Dear Friends,
In the Church, we celebrate today the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Body (and Blood) of Christ. Originally, Corpus Christi was celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday (and in many parts of the world, it is probably still celebrated on a Thursday), and in many places, a procession follows the Mass, carrying the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance, stopping at various places where an altar has been erected for the occasion. Interestingly, before the liturgical changes that came after the Second Vatican Council, Corpus Christi focused simply on the Body of Christ, and July 1 was the Feast of the Precious Blood of Christ. Unfortunately, that feast has been abrogated. I write this column about ten days in advance, so as of writing this, I am thinking about simply saying “Corpus Christi” at the distribution of Holy Communion since that means “the Body of Christ.” Following our celebration of Corpus Christi, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus this upcoming Friday. I pray that many of you are enthroning the Sacred Heart of Jesus in your homes and in your lives.
We also celebrate Father’s Day today in our country. Much like Mother’s Day, we intentionally take time to thank our fathers and father-figures, and we are reminded of the importance of father’s. We know mothers do so much, but fathers are essential too. Children need both a mother and a father. Thinking about Father’s Day leads me to share a little bit about a book I have been reading recently. While it addresses primarily married couples, we know that marriage usually leads to children and a family. A married couple’s relationship affects their children. The book is Habits for a Healthy Marriage: A Handbook for Catholic Couples, written by Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons, a psychiatrist with 40 years of experience working with married couples and families.
The book addresses multiple topics, so I cannot adequately summarize it in the limited space provided here. Nevertheless, the book focuses upon positive psychology and virtue to help couples. Focusing on virtue is important because it helps a person to make real changes in one’s life, and Dr. Fitzgibbons provides strategies and behaviors to grow in these virtues, and he provides additional resources as well. I’ll share with you the chapter titles to give an idea of what virtues help couples in their difficulties.
– Forgiveness Reduces Anger
– Generosity Conquers Selfishness
– Respect Overcomes the Urge to Control
– Trust Calms Anxiety
– Hope Reduces Sadness and Loneliness
– Gratitude Builds Confidence
– Prudence Improves Communication
– Temperance Restrains Compulsions and Infidelity
– Justice Prevents Divorce
– Loyalty Lessens the Retreat from Marriage
– Humility Fosters Self-Knowledge
While the book may seem repetitive at times, which is ok because repetition is the mother (or father?) of all learning, I highly recommend this book which is addressed to married couples, couples preparing for marriage, single people. The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is a grace-giving sign and symbol of Christ’s ever-faithful love for His Bride, the Church. As we focus on the Sacred Heart of Jesus in this month of June, may we help our fathers to have hearts like the Sacred Heart, and may we help our married couples to live out the great dignity of their vocation.
We are saints under construction, nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ, living out our vocations, and being formed by grace to have hearts like the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Happy Father’s Day! Have a great week!
In Christ,
Fr. Matt