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E-Newsletter for
June 9, 2023
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Happy Corpus Christi!! Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Lord’s Body and Blood. There have been countless miracles that have proven to us over the course of the history of the Church that Christ is, in fact, present in the Eucharist. It is really His Body, it is really His blood!! One interesting story is how this feast day came about…
The Feast of Corpus Christi goes back more than 800 years – back to the 13th century to a woman by the name of Julianna Mont Cornillon, who was canonized a saint by Blessed Pius IX in 1869. She represents a female piety that had swept the low countries during that time and was often associated with Eucharistic devotions. The author of her vita writes that from a very young age, Julianna had a recurring vision while praying, that of a full moon with a gap in the center. After several attempts to stop the vision, she decided to ask if it had some significance. Sure enough, in a profound mystical encounter, Jesus reported to her the meaning of her vision: the moon represented the Church and the gap represented the lack of a particular feast day that He desired. He expressed the He wanted a feast to celebrate His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. At first, she was dismissed as a “dreamer” but found a friend in Bishop Robert Torote of Liège. He welcomed the feast and sent letters to his clergy making his priests celebrate it on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. The feast gained local recognition and in 1261, Jasques Pantaleon, then Archdeacon of Liège became Pope Urban VI. In 1264 he instituted the feast for the entire Latin Church. St. Thomas Aquinas had previously composed 4 hymns associated with this feast as well as texts for the Mass and Liturgy of the Hours which are still used to this day.
But the real question back then was why was this feast necessary? Interestingly enough, even people were becoming more and more complacent, a very high emphasis at Holy Thursday Mass was placed on the washing of the feet over and above the institution of the Eucharist, We see much of the same factors even in our time. Lets remember on this Feast of Corpus Christi the words of St. Thomas when he wrote: "Down in adoration falling, Lo, the sacred Host we hail, Lo, o'er ancient forms departing Newer rites of grace prevail: Faith for all defects supplying, When the feeble senses fail."
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News & Events
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Please watch here for news and events, and join our events for good Catholic community!
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Beginning June 9th
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the rectory office will close at 1:00p.m. on Fridays for the month of June. July & August are T.B.D. (We will still have the prayer line on Friday, just earlier in the afternoon.)
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The Steubenville East Conference
will be held in Springfield again this summer on July 21-23, 2023. Registration is open! The Diocese of Springfield is offering a $75 discount for all diocesan youth who register for this weekend.
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Catholic Appeal
Have you taken the time to contribute to “Radiate the Light of Christ,” the 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal? No matter the size of your donation, collectively your contribution supports more than 40 ministries including: Catholic school education, feeding the hungry, protecting life from conception until death, helping families in crisis, and our vocations office.
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There is still time to take part by using the packet sent to your home, donating online at www.diospringfield.org/aca , by calling: 413-452-0670, or take an envelope available here at church.
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If you’ve already sent in your pledge or donation- Thank you for your support!
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The Legion of Mary will be sponsoring coffee & donuts
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at the Social Center after the 10:30 and 12:30 Sunday Masses again on June 18th. Everyone is invited!
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Eucharistic Revival
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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops are launching a nationwide "Eucharistic Revival" to begin on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi June 11, 2023. Many parishes will be hosting a Eucharistic procession in solidarity with the Bishops. This revival will hopefully reignite a deeper love, reverence and belief in Christ's True Presence in the Eucharist among Catholics across the country. Please look for many ways you can deepen your understanding, devotion and love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament during this special year of grace!
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Weekly Eucharistic Adoration
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will resume on Tuesday June 6th from 1pm-5pm. The chaplet will be prayed at 3pm. The rosary will be prayed at 4:30pm followed by benediction. All are welcome to come and spend some time with Our Lord!
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Please
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remember to silence your mobile phones during Mass. If you must take a call, please go outside. Thank you!
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Watch new episodes of Coffee with JF here:
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