20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Friends,

We have come to the fourth weekend out of five in which we are reading our way through the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John – the Bread of Life Discourse. Again, this is the primary teaching of Jesus himself, about himself, as really and substantially present in the Eucharist. As noted before, over these final two weeks, as we listen to Jesus wrap up this teaching, his language becomes more focused and particular. He really means what he says: he desires to literally feed us with himself so that we can have true life in him.

This coming Wednesday we will celebrate the memorial of Pope Saint Pius X. Living through the late 19th and into the early 20th centuries, Saint Pius X is famous for his reforms of the liturgy. He is particularly well known for lowering the age at which people can receive Holy Communion. Because of him, most Catholics receive First Holy Communion at around the age of seven or eight. Previously it was closer to ten years of age. Saint Pius X knew how vital it was to receive the Lord in the Eucharist, so along with lowering the age to receive, he also encouraged the frequent reception of Communion.

Today it is commonplace for people to receive communion whenever they come to Mass. Previously, however, many people did not receive weekly, but maybe only a few times a year. A part of this was the awareness of the awesome mystery of Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist and the desire to be able to receive him worthily. This is also why the common practice of having confession on Saturday is with us. There is a deep link between repentance and the Eucharist, in order to be able to receive all the grace of the Lord in Holy Communion. This is a connection that we need to have clarity with again. Although it is good that most Catholics receive Communion weekly or even more frequently, we need to redevelop a similar attitude towards our frequency of confession. Likely, it doesn’t need to be every week. But every month? At least quarterly? I think those are good goals to aim for. As Fr. Mike Schmitz recently said at the National Eucharistic Congress, “In the history of Christianity, you cannot have  revival without repentance.” An older priest who had a very large impact on my formation and priestly vocation used to say, “The church will be reformed when the lines to confession are as long as the lines to Communion.”

I offer confession four times during the week, but I am also available for appointments if those times don’t work, or especially if it’s been a really long time since your last confession. Please take advantage of these opportunities! Your reception of Holy Communion will be so much richer with a well-prepared and repentant heart, mind, and soul.

Peace and good.

-Fr. Kennell