parishworks! 1Vol. 6 No. 10 June 5, 2010

Pastor’s MessageThe Sacred Heart of the Body of Christ (Corpus Christi)by: Rev. Msgr. Emmanuel Suñga

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Dear Parishioners:

There was once a certain nun by the name of Juliana of Retiennes (1192-1258) of the Augustinian Convent of Mount Cornillon near Liege (Belgium) who later became the prioress of that convent. She claimed that the Lord was appearing to her in visions and expressing at the same time His desire for a solemn feast in

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Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ

The Feast of Corpus Christi, or the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (as it is often called today), goes back to the 13th century, but it celebrates something far older: the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion at the Last Supper. While Holy Thursday is also a celebration of this mystery, the solemn nature of Holy Week, and the focus on Christ’s Passion on Good Friday, overshadows that aspect of Holy Thursday.

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from page 1... Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ

Thus, in 1246, Bishop Robert de Thorete of the Belgina diocese of Liège, at the suggestion of St. Juliana of Mont Cornillon (also in Belgium), convened a synod and instituted the celebration of the feast. From Liège, the celebration began to spread, and, on September 8, 1264, Pope Urban IV issued the papal bull “Transiturus,” which established the Feast of Corpus Christi as a universal feast of the Church, to be celebrated on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday.

At the request of Pope Urban IV, St. Thomas Aquinas composed the office (the official prayers of the Church) for the feast. This office is widely considered one of the most beautiful in the traditional Roman Breviary (the official prayer book of the Divine

Office or Liturgy of the Hours), and it is the source of the famous Eucharistic hymns “Pange Lingua Gloriosi” and “Tantum Ergo Sacramentum.”

For centuries after the celebration was extended to the universal Church, the feast was also celebrated with a eucharistic procession, in which the Sacred Host was carried throughout the town, accompanied by hymns and litanies. The faithful would venerate the Body of Christ as the procession passed by. In recent years, this practice has almost disappeared, though some parishes still hold a brief procession around the outside of the parish church.

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The Cathecism of the Catholic Church explains to us how we are made strong in the E`ucharist: it increases our union with Christ, it forgives our venial sins, and preserves us from grave sin (cf, CCC, 1416). Saint John Mary Vianney knew this truth when he admonished his parishioners to partake of the Eucharist always: He who communicates loses himself in God

like a drop of water in the ocean. They can no more be shephered... When you have received our Lord, you feel your soul is purified, because it bathes itself in the love of God” (Monnin, Alfred. Espirit du Cure d’ Ars, XIII)

When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, we become complete.

- Fr. David O Reyes, Jr. (Sambuhay)

Relevance of the Celebration

Feast day of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Assembly for the dawn procession which will go around the four villages is at 5:00 a.m. This will be followed by a mass at 6:30 a.m. in church to be celebrated by Msgr. Emmanuel Suñga, and a Holy Hour of Reparation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at 7:30 a.m.

June 11, Friday

The Parish Youth Ministry will hold its monthly gathering, the Saint Andrew Youth Assembly (SAYA), this Saturday, June 12, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Parish Jubilee Hall. Guided by the theme “Make Your Papa Proud!”, this activity is open to young people ages 13 and above.

Sponsorships are still being accepted for Paeskwela ni San Andres. Please proceed to the Parish Office for details.

June 12, Saturday

Sponsor a student!

APPLICANTSACCEPTINGNOW

An Education Assistance Program of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish

Eskwela …here we come !

Paeskwelani San Andres

APPLICANTSACCEPTINGNOW

Application Forms are available at the Parish Office. Deadline for submission is on January 31, 2006

parishworks! 3

pastor’s Message from page 1...

honor of the Holy Eucharist. In fact, during twelfth Century there was the immense desire for more intense devotion to the Eucharist through adoration. Although the aspect of sacrifice and meal was never set aside. The first apparition took place in 1208. But the feast was first celebrated in the town of Liege only in 1246, on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. This was according to the desire and specification of Jesus Himself. Rev. James Pantaleon was then the archdeacon of Liege and the confidant (spiritual director) of Juliana. Later, this archdeacon became Pope Urban IV (1261-64). Through him the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ was extended to the whole Church from then on until now.

