Dear Friends in Christ
It may come as no surprise when I say that the Solemnity this Sunday — The Body and Blood of Christ, Corpus Christi — is the Feast most dear to my heart. This is because it is THE Mystery of Faith, the touchstone of Catholic belief, and the reason, quite simply, why I am a priest. Some of the most beautiful prayers in Catholic liturgy and piety have been composed around this feast and the abiding Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The prayers which are used at the Mass for this Sunday are largely those composed (in Latin, of course!) by St Thomas Aquinas. Hymns such as O Salutaris, Tantum Ergo, Lauda Sion and so on, are examples of the faith that poured forth from his heart and pen. The Saints and Theologians down the centuries gave of their best in praise and worship of Christ in the Eucharist. We also try — I try — to give the best possible to Jesus in the Mass. We try to surround Him with as much love and perfection as possible: in words, music, vessels and vesture. Nothing we have is ever too excessive for the worship of God on earth.
I am sure that celebrating this great Feast will only renew the pain many of you feel in not being able to receive Holy Communion. Someone told me this week that they knew the exact number of days it has been since they had last received! Some words of St John Vianney may help us this week:
“When we cannot come to church, let us turn at least in the direction of the Tabernacle. The good God has no walls to stop Him. Let us pray the Our Father and Hail Mary and make a spiritual communion… though we cannot receive Him, a soul on fire with love makes up for that by the desire of receiving Him at every moment.”
As of this Monday — 15 June — we are allowed to open our churches for private visits and prayer. There will still not be any public liturgies nor group prayer. I am proposing to have our church open 11am-1pm, Monday-Saturday. You will read elsewhere in the Notices the requirements if we are to do this correctly. If you are able to offer your services as a volunteer, please hit the button:
The work on the restoration of the Reredos has been virtually completed. This has been an opportune time for carrying out the work safely and in accordance with the guidelines for people returning to work. As I have told you previously, this work was possible through a bequest specifically for this purpose, plus some other donations from Parishioners. The overall result of the work is very beautiful and restores the Reredos to something of its original glory. We are very fortunate to have a church which speaks to us of the Holy, the Sacred and the Beautiful. Everything in our church is there for the glory of God and the dignity of the sacred liturgy. The restoration work says something about our reverence for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle. We can never adore God as He truly deserves or as we would wish but our generous displays of honour arise from hearts full of faith and piety. When we return to church for Mass and the other Sacraments, we can do so in the certain knowledge that we have been truly longing for this time. The words of two Psalms resonate with this:
“Like the deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul longs for you, my God”
“It is your face, O Lord, that I seek, hide not your face”
God bless you and keep us all united in His Eucharistic Heart!
Msgr Kevin Hale