
From the WORD of GOD
Jesus said in reply to them: “48 I am the bread of life. 51 I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world…In all truth I tell you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.54 Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise that person up on the last day.55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in that person.57 As the living Father sent me and I draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will also draw life from me.-
4 Remain in me, as I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, unless it remains part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing.6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a branch — and withers; these branches are collected and thrown on the fire and are burnt.7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for whatever you please and you will get it.8 It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit and be my disciples.9 I have loved you just as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. (Jn 6: 48.51-57; Jn 15:4-9)
From the DOCUMENTS of the CHURCH
The celebration of Mass is organized around Communion, that is, in being united to Jesus. We celebrate the Eucharist to nourish ourselves of Christ who gives himself both in Word and in the Sacrament of the Altar, in order to conform us to him. The Lord himself says this: “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him”. (Jn 6:56). In fact, Jesus’ gesture of giving his Body and Blood to his disciples at the Last Supper, still continues today through the ministry of the priests. During Mass, after breaking the consecrated Bread, that is the Body of Christ, the priest shows it to the faithful, inviting them to participate in the Eucharistic banquet. We know the words that ring out from the sacred altar: “Happy are those who are called to his Supper. This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”. Inspired by a passage in the Book of Revelation — “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev 19:9): it says “marriage” because Jesus is the Spouse of the Church — this invitation calls us to experience intimate union with Christ, the source of joy and holiness. It is an invitation which brings happiness and at the same time spurs us to an examination of conscience enlightened by faith. If in fact, on the one hand we can see the distance which separates us from the sanctity of Christ, on the other, we believe that his Blood is “shed for the forgiveness of sins”. Although we are the ones who stand in procession to receive Communion, in reality it is Christ who comes towards us to assimilate us in him. There is an encounter with Jesus! To nourish oneself of the Eucharist means to allow oneself to be changed by what we receive. Saint Augustine helps us understand this when he talks about the light he received when he heard Christ say to him: “I am the food of strong men; grow, and you shall feed upon me; nor shall you convert me, like the food of your flesh, into you, but you shall be converted into me” (Confessions VII, 10, 16: Pl 32, 742). Each time we receive Communion, we resemble Jesus more; we transform ourselves more fully into Jesus. As the Bread and the Wine are converted into the Body and Blood of the Lord, so too those who receive it with faith are transformed into a living Eucharist. You reply “Amen” to the priest who distributes the Eucharist saying “the Body of Christ”; that is, you recognize the grace and the commitment involved in becoming the Body of Christ. Because when you receive the Eucharist, you become the Body of Christ. This is beautiful; it is very beautiful. As it unites us to Christ, tearing us away from our selfishness, Communion opens us and unites us to all those who are a single thing in him. This is the wonder of Communion: we become what we receive!
(Pope Francis, General Audience, St. Peter’s Square, 21 March 2018)
From the WRITINGS of Blessed A. ROSMINI
Gazing at the wonder and sublimity of this divine sacrifice, we see that even in heaven there is no greater act of worship. There is nothing in the whole Religion more pious, useful, good, beautiful, excellent that is not already supremely present in the Eucharist, the source of all holiness, grace, love, beauty and dignity. Participating at Mass and sharing worthily in the divine sacrifice will fulfil any man’s desire for true devotion. Every day Mss will appear new to him because it will be unveil new truths and offer new experiences. It will always be more dear to him, and he will understand how great is the distance between it and other devotions. He will make great efforts to penetrate this act of worship in order to be incorporated with its self-immolating Victim and unite himself better to the communion of saints who, through the hand of the priests, offer to God an infinite gift on a par with his divinity, which he learns to adore in spirit and truth. (1)
God really does communicates with his creatures. He makes man experience his action, and implants in him a feeling of his presence. This takes place in heaven of course; but on earth too, through grace. St. Paul describes it when he says: “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God”, and the Spirit of God is God, just as love is God, as St. John says:” God is love and anyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in him.” (2)
You need to do all you can to increase in the love of God and your neighbour. This is the great secret: to have God and eternal life ever present to your mind, and to make no account of anything else. In this way you will fulfil Christ’s command:” Abide in me as I abide in you. Apart from me you can do nothing”. So aim at habitual, continual union with Christ, heart to heart, love for love. (3)
1) Dell’Educazione Crisiana,184
2) EC Vol. IX, Lett. 5304,p. 243, to Prof. Alessandro Pestalozza, in
Milan, from Stresa, 5 March 1845
3) EC Vol. IX, Lett. 5504, p.436, to the Cleric Pietro Caire at Intra,
from Stresa, 14 December 1845
LET US PRAY
Praise Yahweh, all nations, extol him, all peoples,
for his faithful love is strong
and his constancy never-ending. (Ps 117)
PASTORAL YEAR 2019 – 2020
ON-GOING FORMATION
INSTITUTE OF CHARITY
ROSMINIAN SISTERS OF PROVIDENCE
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