Son of man, can these bones come to life? I answered, “Lord GOD, you alone know that.” Then he said to me: Prophesy over these bones, and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! (Ezekiel 37:3-4)
The dry bones . . . what a vision! We should never be surprised what God can do for these dried up bones of ours. As the reading concludes:
You shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and make you come up out of them, my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may come to life, and I will settle you in your land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. I have spoken; I will do it—oracle of the LORD.
Today is the feast of Pope Saint Pius X (d. 20 August 1914), the Pope of the Holy Eucharist. Pius X allowed children to receive communion BEFORE receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, and thus he invented First Communion as we have it today. Before that time, no one could receive communion unless they had been confirmed . . . a practice that still holds true for adults coming into Full Communion with the church today. Pope Pius X also encouraged frequent communion for everyone.
