Eucharistic Reflection

In a post last June, I shared an excerpt from The Little Book of Eternal Wisdom, written by Dominican priest and mystic, Blessed Henry Suso, O.P. (1295-1366). The book sets forth an on-going dialogue between God (Eternal Wisdom) and a man (The Servant) who is searching for Wisdom and Truth. What follows is another excerpt from Chapter XXIII (How We Ought Lovingly To Receive God).

Eternal Wisdom. -- Answer Me now a question. What is that of all lovely things which is most agreeable to a loving heart?

 

The Servant.-- Lord, to my understanding nothing is so agreeable to a loving heart as the beloved Himself and His sweet presence.

Eternal Wisdom. -- Even so. See, and on this account, that nothing which belongs to true love might be wanting to those who love Me, did My unfathomable love, as soon as I had resolved to depart by death out of this world to My Father, compel Me to give Myself and My loving presence at the table of the last supper to My dear disciples, and in all future times to My elect, because I knew beforehand the misery which many a languishing heart would suffer for My sake.

The Servant.-- Oh, dearest Lord, and art You Yourself, Your very Self, really here?

Eternal Wisdom.—You have Me in the sacrament, before you and with you, as truly and really God and Man, according to soul and body, with flesh and blood, as truly as My pure Mother carried Me in her arms, and as truly as I am in heaven in My perfect glory.

The Servant.-- Ah, gentle Wisdom, there is yet something in My heart, may I be allowed to utter it to You? Lord, it does not proceed from unbelief, I believe that what You will You can do; but, tender Lord, it is a marvel to me (if I may venture to say so) how the beautiful, the delightful and glorified body of my Lord in all its greatness, in all its divinity, can thus essentially conceal itself under the little shape of the bread which, relatively considered, is so out of all relation. Gentle Lord, be nor angry with me on this account, for, as You art my Wisdom elect, I should be glad by Your favor to hear something on this head out of Your sweet mouth.

Eternal Wisdom.-- In what manner My glorified body and My soul, according to the whole truth, are in the Sacrament, this can no tongue express, nor any mind conceive, for it is a work of My omnipotence. Therefore ought you to believe it in all simplicity, and not pry much into it. And yet I must say a little to you about it. I will thrust this wonder aside for you with another wonder. Tell Me how it can be in nature that a great house should shape itself in a small mirror, or in every fragment of a mirror, when the mirror is broken? Or, how can this be, that the vast heavens should compress themselves into so small a space as your small eye, the two being so very unequal to each other in greatness?

 

The Servant.--Truly, Lord, I cannot tell, it is a strange thing, for my eye is to the heavens but as a small point.

 

Eternal Wisdom. -- Behold, though neither your eye nor anything else in nature is equal to the heavens, yet nature can do this thing, why should not I, the Lord of nature, be able to do many more things above nature? But now, tell me further, is it not just as great a miracle to create heaven and earth, and all creatures out of nothing, as to change bread invisibly into My body?

 

The Servant.-- Lord, it is just as possible for You, so far as I can understand, to change something into something, as to create something out of nothing.

Eternal Wisdom. -- Do you wonder then at that, and not at this? Tell Me further, you believe that I fed five thousand persons with five loaves, where was the hidden matter which obeyed My words?

The Servant. -- Lord, I know not.

Eternal Wisdom. -- Or do you believe you have a soul?

The Servant .-- This I do not believe, because I know it, for otherwise I should not be alive.

Eternal Wisdom. -- And yet you can not see your soul with your bodily eyes.

The Servant. -- Lord, I know that there are many more beings invisible to human eyes than such as we can see.

Eternal Wisdom. -- Now listen: many a person there is of senses so gross as hardly to believe that anything which he cannot perceive with his senses really exists, concerning which the learned know that it is false. In like manner does the human understanding stand related to divine knowledge. Had I asked you how the portals of the abyss are constructed, or how the waters in the firmament are held together, you would perhaps have answered thus: It is a question too deep for me, I cannot go into it: I never descended into the abyss, nor ever mounted up to the firmament. Well, I have only asked you about earthly things which you see and hear, and understand not. Why should you wish, then, to understand what surpasses all the earth, all the heavens, and all the senses? Or why will you need inquire into it? Behold, all such wondering and prying thoughts proceed alone from grossness of sense, which takes divine and supernatural things after the likeness of things earthly and natural, and such is not the case…

(Image credit to  Saints SQPN. The Little Book of Eternal Wisdom can be found at The Library of Christian Classics.)

PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

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Toward A Better Appreciation For the Most Blessed Sacrament

I suspect that if this Litany became better known and recited, more of us would rediscover a sense of awe and amazement in, and appreciation for, the magnificient gift of His Real Presence here among us.

If you agree, say it regularly and recommend it to others.

Litany of the Most Blessed Sacrament 

Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. R. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, R. have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, R. have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, R. have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, R. have mercy on us.

Jesus, Eternal High Priest of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, R. have mercy on us.
Jesus, Divine Victim on the Altar for our salvation, R. have mercy on us.
Jesus, hidden under the appearance of bread, R. have mercy on us.
Jesus, dwelling in the tabernacles of the world, R. have mercy on us.
Jesus, really, truly and substantially present in the Blessed Sacrament, R. have mercy on us.
Jesus, abiding in Your fulness, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, R. have mercy on us.
Jesus, Bread of Life, R. have mercy on us.
Jesus, Bread of Angels, R. have mercy on us.
Jesus, with us always until the end of the world, R. have mercy on us.

Sacred Host, summit and source of all worship and Christian life, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, sign and cause of the unity of the Church, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, adored by countless angels, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, spiritual food, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, Sacrament of love, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, bond of charity, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, greatest aid to holiness, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, gift and glory of the priesthood, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, in which we partake of Christ, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, in which the soul is filled with grace, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, in which we are given a pledge of future glory, R. have mercy on us.

Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

For those who do not believe in Your Eucharistic presence, R. have mercy, O Lord.
For those who are indifferent to the Sacrament of Your love, R. have mercy on us.
For those who have offended You in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, R. have mercy on us.

That we may show fitting reverence when entering Your holy temple, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That we may make suitable preparation before approaching the Altar, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That we may receive You frequently in Holy Communion with real devotion and true humility, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That we may never neglect to thank You for so wonderful a blessing, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That we may cherish time spent in silent prayer before You, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That we may grow in knowledge of this Sacrament of sacraments, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That all priests may have a profound love of the Holy Eucharist, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That they may celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in accordance with its sublime dignity, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That we may be comforted and sanctified with Holy Viaticum at the hour of our death, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That we may see You one day face to face in Heaven, R. we beseech You, hear us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, R. spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, R. graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, R. have mercy on us, O Lord.

V. O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine,
R. all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

Let us pray,

Most merciful Father,
You continue to draw us to Yourself
through the Eucharistic Mystery.
Grant us fervent faith in this Sacrament of love,
in which Christ the Lord Himself is contained, offered and received.
We make this prayer through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

(Written by St. Peter Julian Eymard, the founder of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers. This litany is ecclsiastically approved for liturgical use and has the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur.)

Nihil Obstat: Very Reverend Peter J. Kenny, D.D., Diocesan Censor

Imprimatur: Most Reverend Denis J Hart DD Titular Bishop of Vagada Vicar General

(Source: CatholicCulture.orghttp://www.catholicculture.org/. Used with Permission)


PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

Eucharistic Reflection

"Neither theological knowledge nor social action alone is enough to keep us in love with Christ unless both are proceeded by a personal encounter with Him. Theological insights are gained not only from between two covers of a book, but from two bent knees before an altar. The Holy Hour becomes like an oxygen tank to revive the breath of the Holy Spirit in the midst of the foul and fetid atmosphere of the world"

(Servant of God Fulton J. Sheen)

Father's Day Tribute To My Dad

Dear Dad:

Has it actually been twenty-eight years since I last looked into your twinkling blue Irish eyes or had the pleasure of being in your physical presence?

Some of the greatest and most influential individuals who have walked this earth have gone unnoticed save for those fortunate few who were blessed to walk in their steps. You are most definitely one of those special men.

You never acquired that which so many in this world admire, value, seek and equate with success and greatness: power, property and prestige. You saw those items as “fool’s gold” and chose to live a more simple but difficult life – a life of quiet dignity, hard work, good example, perseverance, loving concern, and faith in the Almighty. Although you were not given much material or educational advantages, you excelled in this life because you loved.

You had an insatiable and life long hunger for knowledge but willingly sacrificed your formal education in order to help your large family survive the ordeals of the Great Depression. You spent the rest of your life learning something new every day and relishing the acquisition of knowledge in so many fields. You knew more about so many different subjects than most college-educated individuals I have met. Oh, how you enjoyed listening to and engaging in  the political debates over the pressing issues of your time!

You came from a large loving family so it is no surprise that when you married you welcomed seven new lives into this world. You were never a stranger to hard work. Your lack of formal education made it more difficult for you to get the better paying jobs. So you did what you had to do – you worked as many part times jobs as was necessary to supplement the income from your full-time position and to insure that your children would receive the quality formal education you had not.

Your work ethic did not go unrecognized and you were rewarded with a well-paying union position with a utility company. Yet, when you had to chose between doing what was right or going along with your union bosses, you did what only men of integrity do – you did what was right.

You paid a steep price – loss of a well paying job and a return to a lifetime of multiple jobs in order to support your family. Some felt you were foolish for following your conscience and doing what was right. They were wrong. They should have admired your courage and conviction. Mom did. Your children do.

Despite the resulting struggles in your life, you never complained and we never felt deprived. We knew we were loved.

Somehow you made sure to find some time for each of us. How fondly, I remember the part-time penny arcade job you had and how you would occasionally take one of us kids with you on Saturdays. You had the keys to all the games and we were able to play any and all of them for as long as we wanted and to have lunch with our Dad. How we were the envy of our little friends in the projects!

We were too young to remember the death of our two older brothers (one from polio and the other from pneumonia) or to appreciate the life-long pain and anguish you and Mom experienced with such a great loss. Even Mom’s many and prolonged illnesses for more than 30 years was something you accepted - that’s what love requires and what men of integrity do.

Even though you were a man of limited financial means, more than a handful of family members and friends told us at your wake how you had always shared what little you had to help those who had even less.

Though not formally educated, you were filled with a wisdom that comes not from books, a wisdom you freely shared when asked by those in need of direction and encouragement.

Few if any outside the family knew the personal burdens you carried. You loved people. You were a great listener. Everyone who got to know you respected you. You had a great Irish wit and charm about you. You were a skillful and well liked bartender and certainly enjoyed tipping a few with the boys at Cronin & Phelan when you were not tending bar. Your friends and clients there valued the compassion and wisdom that poured forth from your lips more than the liquid which flowed out of bottles and taps. They told me so as did the 25 foot banner they placed on the back wall behind the bar: “May Joe Seagriff rest in peace!”

Thank you for teaching me how to be a man – a man of integrity and of faith.

As I approach another birthday and my own eternal reckoning, know that my love and admiration for you is eternal. May you rest in peace.

With love from a grateful and admiring son.

Do We Really Appreciate and Revere the Holy Eucharist?

Have we become too casual in the way we view and treat the Sacred species?

Can we ever be too reverent in His Presence?

May the brief video that follows cause each of us to pause and reflect on the awesomenesss of the Eucharistic gift and our response to He Who loves us so much that He feeds us with His Body and Blood.

(Video credit: True Faith TV by kolbe 1019 on You Tube)

A Personal Request This Corpus Christi

I am with my twin sister Jane as she begins her struggle with a recently diagnosed and rapidly spreading form of cancer. She will be having an MRI later today and will be meeting with her oncologist on Monday to find out the exact nature of the beast that resides within her and what treatment she might receive. This is understandably a difficult time.

May I ask each of you who may be reading this post to keep her spiritual and physical well-being in your prayers and to pass this request on to your family, friends, parishes and prayer groups? If you will be blessed to participate in a public procession with Our Eucharistic Lord tomorrow, would you mention Jane by name as He passes you by?

In lieu then of posting something new to commemorate tomorrow’s Feast of the Sacred Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), I will simply refer to two previous posts (here and here) in hopes one or both might in some small way enhance your personal celebration of this Feast day and your love for the Eucharist, Mass and Adoration.

That all of us will always and under all circumstances place our trust in Him who made us in His image and Who longs to share eternity with us.  May none of else ever squander such a great gift.

Put God First - Love and Console Our Lord!

The Eucharist must be the source and center of our lives. If we and our priests prefer Him over all others and all things, He will transform us and our world - one heart at a time. We can never share this Truth enough!

Please spend time mining this spiritual treasure from Father Mark at Vultus Christi and then share it with all whom you love, especially your priests!

