Wednesday, June 6, 2012

This Sunday's Communion Hymn


       The Communion hymn sung at Masses this weekend asks two questions in the first verse.  The first of these questions is one we should constantly ask ourselves:  How can I love God as I ought?   Our God has given us so much – our lives, our loved ones, this wonderful country and world we inhabit.  How on earth can we love our God enough to let Him know we appreciate these gifts?

       Thankfully the hymn writer gives us a possible answer in the second verse:  by singing hymns of fervent praise with pure hearts like those of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Obviously without the stain of original sin and with a pure heart, Mary is able to love God fully.  Attachment to sin keeps us from loving our God as we ought to.  Therefore let us always strive, though it may be difficult with our human weaknesses, to love God with a heart that is pure and detached from sin like Mary’s.

       The final verse of the hymn reminds us of the nature of Holy Mass as being celebrated both here on earth and in heaven – sometimes we forget that the Mass is both physical and metaphysical.  We have been given a wondrous gift in the holy sacrifice of the Mass and in the Holy Eucharist.  Let us rejoice this weekend as we celebrate Corpus et Sanguis Christi – the great Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Confessions are offered at St. Joan of Arc each Saturday at 4:00pm and by appointment.  There is no better way to prepare to celebrate Holy Mass than going to confession and attending Mass in a state of grace.


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