Trinity Sunday
Deut. 4 : 32-40 ; Ps. 32 ; Rom. 8: 14-17; Mt. 28:16-20
One day during my regency in a high school as I was giving the Class on Religion, one of the little children asked me: “Fr., Who invented the Trinity?” I smiled and I said to him, although the word trinity is not mentioned in the Bible, here is what I can say:
The Holy Trinity, God’s identity
The Holy Trinity is the truth about the nature of God. God reveals to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Three persons of the same one God. This reality is an old profession of faith; God himself reveals to us this truth:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” (Deut. 6:4).
God is always the communion of persons, in his creation, in his actions throughout the entire bible, there has always been a very combined action of the same God in three persons. The beautiful greetings of Paul to the Corinthians is a good example:
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
(2 Corinthians 13:14)
The Trinity is our identity
Then, I also told them that, according to my experience, there is nothing as real in our existence like the Holy trinity. We are trinitarian people; we baptize in the name of the trinity, we believe, we are forgiven, we worship, we pray in the name of the Holy trinity; we are blessed in the name of the trinity even when we die, we are commended to God in the name of the name of the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This sign defines us as sons and daughters, of the triune God and as Catholics and Christians.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt. 28:19)
The Holy Trinity is Love
When about to leave from the earth to his Father, Jesus said:
“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever” (John 14: 16).
So it clear that, The Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Father, but there is a perfect communion of love between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
What kind of love is the the Trinity?
It is love which liberates, love which unites, love which does not curse, which is not in competition, which does not seek its own interests but is always patient and kind, gentle, faithful, and persevering. (1 Cor. 13:8).
“I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (John 14:10)
Let us become trinitarian people:
The holy trinity is a perfect family of unity, communion, of love and truth. Let our families become friends of the Holy Trinity, where truth and love are new songs. We must become ourselves, people of love and unity. Trinity is friendship with everyone and with All!
Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC
Living the Gospel this week:
“That they may be One” (John 17: 21-23)
Jesus prayed for unity for unity. Please read John 17 through this week.
What are the causes of divisions in your family? Pray that the Holy Spirit may help you become a parable of truth, unity, communion and reconciliation!
Prayer:
O my God, Trinity whom I adore, let me entirely forget myself that I may abide in you, still and peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity; let nothing disturb my peace nor separate me from you, O my unchanging God, but that each moment may take me further into the depths of your mystery! Pacify my soul (Elizabeth of the Trinity)
Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC
Understanding Corpus Christi, the Feast of the Body and Blood.
Corpus Christi, or the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, is a Catholic holiday that has several important purposes. It gives thanks to God for Christ's presence in the Eucharist, teaches people about the Eucharist, and helps people reaffirm their faith. It also provides a chance to connect with other worshippers through processions, prayers, and other events.
Origin of Corpus Christi
Two separate miracles were at the origin of Corpus Domini: the vision to St. Juliana of Mont Cornillon and the Miracle at Bolsena by a young priest of Prague.
The vision of Julianna of Cornillon
St. Juliana was very devoted to the devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and so longed to celebrate a special feast recognition of our Lord’s real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. It happened that she had a vision of the Church under the appearance of a full moon which had one dark spot. The dark spot represented the absence of the feast of the Blessed Sacrament in the Church according to her mysterious vision. St .Juliana confessed the vision to Bishop Robert of Liege and Jacques Pantaléon, who later became Pope Urban IV. Bishop Robert organized a Synod in 1246, and celebrated the feast of Corpus Christi for the first time in 1247 in the Diocese of Liege. Another important miracle would occur 17 years later, which contributed to the official recognition of Corpus Christi in the entire Catholic Church.
Eucharistic miracle at Bolsena
In the city of Prague, there was a priest, Fr. Pietro who was losing his faith in the love and real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and had some doubts on the Eucharist. In 1263, while celebrating the Mass in the Church Santa Cristina in Bolsena, at the breaking of the Bread, the precious Blood of our Lord flowed from the Host, covering the altar cloth, corporal and the floor. Pope Urban IV, who was residing at Orvieto at the time, ordered that the precious cloth, covered with the precious blood, be brought to the Church of St. Mary in Orvieto. This is a pilgrim place and a place of adoration to date.
Feast of Corpus Christi proclaimed
After these two important events, Pope Urban IV, on the 11 August 1264, published the Bull “Transiturus de hoc mundo '', as the official of the establishment and universal feast of Corpus Christi in the Latin Church. The bull also granted many indulgences to the faithful for the attendance at Mass and at the Office on the day of the feast of the Blessed Sacrament. To celebrate the feast, St. Thomas Aquinas wrote the very beautiful liturgy celebrated on the Solemnity, such as: Adoro Te Devote (I adore thee devoutly), Tantum Ergo Sacramentum (The sacred Host we hail), Pange Lingua (sing my tongue, the Savior’s glory.
Importance of the feast and the procession of Corpus Christi
Today, it is very important to celebrate the Corpus Christi that is the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ in order to give thanks to God for the real presence of Jesus among us in the Eucharist. The celebration also deepens and reinforces our faith in the Eucharist. teaches us about Jesus’ love for us, and helps people reaffirm their faith in the Blessed Sacrament. The procession outside the Church, most of the time on roads of the city, provides an opportunity to adore and worship the Blessed Sacrament publicly and to give a chance to connect with other worshipers who are not Catholic.
The importance of the procession
The procession often highlights the mercy of God for all people and the role of the incarnate Jesus who came so that “All may be saved” (John 3:16).
According to the tradition of the Church, there are usually three (3) or more repositories (Altar of repose), where the Priest and the ministers together with all the faithful make a stop in order to place and adore the blessed sacrament. Usually, we have two thurifers, 4 chandlers side by side the canopy, children who can strew flowers petals if necessary, book bearer, corporal bearers, canopy could be carried by Deacons or other men, and the celebrant leading the procession carries the Eucharist at eye level. Some other things might be incorporated according to the customs of the Diocese or a particular Parish.
This year, on June 2, we wish to have a short procession with one altar of repose between the Family Center and the Church at 11AM Mass.
Some fathers of the Church reminds us that: “The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time that you will spend on earth”
Please join us!
Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac