This year’s theme Adult Faith for theme is, “Do This in Memory of Me”
The focus will be on the Mass and the New Roman Missal
O Sacrum Convivium!
Thomas Aquinas is most renowned for his great systematic exposition of the faith, “Summa Theologica.”In 1264, Pope Urban IV declared Corpus Christi to be a feast of the Church and he commissioned Thomas to write the Church’s official prayers for the feast. A brief responsory called “O Sacrum Convivium” was included in the prayers he wrote for this feast: the “Office.”
“O Sacred Banquet! In which Christ is received, the memory of his passion recalled, the soul filled with grace, and the pledge of future glory given to us.
Pope John Paul II used this prayer to express what he called Eucharistic “Amazement,” the sense of wonder we have when we contemplate the sacrament.
Thomas explains that every sacrament is instituted by Christ for the sake of our holiness, and in every sacrament we consider three things.
The very cause of our sanctification, which is Christ’s passion
The form of our sanctification, which is grace and the virtues
The ultimate goal of our sanctification, which is eternal life.
For the Jews of Jesus’ time, remembrance was a ritual, usually marked by a sacrifice and a feast.When the Jews celebrated Passover, they were not only commemorating this long ago event, the meal brought about a “real” presence’ of the past deliverance from Egypt. It was a symbol, a sign, and it accomplished, with divine power, the event that it signified.
It was in the context of the Passover that Jesus instituted the Eucharist, when he took bread and wine and declared them to be his body and the “blood of the covenant” Then he said to his disciples,” Do this in memory of me”
The first Christians, who were devout Jews, could not have missed his meaning. Pope John Paul II was right: Eucharistic amazement is the only proper response.
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The church will celebrate Catechetical Sunday on September 18, 2011, and will focus on the theme “Do This in Memory of Me.” Those whom the community has designated to serve as catechists will be called forth to be commissioned for their ministry. Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith.
