Pastoral Letter
D. JUAN JOSE OMELLA OMELLA
Bishop of Calahorra and La Calzada-Logroño
to children in First Communion
Dear children:
Receive my greeting Bishop, a big salute and happy, because Jesus loves you very much to you, to all children, all small. I congratulate you because soon receive their First Communion, ie to receive Jesus, the Son of God who is present in that piece of bread of the Eucharist. Yes, although it seems incredible and impossible, there is the Lord
Take and eat this is my body, Jesus said the Holy Thursday in the Passover meal concluded with the apostles. And if the priest says these words, when celebrating the Eucharist, there is the Lord. What a mystery! Right? Jesus really does wonderful things, amazing and wonderful, healing the sick, turns water into wine, raise the dead and is present in the bread of the Eucharist ...
I do not know if you know what happened in Rome For many years, while Gregory the Great celebrating the Eucharist. A woman approached and began to communicate to laugh, because he doubted the real presence of Christ in the bread and wine consecrated. The Pope, puzzled. rebuked him and asked the reason for this attitude. The woman was justified by saying that not quite understand how it was that the bread, which she had prepared with his hands, and that glass of wine now, thanks to the words of consecration, to become the Body and Blood Christ. The Pope stood in prayer and asked God to enlighten. When he finished his prayer, he saw that the bread became the body of the Lord. The woman, with great regret, he knelt and began to mourn. I'm sure his heart would say those precious words spoken by the apostle St. Thomas, when he saw the Risen and touched his wounds, he also doubted that Christ had risen: My Lord and my God!
also wish you, dear children who receive Jesus for the first time, pronunciéis those same words, that brief prayer, My Lord and my God, when asistáis Mass and worship the Lord, after the consecration, and when you receive him into communion.
What luck, what a joy so great, to have as close to the same God made bread, and it can be get inside of you!
Is not that where your parents expect a visit, trying to tidy the house? Strive you also clean out your heart to receive the Lord. You know that your heart is clean when there is a lot of love to Jesus when we pray, when we do what pleases him and when we are without sin. So I ask you not cease to pray, to do what pleases the Lord and to confess often and whenever you have committed sins. The Sacrament of Confession is God's embrace, a hug filled with love and mercy for every one of us. How well Jesus expressed when he said: There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety and nine just persons who have no need of repentance. What joy to know and live is that Jesus forgives sins! You know that happens when the priest who represents Christ, says: "I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Your
catechists who you really want, I have taught many prayers. Do not fail to pray them. Strive daily prayers. Pray at the beginning of the day when you rise, and at night before going to sleep, and also pray before meals. Prayer is to thank God for everything we have and receive, we ask for forces be better, is to ask to give us a good heart to always do good.
Put in your room a picture of Jesus or the Virgin Mary and pray to that image. Tell her what happens to you, as you describe what your parents or friends. Behold, God always hears us and gives us what we need, I do mean what we need, because one thing is what we and other what we should or need. Often recalled these words of Jesus: Come unto me all who are weary and burdened and I will refresh you.
sure your parents love you both (I have given their lives and take care of you), think to prepare something for the day holiday of your First Communion. Tell them that the party is nice but simple. It is not necessary to make large expenditures. The important thing is that that day is much love in the hearts of all and a strong faith in God who comes to you, your families. Tell them also that it is not necessary to receive lots of gifts that you just a little something simple. Your enthusiasm will be filled in some detail. You know that many children do not have as many things as you. So I make a suggestion: do you want to bring happiness to children like you, who have almost nothing to live? This year each of you could you give a donation of many who are about to receive, the children of Africa in Kenya, a country where a missionary working in La Rioja, a native of Autol, called Padre Tomás Herreros, and belongs to the Congregation of the Comboni missionaries. It takes many years working in Africa. Sure you would love to support their work with Kenyan children of your age as you. Ask you to help him buy the furniture (chairs, desks, blackboards ...) and bunk beds for secondary school Chelopoy Parish. Surely you will be very generous.
And let me ask you a question: do you not like to be missionaries? Would not you like you can go on missions when you get older, so that others may know and love Jesus and like you receive Communion? Do not forget to pray to Jesus for the missionaries. They are wonderful, they have left everything they have learned to speak other languages \u200b\u200band share their lives with the poor of the earth. They serve wonderful the work of Jesus: Go into the world and preach the Gospel. Jesus Pray often to avoid missing missionaries, for many young people respond generously to the Lord's call.
I do not want to say goodbye to you, not before saying that you continue to love and long for your parents, siblings and grandparents. Be obedient and collaborate with them at all, that ye may, with the help of God, a happy, united family.
If any of you are encouraged to respond to this letter, to tell me about Jesus, or your friendship with him, just write me. The bishop will bring time to answer them personally to each one.
Dear Parents: Vivid
forward with great joy, this precious moment of life and growth of your children: the time of the First Communion, the time of immediate preparation. They live with great interest and clearly believe in the gifts and costumes, but they do not distraigáis with these things, help them to live that first things first: communion, receive Jesus, prepare a clean heart, a heart good people. And let them know that you prepare the feast that is why, for God is on your family through them and you are very happy! Help them to grow in faith, in friendship with God. I say the same thing said Pope Benedict XVI to the parents of a group of children who received First Communion on May 10, 2009 in Amman (Jordan):
That every Christian family to grow in faithfulness to this noble vocation to be a genuine school of prayer, in which children learn the true love of God, mature self-discipline and attention to the needs of others, and which, shaped by the wisdom that comes from of faith, contribute to building a society more just and fraternal society. Strong Christian families of this land is a large inheritance from previous generations. Today's families are faithful to this great heritage and never miss the material and moral support they need to play their indispensable role in the service of society.
Be true examples of faith, love and work for the coexistence of all, without edging to anyone, and for peace. Let your children learn from you to remain steadfast in the Christian faith and the good work, in an honest life, hardworking and open to the brotherhood, mutual aid.
May God watch over your families and always fill you with blessings.
I want and I bless you,
† Juan Jose Omella Omella
Bishop of Calahorra and La Calzada-Logroño
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