Meet the Holy Spirit

"Every Catholic serious about the spiritual life needs to read this profound and beautiful book, and meditate upon it." Fr. Benedict Groeschel The Holy Spirit is God's supreme gift, and your devotion to Him should be profound and encompassing.   Huge in scope, yet simple and readable, True Devotion to the Holy Spirit covers virtually everything there is to know about the Spirit's role in our salvation -- and it does so with a refreshing reliance on God's Word, not on opinions or subjective visions.   In beautiful, practical terms, former Mexico City Archbishop Luis Martinez illuminates the difference the Spirit can make when He's given His proper place in your soul. This handbook explains how you should respond to the Spirit, how the Spirit helps you grow in virtue, and the characteristics of true love of the Spirit. Even more, each of the Spirit's gifts and fruits get detailed treatment here. Martinez shows how each contributes to the maturing of the soul, so that by means of the Spirit's active help, you can conquer your sins, learn how to make proper use of the things of this world, become master of yourself, and fully realize the greatness that is available to you as a Christian.   This is an essential guide for everyone who longs to know and to love the Holy Spirit more fully! In pages filled with great devotion and penetrating wisdom, he moves us past modern misunderstandings and cliches about Mary into an encounter with the woman who was so remarkable that God Himself made her His spouse! The Little Book of the Blessed Virgin Mary will awaken in you the thoughts and emotions that lead to deeper union with Mary and with her beloved son, Jesus. "I highly recommend True Devotion to the Holy Spirit to all those who would participate in the Church's mission to sanctify the world." John Cardinal O'Connor You'll learn virtually everything we can know about the Holy Spirit's work in the world and in your soul, including: * Why you will never attain true holiness without the Holy Spirit's constant help * How the Holy Spirit tenderly teaches you all that you need for salvation   * Inspirations of the Holy Spirit: they're not extraordinary and superfluous in the spiritual life! How to become attuned to them * Maturity in Christ: it doesn't happen automatically as you grow older. How the Holy Spirit can help you gain it today * The virtues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit: the distinctive role of each in your salvation * Consecration to the Holy Spirit: why it must be total -- or it's useless * How the presence of the Spirit in your life will increase your faith, hope, and love * Three main characteristics of devotion to the Father, inspired by the Spirit: examine your soul in their light * The Cross: how and why the Holy Spirit will teach you to love it in your own life * The gifts of the Holy Spirit: how to understand them properly -- and gain their help in your soul's perfection * And much more that will help you not only to know the Holy Spirit better than ever, but to gain His help in your salvation! True Devotion to the Holy Spirit   by Archbishop Luis M. Martinez 288 pgs pbk $14.95 Order today with  The Little Book of the Holy Spirit and save 25%! (Details below.)   In these pages, Fr. Bede Jarrett helps you penetrate the great mystery of God's presence in our hearts. He explains the ineffable dignity that this presence of the Holy Spirit gives you, no matter how lowly your station or how small you may feel. He shows you how to listen for the soft voice of the Spirit calling you from within, inviting you to know Him, to love Him, and to cooperate with Him in all things great and small. No longer need you struggle alone. Let Fr. Jarrett show you how to grow close to the Holy Spirit - the Consoler - who Jesus sent to assuage your loneliness and renew your strength and your hope. Among the things you'll learn in The Little Book of the Holy Spirit: In these pages, you'll also discover: * Why you mustn't be troubled when you can't feel the Spirit's presence in your soul * Why God's presence in your soul doesn't overwhelm your personality   * How the dignity of each human soul depends on God's presence in it   * The gift of God that's greater than creation itself.   * How the presence of God enables you to see everything in a new light * Can you hear God as He speaks to you constantly? You can learn how * Plus: many other topics to help you know the God who dwells within you Don't miss this opportunity to own -- and read --two of the most spiritually enriching books on the Holy Spirit.   Save 25% when you order the set! Click here to order BOTH books and enter code HLSpirit25 at checkout.   (*Shipping not included. Not eligible for any other discount. Offer ends 7/01/12.) ____________   Fine Catholic Books  from SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS    1-800-888-9344 We always welcome contributions to our non-profit apostolate. If you would prefer not to use the PayPal button below, you can add a contribution  directly to your shopping cart at our on-line store.    Sophia Institute Press is the publishing division of

