“Unwavering Faith in our Eucharistic Lord” and More

Unwavering Faith in Our Eucharistic Lord

Greetings!

Salutations! How are you? On this Thursday of the Easter Octave we have another opportunity to prayerfully ponder the unfathomable Love and Mercy of Jesus for us within the Eucharist. Today I would like to share a story about St. Clare of Assisi whose unshakeable and unwavering faith in our Eucharistic Lord literally saved her life and the life of her religious community:

Saint Clare, with a fearless heart, commanded them to lead her, sick as she was, to the enemy, preceded by a silver and ivory case in which the Body of the Saint of saints was kept with great devotion.

And prostrating herself before the Lord, she spoke tearfully to her Christ: ‘Behold, my Lord, is it possible You want to deliver into the hands of pagans Your defenseless handmaids, whom I have taught out of love for You? I pray You, Lord, protect these Your handmaids whom I cannot now save by myself.’

Suddenly a voice like that of a child resounded in her ears from the tabernacle: ‘I will always protect you!’ ‘My Lord,’ she added, ‘if it is Your wish, protect also this city which is sustained by Your love.’ Christ replied, ‘It will have to undergo trials, but it will be defended by My protection.’

Then the virgin, raising a face bathed in tears, comforted the sisters: ‘I assure you, daughters, that you will suffer no evil; only have faith in Christ.’ Upon seeing the courage of the sisters, the Saracens took flight and fled back over the walls they had scaled, unnerved by the strength of she who prayed. And Clare immediately admonished those who heard the voice I spoke of above, telling them severely: ‘Take care not to tell anyone about that voice while I am still alive, dearest daughters.’”

(Source: www.therealpresence.org)

After this dramatic experience- and after she eventually went on to Heavenly Glory- St. Clare has often been depicted artistically as holding onto a monstrance or a tabernacle. This is a powerful reminder for us to cling with confidence to our Eucharistic Lord in the actual or metaphorical battles of our lives so that He might deliver us and lead us on to our Heavenly homeland.

Joyful Hope with Christ,

Fr. James Peterson

Fr. James Daily Video Message

Daily video messages from Fr. James and Masses celebrated by Father James can be found on Facebook, YouTube, our My Parish app and on our website:

Message from Father James Peterson - Thursday, April 21, 2022

Daily Video Messages from Fr. James

Mass at IC Celebrated by Fr. James

Trivia Question of the Week

The Gospel for the Daily Mass (Luke 24:35-48) has sometimes been referred to as_________________?

A. The Road to Calvary

B. The Road to Damascus

C. The Road to Egypt

D. The Road to Emmaus

See the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.

Read the IC Parish Bulletin

“Into His Likeness” Adult Formation Series

All are welcome to join us in Fellowship Hall (church basement) for five sessions featuring Dr. Edward Sri. Mindful that “transformation in Christ doesn’t happen overnight” and that “we are full of many weaknesses, wounds, and sins,” we will embark on a journey of a higher calling “to be perfected in God’s love and transformed in Christ.”

Choose either the Monday sessions beginning April 25, 7:00 - 8:30 pm (led by Mary Scott) or the Thursday sessions beginning April 21, 10:00 - 11:30 am (led by Mary Nawrocki). Cost is $20. To register, please call Mary Scott at the Faith Formation office, 763-788-9062 x 208, or email mscott@immac-church.org.

Early registration is appreciated in order to provide you with the proper study materials.

Pray for the Synod

Date(s): Monthly through Pentecost 2022

Location: Various parishes throughout Archdiocese – see listing below

All are invited to pray for our Archdiocesan Synod in this special way! Each month between now and Pentecost 2022, a different parish in our Archdiocese will host a votive Mass of the Holy Spirit and Eucharistic Adoration. Join us for daily Mass and holy hour with lectio divina prayer.

Remaining Locations and Dates:

Tuesday, April 26, 7:00 pm at St. Paul, Ham Lake
Tuesday, May 17, 5:45 pm at St. Peter, Mendota

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Fr. James!

November 7 - 18, 2022

Experience a once-in-a-lifetime journey in faith while walking in the footsteps of Jesus. Sail on the Sea of Galilee, explore the Old City of Jerusalem and have Mass at the most meaningful sites in Christianity. Accompanied by an excellent local guide, learn about the spiritual, historical, and cultural significance of the Holy Land. More information coming soon! magitravelinc.com/holy-land

Divine Mercy Sunday

This Sunday, April 24 is Divine Mercy Sunday - Join us in the church from 3:00 - 4:00 pm for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Confessions, and Benediction.

Jesus told Sr. Faustina: ‘Humanity will not find peace until it turns trustfully to divine mercy’ (Diary, p. 132). . . It is not a new message but can be considered a gift of special enlightenment that helps us to relive the Gospel of Easter more intensely, to offer it as a ray of light to the men and women of our time.”

— St. John Paul II, Divine Mercy Sunday, 2000

The Image: Jesus appeared to St. Faustina in a vision, with his right hand raised in a blessing and his left touching his garment above his heart. Red and white rays emanate from his heart, symbolizing the blood and water that was poured out for our salvation and our sanctification. The Lord requested that “Jesus, I trust in You” be inscribed under his image. Jesus asked that his image be painted and venerated throughout the world: “I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish” (Diary, no. 48) and “By means of this image I will grant many graces to souls” (Diary, no. 742).

Source: usccb.org