This Week
Corpus Christi
Jesu, food and feeder of us!
This Sunday’s great festival of Corpus Christi is an annual reminder of the unspeakable gift of Holy Communion. This ’angels’ bread made pilgrims’ feeding’ appears upon the altars of the Church and is given to the faithful as food for the journey home towards heaven.
How loudly and truly we praise God for the wondrous gift which unites us with faithful people throughout the world and with the angels and saints in heaven. Perhaps more than ever, the words we utter together before the reception of Holy Communion take on a deep significance:
‘Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof’.
As priests, serving you in this parish, Fr Axcel and I say these words with you. We, too, are not worthy. We need your prayers and your full support as we seek to serve you and celebrate for you the Sacraments of the New and Eternal Covenant.
Next weekend two new priests will be ordained by the Cardinal in Westminster Cathedral. Rev. Sean Power (who spent some time with us on placement a few years back) and Rev. James Boyle, will serve in the Diocese of Westminster after their ordination. We pray for them, that they may be true and faithful servants of the flock of Christ committed to them. We also pray for more priests, for without them the Sacraments cannot be celebrated.
This weekend, and for the first few days of the week ahead, I will be in Castile in Spain on pilgrimage with a group of 30 parishioners. We will be staying in the beautiful city of Segovia, but also visiting Avila, Salamanca and Valladolid. All these places are associated with the great Carmelite saints St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross. These sixteenth century figures still have much to teach us and they inspire us to continue steadfastly on the path towards holiness. We may feel we are a long way from that destination (and I admit that I am). Nevertheless, the grace of God, within us and around us, not least in Holy Communion, will always be there to assist and guide our steps towards God.
Please pray for the pilgrims, and be sure that we will be praying for you all.
With warm greetings on this happy feast,
Father Daniel
Readings at Mass Today
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Psalm
Second Reading
Gospel
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