Meet the Newest Doctor of the Catholic Church

Indecision was not in his heart: Surrounded by clerical corruption and unprecedented consumerism, St. John of Avila (1500-1569) led the authentic effort to reform the Church and Christian society during one of its darkest hours. When faced with spiritually bankrupt seminaries and lax universities, St. John simply founded new ones. When vast regions of his homeland lapsed into spiritual indifference, he spent a decade storming the cities and villages to re-ignite the Faith. He fearlessly denounced decadent leaders and withstood the subsequent interrogations of the Inquisition with perfect charity, winning over skeptics and melting the hearts of sinners. For St. Francis de Sales he was "the learned and saintly preacher." St. Francis Borgia called him "the Great Master" and St. Teresa of Avila named him "the Master of things spiritual." Pope Benedict XVI recently declared that he would name St. John of Avila the 34th "Doctor of the Universal Church." And yet, most Catholics have never heard of him. To help Catholics come to know the newest Doctor of the Church, Sophia Institute Press is releasing a collection of St. John's finest letters. Each letter has been carefully translated and is now available so you can come to know the man Pope John Paul II held up as a model for clerical reform. Among the many lessons you will learn from this new Doctor of the Church: * The life-giving habits of an authentic Christian life, which are found not through false "conversions" and "visions," but in the slow and steady steps on the path of holiness. * How suffering is frequently the means God chooses to reveal to His mercy and His design for our lives. * True beauty: for a Christians it will shine out in poverty, chastity, and fidelity, not in the luxuries and comforts of this world. * The easy graces of the liturgical year: one of the surest ways to develop in sanctity, and how Christians should ready themselves for the gifts which the Holy Spirit will send. * The dangers of personal resolutions: These are often built upon pride and mistaken notions, but God sends us every day trials to transform us into His spiritual champions. * How a Christian should prepare himself for Holy Mass, how to approach the Blessed Sacrament, and what real participation in the Sacrifice means.  * That weakness, persecution, and infidelity are often found within the institutional Church, and what we can do to combat it or at least suffer it faithfully. Copies of Finding Confidence in Times of Trial arrived in our warehouse just yesterday. Order today, and you will receive your copy early next week. Don't miss all that this new Doctor of the Church has to offer you. Finding Confidence in Times of Trial: Letter of St. John of Avila  by St. John of Avila 160 pgs pbk $15.95  "St. John of Avila is an ever timely model. He teaches us that there is a culture of the spirit from which flow the serenity and far-sightedness required to face the most complicated personal situations." Bl. John Paul II "I will shortly declare St. John of Avila a Doctor of the universal Church. I would hope that the word and example of this outstanding pastor will enlighten all. I invite everyone to look to St. John of Avila and I commend to his intercession the whole world." Pope Benedict XVI Finding Confidence in Times of Trial: Letter of St. John of Avila   by St. John of Avila 160 pgs pbk $15.95  ____________   Fine Catholic Books  from SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS    1-800-888-9344 We always welcome contributions to our non-profit apostolate. If you would prefer not to use the PayPal button below, you can add a contribution  directly to your shopping cart at our on-line store.    Sophia Institute Press is the publishing division of

Today's Gospel Reading - Sunday, June 24, 2012 with Reflection

Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist

1^ST READING - Isaiah 49:1-6

P S A L M

Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15

R: I praise you for I am wonderfully made.

1 O Lord, you have probed me and you know me: 2 you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. 3 My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. (R) 13 Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. 14 I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works. (R) My soul also you knew full well; 15 nor was my frame unknown to you when I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth. (R)

2^ND READING - Acts 13:22-26

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.

