The fountain of sacramental life in the Church

This phrase is used in the Preface of the Mass for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, which this year the Church commemorates on Friday 1 July.   
 
This expression describes how the Church understands the effect of the action of the lance thrust into the side of Jesus Christ whose body was limp on the cross to which he had been nailed.  In death Christ was giving life.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart is unique in that it is a devotion that has been around since quite early times; already Augustine (4th Century) is writing, inviting people to penetrate the mysteries of Christ:

“Access is possible: Christ is the door.  It was opened for you when his side was opened by the lance. Remember what flowed out from his side: thus, choose where you want to enter Christ.  From the side of Christ as hung dying upon the Cross, there flowed out blood and water, when it was pierced by a lance. Your purification is in that water; your redemption is in that blood.”

The phrase has pertinence to us here at Saint Mary Immaculate because a group of about 10 young people are beginning their preparation to be initiated into the sacramental life of the Church.  After their instruction, they will be baptised, confirmed and receive Holy Communion for the first time.  They will call God their Father in the midst of this Church community.  They will participate in that sacrifice of Christ, in whose side is located that fountain of sacramental life in the Church.

The programme begins just before this School term concludes and will continue for the first half or so of the new term.  In the middle of August at one of the Parish Masses, the group will be introduced to the Parish so that we can see those for whom we are praying.  In September, the Sacraments of Initiation will be celebrated at one of our Sunday Masses.

Thanks are due once again to Liz Driver who is leading the catechesis (looking after the formal teaching) of this group.  We may run another programme for these older children in a few months if there is demand: the current intake is fully subscribed but we would be interested in hearing from other families in a situation where their older children are not baptised and are seeking to address the matter and have their children prepared for Baptism.  You can make contact with the parish through this website, and your email will be promptly acknowledged.

This programme was established for young people who have not been baptised: they are getting ready to go to College or are already at secondary school and with their parents they are saying they want to participate more fully in the life of the Church.  There is the annual programme with which we are familiar that caters for the majority of our children at around 8 or 9 years (and sometimes a little bit older): children already baptised and completing that Baptism through Confirmation and First Holy Communion.

That programme will of course be getting under way again a little later in the year: First Confession for those children will be at the end of November and the other sacraments in May next year.