Monique Almquist
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86 Shannon Street
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Middlebury, Vermont
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05753
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Phone: (802) 388-8392
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Fax: (802) 388-8392
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Pastor: Father Justin Baker
Principal: Monique Almquist
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Enrollment: Preschool to 6th
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Dear Families,
This weekend, the second grade class makes their First Communion. The fancy dresses
and snappy ties and jackets suggest the importance and special nature of the day. The
children are going to receive Christ, transubstantiated into the host. How amazing is
that?!
Bishop Sheen told the story of a young girl, living in an occupied country where religious
freedom did not exist. Soldiers ransacked her church and desecrated the host when
they destroyed the tabernacle. Jesus lay on the floor by the altar in the form of a multitude
of hosts. The little girl loved Jesus and could not bear to see Him made a victim
again. She snuck past the guards each night to consume a single host, taking him up off
the floor on her tongue. This devotion cost her her life, but not before all the hosts
were consumed and Jesus rested within her soul. Her love for Him was great and she
was a martyr for His sake.
Another priest tells the story of his friend, a Methodist, who did not understand Catholics.
He said that his faith did not allow for him to believe that Jesus came to be the
host in the priest’s hands, but that if Catholics did, why were they not more reverent?
If he were Catholic and believed that Jesus took the form of the Eucharist, then he
would be approaching the altar on his face in acknowledgement of being in the presence
of the King of Kings.
This past Thursday, we celebrated the Ascension of our Lord. He has kept His promise
to us and is with us always. May we always value that promise with the reverence that is
due the Lord of Lords and may the children and their families truly celebrate the meaning
of this special day.
Peace and Blessings,
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