THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, CORPUS CHRISTI – June 11, 2023

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION: Barnabás Lacza, by the Family

MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

FROM THE DESK OF FR. BONA: Since the apostolic times, the Sacred Host has been lifted up at some point in the sacred liturgy. In those ancient times, the elevation happened as an act of veneration, immediately before receiving Holy Communion. However, it was not until the 12^th century that the elevation at the consecration was introduced, mainly because people desired to see the Eucharist at that time. Subsequently, bells were rung for the consecration of the Eucharist as well, so that those near the church could at least run into the church at this moment and that those who had to stay at home could pray especially at this time.

The special veneration of the Eucharist received a further boost with the visions of Blessed Julianna of Liège in 1209. Slowly, the official Church also embraced the essence of the vision – the establishment of the feast of Corpus Christi and made such decision following the famous Eucharistic miracle of Bolsena in 1263. A Czech priest on a pilgrimage to the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles, celebrated a Mass in the Church of St. Christina in Bolsena (115 km north of Rome). At the moment of consecration, he was in doubt whether the bread and wine would indeed become the Body and Blood of Christ. Then the priest was astonished: drops of blood had fallen from the broken Host onto the corporal. With great reverence the relic was carried to the nearby Orvieto, the town where Pope Urban IV had been staying at that time. Through the papal bull Transiturus on 8 September 1264, he proclaimed the feast of the Corpus Christi to be held on the first Thursday after the end of the Pentecost Octave.

Tradition has it that St Thomas Aquinas wrote the liturgy for the feast. At Mass, from the moment of consecration onwards, the body and blood of Jesus is present under species of bread and wine. This presence remains there as long as the host still has the appearance of a bread (which includes even the crumbs). That is why we repose and guard the remaining consecrated hosts in the Tabernacle, and the lit sanctuary lamp, at times also called everlasting light, indicates the presence of Jesus Christ. We pay homage to Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament by genuflecting.

PRAYER BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT: My Lord Jesus Christ, for the love which You bear to men, You remain night and day in this Sacrament full of compassion and of love, awaiting, calling, and welcoming all who come to visit You. I believe that You are present in the Sacrament of the Altar: I adore You from the abyss of my nothingness, and I thank You for all the graces which You have bestowed upon me and in particular for having given me Yourself in this Sacrament, for having given me your holy Mother Mary for my advocate, and for having called me to visit You in this church (chapel).

TODAY (JUNE 11) PROCESSION IN HONOR OF CORPUS CHRISTI: Please join us, after the Mass, for this procession.

VOLUNTEER HELP NEEDED to help keep the church grounds (gardens and potted plants) fresh and beautiful. You may sign up in the back vestibule of the church. For more information, see Mary Hill or Kathy Beroisa.

JUNE 25 – BENEFIT LUNCH AT ST. EMERIC CHURCH HALL: On this day we will hold a benefit lunch to help Hungarians in Ukraine. The lunch begins at 12:45 p.m. Menu: Hungarian style fresh green pea soup, chicken paprikash with traditional dumplings (nokedli), Hungarian style cucumber salad, cream puffs with custard filling for dessert, coffee. Refreshing drinks are also available. If you would like to participate, please call one of the following ladies by June 21 (Take out pre-orders also accepted): Marika Zsula 216-676-5863 or Mária Mészáros 440-331-0391. For adults $22, for students $10, and children under 6 free. Additional donations for this cause are also most welcome.

LAST WEEKEND’S COLLECTION: Sunday Collection: $1,303; maintenance: $150; renovation fund: $200. May God reward your generosity in supporting the church. Thank you for sending in your donations by mail or using our website https://stemeric.com/donations/.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK, especially for Bev Kimar, Rose Dudevszky, Teréz Kalász, Lajos Boday, Julius Skerlan, Márta Takács, Zsuzsanna Hunyadi, Albert Kovács, Viola Kocskár.

THIS SUNDAY the 11:15 AM Mass from St. Emeric church will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/saintemeric/ and https://stemeric.com/

LET US PRAY THREE HAIL MARYS FOR OUR PARISH EVERY DAY!

Ez a bejegyzés olvasható Magyar (Hungarian) nyelven is.