An Adoration Milestone To Treasure

[On November 15, 2015, we began our 15th year of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. It was my privilege to share a few words before the Holy Hour of Thanksgiving, Mercy and Healing began. I hope that something I said on that occasion may resonate with those who visit this blog.]

Let us first give thanks to our Lord for the gift of His Eucharistic presence here among us and for our Chapel of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration.

Now let’s pause for a few minutes and ponder these Truths:

When Jesus walked among us, few hesitated to bring their sick and lame to Him for healing. They expected miracles. Jesus did not disappoint.

That same Jesus remains with us – ready to heal us and those we love.  We must have the same expectant faith that those who approached Jesus physically while He walked among them had - expecting a miracle.

Let me briefly share a few examples of the miracles that have taken place here at St. Agatha’s:

Pondering Tidbits of Truth - November 26, 2015

Pondering Tidbits of Truth is my simple and inadequate way of providing nuggets of spiritual wisdom for you to chew on from time to time.

But first a heartfelt prayer for a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

Rev. M. Raymond, O.C.S.O.

"So long as God, who is all good, wills a thing, we are fools if we do not say Fiat – and thus will it with Him. The lone exception is sin."

(From God, A Woman and The Way)

 

Revisiting Wednesday - "Holy Spirit" vs. "Spirit of Vatican II"

Thank you Allison Gingras and Elizabeth Riordan, for inviting your fellow Catholic bloggers to re-post their favorite articles on "Worth Revisiting” Wednesdays. 

Go there now (and every Wednesday) and enjoy what these authors have to offer.

During the rest of each week. visit Allison at  Reconciled To You and Elizabeth at Theology Is A Verb. 

Given the rampant disbelief in and irreverence toward the Holy Eucharist, I chose to share this 2013 post:

"Holy Spirit" vs. "Spirit of Vatican II"

(Originally posted January 21, 2013)

I have made a commitment during this Year of Faith to do a number of things, including reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Vatican II Documents. Both exercises have been worthwhile. From time to time I hope to share the fruits of my efforts.

Today, I will start with a few questions.

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

Did you know that at the time of Vatican II the vast majority of Catholic Bishops in the world were opposed to permitting reception of Holy Communion in the hand and that as a result our Holy Father decided not to change the manner in which Communion was administered? (See Instruction On The Manner of Distributing Holy Communion)

 

They feared then (and I would argue the resulting realty became) a widespread loss of reverence for and belief in the Real Presence of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. In fact, the Holy Father “urged bishops, priests and laity to obey carefully the law” requiring reception of Holy Communion while kneeling and on the tongue.

Eucharistic Reflection - Do Not Know What To Do At Mass?

“It is extraordinary that there are to be found Christians, and those not a few, who grow weary and do not know what to do at Mass. 

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Can a sick man be tired of seeing the efforts made to cure him? Or can a person, loaded with debts, find it difficult to know what to do, in the presence of a powerful monarch who has offered him all his treasures? 

You do not know what to do at Mass? How is this? says Fr. la Colombiere, in his Reflections on this subject; have you never received any favor from God? Alas, we are surrounded, loaded, overwhelmed with His benefits, and we have never thanked Him as we ought.

At Mass, at least, give a thought to these various benefits; so many sins over- looked, so loving a Providence continually exercised in your regard, so sweet and so constant an effort to draw you to Him, to gain your heart, to make you holy. The graces that you receive in one single day would suffice to occupy you during the whole of Mass. Is not all this deserving of your remembrance? 

Podcast - An Early Christmas Reflection

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

I thought I would share an early Christmas reflection with you today -  a different way, I hope, of approaching Christmas Day. 

You can listen here.

Pray! Pray Without Ceasing!

Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1Thess 5:17-18).

(Image Source - The Rosary Trail)

He Saw The Future Clearly

How different our Church and this world might be today had we listened to even a tenth of what he shared:

(Source: Posted by Dorothy B.G. on Google+)

Is There Something We Should Be Doing?

