Entrance Hymn: Sweet Sacrament Divine

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

This weekend we celebrate the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ present in the Eucharist. It is one of our core beliefs as Catholics. We believe that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ during the Mass and the communion we receive is not bread but Christ himself. This is a major claim. We can only accept it in faith. I suggest that for the Year of Faith we might focus on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and ask the Holy Spirit to deepen our faith in it.

            Familiarity breeds indifference. We are so accustomed to the Mass and to receiving Communion that we can become casual about it, taking for granted what is really involved. The earliest account of the Eucharist is our second reading this evening, from St Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 11:23-5:

For the tradition I received from the Lord and also handed on to you is that on the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread,  and after he had given thanks, he broke it, and he said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” And in the same way, with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.’”

We believe in Christ’s presence in the Eucharist because we have Jesus’s words for it. These words are so important that three of the four gospels give an account of them, that is, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

An invitation to the 99^th Cork Eucharistic Procession:

The 99^th Eucharistic Procession takes place today, leaving the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne at 3.00pm. Alternatively, one can join the procession at the national monument on the Grand Parade for the sermon and Benediction. It is expected to arrive there about 3.40. For more details see www.corkandross.org

The Sacrament of Anointing will be offered at Mass next Friday, the feast of the Sacred Heart.

Parish Finance Committee meets next Friday at 3.00 pm

Parish Choir The Parish Choir has begun its summer vacation. A huge ‘thank you’ is due to this wonderful group of singers, together with their organist and director, Cian O’Sullivan. We look forward to their return in September.

Second Collection next weekend will be the Peter’s Pence collection. Peter’s Pence is a collection taken up annually by the Catholic Church to support the Holy Father’s charitable and apostolic works.

Recent Deaths The death has occurred of Anne Murphy, Kilcolman Lawn; Carol O’Connor, South Douglas Rd; Kathleen Dunlea, Greenhills Estate; Joan Neville, Capwell Ave. May they rest in peace. We offer our sympathy to their families, neighbours and friends.

Sweet heart of Jesus
We implore
O make us love thee
More and more