May 8 - St. Paul the Apostle Church - Diocese of Joliet

Third Sunday of Easter
Mother’s Day
May 8, 2011
You have made known to me the paths of life;
You will fill me with joy in Your presence.
—Acts 2:28
The New Mass
One of the big themes of Vatican II was the role of the Church in our lives as Christians. To be a follower
of Jesus is not to “fly solo,” but to find Jesus along with the entire community of other disciples.
“Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst.” A good portion of the Vatican II
documents therefore speak of how the Church lives in the modern world and how Christians must connect to
the Church in order to connect with Christ.
The Third Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass incorporates many of these truths as it speaks of how
Christ’s redemptive work bears fruit for us through our life in the Church. The first aspect of this is that the
more we come close to Christ, the more we become one in and through the Church. “…Grant that we, who
are nourished by the Body and Blood of your Son and filled with his Holy Spirit, may become one body, one
spirit in Christ.”
What a profound truth of the spiritual life! The Eucharist connects us in an ever deeper bond, not only
with Christ, but also with other Catholics. The more we become one with the Eucharistic Body of the Lord,
the more we become one with his Mystical Body, which is the Church. The two, by Christ’s will are inseparable.
St. Paul speaks of this extensively to the Corinthians (1 Cor 10:16), “The bread that we break, is it not a
participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake
of the one bread.” Or to paraphrase the first Letter of St. John, you can’t say that you want to be one with
Lord while saying at the same time that you want nothing to do with those who follow the Lord.
This also explains a practice which many find puzzling or even offensive. Why are only Catholics allowed
to receive Holy Communion? Many feel that Communion just means that everyone is special and
therefore everyone should be invited. The Church, however, sees much more to it than a sign of welcome.
Following St. Paul’s teaching, to receive Communion is to cement one’s bond with the Church; it is to “renew
one’s vow” made at baptism to live as a member of Christ within the Catholic Church. One with the Eucharist;
one with the Church – the two are inseparable. Because of that truth, Holy Communion cannot be offered
to those who are separated from the Church without violating the very meaning of this sacrament of
unity.
Fr. Gregory Rothfuchs
Pray for the Sick
Please remember the following people in your prayers who are seriously ill
or who are suffering from long-term illnesses:
Mason Briese, Eugene Oetter, Helen Locher, Erin Bartel, Harn Family, Jeanie Nunuue, Amy Remallard, Laura Criel,
Kurt Palmer, Nancy Zimmer, Marie Richards, Kay Prock, Lisa Savero, John Mowbray, Bernie Hastings, Rev. George
Klepec, Mrs. John Carney, Gerald Colagrossi, Shirley Max, Jack Jackson, Theresa Dumyahn, Tony Simone, Sami Henderson,
Louis Toka, Robert Marion, Judith Gahala, Jim Escoe, Joan Murray-Olufs, Bette Marry, Richard Schreiner,
Jim Bibb, Sandy Hathway, Jean Fabich, Mary Modlin
May they and their families be comforted by our prayers and our Lord’s compassion.