Another incident made this feast more significant. During the reign then of Pope Urban IV, in 1263 a German priest, Peter of Prague, stopped at Bolsena while on a pilgrimage to Rome. He was described as being a pious priest, but one who found it difficult to believe that CHRIST WAS ACTUALLY PRESENT IN THE CONSECRATED HOST. While celebrating Holy Mass above the tomb of St. Christina (located in the church named for this martyr), he had barely spoken the words of Consecration when blood started to seep from the consecrated Host and trickle over his hands onto the altar and the corporal.

The priest was immediately confused. At first he attempted to hide the blood, but then he interrupted the Mass and asked to be taken to the neighboring city of Orvieto, the city where Pope Urban IV was then residing.

The Pope listened to the priest’s account and absolved him. He then sent emissaries for an immediate investigation. When all the facts were ascertained, he ordered the Bishop of the diocese to bring to Orvieto the Host and the linen cloth bearing the stains of blood. With archbishops, cardinals and other Church dignitaries in attendance, the Pope met the procession and, amidst great pomp, had the relics placed in the cathedral. The linen corporal bearing the spots of blood is still reverently enshrined and exhibited in the Cathedral of Orvieto.

It is said that Pope Urban IV was prompted by this miracle to commission St. Thomas Aquinas to compose

the Proper for a Mass and an Office honouring the Holy Eucharist as the Body of Christ. One year after the miracle, in August of 1264, Pope Urban IV introduced the saint’s composition, and by means of a papal bull instituted the feast of Corpus Christi.

Then on Dec. 27, 1673, Our Lord revealed Himself to another nun by the name of St. Margaret-Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun of Paray-le Monial, France. He did so many times. But during the octave of Corpus Christi in 1675 (probably June 16th) Our Lord appearing St. Margaret-Mary said to her “Behold this Heart which has so loved men that It spared nothing, even going so far as to exhaust and consume Itself, to prove to them Its love. And in return I receive from the greater part of men nothing but ingratitude, by the contempt, irreverence, sacrileges and coldness with which they treat Me in this Sacrament of Love. (EUCHARIST) But what is still more painful to Me is that even souls consecrated to Me (PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS) are acting in this way. Therefore I ask of you that the FIRST FRIDAY AFTER THE OCTAVE OF CORPUS CHRISTI be dedicated as a feast in honour of My Heart, and amends made to It in an Act of Reparation offered to It and by the reception of Holy Communion on that day, to atone for the outrages It has received during the time It has been exposed on the Altars. I promise you that My Heart will open wide to pour forth lavishly the influence of Its Divine love on all who will render and procure for It this honour.”

Here we see how Jesus Himself relates through private revelations His Heart and His Eucharist. Not only are they so connected in the celebrations of their feast days but the existence of one depends upon the other. The reparation for man’s sin and ingratitude towards His goodness and mercy can only be done by giving our hearts (our whole selves) completely to His Heart in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood. Thereby the union between Jesus and ourselves will be accomplished.

The Eucharist celebrated without love can only mean a body without a soul and a love without a celebration like that of a Eucharist is senseless. How great therefore is our love when we go and celebrate the Mass? Or how great is its absence?

The Eucharist celebrated without love can only mean a body without a soul and a love without a celebration like that of a Eucharist is senseless

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Ria Salvaña Matthew LizaresBulletin Board EditorEJ CarlosParish Works Managing EditorsEllie Medina, Angelina Poe, Rochelle PinedaPowerpoint CoordinatorGing SantosContributorsEvelyn De Vela, Christy Vasquez, Bing Misa, Anne Lopez

Spiritual AdvisorRev. Msgr. Emmanuel Suñga

PublisherSt. Andrew the Apostle ParishN. Garcia St. cor. Kalayaan Ave.Bel-Air II, Makati CityPhones: (632) 890-1796 / 890-1743 media@saaparish.com

Parish Works is the official weekly newsletter of Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish.

Media and Communications Ministry Co-coordinators

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7:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

Sunday6:00 a.m.

7:30 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

Regular Schedule of Masses

Monday-Friday

6:30 a.m.

12:15 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

Saturday6:30 a.m.

12:15 p.m.

6:30 p.m. (Sunday Mass)

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