Saturday, May 7, 2011
Fr. Anthony Brankin
First Holy Communion Mass
Homily summary: When Fr. Brankin received his First Holy Communion as a boy, his teacher, Sr. Celeste Theresa, said that that day was the most beautiful day of their lives, because they received Jesus.
Walk on the spiritual path along with St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal into the Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Are you a lay person interested in plunging more fully into a way of daily devotion? Or considering a vocation to the monastic Visitandine tradition? Go to Visitation Spirit website.
Our children today look beautiful in their dresses and suits. But more beautiful are their hearts and souls. You have nothing but goodness and purity as you wait for Jesus to come inside. When you drink a glass of milk, all the calcium and vitamins go into your bones to make you beautiful, boys and girls. Your parents want the best for you. They also want your souls to be happy. Jesus is the food for souls — to be happy and good and holy. We are what we eat.
Receive Communion as often as possible. It will thus be easier to be good, because we have Jesus inside of us, helping us. At the end of our lives, if we have received Jesus, He will take us to heaven. Jesus is Holy Communion, and Holy Communion is Jesus. It is a beautiful day, not so much because of your beautiful faces, but because you will receive the beautiful Jesus into your hearts and souls. Jesus will transform us from day to day.
A warning
Parents, you are the first teachers of your children. You must be the best of teachers. Only if your families hold onto the faith will they survive in this hostile world. After this Mass, Jesus will go home with you today; there will be another person going with you. Say to Jesus, “our house is your house.” This is the first of a million communions.
Parents, there are people who want to hurt your children. Not just with gangs, but through movies, TV, the media. They are trying to take your children away, to take their innocence. How do we protect them? Cover them with the mantel of love. If you don’t bring them to Mass tomorrow, they will die. God will bless your whole family when you go to Mass on Sunday.