FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST COMMUNION ON THE MOON

"...the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements.” ~Buzz Aldrin~



FOR MORE ON THE FIRST COMMUNION ON THE MOON GO TO:
REV. BOSCO PETERS' "FIRST COMMUNION ON THE MOON ANNIVERSARY" AT LITURGY.COM.NZ

SANCTUS BELLS

At the First Holy Communion Celebrations in our parish, our pastor calls the boys and girls up around the altar before he consecrates the host. He has the two altar servers stand on either side of the altar, near the candles, so the boys and girls can't get hurt.

It is really a beautiful sight to see the children gather around the Table of Our Lord, just as the Twelve Apostles gathered with Jesus, so long ago.

At the first celebration last Saturday, with the altar servers guarding the candles, there were no Sanctus bells at the consecration.

Afterward, I asked father if he would like me to ring the bells for the next celebration. His "yes" made me joyful. I asked one of my favorite 16 year old parishioners (an experienced altar server, lector, AND catechist whom everyone has watched grow up in our parish family) to give me a quick lesson.

You see, I grew up in the 60's and 70's, we had ALTAR BOYS not Altar Servers. I knew when the bells were to be rung, just not how. With a quick lesson, (she told me to ring them loud, and as father began to bring the host and chalice back down to the altar, to let them linger), I was ready, willing, able, and waiting to announce the presence of our Lord at the exact moment of transubstantiation.

My first time!

What a thrill!

What an honor!!

Having grown up in the 60's and 70's, I attended many years of Latin Mass at OLBS. To this day, when the host and chalice are lifted high, and the Sanctus bells ring, if I am in a standing position, I bow my body to my Lord. If, I am in a kneeling position, I bow my head.

Either way my heart, my soul, and my mind pray: "Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Lord Jesus, come to me: body and blood, soul and divinity - cleanse me of my sins, heal me of my iniquities. Fill me up, Lord pressed down and overflowing, so I may do the Father's will."

I don't know if that whole prayer is the prayer everyone prays in their souls at that moment; or, if it is even THE accepted church prayer for that moment...but, it is the prayer that works for me...and apparently, for Jesus.

This week, we again had two altar servers for our celebrations.

I was so excited! I would be able to ring the bells, and announce the presence of our Lord, not once, but TWICE!!

At the first celebration one of the altar servers said to me, almost incredulously: "Father said, you're gonna ring the bells."

I smiled and said: "YES, I AM!"

At the second celebration the other altar server told me: "Father said, you do a pretty good job with those bells."

My smile was even broader, then!

I would ring those bells at every mass, every single day of the week, if I was allowed!

To be able to announce the presence of our Lord, Jesus Christ, to the congregation is a phenomenal thing!


To announce the presence of our Lord, Jesus Christ, to the world is equally spectacular!


This week, how will YOU announce Jesus' presence to those you meet?


This week, how will YOU model Jesus' presence to those around you?


This week, how will YOU recognize the presence of Jesus in others, without the help of bells?


How Will I?


For more information on the use of Sanctus bells go to:
Sanctus Bells Their History And Use In The Catholic Church

INTERCESSORY PRAYER...Or, Why I Think The Communion Of Saints Will Meet Me At The Pearly Gates With A Roll Of Duct Tape!

Yes, it's true. I believe totally and completely that when I die, the saints I know and love, will greet me at Heaven's Door with enough duct tape to gag me for at least a decade or two.

They need the rest, poor dears!

Each day, many times, and on a difficult day sometimes moment by moment, I am praying about something or someone. Now, the prayers of praise and gratitude, they are the easiest, and I bring them to the Lord constantly and usually by myself. However, when it comes to prayers of petition, I usually seek a little backup.

When I explain why we go to Mass to the children in the program, I tell them certainly, we can pray anywhere: at home, at school (yes, Virginia, we can still pray at school...silently or even soto voce: for no one has legislated our thoughts and heart songs, yet), on the sports field, and even in the shower (a good place to pray those prayers that make us cry!)

God is EVERYWHERE, hears us ANYWHERE, and does so, at ANYTIME.

But, we come together in a special way at Mass to praise and glorify and petition God in community. We pray with, and for each other, even as we bring our own personal prayers to the altar. There, too, we are nourished with the source and summit of our lives: the Eucharist which strengthens the convictions of our soul. How could He not listen when we come to Him for ourselves and others all at the same time?

"Love thy neighbor as thyself," after all.

Now, this is not to say that God will always answer our prayers in the way we think they should be answered. That's not how it works. And, that is why it is so important to add that same phrase that Jesus prayed even as He was asking in the Garden of Gethsemane for "this cup to pass."

The simple phrase I add to every prayer is this: "Thy will, not my will, be done!"

It is my acknowledgment, as it was Christ's, that all good comes from the Father in Heaven, and if I truly believe that, then I must give control of situations up to Him; not only because that is where control rightfully belongs, but, because it is the only way to find peace of mind, heart, and soul.

So, at Mass when the earthly communion of saints joins our prayer to the heavenly communion of saints, how could God ignore our pleas for assistance?

The short answer is: He will not!

Now, with that simple philosophy as my guide, when I am praying during the day, or moment by moment if it is one of those days, or late in the evening, or even as I prayed over my aunt as she lay dying in the hospital, (and Mass is not an option), I reach out to the communion of saints.

I don't just pray for the assistance of one or two, either, I ask them all to join in.

My prayer is usually this: "Please, _____________ intercede on my behalf with our Heavenly Father."

Of course, I first approach Christ.

Then, The Blessed Mother because, Jesus gave her to us as our true and eternal mother at the foot of his cross.

Saint Joseph, the patron saint of so many things: safe travel, peaceful death, fatherhood, family, those who work with their hands, etc.

Mother Cabrini, because she has been the patroness of my family since before I was born.

Saint Therese, the Little Flower, whose name I took at Confirmation.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint Claire, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis Xavier, Saint John (Don) Bosco (patron saint of catechists), Saint Francis de Sales, and the list goes on and on.

With the officially recognized saints of the Catholic Church, I also reach out to my own father, brother, uncles, aunts, grandparents, even the great grandparents I never had a chance to meet, and a very special Deacon friend who passed way too soon.

I take very seriously Saint Therese's declaration that she would "spend...[her]... Heaven doing good on earth."

And, I have made a prayer habit of expecting ALL the saints, officially recognized or not, to do the same.

Therefore, I am certain, that on the day I die, they will welcome me with open arms, and then take measures to get a little peace and quiet.