May is a momentous month in the Church and in the world – First Communions, May Crownings, confirmations, ordinations, graduations, end-of-year recitals, picnics, parties and much more. This time of year rivals the fullness of the holiday season, giving rise to the increasingly popular term “Maycember.” Now that we’re in the homestretch toward a summer respite, the Church celebrates Corpus Christi, or the Body of Christ. The very nature of this feast reminds us to slow down and find true peace by prioritizing what is most important – Jesus, the Bread of Life, made truly present in the Most Holy Eucharist. Here are three ways to do just that.
One way to continue the Eucharistic fervor of Corpus Christi throughout the year is to reexamine how we spend our Sundays. In Sophia Institute Press’ recent release, “Restoring the Lord’s Day: How Reclaiming Sunday Can Revive Our Human Nature,” author Daniel Fitzpatrick says modern society has forgotten that joy and living liturgically are intertwined. Drawing from his experiences growing up in the Catholic culture of New Orleans, Fitzpatrick juxtaposes the beauty of taking time to celebrate the faith with the cultural drift toward eliminating the Sabbath. By examining Scripture, philosophy, psychology and literature, he argues that many of us have become Pharaohs within, consumed with anxiety and work. He offers five ways to reorder Sunday activities to restore festivity and holiness, ways the Holy Eucharist strengthens and enlightens us on our journey to Heaven, techniques for cultivating the silence of contemplation and many other tips for reorienting the day of rest.