Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

     As noted in last week’s message this month is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and as we today celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, we ponder the mystery of the Holy Eucharist in conjunction with the Sacred Heart.  From the Heart of our Lord, pierced by the soldier’s lance, flowed His precious Blood which was premeditated at the Last Supper.  What began in the Upper Room was consummated on the Cross. Lest we think that this is just a symbolic gesture we remember the words earlier spoken by our Savior; “unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you will have no life within you.  How much more emphatic could the Lord be?  In fact, many of the Eucharistic miracles that have been verified by scientific examination testify to the fact that the transubstantiated Eucharist is indeed the heart muscle of the crucified and risen Savior.  Of course we are talking about a mystery and that truth does not involve some gross form of cannibalism but rather Divine, incorruptible and living nourishment for the soul.  Just like the mystery of the Trini. which we contemplated last Sunday we accept what Jesus taught even though our limited minds cannot comprehend it.   Such is the nature of Divine love emanating from the Heart of Christ.

     This is the Treasure of all treasures that our Lord left us.  In partaking of the Holy Eucharist, we pray that He make our hearts like unto His since that after all is what is uniting with our lowly nature.  Are we worthy of such a treasure? No. Are we privileged to receive Him? Yes.  And we make every effort to receive Him reverently and humbly by cleansing our souls through Confession and approaching Him in Communion by a humble bow, extending our tongues or the throne of our hands before our hearts after the affirmation of our Faith in saying audibly “AMEN”

     Today, we especially give witness to our Faith in the Holy Eucharist by our outside procession as we accompany our Eucharistic Lord. This will occur following the 1030 Mass.  Even if you have attended an earlier Mass try to make every effort to join us.

      This month many will be celebrating graduations from various academic institutions.  The parish family of St. John, St. Mary Magdalen, St. Joseph, and St. Bernard extend our best wishes to all graduates with prayers for a blessed future in all your endeavors.

With Blessings,

Father Langan