Jul 3 Fri - How can I reach authentic peace and perfect joy?

 

Jul 3 Fri

How can I reach authentic peace and perfect joy? 

The Pope’s message that every young person should read:

Saint Francis always greeted saying: “Peace and all good.” 
We, too, can ask ourselves: Do I desire true peace for those who come into contact with me? Do I treat others in such a way that brings them peace? 

Now, you may say that this is not always easy. Sometimes our behavior, even toward those whom we most dearly love, can bring frustration and conflict rather than peace. Saint Francis was able to sow peace not because of his own efforts, but because he possessed within himself the source of true peace. Peace is a gift from God, which we receive when we invite the Lord into our hearts. We are then called to become instruments of his peace, spreading it to our families and the whole world. 

One winter evening, as he was walking back to Assisi with Brother Leo, Saint Francis began to give a long list of apparently “good” things that do not lead to perfect joy. 

Later, Brother Leo finally asked, “Father Francis, what leads to perfect joy?” The saint then described situations of suffering, cold, hunger, and rejection — the opposite of what you would expect — and added that if such difficulties are embraced with patience, without complaining and with love for God, “This is perfect joy.” 

Is it really possible to have joy in such difficult circumstances, we might ask? It is only possible if our life is founded on our relationship with God as our loving Father. 

Indeed, joy cannot be found through electronic devices, spending hours in front of a screen, or endlessly scrolling on social media every day. These activities often waste precious time that could be used for moments of silent prayer, cultivating authentic friendships, spending quality time with family, learning more about our faith, studying, or playing sports. 

Joy can never be found in drug or alcohol abuse, promiscuity, superficial relationships, obsession with our image, or any damaging behavior. Neither in wealth, beauty, fame, or even health, for one day we will leave all of this behind. 

Only the love of God can provide us with true and perfect joy. If we have the profound conviction that God cares for us as his beloved children, we will not be discouraged, even in difficult situations. 

You are precious in God’s eyes! He loves you unconditionally!
What can I give him in return for such great love? 
Cultivate a trusting relationship with Him, through regular prayer, reception of the sacraments, and abandon yourself into his hands, then anxiety, or sadness, and loneliness will fade away as his grace fills you and as his love inflames your heart. This is the secret to facing challenging circumstances with a smile. Open your heart to discover this reality. 

So, if you feel that the Lord may be calling you to complete self-giving, do not close yourself off or turn away in fear, but take a step forward and say to the Lord, “Here I am, send me!” 

Jul 2 Thu - How should I receive the sacred Host?

 

Jul 2 Thu

How should I receive the sacred Host?

In the optional rite of Communion in the hand, the communicant should place his cupped left palm upon the right. The minister places the sacred host on the left palm. Stepping aside yet still facing the minister, the communicant conveys the sacred host to his mouth with the right hand. The minister should ascertain that the host is consumed there. 

The Amen that the communicant pronounces upon receiving the sacred host is equivalent to saying, “Yes, Lord, I believe. I love you and hope in you. I know my time of waiting is over, for my hope has become a reality that fulfills the deepest needs of my faith and my charity. You are mine, and I am yours, wholly made one in this sacrament. My soul worships you in silence.” 

It is not the sacrament that changes, as bread and wine would, into our substance; it is we ourselves who are changed, so to speak, into its nature. So that we can very well apply here those words of St Augustine put into the mouth of our Lord: “I am the food of the strong, believe and you will eat me. But you will not change me into you, as you do with the food of your body; it is you who will be changed into me.” 

Nevertheless, there is always the danger of our getting used to it and not paying due respect to our Lord present in the sacrament.

Communion is a gift of God, given to the faithful through the minister appointed for this purpose. Thus, the faithful are not permitted to pick up the consecrated bread and the sacred chalice themselves; still less are they permitted to hand them from one to another.

The faithful, whether religious or lay, who are authorized as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist can distribute Communion when there is no priest, deacon, or acolyte, when the priest is impeded by illness or advanced age, or when the number of the faithful going to Communion is so large as to make the celebration of Mass excessively long. 

This is so because the ordinary ministers for the distribution of Holy Communion are the bishop, the priests, and the deacons. 

The acolyte is an extraordinary minister of Communion who is instituted permanently.

In case of genuine necessity, a simple faithful may be appointed by the bishop (or Vicar) as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion (the so-called lay minister). This appointment is always for a specific occasion or for a time. The “lay minister” should be duly instructed and distinguish himself by his Christian life, faith, and morals. 

These “lay ministers” should not approach the altar before the priest has received Communion, and they are always to receive from the hands of the priest celebrant the vessel containing either species of the Most Holy Eucharist for distribution to the faithful. A “lay minister” does not give Communion to himself; if it is the case, he or she takes Holy Communion from the hands of the priest, like any other lay person.