Luke 1:57-66, 80

57 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” 61 But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” 62 So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. 63 He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. 65 Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. 66All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. 80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

SABBATH

FAITH MORE VALUABLE THAN GOLD John the Baptist clearly had nothing much in terms of earthly possessions. Neither did he have much to eat. No, dieting had nothing to do with it, the kind we pampered postmoderns are wont to do. It was all about doing and behaving as one thought and believed. It had to do with “doing” that followed “being,” as one “appointed before he was born to be prophet to the nations.” The issue of divorce was a big issue last year. So was the divorce between sex and the call to life, and responsibility for unborn life. But there is one more insidious underlying divorce that I want to reflect on today – the divorce between faith and life, the seeping tendency to separate being from doing. John the Baptist was great, first and foremost, for being the forerunner of the Messiah. He was called and sent to prepare the way of the Lord. But his greatness was heightened and affirmed by a lifestyle and behaviour that befitted his lofty mission. As precursor in the way of the Messiah, he knew whereof he spoke. Leveling roads and filling in potholes were not just figures of speech, good for publications like this. He walked his talk. And how! This puts preachers like me to shame — the call to consistency, the so-called “unity of life” where faith and life meet at the crossroads of daily existence. But so are the rest of us who claim to be Catholics. One cannot lay claim to belong to the Church if one does not lay claim, too, to believing in the one faith, one Lord, one Baptism, one Church, and one God and Father of all! The great divorce in our times has led to many disturbing consequences. Cafeteria Catholicism is one of them, or the tendency to choose what one wants to believe, or what one wants to follow and obey. John the Baptist has a lot to teach us today and every day of our lives. He talks about not only the way to follow — he shows us how. And he does so by living what he preached — living simply and frugally, for he deemed his faith more valuable than gold! Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB REFLECTION QUESTION: Is there a divorce between what you believe in and how you live your life? Bridge that gap now. Lord Jesus, grant me the courage and audacity of John the Baptist. Let me be not afraid, despite contradictions from the world, to live my faith as I should. St. John the baptist, pray for us. Do you want to receive this in your email?  To get Bo Sanchez to send it to you personally, log-on to http://kerygmafamily.com. Lots of surprises await.

WHAT IS THE ESSENCE OF PRAYER?

1^ST READING - Sirach 48:1-14

P S A L M - Psalm 97:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7

R: Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

GOSPEL - Matthew 6:7-15

There have been thousands of liters of ink spilt over debating this question. You will get virtually as many answers as the people you ask about it.

So, what is the right answer? The right answer, I believe, is that each of us has to answer this question on the basis of our individual relationships with God. Think of all the relationships you have in your life. Is any two of them exactly the same? Of course not! Why not? The answer is very simple: Every person is an individual and God meets each of us where we are at any particular time in our lives. This means that all our relationships with God are different. Yes, there are similar aspects, some of which may be universal, but ultimately there will always be something that makes your or my relationship with God, and hence our prayer, different from each other.

Today’s Gospel outlines for us some of the similarities in the form of the Lord’s Prayer. But even this is not the be-all and end-all of everything. We must realize that each of us has to strive hard to develop our prayer lives in order to discover what works best for us. Teresa of Avila says that, by far, the most important aspect of prayer is our desire to be in relationship with God that will be directly proportional to our commitment to prayer.

The most important aspect of praying is simply making ourselves available to God for Him to speak to us. We may experience nothing in prayer but that does not matter. What matters is that we are there — we are open to God’s Spirit and we trust that He is working within us to bring us to the gift of salvation. It is not possible to measure the effectiveness of prayer or how well we are doing beyond these basics. If we stick to them we will never be far from the mark, if at all distant to it.

Prayer is essential to the health of our faith. Let us resolve to prioritize it daily in our lives. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: When was the last time that you prayed? How deep is your desire for God? How committed are you to developing a daily habit of prayer?

