Communion Calls

Description

By Frank J. Campisi

In the early 2020, the world experienced a pandemic from a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) believed to have emanated from a province in the Peoples’ Republic of China, that as of this book’s publishing has infected more than 37 million people worldwide, killing over 1 million; more than 210,000 in the US.

In March 2020, the United States took an unprecedented step of quarantining the entire country, shuttering schools, businesses and religious institutions, in fact closing nearly all facets of daily life except for the most basic and essential needs. This meant that with doors closes, the worshiping faithful would turn to virtual church services in the form of the Holy Sacrifice of Mass via live streamed telecasts. While those who tuned in could watch and follow along with the readings of the day, hearing the Word of God and seeing the Body and Blood of Christ, they could not receive Him.

During this time of isolation, I recalled the many times that I had the honor and privilege as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, to take the Blessed Sacrament to sick and home bound. The pandemic and the inability to do the normal activities of life gave me time gather these few stories of “Bringing Him and Finding Him There.” In the recent words of Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship in a letter to bishops around the world, urging a return to Mass, with proper safety protocols observed amid the coronavirus pandemic. “we must return to the Eucharist with a purified heart, with a renewed amazement, with an increased desire to meet the Lord, to be with him, to receive him and to bring him to our brothers and sisters with the witness of a life full of faith, love and hope.

My hope is that in reading these instances of grace filled experiences I had in some of my Communion Calls, you will find a renewed amazement, with an increased desire to meet the Lord, to be with him, to receive him.