"[Christ:] Here upon the altar you will find not a relic nor
a monument to someone's memory, but Me, alive as ever, all-powerful,
all-loving, all-perfect. All the treasures and wonders of this world— whatever
can attract the human heart — these things are nothing compared to what you
find upon the altar. You will not be drawn to Me by any curiosity or shallow
virtue. Only a firm faith, a steady hope, and a burning love will draw you to
Me and keep you loyal to Me…
Consider how great must be the tepidity and
negligence of this world, since so many fail to take advantage of My gift of
Holy Communion. It is sad-to see how few are drawn to Me with tender affection
and wordless gratitude. In this sacrament I offer Myself, in Whom lie all human
hopes and merits for salvation.
[Think:] I should never cease to express my sorrow for the neglect and
coldness which is shown to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. How great must His
love be for us, since He does not become disgusted with so much ingratitude. People
go to such trouble to see various objects of beauty, curiosity, or
entertainment. Yet, here upon the altar is the grandest, greatest, most magnificent
of all beings. How dull can the human mind be! How hard can the human heart become!
This is our all-loving Savior, our God! In Him we live, and move, and exist.
Truly, without Him we are nothing. In Him alone shall I find perfect peace and
all-satisfying happiness.”
[Pray:] My Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, how can I ever
express the sympathy and sorrow which should be expressed for the unbelievable
foolishness which we show in our daily neglect of You. The church is so crowded
on Sunday[1]
with men and women who are ready to do what they must do to save their souls.
But on weekdays the same church has but a handful of people who rise a little
earlier to come and kneel at Your feet. Others will rise earlier for a number
of other reasons, but for an extra half hour with You, they will not do so . You
offer us so much the Mass and Holy Communion, yet we do so little to deserve
Your generosity and love."
(From My Daily
Bread by Anthony J. Paone, S.J.)
[1] My
comment: This may have been true when Father wrote this reflection in the
1954, but tragically, is no longer the case today.
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