SJA Table Talk is a website with fun content to help you prepare for Mass as a family and to encourage faith-based conversations at the dinner table. The goal is to get our families into a rhythm of 2 quality meals per week and 10 minutes of preparation for Mass.
RESOURCES RELATED TO THE CHURCH CRISIS
“Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We are perishing!’ He said to them, ‘Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?’ Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm”
(Matthew 8:24 – 26).
Trusted Resources:
National Catholic Register, Word on Fire, Crux (taking the Catholic pulse), EWTN, Ave Maria Radio, USCCB, First Things, Catholic News Agency (CNA).
Selected News Articles and Posts:
"Ex-Nuncio Accuses Pope Francis of Failing to Act on McCormick's Abuse" - National Catholic Register
"Vigano testimony receives mixed response from US bishops" - Catholic News Agency
"Benedict, Vigano, Francis, and McCarrick: Where things stand on nuncio's allegations"
"Dear Troubled Catholics - a Letter From Ralph Martin
"How to Address Scandal in the Church" Fr. John Riccardo (PODCAST)
CONVERSATION STARTERS
CORPUS CHRISTI
We in the United States will celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi this Sunday. Corpus Christi (Body and Blood of Christ) is a Eucharistic solemnity, or better, the solemn commemoration of the institution of that sacrament. It is, moreover, the Church's official act of homage and gratitude to Christ, who by instituting the Holy Eucharist gave to the Church her greatest treasure.
In honor of this feast, we have posted a clip from Bishop Barron regarding the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and then also a clip from Episode 7 of CATHOLICISM, entitled BREAD OF HEAVEN - The Mystery of the Church's Sacrament and Worship.
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2 QUALITY MEALS (RECIPES)
Freshly baked bread would be a key dish at your celebratory Sunday dinner, as bread has always been symbolic for life giving and nourishment, as is the Eucharist. In England and other catholic countries like Spain, Portugal and Latin America, the day is celebrated with utmost joy. It is important to note that the traditional Corpus Christi food must have wine and bread delicacies, which are symbolic of the austerity of Christ. Therefore, red wine and bread dishes are the mandatory inclusions of a customary Corpus Christi dining. Austerity of the day calls for luxurious preparations of milk, butter, meat, chicken or poultry, salads, soups, soufflés and sweet dishes as the appropriate Corpus Christi food.
Easy Flat iron Steak in Red Wine Sauce
"This simple flat iron steak stays tender in a delicious wine sauce, and is a sure jaw dropper." This is a great way to make a steak that is more than just throwing it on the grill with garlic and pepper. I'd recommend leaving the salt out of the dish and putting a dash of Worchestershire in the rub. I cooked fresh chopped garlic and shallots in the meat drippings before adding the wine to make the reduction. Excellent recipe and the mushrooms really grab the flavor of the meat and wine.
Bread and Wine ala Mode (White Chocolate Bread Pudding)
White chocolate bread pudding (recipe follows): to represent the bread,
Warm blueberry or blackberry syrup (homemade or store bought) in wine glasses: this can be poured over the bread pudding after it is served to represent the wine.
Coconut ice cream or sherbet: this can be placed on top the bread pudding, and used to surprise your family...what looks like vanilla ice cream is actually something else--a reminder that the bread and wine we receive at Mass appears to be bread and wine, but has actually become the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus.
Ingredients:
6 c whipping cream
2c milk
1c sugar
12 oz white chocolate
15 egg yolks
4 whole eggs
Sauce:
1/2 c whipping cream
8 oz white chocolate
Cut or tear 24 in of french bread into chunks. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 275 for ten minutes.
Heat whipping cream, sugar and milk just until bubbling at the edges. Add white chocolate and stir until melted.
Slowly add hot mixture to eggs while whipping steadily.
Place bread into a 9x13 baking dish and pour half of the liqid mixture over bread and press until absorbed. Pour remaining liquid over bread and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 1 hour on 350. Remove foil and bake an additional 30 min until golden brown. Let cool and set for a little while before slicing.
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PREPARING FOR SUNDAY
RECLAIMING SUNDAYS
LISTEN NOW> | If you have lost your vigor for Sunday Mass or if you are trying to inspire your family or friend to go to Mass, this talk on Ave Maria Radio is a must listen.
Early Christians used to define Sunday as “the day we can not not live without”. Because it orientates everything we do. It defines everything we do. This talk is an honest reflection on how one may view Sunday and how we would like to view Sunday. And then it defines a healthy approach to Sunday.
VIDEO - Watch this segment of The Magnificence of the Mass: The Mass is known as the “source and summit” of Catholic life because of the gift we receive of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. This chapter explains God’s love and desire for us and how He is revealed in the Mass.
LIVING THE GOSPEL - May 3rd Corpus Christi
See Loyola Press Reflections: Grades 1-3; Grades 4-6; Grades 7-8; Family
First Reading
Isaiah 55:6-9
The covenant is established between God and the people.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 145:2-3,8-9,17-18
God brings salvation.
Second Reading
Philippians 1:20c-24,27a
Christ is the mediator of the new covenant.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 20:1-16
Jesus shares his Last Supper with his disciples.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Today, the second Sunday after Pentecost, we celebrate a second solemnity, which marks our return to Ordinary Time in the liturgical calendar. Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. At one time, this day was called Corpus Christi, the Latin words for “the Body of Christ.” In the most recent revision of our liturgical rites, the name for this day is expanded to be a more complete reflection of our Eucharistic theology.
In our reading for today, we read the account of the Last Supper found in the Gospel of Mark. It begins with the instructions that Jesus gave to his disciples to prepare their Passover celebration. It then goes on to give an account of the Last Supper. On this Sunday, however, our Lectionary reading omits the verses between these two passages; in those omitted verses we hear Jesus predict his betrayal by one of his disciples.
The Gospel of Mark describes Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples as a celebration of the Jewish feast of Passover. The Jewish celebration of Passover is a memorial to and a ritual participation in the defining moment of Israel’s history. It celebrates God’s deliverance of his people from slavery in Egypt. The Passover meal includes many ritually important elements, such as unleavened bread, lamb, and bitter herbs. Each food item recalls an aspect of the Exodus event. The instructions for the preparation of this meal are carefully prescribed in the Law of Moses. It is a central obligation of the Jewish faith tradition to celebrate this meal and to give thanks to God for his deliverance and protection.
In the description of the Passover meal found in today’s Gospel, however, Mark omits many elements of the Jewish Passover meal. Instead he describes only those elements he believes to be most essential to the Christian Eucharist: Jesus took bread, blessed the bread, broke the bread, and shared it with his disciples. Similar words and actions follow as Jesus shares the chalice with his disciples. This bread now shared is Jesus’ own body. Those who drink from the chalice are invited to share in a new covenant which will be sealed by Jesus’ own blood. Mark’s Eucharistic theology looks forward to the Kingdom of God that Jesus inaugurates.
The Gospel for today reminds us that the Eucharist is a memorial of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. We believe that Jesus is truly present to us in the elements of bread and wine. Each time we celebrate this sacrament, we prepare for the Kingdom of God. This celebration, as the Second Vatican Council taught us, is the source and summit of the Christian life.
PAINTING - He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. Nicolas Poussin, Institution of the Eucharist, 1640 detail