October 4th – St. Francis of Assisi

Those of us with pets we love enjoy it when community churches offer the annual Blessing of the Animals in celebration of St. Francis' feast day on October 4th. The time is near and I encourage you to seek out information in your community for the Blessing of the Animals events.

The Bread of Angels

Ecce Panis Angelorum: Behold the Bread of Angels

"Behold the Bread of Angels" - the mystery of the Eucharist was signified by many events in the Old Testament - Isaac's heartbreak at obedient sacrifice, the Paschal Lamb, the manna given to the fathers in the desert. These words are taken from the famous hymn, "Lauda Sion Salvatorem" written by St. Thomas Aquinas before the year 1274. It teaches pure Catholic doctrine throughout. It discusses the establishment of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. It reinforces Catholic teaching, such as: You receive Jesus whole and entire under either species (bread, wine).

The expression “bread of angels” comes from Old Testament texts which speak of the manna which was given to the Israelites during their journey through the desert. The manna heralded the Eucharist and indicates this title given to the manna in the Old Testament would portend the Blessed Sacrament in the New Testament.

·         Book of Wisdom 16:20-21: “you gave your people food of angels, and without their toil you supplied them from heaven with bread ready to eat, providing every pleasure and suited to every taste. For your sustenance manifested your sweetness toward your children; and the bread, ministering to the desire of the one who took it, was changed to suit everyone’s liking.”

·         Psalms 77(78): 23-25: “Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven; he rained down on them manna to eat, and gave them the grain of heaven. Mortals ate of the bread of angels; he sent them food in abundance.”