I am glad that Mr. Patrick Lobo has joined our staff and is working hard to organize our ministry to the care homes and homebound. Though all is not yet in perfect order, we are much better organized than just a few months ago. In fact, we have an army of devout and dedicated volunteers, who give of themselves to reach out to those who need Holy Communion brought to them because they cannot come to us. Every Wednesday at the 8:00 A.M. Mass the hosts for those in need are consecrated and then, after Mass, brought to them. Every week I have a Mass in one of the care homes on a rotating basis. We have just scratched the service in this ministry. For more information please contact Mr. Lobo.
To all these places copies of this bulletin are distributed. Yes, there are people who keep in contact with us through this humble apostolate of writing. If you are one of those reading my thoughts, please be assured that you are with us at every Mass in prayer. You are not forgotten or alone. Jesus reaches out to you in His great love. At the Offertory I mentally place you on the paten with the hosts. I encourage you to do the same. This humble gesture is in preparation for the Consecration. At that moment, and thus at every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus actually offers you with all your special intentions to His loving Father in union with Himself all by the power of the Holy Spirit. At every Mass God offers God to God to thus bring us His life now and forever in Heaven. I encourage you to place in the Lord’s hands all that you are going through. The Lord is especially with you. In fact, it has often been said that in a parish the prayers of the sick and suffering are the most efficacious because the Lord identifies with them in His suffering and Passion upon His Holy Cross. When you offer up yourself, no matter what, you actually share in the Lord’s redemptive plan in a personal way. Therefore, you have the potential to bring down from heaven many special graces for yourself, your loved ones, and for Holy Mother the Church. We are all counting on your prayers. Please start as soon as you read this; and pass on the Good News.
I know that I do not have to convince you of the power of prayer. It would be great if everyone could attend daily Mass. If able, come! If unable, at least try to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. St. Josemaría Escrivá wrote: “Jesus has remained in the Sacred Host for us so as to stay by our side, to sustain us, to guide us. And love can be repaid with love only.” He also wrote: “How could we not turn to the Blessed Sacrament each day, even if it is only for a few minutes, to bring him our greetings and our love as children and as brothers (
Furrow, 686).” I recommend the following prayer of Spiritual Communion by the same saint for those who can’t make it to Church for a good reason, or during visits to the Blessed Sacrament outside of Mass: “I wish, my Lord, to receive Thee with the purity, humility, and devotion with which Thy most holy Mother received Thee, with the spirit and fervor of the saints.” During a visit to our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament pray three times the following: “Let us forever adore the Most Blessed Sacrament (
Adoremus in aeternum Sanctissimum Sacramentum),” followed each time by an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Yours in the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza