We are currently celebrating First Holy Communion with over 90 young people in our parish family; it got me thinking about Celebrating With The Community On Sunday
PARTICIPATE REGULARLY - We are called by our baptism to participate in the Sunday Eucharist each week. Sunday is the Lord=s Day and all the baptized have a serious obligation to participate in the Sunday Eucharist every week on this day. In recent years there has developed among many Catholics a rather casual attitude toward Sunday Mass: attendance when convenient. Because of the nature of the Sunday Eucharist, which is to praise God for our common life in Christ and to build up the Body of Christ, our regular participation in the Sunday Eucharist is necessary. Our presence each Sunday serves to strengthen the faith of our brothers and sisters and renew Christ=s life within us. Parents have a special responsibility to give good example to their children by making participation in the Sunday Eucharist a priority in their family.
PARTICIPATE FULLY - During the past 35 years the Church has introduced many changes into the way we celebrate the Eucharist and other sacraments. All of these changes have been made to encourage us to participate Afully, consciously, and actively@ in the liturgy. Every parishioner has both the privilege and obligation to participate in the prayers, songs and actions of the Mass. Such participation is not reserved only for the Aministers.@
PREPARE FOR MASS - All of us are urged to prepare for Sunday Mass and our reception of Communion. Our preparation may include reflection on the gifts we have received from our gracious God C especially our life in Christ. We may read and reflect on the Scripture readings at home before coming to Mass. All of us are asked to observe the Eucharistic fast C to refrain from eating and drinking for one hour prior to communion. The celebration of Sunday Mass will touch our hearts and enrich our faith more powerfully if we prepare to celebrate.
REVERENCE THE RESERVED EUCHARIST - Outside of our celebration of Mass, we as Catholics have the practice of showing reverence for the Reserved Eucharist. Upon entering the church (and leaving it) it is our custom to genuflect C or make a profound bow C to the Blessed Sacrament, reserved in the tabernacle. Sadly, this custom is frequently not observed today. Sometimes people make no sign of reverence upon taking their seats. Other times a hurried, seemingly half-hearted genuflection in no particular direction is made. Every effort ought to be made to show a meaningful sign of reverence to the reserved sacrament and to teach our children to do so.
RECEIVING COMMUNION - When receiving communion, we are asked to do so with reverence and with faith. We show our reverence by the way we approach the sacrament slowly and deliberately and by the sign of reverence we make: e.g. a profound bow or the sign of the cross as we approach the minister. When receiving communion on the hand, we hold our hands with palms extended (one hand under the other, making a Athrone@ for our King) and consume the Body of the Lord immediately before returning to our seats. We receive the Blood of the Lord in a similarly reverent manner by taking the cup as it is presented to us and drinking reverently. If not receiving from the cup, it is appropriate to bow to the cup when passing it on returning to our places. In both instances, we express our faith in Christ=s Eucharistic presence by saying AAMEN@ in response to the minister=s words: The Body of Christ . . . The Blood of Christ.