Every moment in our lives breeds excitement. Whenever we receive gifts, we smile our hearts out; and what better excitement can our hearts brew when it is Jesus we receive, and it is for the first time!
On the twenty third day February, at the stroke of the bells of the Maasin Cathedral announcing the second hour past midday, the grade three pupils from Saint Joseph College gathered at the mother church of the diocese for their First Holy Communion celebrated by the Very Reverend Monsignor Oscar A. Cadayona together with Reverend Father Jersen Jerome Paler, the Campus Ministry Director.
The readings and the responsorial psalm were lovingly proclaimed by the innocent voices of select first communicants. In the gospel, Jesus declares himself to be โthe living bread that came down from heavenโ very simply but beautifully expounded by Monsignor Cadayona in his homily wherein he also asserted firmly that the Holy Eucharist is not a symbol of our Lord, but, as he said, โIt is the real Jesus.โ, a perennial reality most people get wrong and forget. The school president also made it a point that when a person received Jesus, a change of heart, a transformed disposition, and an edifying life is expected.
Parents brought varied gifts during the offertory as the choir sang the lines โAll that we are, all that we will be, we offer now to you.โ
The well-behaved students were evidently attentive to the liturgical action that followed especially during the two-fold consecration.
As the celebrant descended with the Blessed Sacrament in his consecrated hands, the children lined up, knelt down in humble reverence, and finally received Jesus, the bread of angels, for the very first time. Thereafter, each communicant returned to their seats, and kneeling down once more, were absorbed in fervent prayer as they prayed their devotions after communion.
After the ablutions, Miss Cortel, the Grade School Principal expressed her warm congratulations to the first communicants and her gratitude to all those who made the event possible and meaningful. After everything, the celebrant dismissed the congregation in the peace of Christ.
What a blessed day indeed! The one Lord who descends upon the altar at each offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, today willed that he himself should come to these innocent little children, as a simple bread yet the food of mortal man, which strengthens the soul, their one true love, their number one, who should be ours too โ Jesus.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar!
______
Words: John Russel Manlangit | The Josephinian
Photos: Mark James Calucin | The Josephinian
