Fr Thomas Madanan leading the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
By Agnes Chai
July 3 2020
PARISHIONERS are getting used to live streamed Mass and making spiritual communion during the forced lockdown to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Pope Francis has warned that online Masses and spiritual communion do not represent the Church “This is the Church in a difficult situation that the Lord is allowing, but the ideal of the Church is always with the people and with the sacraments – always,” Pope Francis underscored.
The Pope said the forced isolation devised to stop the pandemic was presenting the danger of people living the faith only for themselves – detached from the sacraments, the Church and the people of God.
In the light of the prevailing situation brought about by the MCO, it was the opportune moment for the Church of Blessed Sacrament Labuan (BSL) on the occasion of celebrating their patronal feast, Corpus Christi, to remind the people of Jesus’ desire to have a deep and intimate union with us.
BSL parish priest Fr Thomas Madanan’s pastoral concern that parishioners who get use to online Mass would no longer feel the need to be physically present at Mass to receive the Eucharist.
Making the connection between the Eucharist and the Church, Communion and Mission during the live streamed Mass broadcasted on the parish feast day, he underlined that Jesus gives Himself as spiritual food to the Church (in Holy Communion) to satisfy our longing for His Presence.
Fr Madanan maintained that it is truly Jesus’ own Body and Blood that we receive in Holy Communion, where He unites us to Himself in a very intimate way.
Continuing, he elaborated “We become one with Jesus, and becoming one with Him, we are commissioned to go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News (Mk 16:15). This is our identity as ‘light and salt of the world’ – to bring and unite others to Christ.”
Unlike celebrations of yesteryears, the Blessed Sacrament was not carried in procession, an earthly journey which reminds the people of their spiritual journey towards eternal life with God. Instead, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was beamed online for the consolation of souls and other spiritual benefits.
With the easing of the lockdown restrictions, churches would be permitted to return to public Masses in limited numbers. Until then, Fr Madanan urged the parishioners to persevere in prayer and intensify their devotion to the Blessed Sacrament so that they may celebrate the Eucharist as worthy recipients. (Source: BSL SOCCOM)
