Jul 27, 2024
Happy Feast of St. Mary Magdalene!
Hello St. Mary Magdalene,
Thanks for tuning into this week’s video with me, Fr. Chris.
There’s a lot going on this weekend as we are celebrating our
patronal feast day this weekend so you’ll hear some beautiful
prayers during the Mass centering on Mary Magdalene and her role as
the “Apostle to the Apostles” as the Church refers to her. She is
given this title because, as the first person to see Christ
Resurrected from the dead, she is sent to the Apostles to proclaim
the Good News. In Greek, the language in which the New Testament
was written, Apostle comes from “Apostelos” which means “to be
sent” so, she, as the “Apostle to the Apostles” can literally mean
“the one sent to the ones who are sent.” This same Greek root is
the origin of the term “apostolate” meaning the area in which we’re
sent to bring the Gospel. How blessed then, that we, spiritual sons
and daughters of St. Mary Magdalene rejoice in her being the first
person to see the Risen Lord. This patronage too is commemorated in
our sanctuary artwork with the Latin phrase “Vidi Dominum” which
means “I have seen the Lord” the same message she gave to the
Apostles 2,000 years ago.
We have the great joy then in sharing this vision of the Risen Lord
especially in the Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith.
How providential then that the national Eucharistic Convention is
currently underway in Indianapolis on this same weekend. Indeed,
the Eucharist is the venue through which we too can see the Risen
Lord just as Mary Magdalene did. In honor of this, I want to share
with you several resources that I have read and recommend in order
to foster a deeper love of Christ present in the Eucharist.
First, is this wonderful book “St. Mary Magdalene: Prophetess of
Eucharistic Love” by Fr. Sean Davidson. In 200 pages this book
offers scriptural, historical, and theological perspectives on Mary
Magdalene and the radical way in which her encounter with Christ
inspired her to change her life and how we, modeling her
repentance, can allow Christ to change our life as well. I have
about 20 copies of this book which I am happy to give away, if you
would like one please email me and I will be happy to leave you a
copy.
Second, I would like to recommend Pope St. John Paul II’s 2003
encyclical “Ecclesia de Eucharistia” (Church of the Eucharist)
where the late holy father inspirationally writes on the Eucharist
and its centrality in the life and mission of the Church and of
every Catholic. It’s about 20 pages so it can easily be read during
prayer times in the adoration chapel.
Third, is Pope Benedict XVI’s 2007 Sacramentum Caritatis. This 40
page post-synodal exhortation offers spiritual and practical
insights on the Eucharist and how we can prepare our souls
spiritually to receive Christ. It can be technical and/or practical
at times since it’s also addressing questions on topics like proper
reception of Holy Communion, and active participation in the
liturgy.
Fourth, and lastly, is the USCCB’s 2021 document “The Mystery of
the Eucharist in the Life of the Church.” This 30 page document
offers practical and spiritual insights oriented towards a deeper
appreciation and entry into the great gift of the Eucharist. There
are some phenomenal quotes from saints in here that afford many
opportunities for prayerful contemplation of Christ present in the
Eucharist.
These writings from the USCCB, Benedict XVI, and JPII are all
available online and are linked in the description of this
video!
In conclusion, I also want to say thank you to everyone who stepped
up at my recent adoration appeal. We went from over 40 hours with
no adorer down to less than 10! That is awesome and it means that
perpetual adoration can continue. Now, it is incumbent upon all of
us, however, to maintain our commitments in order to ensure a
prayerful space to encounter Christ while simultaneously ensuring
safety for all adorers and the Blessed Sacrament! Have a wonderful
feast day weekend and may our Eucharistic Lord draw you ever more
deeply into His infinite, eternal love!
Document links:
1. Ecclesia de Eucharistia (JPII):
https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_20030417_eccl-de-euch.html
2. Sacramentum Caritatis (B16): https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20070222_sacramentum-caritatis.html
3. The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church (USCCB): https://www.usccb.org/resources/7-703%20The%20Mystery%20of%20Eucharist,%20for%20RE-UPLOAD,%20JANUARY%202022.pdf
God bless,
Fr. Chris
Visit us: https://www.smarymag.org
Support us online: https://membership.faithdirect.net/AZ754