Christ is present to His Church in several ways. Christ is truly present when the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered. He is present in the person of His priest. He is present in all the sacraments such that when a priest baptizes it is truly Christ who baptizes. Christ is also present in His word. It is in fact Christ who speaks when the holy Scriptures are proclaimed. Christ is present in His assembly since He Himself has said: "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in their midst." Above all, Christ is present in the Eucharist. He comes to us Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Host. What reverence we should have at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass! What reverence we should have when we receive our Lord! What confidence we should have that He will give us absolutely everything we need!
The constitution on the sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council reminds us that every liturgical celebration is a sacred action of a preeminent kind. "No other action of the Church equals its title to power or its degree of effectiveness." The liturgy is an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ Himself. We should therefore strive to be more effective worshipers in order to give glory to God.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
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