Revisiting Wednesday - I Am Confused. How About You?

Thank you Allison Gingras and Elizabeth Riordan, for inviting your fellow Catholic bloggers to re-post their favorite articles on “It’s Worth Revisiting” Wednesdays.

Go there now (and every Wednesday) and enjoy what these authors have to offer.

During the rest of each week. visit Allison at  Reconciled To You and Elizabeth at Theology Is A Verb.

Here is what I am sharing this week: 

I Am Confused. How About You?

(Originally posted October 28, 2013)

From much of what has been written recently, some would have us conclude that the problems with, within the Catholic Church and with how the secular world views the Church are the result of the Church’s obstinate insistence on hammering home one difficult moral principle after another and its failure to make its primary mission the physical, emotional, medical, and social well-being of all those in need.

(Abbey at Genesee)

Correct me if I am wrong. Is it not beyond dispute that most individuals claiming to be Catholic (and certainly most non-Catholics) do not even know the essential Truths of the Catholic Faith or the reason why the Church teaches these Truths?  Is this not the result of poor or non-existent catechesis and tepid preaching rather than the Church’s “obstinate insistence on hammering home difficult moral principles”?

Is not our Church the largest non-governmental provider of charitable, social and health services in this nation? Has not much of the Church’s effort during the past four decades (at least in this country) focused upon various pressing secular and political issues of our time rather than the salvation of souls?

Eucharistic Reflection - I Have Need of Thee

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

“Without the Holy Eucharist, earth would seem to us empty, the temple of God desolate, the soul cold, the heart isolated. Oh God, this earth is a vale of tears where I weep and sigh! Here I cannot remain alone – alone with people who are careless and indifferent to my suffering; I have need of Thee.”

(From The Holy Eucharist: Our All by Father Lukas Etlin, O.S.B.)

Podcast - What Is The New Evangelization? And Is It Really New?

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

In the early days of Christ's Church, it was risky business to be Catholic - persecutions, lions, crucifixions and martyrs come to mind. It is going to get more difficult again and soon.

Many argue (and correctly so) that the world is more pagan today than it was at the time of Christ. This has prompted a great deal of discussion (and confusion) about the need for a "New Evangelization". What is this "New Evangelization? And is it really new?

Listen here if you want to know what I think.

A Great Day To Give Thanks To Our Ever-Present Lord!

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Today is the feast day of St. Albert the Great (1206-1280). Who was this noted Dominican friar?  

The following brief summary from the Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic (St. Joseph’s Province) highlights some of his accomplishments:

“German Bishop, theologian of renown, philosopher, scientist, diplomat, inventor, teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas…crisscrossed his diocese on foot and so nicknamed “Doctor Boots by his contemporaries. “Universal Doctor’ of the Church…”

   
He was also the teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas!

Today also marks the beginning of the fifteenth year of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at St. Agatha's parish! Praise God for such a inestimable Gift!
 

May I suggest we commemorate both of these great occasions by taking a look at what St. Albert the Great had to say about the Eucharist:

“This sacrament [the Eucharist] is profitable because it grants remissions of sins; it is most useful because it bestows the fullness of grace on us in this life...Nor can we do anything more pleasant. For what is better than God manifesting his whole sweetness to us…He could not have commanded anything more beneficial, for this sacrament is the fruit of the tree of life. Anyone who receives this sacrament with the devotion of sincere faith will never taste death…Nor could he have commanded anything more lovable, for this sacrament produces love and union. It is characteristic of the greatest love to give itself as food…There is no more intimate or more natural means for them to be united to me and I to them. Nor could he have commanded anything which is more like eternal life. Eternal life flows from this sacrament because God with all sweetness pours himself out upon the blessed.” 

(Excerpted from Commentary on the Gospel of Luke by St. Albert the Great as set forth in today’s Office of Readings)

Pondering Tidbits of Truth - November 12, 2015

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Pondering Tidbits of Truth is my simple and inadequate way of providing nuggets of spiritual wisdom for you to chew on from time to time.

