Sr Ann Catherine Swailes o.p
Ave Verum Corpus, natum de Maria Virgine: hail, true body, born of the Virgin Mary. When we hear these words, we think automatically of the Blessed Sacrament - as their anonymous Medieval author intended that we should. But in earlier centuries, the phrase “true body” was a way of referring less to the Eucharist than to those who gathered together to celebrate the Eucharist
Whichever way you look at it, the Ascension seems like an odd sort of a feast.
At first sight, after all, it commemorates a leave-taking; the dramatic departure of the Lord from the community which had so recently welcomed him back into their midst after his Passion and death. Psychological common sense would suggest, surely, that confusion and trauma, rather than rejoicing, would have been the disciples’ reaction, and there doesn’t seem much to celebrate in that.
Post communion reflection Jn 21 15-19 by Sr Ann Swailes
As Eastertide draws towards its close, we find ourselves in our gospel tonight back, so to speak, in Easter week, with the disciples trying to get used to a new reality, to make sense of a new dimension of reality that bursts into the world with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
The sisters of the Stone Congregation were delighted to participate in the Jubilee Vespers held at Westminster Cathedral on the feast of St Catherine.
Some fun statistics about the Jubilee Vespers celebrations!
AT ST.CATHERINE’S CONVENT, CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND.
Contact: Sr.Angela Mary Leydon o.p. http://stonedominicans.org/contact-us , Tel: 01223 353730/ 355492
