Saint John XXIII Roman Catholic Church

3390 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3K 0Z3

Telephone: 204-832-7175 • Fax: 204-885-2447 Email: office@johnxxiii.ca • Website: www.johnxxiii.ca

Office Hours: As announced in the schedule for the week ________________________________________________________________________________________________

SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST SUNDAY LITURGIES (MASSES)

Due to limits imposed by public health orders, please call ahead of time to make reservations

WEEKDAY LITURGIES Please call ahead of time to make reservations

ASSISTANCE TO THE SICK AND SHUT-IN For emergencies, you may contact the parish office

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (CONFESSIONS) As circumstances permit, when the Pastor is available

at times announced in the schedule and/or by appointment

PARISH BULLETIN

SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY – June 7, 2020

PARISH PASTORAL TEAM

Pastor: Reverend Fr. Robert Polz Administrative Assistant: Joanna Mason 204-832-7335 rpolz.johnxxiii@gmail.com 204-832-7175 joanna@johnxxiii.ca

Pastoral Assistant: Sharon Camier Head Custodian: José Barrera 204-832-7206 sharon@johnxxiii.ca 204-888-9340

Ministry Coordinator/Office Volunteer: Lynda Hunt Music Ministry: Donna Vendramelli 204-832-7175 lynda@johnxxiii.ca 204-888-8200 d_vendramelli@mymts.net

Trustee: Loris Vendramelli Building and Maintenance Chair: Claude Precourt 204-888-8200 loris@mymts.net 204-898-1893 cfp3899@gmail.com

Trustee: William Gould Fundraising and Development Committee 204-832-7175 william.d.gould@gmail.com 204-832-7175 call if interested in serving

Parish Stewardship Committee Parish Pastoral Council Facilitator: Loris Vendramelli Facilitator: Laurette Burch 204-888-8200 loris@mymts.net 204-885-6988 burchd@mymts.net ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FAITH FORMATION: In regular circumstances, catechism sessions for children (K to Grade 8) are held on Sunday mornings, September through May, from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. Periodically other programs, workshops, and/or study sessions are offered for adults. Contact our Pastoral Assistant (Sharon) for further information.

SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION (BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION, EUCHARIST): Contact the parish office for further information.

SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Contact the Pastor (Fr. Robert).

SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE: Arrangements for preparation and celebration should be made at least six months in advance.

CELEBRATION OF CHRISTIAN FUNERALS: Contact the parish office before finalizing arrangements with funeral directors.

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SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 7 – 14, 2020 N.B.: As circumstances suggest, the schedule below may be subject to change.

Sunday, June 7 SOLEMNITY: THE MOST HOLY TRINITY 4:00 pm Saturday MASS (livestreamed)

– “Pro populo” / Intentions of parishioners – reservations full

9:00 am MASS – “Pro populo” / Intentions of parishioners – reservations full 10:15 am Sacramental Preparation Session for First Eucharist (room 9)

11:45 am MASS – “Pro populo” / Intentions of parishioners – reservations full 1:00 pm Sacramental Preparation Session for First Eucharist (room 9)

Monday, June 8 FERIAL

Parish office closed Monday

MASS (celebration in private) – Special intention, requested by Danica Kolomic Tuesday, June 9 FERIAL

10:30 am Fr. Robert and Sharon are scheduled to participate in a Central Winnipeg Deanery meeting via Zoom 12:00 pm Praying of the “Angelus” 12:10 pm MASS – Rene Gobeil (health), req. by Henrietta Zhanel – call office for reservations 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Parish Office Open in the afternoon 1:00 pm – 3:45 pm Adoration Time (Blessed Sacrament Chapel) – ring door buzzer for access 1:15 – 3:15 pm As circumstances permit, Fr. Robert may be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Wednesday, June 10 FERIAL

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Parish Office Open in the afternoon 1:00 pm – 3:45 pm Adoration Time (Blessed Sacrament Chapel) – ring door buzzer for access 1:15 – 3:15 pm As circumstances permit, Fr. Robert may be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation

6:45 pm OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP DEVOTIONS 7:00 pm MASS – Brad McKay and Frances Magbag (birthdays), – call office for reservations requested by Amy Magbag

8:30 pm OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP DEVOTIONS followed by Rite of Distributing Holy Communion Outside of Mass – call office for reservations

Thursday, June 11 MEMORIAL: SAINT BARNABAS, Apostle

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Parish Office Open in the afternoon 1:00 pm – 3:45 pm Adoration Time (Blessed Sacrament Chapel) – ring door buzzer for access 1:15 – 3:15 pm As circumstances permit, Fr. Robert may be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation

7:00 pm MASS – Bob Williams+, req. by Miles and Barb Macdonell – call office for reservations Friday, June 12 FERIAL

12:00 pm Praying of the “Angelus” 12:10 pm MASS – In thanksgiving for José Barrera and the extra work – call office for reservations done imposed by COVID-19, req. by parishioners 12:45 pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 1:00 pm – 3:45 pm Adoration Time (monstrance on altar in main worship space) – ring door buzzer for access 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Parish Office Open in the afternoon 1:15 – 3:00 pm As circumstances permit, Fr. Robert may be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation

3:00 pm Recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy – ring door buzzer for access 3:45 pm BENEDICTION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT 4:00 pm Rite of Distributing Holy Communion Outside of Mass – call office for reservations

Saturday, June 13 MEMORIAL: SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA, Priest, Doctor

4:00 pm MASS (livestreamed) – “Pro populo” / Intentions of parishioners – call office for reservations

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Sunday, June 14 SOLEMNITY: THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST 9:00 am MASS – “Pro populo” / Intentions of parishioners – call office for reservations 10:15 am Sacramental Preparation Session for First Eucharist (room 9)

11:45 am MASS – Lloyd and Mae Moist+, req. by the Moist family – call office for reservations 1:00 pm Sacramental Preparation Session for First Eucharist (room 9)

HOLY COMMUNION DURING MASS AND OUTSIDE OF MASS

On May 26th we began anew the public celebration of Holy Mass. We will do our best to provide opportunities for parishioners to come back to our church for prayer and the celebration of the Sacraments, especially the reception of Holy Communion. Nevertheless, it is very challenging for us because of the current limitation to 25 people. Please remember that the number 25 includes the priest-presider, assisting ministers and parish staff, i.e. all the people in the building at any one time.

PLEASE CONTACT THE PARISH OFFICE AHEAD OF TIME TO MAKE RESERVATIONS to take part and receive Holy Communion at Mass and/or for the reception of Holy Communion Outside of Mass.

ADORATION / TIME FOR PERSONAL PRAYER

In addition to weekday Masses, those who wish to spend some time in personal prayer and Eucharistic Adoration are welcome to come to the church during the hours announced in the weekly schedule to pray before the tabernacle in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. On Friday afternoon, June 12th, adoration will take place in the main worship space before the Eucharist exposed in the monstrance on the main altar. Benediction will be given at about 3:45 p.m. To gain access to the church, please ring the buzzer at the south entrance and be patient until a member of our parish staff is able to let you in.

Please keep your movements around the church to a minimum. You may light votive candles if you wish, but please DO NOT TOUCH the icons and other religious objects of devotion.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (CONFESSION)

As announced in the schedule, Fr. Robert will do his best to be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation on weekday afternoons. For entry to the building, please ring the buzzer at the south entrance. If Fr. Robert is not in the main worship space or the Reconciliation Room when you wish to confess, you may check at the parish office to inquire if he is around and available to celebrate the sacrament with you.

HAND SANITIZING, FACE COVERINGS, ETC.

All assisting ministers, parishioners and visitors are to SANITIZE THEIR HANDS UPON ARRIVAL and to observe appropriate PHYSICAL/SOCIAL DISTANCING (i.e. stay 2 metres apart) during their time at the church. Please refrain from congregating in the narthex or at the church entrance. Everyone should enter and leave the church in an orderly and timely manner. You may stay for a longer period of personal prayer on designated weekday afternoons, but if the number of persons in the building reaches the limit of 25, we may ask you to leave so others also have an opportunity to pray.