Put Nothing Before My Love for You

You have only to prefer My company
to every other companionship,
the love of My Heart to the love of every other heart,
and the sound of My voice in the silence of your soul
to every other voice.
I have called you to be for Me another John
and this vocation of yours remains My plan for you.
You have only to abide close to Me,
to seek Me before all else,
and to put nothing whatsoever
before My love for you
and the love I have placed in your heart
to love Me in return.
Love Me in this way
not only for yourself,
but for all your brother priests
whose hearts have grown indifferent and cold.
Love Me for them.
Take their place before My Eucharistic Face.
Persevere in loving Me and in adoring Me
for those poor priests of Mine
who no longer love Me
and who never adore Me.
They are many
and the sorrow of My Heart over such priests
is a sorrow that no human language can describe,
for it is a divine sorrow;
it is the grieving of a Divine Heart.
It is the pain of an infinite Love rejected again and again
by finite creatures who have become blind
in a terrible darkness of the spirit.
Love Me, then, and console My Heart
by adoring Me for them.
When I see you before Me,
I will see them,
and in seeing them,
I will be moved to show them pity,
and many of those who are far from Me
will return to My tabernacles;
and many of those who have spurned My Divine Friendship
will, in the end, surrender to the embrace of My mercy.
Do your part,
and I will fulfil all that I have promised.

There is no need to force your prayer
as if it were something of your own doing.
It is enough to remain with Me,
content to be in My presence
as I am content to be in yours.

Adore Me and trust Me to restore your energy,
your health, and your joy in My service.
Those who adore Me know that My presence
renews the soul and the body.
Experience this -- as you already did today --
and teach others to find in My presence
the rest for which they long,
the peace that the world cannot give,
the joy that renews the heart,
and the strength to follow Me in My sufferings,
even along the way of the Cross.

To adore Me is to demonstrate
that all your hope is in Me.
To adore Me is to show Me
that you count not on yourself nor on others,
but on Me alone.

To adore Me is to give Me the freedom to act
within you and upon you
in such a way
as to unite you wholly to myself
as you have asked Me to do:
My Heart to your heart,
My Soul to your soul,
My Body to your body,
My Blood to your blood.

The work of adoration is little understood,
even by those who claim to be My adorers.
There is no need to fill up the time of adoration
with thoughts and words,
as if it all depended on your doing something.

It is sufficient to speak to Me
as the Holy Spirit gives you to speak,
to listen to Me with the ear of your heart,
and to abide in the light of My Face
for those who languish in the darkness of sin
and in the refusal of My love, My truth, and My life.

(From In Sinu Iesu, The Journal of a Priest)

Eucharistic Reflection

"The Eucharistic Heart in the Host draws me more and more. If I merely pass near the chapel, I feel an irresistible force inviting me in. Close to the tabernacle, I experience an indefinable joy.

When the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, I feel totally taken over, paralyzed, by this gentle Eucharistic Heart.

When I leave the chapel, I have to tear myself away from the divine Prisoner. Yet, I never cease to live in him; all this takes place in the Heart of the Most Blessed Trinity, an immense distance from the earth; but Jesus wants me to enjoy him in his Eucharist and to grieve when I am far from his consecrated Host."

(Blessed Dina Belanger)

For Those Who Struggle to Believe in the Real Presence

My wife and I find ourselves traveling more these days - visiting our children, grandchildren, aging and ailing siblings who are no longer very close to us geographically but who have been permanently and lovingly imbedded in our hearts.

During past trips, we have been disappointed with many of the Catholic Churches we have visited along the way - no tabernacle, no reverent silence, no visible behavior evidencing a belief in the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist.

Now when we travel to or through an unfamliar area, we ask God to lead us to a Catholic Church where He is truly worshipped and adored. We offered that prayer during a recent trip. After about seven hours of driving, we were prompted to exit the interstate and enter a town we had never been in, stopping at the first motel we encountered. After checking in, I asked the clerk where the nearest Catholic Church was. "Sacred Heart Church is less than five minutes from here," he responded.

After putting our things away in our room and before eating dinner, we got into the car and went to find the Church that was "just five minutes away".  As we pulled up the driveway, my wife and I almost fell out of the car. This is what we first saw:

How blessed we were to later spend some time in this holy place, face to face with our Hidden Lord.

For more than ten years now, I have encouraged everyone to participate in Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, promising them they will discover God there. They will, if they are open and honest to His promptings.

In my zeal to promote this vital devotion, I have overlooked the reality that for many, spending time in Adoration may initially or occasionally be quite the struggle.

If you fall within this group, take heart. Father Mark has sound advice for you.