 

Holy Spirit, inspire me to be committed to spending some time in prayer each day. Help me to make this a priority in my life.

St. Aloysius Gonzaga, martyr, pray for us.

Today's Gospel Reading - Sunday, June 17, 2012 with Reflection

1^ST READING - Ezekiel 17:22-24

P S A L M - Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16

R: Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

1 [2] It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High, 2 [3] to proclaim your kindness at dawn and your faithfulness throughout the night. (R) 12 [13]The just one shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow. 13 [14] They that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. (R) 14 [15] They shall bear fruit even in old age; vigorous and sturdy shall they be, 15 [16]declaring how just is the Lord, my rock, in

whom there is no wrong. (R)

2^ND READING - 2 Corinthians 5:6-10

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower. All who come to Him will live for ever.

Mark 4:26-34

26 Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land 27 and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” 30 He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. 32 But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. 34 Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

SABBATH

SPEAKING OF POTENTIAL To illustrate the Kingdom of God, Jesus uses images that speak to us of our potential to be active members in its mission. It is quite clear that to have faith in God is all about having a personal encounter with Him. Men and women of faith have chosen to allow an encounter with God, giving Him the opportunity to transform their lives. At the heart of the Church’s understanding of the Kingdom of God is the idea of a relationship — each individual with God. Once this relationship is established, it is possible to work on our relationships with one another within the context of our common faith in God. The image of a growing seed used in today’s Gospel highlights the idea of potential. We all know seeds grow into something much bigger. If we allow our relationship with God to grow and mature, this is what we will experience in our lives — a fulfilling relationship within the bounds of the Kingdom of God. Jesus focuses His ministry on forming the 12 disciples He has chosen so that they would carry on His mission once He leaves. God continues to work with us on a one-to-one basis so that we can be formed according to our gifts, talents and calling, making us prepared to contribute to the work of the Kingdom of God. As disciples of Jesus we should seek to learn where our next growth opportunity will be and focus our attention to it. It is up to us to take responsibility for this aspect of our faith and “run with it,” so to speak. Unless we remain pro-active in this regard, we will never grow in our faith. We will forever be looking at people who are growing in discipleship and wondering what they have that we do not have. The answer is simple — the willingness to step out into the unknown and take the risk of trying to discover where God is calling us to serve. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL REFLECTION QUESTIONS: When was the last time you took a risk in your service for the Kingdom of God? Are you willing to take a risk to move forward in your faith? Jesus, help me to learn Your will for my life and have the courage and strength to take the necessary risks to bring Your vision to fruition. St. Joseph Cafasso, pray for us. Do you want to receive this in your email?  To get Bo Sanchez to send it to you personally, log-on to http://kerygmafamily.com. Lots of surprises await.