In most cases, the wearing of a face covering (mask) is left to the discretion of the individual. Further instructions concerning this and other procedures for assisting ministers and those faithful in attendance will be communicated beforehand or at appropriate times during each celebration.

The offertory procession at Masses is suspended at this time. An OFFERING BOX to receive your collection envelopes is available in the narthex on a table near the main aisle or you may drop your donations off at the parish office.

If at all possible, we ask that you USE THE WASHROOM AT HOME before you come to church. We need to sanitize areas appropriately after you leave the building. It is an even bigger job if someone has to guess your tracks all through the building and downstairs into the washrooms. Remember that the virus is the unseen enemy. If any of our parish staff were to catch COVID-19, our entire facility could be put on lockdown thereby cancelling public liturgies and even live-streamed private ones as well. Please be respectful of your place in the greater picture for the good of all.

Let us all continue the everyday activities that can help reduce exposure to COVID-19 and protect the health of one another: wash your hands often with soap and water; sneeze or cough into your sleeve; avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; IF YOU ARE SICK or in a vulnerable state, PLEASE STAY AT HOME.

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Dispensation from Sunday Obligation

While we continue to move toward a total opening of our churches, the dispensation from the Sunday obligation to attend Mass is granted by Archbishop Gagnon

to the faithful through Sunday, September 6, 2020.

LIVESTREAMING OF SUNDAY MASS FROM SAINT JOHN XXIII CHURCH

So long as technological systems cooperate and circumstances permit, we plan to continue to livestream from Saint John XXIII Church the celebration of Sunday Eucharist each Saturday afternoon during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. If there are any glitches uploading the livestream of these liturgies on Saturday afternoon, we will do our best to upload them as soon as possible afterwards so you can access the Mass anytime on Sunday. To access livestreaming of liturgies via YouTube and/or an archive of liturgies posted online, go to links found on the home page of our parish website www.johnxxiii.ca

ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself to you completely. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen. – attributed to Saint Alphonsus Liguori

Go to the Archdiocese of Winnipeg website www.archwinnipeg.ca for information on how to practice SPIRITUAL COMMUNION and many other resources for prayer and reflection.

TABERNACLE LAMP OFFERING

Week of June 7 – 13, 2020 Intentions of Larry Strachan (birthday blessings and thanksgiving), requested by his parents Jerome and Margaret Strachan

If you wish to have the Tabernacle Lamp in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of Saint John XXIII Church burn in memory of a loved one, to honour a special occasion, or for a particular intention, you may make arrangements through the Parish Office. Call or email for assistance. The offering to cover one week (from Sunday through Saturday) is $25.00.

PARISH OFFICE NOW OPEN for limited assistance in the afternoons Tuesday through Friday 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

While the parish facility is accessible in the afternoons to offer some limited in person assistance at the office and for personal prayer in church, ALL VISITORS must respect proper COVID-19 protocols including social distancing and sanitization measures. Please USE THE WASHROOM AT HOME before you come to church. The wearing of a face covering (mask) is very much encouraged. IF YOU ARE SICK or in a vulnerable state, PLEASE STAY AT HOME.

We continue to do our best to answer emails and respond to telephone voice mail messages in a timely fashion. For further information, please consult our parish website at www.johnxxiii.ca or call and leave a message at 204-832-7175.

THE WORD AMONG US Daily Meditations for Catholics Canadian Edition with CCCB approved Mass readings. Some copies for the month of June are still available.

Call the parish office to reserve your copy. Price $5.00 each.

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SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY June 7, 2020 Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9

God is revealed as the personification of mercy and fidelity.

Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 Even in times of distress, God is worthy of praise.

2 Corinthians 13:11-13 The community of faith must mirror the love and peace of God.

John 3:16-18 The gift of Jesus is the measure of God’s love for the world.

EXPLORING THE WORD Made in the likeness of Trinity

Years back, I belonged to a parish near a major theological school. Our proximity to this wealth of learning meant that now and then we were dubiously treated to guest homilists who were at work on their Ph.D.s. One religious sister must have been doing her doctoral thesis on the Trinity because she was asked to speak to us every year on this feast without fail. I belonged to the parish long enough to fall asleep on this same homilist several times.

