It often happens that at the celebration of Holy Mass in my Jesuit community, some of my brothers stumble at the words of the first form of the Penitential Rite: "I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters...." Some drop the word "sisters" because no women are present. Yet, while they are not physically present, they are with us in an even deeper way. Our celebration of the Mass includes the living and the dead. The Communion of Saints, those present physically and many others present spiritually, gather to pray and celebrate at every Mass.
Moreover, when we receive our Lord's Body and Blood in Holy Communion, we are one with Him who is one with His entire Body--the Church--living and deceased. We may be separated from some parts of the Body through time and space, but we are united intimately in the Sacred Heart of Jesus who gives Himself to us in the Eucharist.
In the Litany of the Sacred Heart we invoke Jesus as a "Burning Furnace of Charity." Hebrews 12:
In his General Audience of October 30, 2013, Pope Francis spoke of this union. He called the Trinity the "burning furnace of love" and then said:
"In this communion--communion means 'common-union'--we are a great family, all of us, where the components help and support each other. ... All the baptized down here on earth, the souls in Purgatory and the Blessed who are already in Paradise make up one great family."
We never lose a loved one who has died because this "one great family" exists in the Heart of Jesus--a Burning Furnace of Love that is stronger than death.
Heart of Jesus, Heart of the Most Holy Trinity, keep us one with You and with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.
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ReplyDeleteI didn't know that communion means common-union! And, if Eucharist means thanksgiving, then we offer our gratitude together at every Mass. How wonderful! There is so much to be thankful for!
ReplyDeleteDon't know if you have time for much reading, Father, but you might find interesting a book on this subject. It gets right down to basics, since it is based on talks originally given to youths. The book is by Luigi Giussani, titled: Why the Church? I found all of his books most delightful in their clarity, yet depth, but I rate this his finest. It shall be on my Christmas giving list for many of my friends.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation. I often run across Fr. Guissani's writings in the Magnificat daily missalette and I've always found them to be quite good.
DeleteLove this, Father! I remember having a similar revelation about the "Our Father" which I was praying by myself (like, why don't I say "My Father"?) and coming to the same jaw-dropping conclusion. We are indeed surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, united by one Heart! :) Thanks again so much for contributing to the First Friday Link-Up, I can't tell you how much I enjoy your posts! (I'm only sorry this comment is so late but I've been ill for the past week and only now beginning to emerge!) :)
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