Today the Church celebrated Holy Thursday. It was on this night, the Eve of His Passion and Death, that Jesus Christ gave to the Church His greatest gift. He instituted the Eucharist. At every Mass throughout the world Catholics are re-presented at this critical moment in Salvation History.
The power of the Eucharist and the need for it was underlined today when due to air conditions, our Catholic priest was stuck in Baghdad. Instead of the Evening Mass of Our Lord's Supper, we had a Holy Thursday Prayer Service. The gulf between the two is immense. It served however I think, to underline the centrality of the Eucharist to the Catholic Faith.
Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the world! We humbly beg of Thee to manifest in Thy Church the Spirit Whom Thou didst so abundantly bestow upon Thy Apostles. Call, we pray Thee, very many to Thy priesthood and to the religious life. And may zeal for Thy glory and the salvation of souls inflame those whom Thou hast chosen; may they be saints in Thy likeness, and may Thy Spirit strengthen them. O Jesus, give us priests and religious according to Thine own Heart!
O Mary, Mother of Jesus! Obtain for fervent souls the grace to hear and the courage to follow Thy divine Son in the path of religious perfection.
Queen of Apostles, pray for us. Queen of Virgins, pray for us. — CARDINAL SPELLMAN'S PRAYER BOOK
The Easter Triduum has Begun, the Week that Changed the World approaches its climax.
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