No question about it, the woman was brilliant and her thesis was profound. She came well prepared, and I’m sure no one short of heaven has more insight into the workings of the Trinity than she did. Despite all these advantages, I could not manage to stay awake during her oration. If she had been delivering a eulogy for the Trinity it could not have been more deadly.

This is the problem with a “celebration” of a doctrine: All too often, our attempts to explain what it is we are honoring fall flat upon our assemblies. Should we risk doing theology in the open air of the congregation? Only if the ushers are going to serve coffee during the Liturgy of the Word. And much more so if you are preaching online in this time of social distancing, lest your audience quietly log off!

Don’t get me wrong: I like systematic theology. I’m of the conviction that we should do more theology and less catechism in the classroom to actively engage the brainpower of young Catholics instead of anesthetizing them with answers to be memorized. But the middle of Mass is probably the wrong time to interrupt this program with a word from our resident theologian. The task of the homilist, even on an idea-feast, is to rouse hearts to Good News. Is the doctrine of the Trinity good news, and how?

First, convince the homilist As on every other weekend of the year, the first task of the preacher on Trinity Sunday is to convince himself or herself

that “there is cause for rejoicing here.” Do you think the teaching on the Trinity is helpful or irrelevant, awe-inspiring or boring, exciting in its implications or just a definition in a book on the shelf? When engaged in research, I am regularly surprised at how often the Trinity is bypassed by scripture scholars (the word never appears in the Bible so they seem content to ignore it), pastoral writers (is there a pastoral use for this teaching?), and even catechists beyond the bald definition of “three persons in one God.” If the sole application of this teaching is its transmission from one generation to the next, then I don’t wonder that some homilists scratch their heads each year and wonder what more can be said about a doctrine that’s simply a done deal.

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Perhaps Genesis is a good place to begin in reawakening our own sense of wonder about the nature of God. In the creation story we are told that we are made in God’s image. We share a resemblance to the One who brought us into being, just as we are said to have our mother’s eyes or our father’s woodworking ability. In what sense do we share a likeness with the God who is Trinity? Is it in our triple reality as mind-body-spirit? Do these manifestations mirror the God who is Being-Flesh-Spirit?

Perhaps our most fundamental likeness to the Trinity is not to be found within us at all. Maybe it’s more revealing to say that it’s all around us. The evidence we have to “posit” Trinity is in the divine activity of creation, redemption, and sanctification. God reveals three great divine undertakings in salvation history. This is how we know God in three ways.

Like God in our unity But we do not come to know three Gods. The work of creation, redemption, and sanctification are so closely united that

we recognize the same divine handwriting across all three. Like a careful mother who prepares good things for her children, God will not waste. When the original work of creation is distorted by sin, God does not choose to throw one world away in favor of another. God makes the choice for redemption instead—to save what would otherwise be lost, even if it means going through the garbage of human sinfulness, which in fact it does. What is reclaimed from the dump may not look especially nice, but that’s where sanctification comes in. What is redeemed is also restored by the power of holiness. The sanctified world is not simply the world made new again, but something even better. The sanctified world has been loved back into shape.

The three ways of God are not just words about God; they intimately concern us, because we are part of the world that is created, redeemed, and restored by the same loving hand. And because we are children of God in the likeness of God, we are invited to demonstrate the same unity of identity and purpose in the work of our hands. As the Body of Christ, we are conscious that unified effort is the only way a body can function. The eye and the finger may be parts of the same body, but when they come into contact through lack of coordination, it’s painful.

APPLYING THE WORD Mend your ways and live in peace Saint Paul gives us the usual practical formula for living in the likeness of God who is “grace, love, and fellowship” in his terms. Greet one another with kindness, not a curse, as the spirit of the world dictates. Agree with one another—do we always have to have our own way or enforce our own agenda? Encourage each other instead of offering the predictable thin criticisms and judgments that we’ve been getting a steady stream of since childhood. When we embrace the reality of our unity and start acting for each other instead of against one another, it could be—not surprisingly—divine. – Alice Camille

Alice Camille is a religious educator, scripture commentator, and author of many books including This Transforming Word and other titles found at alicecamille.com

Reprinted with permission from PrepareTheWord.com ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE OF OUR COMMUNITY IN NEED OF HEALING AND COMFORT

Darrell Aucoin, Gladys Barton, Annette and Maynard Bates, John Baziuk, Catherine Blaquera, Freda Broughton, Bill Camier, Marilyn Crakewich, René Defries, Alice Edwards, John Foucart, Audrey Fraser, René Gobeil, Helen Hallack, Darryn Hellofs, Bev and Steve Hewitt, Rosario Jequinto, Tracy Kingsland, Amanda Klaasen, Angela Krassie, Maureen Kuntz, Marie Mangin, Norman Mangin, Yvonne Mason, Deb McEnturff, Frances Mijker, Susan Murphy, Zonia Patson, Cynthia Patterson, Shirley Payment, James Polz, Larrie Pushka, Owen Robertson, Janice Skene, Joe Wallack and Helen Yankoski, and all those affected by the Coronavirus.

LIVE-STREAMED SUNDAY LITURGIES WITH ARCHBISHOP GAGNON Note time change starting June 7th

Mass will be “LIVE-STREAMED” from St. Mary’s Cathedral each Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m. As circumstances permit, the liturgy is preceded by the recitation of the Rosary.

For links and further information, go to the website www.archwinnipeg.ca

For the latest updates regarding COVID-19 protocols and other news and events in and around the Archdiocese of Winnipeg,

please go to the archdiocesan website: www.archwinnipeg.ca

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“If we are right to think that the Father gives and the Son receives the kiss, we do not err in thinking that the kiss itself is the Holy Spirit.”

— Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

PARISH OFFERTORY OPTIONS

In addition to the physical and spiritual suffering caused by the current pandemic, the financial stress on all citizens and their families, businesses and society at large, is no small cross to bear. Ongoing financial and other temporal concerns also affect the ongoing life of various faith communities all around the world. We remind our parishioners that Saint John XXIII Parish continues to struggle to meet its financial obligations during this time of pandemic. A sincere “THANK YOU” to all parishioners who continue to do their best to help respond to this ongoing concern.

If you are able to reserve a place to take part in Mass or to receive Holy Communion Outside of Mass, when you come to church you may place your contribution in the OFFERING BOX which will be available in the narthex on a table near the main aisle. Or you may mail your contribution to the parish via CANADA POST. Or you may leave a message with the parish office to make arrangements with one of our parish staff to drop off your offertory donations at a safe drop off location. Alternatively, we encourage you to register for PRE-AUTHORIZED DEBIT. Please contact Joanna Mason for assistance.

If you wish to donate ONLINE, a link to CanadaHelps.org has been added to our parish website. Go to www.johnxxiii.ca and click on the DONATE NOW tab at the top of the Links column on the home page.

Invest just five minutes a day, and your faith will deepen and grow—a day at a time.

Sunday, Jun 07, 2020 SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY The power in three Faith, hope, love; body, mind, spirit; life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness; executive, judicial, legislative: There’s something satisfying and complete about a list of three. Good things come in threes, too: from “bacon, lettuce, and tomato” to “Peter, Paul, and Mary.” Alert to the power of three, scripture uses it as the sum of completion. The prophet Jonah spends three days inside the fish to fully absorb a lesson in obedience. Jesus exits the tomb on the third day. We encounter God three ways: as Creator, Restorer, Sanctifier. O God of many faces—recreate, restore, bless our community!

TODAY'S READINGS: Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; John 3:16-18 (164). “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.”

Monday, Jun 08, 2020 FERIAL The cure for what ails us Pope Francis said that living the Beatitudes means “going against the flow" of the world. What the world tells us—that wealth brings security, that power gives us strength, that pleasure makes us satisfied—is the opposite of what Jesus says. Francis asks us to let the Beatitudes “unsettle us . . . challenge us, and . . . demand a real change in the way we live.” We've clearly been upended in this sense by the current pandemic, and we have learned first-hand that nothing exempts us from vulnerability. Jesus was, is, and always will be our only hope. Live accordingly.

TODAY'S READINGS: 1 Kings 17:1-6; Matthew 5:1-12 (359). “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

Tuesday, Jun 09, 2020 OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OF SAINT EPHREM OF SYRIA, DEACON, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH Rise and shine! Leave it to Saint Ephrem to derive beauty from pain. As we feel the ripple effects of coronavirus, let’s learn from a man who died in 373 during a plague—from contracting the disease of the people he was ministering to. Ephrem, named a doctor of the church for the poetic nature of his theology, wrote: “We give glory to you, Lord, who raised up your cross to span the jaws of death like a bridge by which souls might pass from the region of the dead to the land of the living.” Seek and share beauty today.

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TODAY'S READINGS: 1 Kings 17:7-16; Matthew 5:13-16 (360). “Just so, your light must shine before others.”

Wednesday, Jun 10, 2020 FERIAL Most fulfilling of all As children, many of us were required to memorize the Ten Commandments. It’s likely we can still recite them and have a sense of their importance. However, the catechism teaches that it is the Beatitudes that “fulfill, refine, and surpass the old law to its perfection.” And how many of us can recite them from memory or even know where to find them in the Bible? (Hint: For all eight, try 5:3-12.) In these difficult and, for some, tragic days, as we seek God’s presence in our midst, we ask for the grace to comfort those who mourn.

TODAY'S READINGS: 1 Kings 18:20-39; Matthew 5:17-19 (361). “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”

Thursday, Jun 11, 2020 MEMORIAL OF SAINT BARNABAS, APOSTLE Make history What was it like during the times of the apostle Barnabas, whose memorial is today? Thousands of people at a time were becoming Christians with no real formality or infrastructure yet in the church. There was the “grace of God” and “firmness of heart” at work, today’s first reading tells us, but persecution and internal conflict too. Every era has its challenges and opportunities. How are you building the Body of Christ during your moment in history?

TODAY'S READINGS: Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3; Matthew 10:7-13 (580). “They sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all.”

Friday, Jun 12, 2020 FERIAL This most amazing day Tucked within Muir Woods, a national memorial park in California, is a beautiful space called Cathedral Grove. Hikers are asked to maintain quiet as they behold the old-growth coastal redwood trees. Though not a “cathedral” in the ecclesial sense, the grove reminds us that nature is one of the surest places to experience the power and tenderness of God. Pope Francis writes in Laudato Si’: “The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, his boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: everything is, as it were, a caress of God.” How do you experience this “caress of God,” even in the potted plant in your own home?

TODAY'S READINGS: 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-16; Matthew 5:27-32 (363). “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will pass by.”

Saturday, Jun 13, 2020 MEMORIAL OF SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA, PRIEST, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH Treasure the baby and the Bible The traditional depiction of Saint Anthony (1195-1231) holding the infant Jesus began with a 1580 painting by El Greco showing the Franciscan priest with a large open Bible in which one can see the very tiny baby emerging from the text. Over time in Christian art the image of the baby grew to become a life-size child in the arms of the saint, sometimes standing on a much smaller book and sometimes with the Bible missing all together. In times of quarantine and isolation, when we may not be able to enjoy the consolation of Jesus in Holy Communion, we can experience the Lord’s presence in the Bible, which may have gone missing in our lives. If that is the case, you can invoke Saint Anthony for a return of your lost Bible!

TODAY'S READINGS: 1 Kings 19:19-21; Matthew 5:33-37 (364). “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’”

©2020 TrueQuest Communications. TakeFiveForFaith.com; mail@takefiveforfaith.com. All rights reserved. Noncommercial reprints permitted with the following credit: Reprinted with permission from TakeFiveForFaith.com. Scripture citations from the New American Bible Revised Edition. For more information about TAKE FIVE and our regular contributors, go to PrepareTheWord.com. Free daily email and app available online at TakeFiveForFaith.com/subscribe.

“The best ideal is the true and other truth is none. All glory be ascribed to the holy Three in One.”

― Gerard Manley Hopkins