Dear Parishioners,

After a very long delay, many children are receiving their First Holy Communion this weekend. I am very happy for all of them and hope that this is the start of a life-long dedication to Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament. The Eucharist is the greatest gift God could give us. As St. Jean Vianney reminds us, we know that this is true because if there was anything greater, He would give us that instead.

The Eucharist is an essential part of our faith. It is the linchpin that holds everything else together. If someone is devoted to the Blessed Sacrament, then the rest of the faith is relatively easy for them to grasp. However, if one doubts the Blessed Sacrament or does not treat it with respect, their faith will be gravely wounded. As Catholics we should always strive to fall more and more in love with the Blessed Sacrament and pray for the grace to receive Our Lord well. God who created the entire world wishes to come to us under the form of bread and wine so that we can welcome Him into ourselves and by it, to become more like Him.

Some people may think it is strange that God would want us to eat His body and blood and imagine that He must have either meant something else or that it seems a little gross. I think that if we would have our way, we would prefer God to satisfy our intellects more directly and come in a more observable way. However, Our Lord was wise to come to us in the Eucharist. By being clothed in the appearance of bread and wine, He is able to be in many places at once. Also, to receive Him just requires the ability to eat which almost all human beings are capable of. There are people in the world who will never learn to read or study theology. But, virtually everyone can receive Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

I also think it is wise that the Church allows children to receive Our Lord as soon as they are able to reason. Our Lord reminds us that we must be like little children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It is appropriate then that those who are children be able to enter into this Kingdom. I am sure that many of you received your first Holy Communion when you were very young and I bet that was a great day. Be sure to thank God for it.
God bless!

Fr. Carter

P.S. Some people have approached me about receiving communion in cars again. While I am not preparing to bring it back as a wider practice, feel free to reach out to me if you would like to either receive Holy Communion at home or would like to receive Holy Communion in your car between the masses on Sunday. Also, if any Extraordinary Ministers would like to help bring communion to the home bound, it would be a big help. I can be contacted at the Parish office or at my email toddcarterpriest@gmail.com.