This weekend is perfectly titled: “Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion.” As I have asked you to focus on Eucharistic Adoration throughout Lent, Palm Sunday only connects the dots between Mass and the opportunity to be with Jesus Christ in adoration today.
What happens in our readings this weekend? We begin the liturgy to receive palms, and then have a physical or spiritual procession to journey “up” into our parishes. And what was Jesus doing during the longer Gospel? Jesus was traveling “up” to Jerusalem on a donkey, while the crowds said, “Hosanna,” and placed their palms before their Messiah. Eucharistic Adoration also adds another way to be with our Lord with a procession.
A Eucharistic Procession is powerful, either inside or outside. A few years ago on Saturday, September 12th, 2015, the Diocese of Duluth had a magnificent procession to celebrate their 125 anniversary. For me, it was one of my favorite experiences with Eucharistic Adoration to this day.
The “pilgrims” joined this procession with our Bishop Paul Sirba, priests, deacons, sisters and parishioners throughout our diocese.
They walked with Jesus Christ from the Cathedral in Duluth to the DECC—roughly three and a half miles with prayers, songs and walking over a couple of hours.
For me, it took less than five minutes. I was honored to carry Jesus for two blocks as it had been just over a month since my stroke. My experience was only awesome and humble to walk with over 2,000 brothers and sisters in unison with our savior.
After I carried the monstrance, Jesus blessed everyone in the area, and I went back into the hospital. And doing so, my Dad and I found a great spot to watch the crowd to continued to travel with our Savior. That physical image in my mind will never leave my heart with both our Diocese’ family with God’s family around the world and in heaven.
Finally, I am excited about a Eucharistic procession after the 10:30 Mass on Sunday, April 8th. We will journey around the sidewalks around our property with our Lord, and this will take place on the last liturgy during the octave of Easter—Corpus Christi—Jesus’ Body and Blood. After this, we can gather together in the Hall with another fantastic brunch.
As our 40 Hours of Adoration was terrific, as more brothers and sisters are signing up for holy hours in our chapel and we enter into Holy Week, our family is melding in our mission from God in our parishes, school, diocese and community to serve our neighbors.
God Bless!
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