St. John Paul II

"For me prayer is the first priority. Prayer is the basic prerequisite to service of the Church and the world...Every believer should always think of prayer as an essential  and indispensable component of one's vocation. It is the opus divinum which precedes and overshadows every work. We well know that faithfulness to prayer, or its neglect, is a test of the vitality of religious life, apostolate and Christian fidelity."

(From Address October 7, 1979)

Worth Revisiting Wednesday - Abortion and Adoration

(Photo©Michael Seagriff)

Thanks to the generosity and encouragement of Allison Gingras and Elizabeth Riordan, an interesting group of Catholic bloggers take the time each week to re-post their favorite articles on “It’s Worth Revisiting” Wednesday.

Do yourself a favor- go there now (and every Wednesday) and let these authors bless and challenge you in your Faith journey.

During the rest of each week. visit Allison at  Reconciled To You and Elizabeth at Theology Is A Verb.  You will be pleased with what they share.

Here is what I am sharing this week:

Abortion and Adoration

(Originally posted January  25, 2013)

As we continue fighting to protect life from the moment of conception to natural death, I thought today – a day when tens of thousands will be publicly standing up for life and protesting the horror and slaughter of millions of innocent lives in this nation facilitated by the Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973  - would be an appropriate time to share one woman’s example of God’s healing touch to those who come into His Presence.

Several years ago, a dear friend, who has tirelessly labored for more than two decades to promote Eucharistic Adoration, gave me a copy of the journal entry set forth below with permission to share it widely.

You are certainly not required to believe this woman's story. I suspect more than a few will. What no one should ever doubt, however, is that our Lord continues to physically and spiritually heal countless souls who either humble themselves and spend time in His Eucharistic Presence, or who have asked others who do to intercede on their behalf.

Maybe others reading this post, who have spent time at Adoration and whom God has healed, will share their experiences here as well.

Oh! that we would come to understand the value and power of adoring and worshipping our Lord, here physically present with us!

                                 MY ADORATION TESTIMONY - MARCH 2009

I am sharing my story in hopes of preventing maybe one less baby to be killed…I had an abortion. It was at least 19 years ago. I cannot recall the date. I have buried the time, but the act never forgotten. Even though I did confess my horrible deed to a priest face to face absolving me of my sin... the question: “Is this a sin that can ever be truly absolved?” has haunted me subconsciously and consciously.

Hope You Can Tune In To Elizabeth Reardon's "An Engaging Faith" This Thursday, November 12, 2015

Elizabeth Reardon has invited me to return as a guest on her radio show “An Engaging Faith” this Thursday, November 12, 2015 from 4 to 5 PM EST.

What an honor and privilege!

We will be exploring and discussing my books, as well as offering a few free copies to some lucky listeners.

We pray that God will use our words and these books to touch hearts and stir souls!

Hope you can join us on Breadbox Media.

If the time is not convenient, go back to Breadbox Media when you have time and listen to a podcast of the show.

Eucharistic Reflection - What Can I Do To Please You Lord?

(Photo©Michael Seagriff)

Speak my Love, tell me, what is it that You desire of me?

I want your time for Me, my child, for that is not completely Mine. It is not perfect in all of its parts…No, not all of your moments are Mine, as I desire then to be. Your body is here but worldly things and your very self rob Me of your heart and your thoughts. Search within yourself and you will see…Can you with your hand upon your heart, tell your Jesus that this is not true?

Lord, it is true…Unfortunately my time is not what it should be for You…But what can I do to please You?

“To have Me always present…and to never lose Me from your sight…and to always act with the purest intention of only being pleasing to Me.

Time is an on-going gift…a precious gift that many waste, and I do not want this to happen with my beloved children: I wish that their life, day and night, be a single act of love, in the midst of any cross.”

(From Holy Hours by Concepcion Cabrera de Armida)