A Little Book on the Blessed Virgin Mary

Watching Jesus grow daily in wisdom and grace, the Blessed Virgin Mary pondered in her heart the secrets of her divine Son. Because Our Lady watched Christ grow each and every day, she created the most valuable manual of Christian perfection that can be had: her own heart. When from the Cross Jesus said, "Behold your mother," He invited us to read that manual -- the book of the heart of Mary -- wherein are found the secrets of the King. Unfortunately, few of Mary's words have come down to us, so we must read her heart as she read the heart of Jesus. We must ponder not only her words, but also the events of her life -- her attitudes, her actions, and even her silence. By imitating Our Lady, our lives -- like hers -- may also come to be full of grace. In The Little Book of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fr. Raoul Plus helps us do just that, opening for us the book of the heart of Mary in the simplest yet most vivid ways. In pages filled with great devotion and penetrating wisdom, he moves us past modern misunderstandings and cliches about Mary into an encounter with the woman who was so remarkable that God Himself made her His spouse! The Little Book of the Blessed Virgin Mary will awaken in you the thoughts and emotions that lead to deeper union with Mary and with her beloved son, Jesus. The Little Book of the Blessed Virgin Mary  by Fr. Raoul Plus, S.J. 128 pgs pbk $14.95 For a limited time, you can order The Little Book of the Blessed Virgin Mary along with The Rosary of Our Lady and receive 25% off the set of both books (details below). Mother Teresa of Calcutta said of The Rosary of Our Lady: "Let us thank God for this book. It will help many to draw closer to Jesus through Mary."   Written by the great German priest Romano Guardini, these pages will help you pray the Rosary with new understanding and fervor. You will get wise advice on practical questions, including how much of the Rosary you should pray each day, and how to pray it even in times of exhaustion and stress. You'll come to see why the Rosary -- when prayed properly -- is just the kind of prayer that Jesus desires. Soon you'll be able to take your daily concerns to the Rosary -- and leave them there! In these pages, you'll also discover: * Why learning to love Mary is one of the best ways to grow in love for Jesus   * Praying the Rosary: are you sure you know how  - as it was meant to be prayed?   * The mysteries of the Rosary: the meaning and spiritual importance of each.   * Plus: dozens of other ways to enrich your Rosary and bring you closer to Jesus and Mary!   Save 25% when you order the set! Click here to order BOTH books and enter code HLMary25 at checkout.   (*Shipping not included. Not eligible for any other discount. Offer ends 6/20/12.) ____________   Fine Catholic Books  from SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS    1-800-888-9344 We always welcome contributions to our non-profit apostolate. If you would prefer not to use the PayPal button below, you can add a contribution  directly to your shopping cart at our on-line store.    Sophia Institute Press is the publishing division of

Catholic Teen Defends Her Right to Attend Mass: Margeaux Graham Chooses Faith Over Honors!

BRAVIO!!!

WORCESTER, MA- While the nation discusses and debates the attacks on religious freedom, a high school junior in Florida has put her academic reputation on the line to stand up for her faith. Margeaux Graham was selected this year to participate in The American Legion Auxiliary's prestigious 9-day leadership event, the "Girls State" program. When Margeaux learned she would not be allowed to attend Sunday mass during the event, she decided to decline the honor.

"The American Legion Auxiliary is the world's largest women's patriotic service organization. Through its nearly 10,500 units located in every state and some foreign countries, the Auxiliary embodies the spirit of America that has prevailed through war and peace. Along with The American Legion, it solidly stands behind America and her ideals."

Well?

While the nation discusses and debates the attacks on religious freedom, a high school junior in Florida has put her academic reputation on the line to stand up for her faith. Margeaux Graham was selected this year to participate in a prestigious 9-day leadership event in her state's capital. The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) of Florida has an annual "Girls State" program whereby the participants "learn how to participate in the functioning of their state's government in preparation for their future roles as responsible adult citizens." It is a "nonpartisan program that teaches young women responsible citizenship and love for God and Country. They are awarded 3 college credits and rare notoriety in the college application process.

Margeaux is a faithful Catholic. That is, she takes her obligation to attend Mass as just that - her obligation. When she inquired about nearby Catholic churches to plan where she would attend, she was told by the staff that the only opportunity any of the girls would have to participate in a Sunday service is to attend the "non-offensive", non-denominational service offered for all at the conference. The event takes place at Florida State University and the cathedral is nearby the campus. [see update] A member of the national American Legion even contacted the Auxiliary to arrange for a priest to celebrate Mass on campus, and this accommodation was denied.

So Margeaux took action herself. She wrote to the organizers declining the invitation, with firm resolve, unless she was allowed to attend Mass. This is her letter, reprinted with permission. Mind you, she is a high school junior.

TO: American Legion Auxiliary Unit #21
FROM: Margeaux Graham
RE: Girls State 2012
DATE: May 7, 2012

I am regretfully writing this letter to formally inform you that I will be unable to attend Florida Girls State in June. I am extremely honored that you found me worthy to represent American Legion Auxiliary unit #21 and am devastated that I cannot participate. I attended orientation on May 6, 2012 and was informed by [name private] that I would not be allowed to attend Mass on Sunday.

