Page 14 - LOTN Spring Issue 52 2023

EDUCATION AND FORMATION

"The source

and summit of

Christian life"

"The following article (which will be published in three parts)
was originally written as a talk for a gathering of Extraordinary
Ministers of Holy Communion in the Aberdeen deanery. While
the original audience were those serving in this capacity, my
hope is that these words will benefit any reader who wants
to grow deeper in his/her baptismal calling, become more
aware of the spiritual fruits of serving in the Church and grow
in devotion to the Eucharist as the "source and summit of
Christian life". Please know that my prayers are with you and I
commend myself to yours as well."

BY SR FRANCESCA THERESE

o begin with, I want to emphasise that by this
ministry, you are entrusted with Our Lord Jesus Mary could be seen as a model for an extraordinary minister of
Christ Himself. With our very God! Hidden in Holy Communion. She wasn’t an ordained minister - she was
Tthe Eucharist, certainly, but no less real. I say this neither a priest nor a deacon - and yet like you she was entrusted
because it’s easy to ‘get used’ to this, especially if we have the with the task of holding Our Lord, caring for Him and bringing
habit of going to Mass regularly, even daily. It can become Him to others. Lastly, when you think about it, devotion to the
routine and little by little we can lose our wonder at the fact that Eucharist goes hand in hand with devotion to Our Lady. As Fr
Jesus Christ our Saviour, our Lord and our God, has deigned Emile Neubert put it in the book Life of Union with Mary, “it is
to remain with us in the Eucharist We can lose our wonder at directly from Mary that [Jesus] receives the flesh and blood with
the fact that He has humbled Himself to come to us under which He nourishes us in the EuchariSt”
the appearance of bread and wine in order to give Himself to What is beautiful about Mary is that what is true of her is true
us. I believe it was Scott Hahn who, when giving a talk on the of each one of us. This is because Mary is an icon of the Church.
Eucharist, marvelled at how people could receive the Body of You might say, “Now Sister, I wasn’t immaculately conceived
Christ so nonchalantly and how people could even sound bored. like the Virgin Mary nor am I sinless. I also probably won’t
“The Body of Christ” be assumed body and soul into heaven at the end of my life!”
“Amen.” You and me both, let me tell you! Yet even though we’re not
“The Body of Christ” immaculate, even though we sin and fall and seek forgiveness,
“Amen.” that doesn’t take away the fact that this purity is what we are all
He pondered if it would it be the same if we were giving 10 called to. Mary shows us that call. In the same way, even though
million dollars? (Or pounds here in the UK). Imagine: we probably won’t be taken up into heaven body and soul at the
“10 million pounds.” end of our lives, the glorification of our bodies is what we look
“Amen.” forward to at the end of time. Mary shows us that destiny.
“10 million pounds.” I propose that we have a ‘little walk with Mary,’ if you will. I
“Amen.” personally enjoy walking, and one thing I like to do is to stop
Personally, I think we’d be jumping and shouting for joy! Not every so often and take in the scenery. As we journey along with
that I recommend jumping and shouting during the reception of Our Lady, we’ll stop and look at three things:
Holy Communion, of course. Yet when we receive the Eucharist
we receive something - or rather Someone - much greater than 1. The Call of the Lord - Mary at the Annunciation
all the riches of the world! It would be good to stop from time to 2. The Spiritual Good of Ministry - Mary at the Visitation
time and just contemplate the immensity of this gift. 3. Devotion to the Eucharist - Mary at the Foot of the
When I was praying about what to speak to you about, one Cross
thing - or rather, one person - kept coming to mind, and that
person is Our Lady. There are several reasons for this. First, we’re The Call of the Lord - Mary at the Annunciation
beginning this lovely season of Advent and Our Lady was the First, the call of the Lord. Let’s just read the Annunciation
first person to live out Advent as she and St Joseph awaited the together.
birth of the Christ-child. Secondly, I think that in a certain way The Annunciation: Luke 1:26-38 (ESV)
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God
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