​Feast of St. Anthony of Padua and Corpus Christi sees prayers for city with Blessed Sacrament

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Feast of St. Anthony of Padua and Corpus Christi sees prayers for city with Blessed Sacrament

On June 14, 1692, the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua, Father Damián Massenet celebrated the first Mass on the banks of the Yanaguana River and renamed it Rio San Antonio de Padua. St. Anthony was renowned as a preacher with a deep knowledge and love for Scripture who lived the word of God in his daily lives.

On June 13, the feast of St. Anthony of Padua and the feast of Corpus Christi, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, told the faithful at San Fernando that they are called to build on the saint’s legacy here and now.

“It is very easy to get swept up in a whirlwind of news, events, and crises — a pandemic, protests about violations of human and civil rights, a faltering economy! It is easy to lose our way as missionary disciples and forget our utter dependence upon God for everything,” the archbishop told listeners.

In the first reading at the liturgy from Deuteronomy, Moses reminded his people how God guided them during the wilderness wandering after the Exodus from Egypt. God fed them with manna and water from a rock. “They had to learn to trust God for everything,” explained Archbishop Gustavo. “In the wilderness we learn to remember how God cares for us every day. In our neediness we remember that we are totally dependent on God. We do not live self-sufficiently.”

In the gospel from St. John Jesus tells the crowds -that he will give then food and drink that will lead to eternal life — his own sacred body and precious blood. The New Covenant between God and his people is sealed by the precious blood of Jesus.

“In the Eucharist we enter into a personal and communal encounter with Jesus who, in turn, shares the life of his Father with us. In faith, we enter into communion with Jesus and his heavenly Father,” the archbishop emphasized. “In the Eucharist we partake of Jesus’ sacrificial death in order to receive eternal life. We are invited to a sacred meal in which Jesus is the host and shares his Body and Blood with us.”

On the feast day, the Missionary of the Holy Spirit urged worshippers to remember the mystery celebrated. “We acknowledge our utter dependence on God,” he said. “We are very grateful for God’s abiding, enduring, love care for us.”

In the Scripture from Corinthians, St. Paul reminded Mass-goers that participation in the Eucharist also brings them into unity as church, as the People of God — despite diversity. Unity, not uniformity, as Pope Francis often says.

“As we celebrate the Eucharist today, whether physically present or through technology, let us draw into a deeper intimacy with him and his heavenly Father — and into deeper unity and communion among ourselves,” the San Antonio prelate exclaimed. “Let us remember that we are missionary disciples sent to continue the risen Lord’s mission and ministry in the world — including working for social justice, building up the common good!”