My faith is very important to me, as it has been to countless Americans. This country was founded on the principles of religious and personal freedom, the fundamental rights that either you or your loved ones fought to protect. It is disheartening that the Florida Girls State program is structured in such a way that it prohibits participation of young women who have a strong conviction for their religious practices.

The only opportunity to participate in a Sunday service is presented in a "non-offensive", non-denominational service. As a Catholic Christian I find it offensive that I am not allowed to attend Mass and am perplexed as to how this service could accommodate the beliefs of other religious groups, such as Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and all Christian religions. I am disappointed to see the lack of respect for religious creed from the Florida Girls State program by limiting participants to only one religious paradigm.

Miss [name private] made it quite clear that I had to choose between my faith and Florida Girls State. I was looking forward to attending with great zeal, the knowledge, experience, and friends gained would have been invaluable. My faith has made me who I am, it has shaped me into the young woman that you chose as your delegate, for me to deny my faith would be hypocritical. Words cannot express my disappointment that the Florida Girls State program is designed to only accommodate delegates who fit into a pre-determined religious belief system or none at all.

Margeaux Graham

http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=46455

Today's Gospel Reading - Sunday, June 10, 2012 with Reflection

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

1^ST READING - Exodus 24:3-8

P S A L M - Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18

R: I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

12 How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me? 13 The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. (R) 15Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. 16 I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds. (R) 17 To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the Lord.

18 My vows to the Lord I will pay in the presence of all his people. (R)

2^nd READING - Hebrews 9:11-15

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever.

Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13 He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. 14 Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 15Then he will show you a large upper room furnishedand ready. Make the preparations for us there.” 16 The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. 22 While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. 25 Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

SABBATH

GOD IS WITH US IN THE EUCHARIST As Catholics, we believe that the bread and wine in the Eucharist becomes the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. This happens during the epiclesis, or the time when the priest lays his hands over the two species while saying, “Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is God through His Spirit who makes it happen, not the priest. God is present to us in so many ways: in the congregation, in the priest, in the Word of God, in all Creation, and in all events of life. But we further believe that He is really and truly present in the Eucharist. That is why in communion, the priest says, “The Body of Christ!” The priest presents to the communicant not a symbol or a representation of the Lord but Jesus Himself. And we say “Amen” to profess our faith in what we receive. Jesus Himself instituted the Eucharist and made Himself available in the form of bread and wine. In the Gospel today, Jesus, after taking and blessing the bread, broke it and gave it to His disciples saying, “Take it, this is my body.” He did the same to the wine and said, “This is my blood.” According to Dr. Scott Hahn, who made a thorough study of the Bread of Life Discourse (John 6) of Jesus, if He meant it to be a symbol, He would have said so. But He really meant it to be His Body and Blood when He said, “The bread that I will give is my flesh for the light of the world.” Many claim that they have received communion so many times but nothing seems to be happening to them. The Eucharist is not a magic food that will instantly transform our lives; if we think so, then we are mistaken. Receiving the Lord entails preparation and reparation. We must approach the table of the Lord in humility and purity. Reconciliation is the optimum need. Only then can we be transformed by Him and become more like Him. When we approach the priest for communion, let us be aware that we are receiving Jesus Himself. Everything we say and do should be a reflection of Him whom we received — and then He becomes real in us! Fr. Benny Tuazon REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you keenly aware that you are receiving Jesus Himself in the Eucharist? How has it transformed you? Lord Jesus, thank You for giving us Your Body and Blood. May we receive You always with purity and humility, and thus, be transformed and become more like You. Blessed Joachima, pray for us. Do you want to receive this in your email?  To get Bo Sanchez to send it to you personally, log-on to http://kerygmafamily.com. Lots of surprises await.