Corpus Christi Blog

Eucharistic Adoration has existed since early times. From the 3rd century, the early hermits (solitary monks) reserved the Eucharist in their cells. The immediate purpose of this reservation was to enable the hermits to give themselves Holy Communion. But these hermits were too conscious of what the Real Presence was not to treat it with great reverence.

As director of liturgy, my job is to advocate for the sanctity and efficacy of the Mass; to limit obstacles to our worship and advance opportunities to enhance worship; to honor the Church’s profound and meaningful history and traditions; to highlight the beauty, sanctity, and real presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharist is the center of the Mass: God truly present in the consecrated Body and Blood of our Lord.

Our parish offers perpetual adoration: the opportunity to spend time with the real presence of Jesus in the adoration chapel. As director of liturgy, I want to invite you to consider investing in a Holy Hour each week, so that you can continue to build a closer, more intimate relationship with Christ through adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This relationship will spill over into the Mass and enrich our liturgy and enhance your worship.

from www.foryourmarriage.org/celebrating-advent-as-a-family

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: "Prayer is the life of the new heart. It ought to animate us at every moment… But we cannot pray 'at all times' if we do not pray at specific times, consciously willing it" (CCC 2697). We come before the Lord with a desire for 'a new heart' when we find time for prayer throughout our day. The Church invites us to pray in many different ways. We can recite the Rosary, pray the liturgy of the hours, learn about the lives of the saints, celebrate the liturgical year through feast days, lift up our hearts in song or silence, and above all participate in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. If we take time to pray at "specific times," our home will be filled with prayer at "all times."

This coming Wednesday, December 6, is the feast of Saint Nicholas — a real man who lived long ago. He was born during the third century in Patara, a Greek village at the time in what is now the country of Turkey.

Nicholas was the only child of wealthy Christian parents who both died due to an epidemic when Nicholas was very young. He was raised by his uncle, the Bishop of Patara, who eventually ordained Nicholas as a presbyter (priest).

I was baptized Catholic and grew up in a Catholic family. Like many Catholic families, we attended Mass most weeks, said prayers now and then, and were taught the basics about God, Jesus, and Mary. Yet I never saw the Catholic Church for what it was; I never realized the enormous comfort, strength, and wisdom contained in the Church. I spent so many years of my life looking for answers and fulfillment in all the wrong places, not realizing that the treasure I was looking for was right before me all along! This is the journey that led me back to the church and awakened me to its abundant grace and beauty.

As a young adult, I attended Mass somewhat regularly but would describe myself as a half-hearted Catholic at best. I loved God and wanted to serve him, but wasn't convinced that I necessarily needed a religion or church to do that. I was married and had my first son by the age of twenty-one, so I went to church mainly for my son's sake.

Spirituality • Fellowship and Friendship • Serve Those in Need • Give others the opportunity to serve

I think I've heard of St. Vincent de Paul Charity." ~"What is the Society of St. Vincent de Paul?" ~"What is a Vincentian?" "What are Associate members?"~ "I remember St. Vincent de Paul helped my family when I was a kid. It's a good organization" ~"They help the poor, right?"

These are some of the comments and questions St. Vincent de Paul, Corpus Christi Conference (SVdPCCC) members have heard throughout the years. Hopefully, in the following paragraphs, these questions will be answered. But more importantly, we would like to convey how blessed our Corpus Christi community really is and how its partnership plays a wonderful and appreciated role within the Society ofSt. Vincent de Paul.

from Catholic Answers Magazine; Sep-Oct 2017 issue

In recent years both Catholics and Protestants have been puzzled by occasional mentions in the press that the two groups would be jointly commemorating of the upcoming five hundredth anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

What on earth?

Why would Catholics commemorate such an event?

Let’s talk about that.

“And So, It Begins . . .”

According to legend, on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the castle church in Wittenburg, Germany.

Despite the legend, we don’t have solid evidence that he actually did this, but it is true that in 1517 Luther published a set of 95 propositions he proposed for academic debate.

Over the summer, our bulletin ran a series of articles by Ken Hensley about the Protestant Reformation (What was the Reformation and Why Did it Happen). The feedback from parishioners has indicated that the series was very helpful and informative. As thismonth marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, it is our responsibility as Catholics to continue our understanding of our Faith in comparison to Protestant claims. There are numerous apologetics articles and books that one could read. One such book is The Protestant's Dilemma by Devin Rose, a Catholic convert, in which he examines over thirty Protestant claims and what they would signify if thought through logically. The following excerpt is from Chapter 2:The Papacy.

A few weeks ago, I highlighted the roles that the congregation participate in as part of the liturgy (service of God and each other). I want to thank everyone who has accepted the challenge of increasing the efficacy of our Masses! I have felt the increased focus and participation. Your prayerful silence and your joyful exclamations have made an impact on my experience at the Mass…and I am grateful to you for that!

What if God is calling you to go beyond the expectations of “normal” participation in the liturgy? (I use the word normal in quotes, because there is nothing ordinary or normal about real participation in the Mass!) Today I would like to highlight the various liturgical ministries and offer you an invitation to participate even more deeply in the service of the Mass.

Corpus Christi Council 10062

The Knights of Council 10062 have long acknowledged that their successful operation as one of the leading Councils in Arizona is due in large part to the overwhelming support of our pastors and parishioners. The practice of the Order’s first principle, Charity, would not be possible without the loyal patronage and unending collaboration of the Corpus Christi Catholic Community. We are immensely appreciative of the continuous support provided by our parishioners.

The generosity of Corpus Christi Parishioners in support of Knights’ Charities has had an enormous impact on our community. One example is the PWID Campaign (Persons with Intellectual Disabilities), was the first fundraiser event our Council undertook after it was founded. The iconic yellow cans, aprons and nationally recognized Tootsie Roll candy have since become an annual event.

This week is one of my favorite weeks of the year. We celebrate two of my favorite Saints: St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower, on October 1 (though this year it is trumped because it falls on a Sunday) and St. Francis of Assisi on October 4. Additionally, on September 29 we celebrated the Archangels and on my birthday, October 2, we’ll celebrate our Guardian Angels. Furthermore, my sister’s birthday is October 5.

Last week, if you remember, the Gospel was the Parable of the Landowner who hired workers to work in his vineyard at different times of the day, but paid each worker equally, no matter how long they worked. In his homily, Dcn. Chris Kellogg led us to reflect on the joy it is to be called to work in the Lord’s vineyard. For me personally, that truth has been resonating in my heart.