate Mary as the Mother of the Church (20 May), we will celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of Our Lady to St. Elizabeth (31 May), as well as the celebration of the first apparition at Fatima (13 May). It is spiritually efficacious to pray the Most Holy Rosary daily. Perhaps during May, it would be beneficial to offer additional prayers to Our Lady or to pray to Our Mother in communal as well as personal settings.