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<< Monday, September 17, 2012 >>

St. Robert Bellarmine

1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33
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Psalm 40:7-10, 17

Luke 7:1-10

AMEN!

"Just give the order and my servant will be cured." —Luke 7:7

When you receive Holy Communion, the priest or distributor says: "Body of Christ," and you respond: "Amen." Your "Amen" means:

You believe you are receiving "the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus" (Catechism, 1374).
You ask Jesus to give you an order, a word, for you to obey (Lk 7:7).
You believe in the Lord's healing (see Lk 7:7).
You commit yourself to unity with the members of Christ's body (cf 1 Cor 11:18ff).
You commit yourself to the new covenant in Jesus' blood (1 Cor 11:25).
You "proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes!" (1 Cor 11:26)

Your "Amen" before receiving Communion is a total commitment of your life to the Father, through the Son, and in the Spirit.

Therefore, we should receive Jesus in Holy Communion daily or as often as possible. We should prepare for Communion by regular, frequent Confession and by fasting in some conscious way before each Mass. Communion will either be one of the greatest events of our lives and a whole way of life, or Communion will be very harmful to us (1 Cor 11:17). Make all your Communions holy.

Prayer: Father, may this book lead its readers to daily and holy Communions.

Promise: "This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me." —1 Cor 11:24

Praise: Although St. Robert was a small, physically unimpressive man who had to preach from the pulpit while standing on a stool, he preached with such power and authority that many converted to Catholicism.

One Bread, One Body

AMEN!