Bishop’s Letter to Parishes on the Feast of Corpus Christi 2021
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
This weekend marks the annual Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, traditionally called “Corpus Christi Sunday.” Most of our sermons throughout the diocese will center on the mystery of the Lord’s Body and Blood. Some parishes will undertake a traditional procession with the Eucharist, others will hold “Holy Hours” in addition to the Celebration of the Sunday Eucharist.
Throughout the history of the Catholic Church there have been numerous other practices that draw our attention to the source and summit of our faith, namely the Body and Blood of Jesus. Miraculous events have taken place in our history that reference the Eucharist. Our liturgical tradition is full of hymns that lift us up in prayer and praise of the same.
Last month I convened the priests of the Diocese to discuss, among other topics, Eucharistic adoration. Such is an ancient and revered practice in the Church at which time is set aside in parish Churches for regular adoration of the Eucharist. I come from a parish where we had Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration 24/7 since 2003. Because of the size of that parish, there were sufficient number of parish members who could “man” the hours of adoration. Some parishes would only be able to do this daily, after their morning Mass; others would dedicate one day of the week when the Eucharist would be exposed in the Church, and the faithful would visit for prayer. Sometimes the number of faithful attending would be large; in smaller parishes, a lesser number – but every parish in the diocese would be encouraged to structure adoration.
One of the questions some people ask is “why perpetual adoration?” Well, there is always a purpose to prayer, and other than the Mass itself, no better form of prayer than praying before the Eucharist. With this letter to you, I am asking each parish to gather some volunteers to structure perpetual adoration in their parish. There seems like no better time to begin such a practice than today, Corpus Christi Sunday.
Just suggesting that each parish begin this practice is probably not enough incentive. So, I want you to know of the personal experience I had as a pastor in Little Rock. Christ the King parish – almost 50 years old at the time, and with a membership of 2,000 families – had NO vocations to the priesthood. Within six months of beginning Eucharistic Adoration, one of our members signed up for the seminary. Now, “Father Andrew Hart” has been a priest for almost ten years. With each succeeding year, more young men entered the seminary from the parish. To date, with the continuance of Perpetual adoration, Christ the King parish has produced eight priests, with an additional three new seminarians.
The Diocese of Shreveport is in desperate need of priests. Without new vocations, some of parishes are at risk of not having a priest to serve their needs.
Thus, I am asking each pastor and each congregation to try a proven way to God granting our prayers for more young men to consider the call to the Altar. Will you help? Can you help your pastor take the initiative to begin and sustain perpetual Eucharistic adoration?
This is something we can do together, and I am convinced that our devotion to the Eucharistic Lord will result in new vocations. Lastly, never be reluctant to ask a young man if the Lord is calling Him.
Let me hear from you about your plans, and then, very soon, about a young man from your parish who is saying “yes” to the Lord.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Francis I. Malone, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Shreveport