April 28, 2024
Fifth Sunday of EasteR
by Fr. Boniface Endorf, OP
Dear St. Joseph Parish Family,
We have some great events this week at St. Joe’s. This Monday, 4/29, a parishioner will give a presentation on the Shroud of Turin and discuss whether it provides historical proof for Christ’s resurrection. It should be a great talk and will meet in the parish hall this Monday at 7:30pm.
This Wednesday, Fr. John Baptist will be back at St. Joe’s to give a presentation with Daniel Meola, the founder of Life Giving Wounds. You may remember that ministry: they specialize in helping the adult children of divorce and held a retreat at the Catholic Center a few years back. They just published a book together and will give a presentation on the book this Wednesday at 6pm in the parish hall. Come support Fr. John Baptist.
Have a blessed Easter Season!
Fr. Boniface
Mass Tidbit
We now enter the center of the communion rite, just after the “Lamb of God.” The priest receives communion first and says quietly as he consumes the Body of Christ, “May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.” He then consumes the Blood of Christ, saying quietly “May the blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.” The priest then offers communion to all Catholics in the congregation. He says: “The Body of Christ” and they each respond “Amen,” assenting that what they are receiving is the Body of Christ—that they are receiving our Lord in faith.
Why does the priest receive first? Because we cannot give what we don’t have, and so the priest receives Christ before giving Christ to others. To whom does he give communion? To receive communion, the communicant must be Catholic—to receive communion one must first be in communion with the Catholic Church. Also, Catholics must be in a state of grace, meaning not having any unconfessed grave sin on their souls. That is why we have confessions before mass. Finally, there is a one hour fast one must observe before receiving communion, so anyone who has eaten or drunk anything (except water) less than an hour before communion should not receive.
The norm in the Catholic Church is to receive communion on the tongue; however, in America there is permission to receive in the hand. It’s important to note when traveling to foreign nations that there may not be permission there to receive communion in the hand.
