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June 10, 2020I've been thinking about how many sacramental (and other) celebrations have been put on hold lately and how many people have been robbed of the joy that accompanies these events.
Two of my godchildren were scheduled to receive their First Holy Communion one week apart this year. I was so disappointed when I had to cancel my flight but nowhere near the disappointment level on their end. They, along with so many other children, are still waiting to find out when those special occasions will be rescheduled.
June was a joy-filled month for Pier Giorgio sacramentally. He drew closer to the Lord in the Sacrament of Penance on June 11th (1910), the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist on June 19th (1911), and the Sacrament of Confirmation on June 10th (1915).
We need joy. And we need the Sacraments because they are the source of the one true joy. And we need fellowship because our shared bond of faith strengthens us for the challenges we face on the journey toward our heavenly home. Frankly, fear and isolation are lousy companions.
...In fact, foolish is he who pursues the joys of the world because these are always fleeting and cause pain whereas the one true joy is that which Faith gives us, and our beloved companions particularly by this bond will always stay united even if life’s contingencies hurl us very far from each other. - Pier Giorgio Frassati
Let us unite in prayer through the intercession of Blessed Frassati that the contingencies keeping us apart from one another and the Lord will soon be overcome; that our churches will be packed full for the celebration of so many long-awaited Sacraments; and that the one true joy that our faith brings us will bubble over in our souls and spill out onto everyone we meet.
Joy is contagious. Choose it and make it go viral.
Verso l'alto! ///cmw