16
Oct
ORATIONS: EUCHARISTIC ADORATION. In part 10 of my series on The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church US Bishops’ document, I’m reflecting on the 4th of the 7 prayers used to end Benediction. The 7 ‘themes’ are: Memorial; True God/True Man; Paschal Lamb of God; Heavenly Bread of Angels; Spirit and Truth; Life-Giving Bread/Viaticum; and Paschal Mystery Renewed. Past articles on this Revival, the whole document, and a free study guide, are on our Parish website: stmaryrutherford.org; click on National Eucharistic Revival Bulletin Articles.
|
Eucharistic Adoration Oration: 4 of 7 Lord our God, you have given us |
PANIS ANGELICUS. For whatever reason, the revered, venerable song, ‘Panis Angelicus’ – ‘Bread of Angels’ – is found on classic Christmas albums – which will be here before you know it! Its words come from the last stanzas of the hymn – ‘Sacris Solemniis’ – ‘Solemn Feast’ – written in the 13th Century by Saint Thomas Aquinas for the Feast of Corpus Christi. It has been performed by tenors Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and many others. Perhaps since its last lines: “Manducat dominum Pauper, pauper Servus et humilis” – “The body of the Lord will nourish the poor, the poor, the servile, and the humble” – recalls the Christ Child’s humble manger or animals’ feeding trough – it became a Christmas carol. However, as the above oration for concluding Eucharistic Adoration reminds us: He who once rested in a manger bed is now truly present to us – and for us – in the Eucharist – as our food for eternal life!
TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN. In order to better appreciate the title, ‘True Bread from Heaven’ for the Eucharist, we must go back to the days of ancient Israel as they journeyed through the desert on their way to the Promised Land. In their dire thirst and hunger, the people often grumbled against Moses and Aaron – and the Lord: “If only we had died at the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our kettles of meat and ate our fill of bread! But you have led us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of famine!” (Exodus 16:3) In response, the Lord rained down fine flakes or a coriander-like seed which they used to make ‘bread.’ They called it ‘manna’ – a word meaning ‘what is this?’ since it was so mysterious – but God called it “read from heaven.” (16:4) This was their daily sustenance for their 40-year desert trek; once they entered the Promised Land, “the manna ceased.” (Joshua 5:12)
“I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE.” In His ‘Bread of Life’ Discourse, Jesus referred to this ‘manna’ as He explained in the Fourth Gospel: “I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (John 6:48-51) Catholicism, unlike most of Protestantism, takes these words literally – which, as the rest of our Lord’s dialogue with our ancestors makes clear, is how He intended them as well. Jesus even allowed those who refused to accept this fact – that the bread He gives is, indeed, His Flesh for the life of the world – to walk away! (Cf. John 6:66) We must also accept this nonnegotiable revelation about the Eucharist!
“WE BECOME WHAT WE RECEIVE.” Far be it from me to ‘correct’ a Saint, but whenever I reference the above quote, credited to the great Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430), I change one word: “We become WHO, not what, we receive!” For under the forms of bread and wine, Jesus truly, really, enters us, to enable us to become more like the One we receive. By extension, we who worship and adore His Eucharistic Presence can also be changed. All analogies ‘limp,’ but think of it this way: as workers keep photos of loved ones in their office to help them remember the ones for whom they go to work, holy images help us to do the same. However, Christ’s REAL Presence is even more powerful! When was your last ‘visit’ to the Blessed Sacrament?
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS
ORATIONS: EUCHARISTIC ADORATION. In part 10 of my series on The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church US Bishops’ document, I’m reflecting on the 4th of the 7 prayers used to end Benediction. The 7 ‘themes’ are: Memorial; True God/True Man; Paschal Lamb of God; Heavenly Bread of Angels; Spirit and Truth; Life-Giving Bread/Viaticum; and Paschal Mystery Renewed. Past articles on this Revival, the whole document, and a free study guide, are on our Parish website: stmaryrutherford.org; click on National Eucharistic Revival Bulletin Articles.
|
Eucharistic Adoration Oration: 4 of 7 Lord our God, you have given us |
PANIS ANGELICUS. For whatever reason, the revered, venerable song, ‘Panis Angelicus’ – ‘Bread of Angels’ – is found on classic Christmas albums – which will be here before you know it! Its words come from the last stanzas of the hymn – ‘Sacris Solemniis’ – ‘Solemn Feast’ – written in the 13th Century by Saint Thomas Aquinas for the Feast of Corpus Christi. It has been performed by tenors Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and many others. Perhaps since its last lines: “Manducat dominum Pauper, pauper Servus et humilis” – “The body of the Lord will nourish the poor, the poor, the servile, and the humble” – recalls the Christ Child’s humble manger or animals’ feeding trough – it became a Christmas carol. However, as the above oration for concluding Eucharistic Adoration reminds us: He who once rested in a manger bed is now truly present to us – and for us – in the Eucharist – as our food for eternal life!
TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN. In order to better appreciate the title, ‘True Bread from Heaven’ for the Eucharist, we must go back to the days of ancient Israel as they journeyed through the desert on their way to the Promised Land. In their dire thirst and hunger, the people often grumbled against Moses and Aaron – and the Lord: “If only we had died at the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our kettles of meat and ate our fill of bread! But you have led us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of famine!” (Exodus 16:3) In response, the Lord rained down fine flakes or a coriander-like seed which they used to make ‘bread.’ They called it ‘manna’ – a word meaning ‘what is this?’ since it was so mysterious – but God called it “read from heaven.” (16:4) This was their daily sustenance for their 40-year desert trek; once they entered the Promised Land, “the manna ceased.” (Joshua 5:12)
“I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE.” In His ‘Bread of Life’ Discourse, Jesus referred to this ‘manna’ as He explained in the Fourth Gospel: “I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (John 6:48-51) Catholicism, unlike most of Protestantism, takes these words literally – which, as the rest of our Lord’s dialogue with our ancestors makes clear, is how He intended them as well. Jesus even allowed those who refused to accept this fact – that the bread He gives is, indeed, His Flesh for the life of the world – to walk away! (Cf. John 6:66) We must also accept this nonnegotiable revelation about the Eucharist!
“WE BECOME WHAT WE RECEIVE.” Far be it from me to ‘correct’ a Saint, but whenever I reference the above quote, credited to the great Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430), I change one word: “We become WHO, not what, we receive!” For under the forms of bread and wine, Jesus truly, really, enters us, to enable us to become more like the One we receive. By extension, we who worship and adore His Eucharistic Presence can also be changed. All analogies ‘limp,’ but think of it this way: as workers keep photos of loved ones in their office to help them remember the ones for whom they go to work, holy images help us to do the same. However, Christ’s REAL Presence is even more powerful! When was your last ‘visit’ to the Blessed Sacrament?
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS