Eucharistic Reflection - An Hour of Adoration

The Visit [an Hour of Adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist] is a meeting of our soul and of our whole being with Jesus. 

(Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash)

It is the creature meeting the Creator; the disciple before the Divine Master; the patient with the Doctor of souls; the poor one appealing to the Rich One; the thirsty one drinking at the Font; the weak before the Almighty; the tempted seeking a sure Refuge; the blind person searching for the Light; the friend who goes to the True Friend; the lost sheep sought by the Divine Shepherd; the wayward heart who finds the Way; the unenlightened one who finds Wisdom; the bride who finds the Spouse of the soul; the “nothing” who finds the All; the afflicted who finds the Consoler; the seeker who finds life’s meaning.

It is the shepherds at the crib, Mary Magdalene at Simon’s house, Nicodemus who comes by night.

It is the holy discussions of the Samaritan woman, of Zacchaeus, of Philip, and of the Apostles with Jesus; especially in the last week of His earthly life and after the resurrection.

Blessed James Alberione

Monday Musings - When We Sin

(Photo©Michael Seagriff)

"Do we believe that when we sin we are Pilate ordering the cross and the nails; we are Judas taking the thirty pieces of silver and kissing the Christ; we are Annas and Caiaphas and the rest of the Sanhedrin urging the people on to cry ‘Away with this Man; give unto us Barabbas!’ Do we really believe that when we sin we take hammer and use it on a nail that goes through the flesh of God? Or have we, too, lost our sense of sin?"

(Rev. M. Raymond, O.C.S.O. from God, A Woman and the Way)

 

Come And Adore Him!

 

Eucharistic Reflection - UnLock Our Church Doors

"The Most Holy Eucharist is not only My Sacrifice offered to the Father, although in a bloodless manner; it is not only the sustenance of souls, nourishing them with My very Body and Blood; it is also the Sacrament of My divine friendship, the pledge of My burning desire to remain close to all who seek Me, to all who need Me, to all who would spend time in My company.

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

This is why it so grieves Me that churches are locked and that I am left for days on end alone in the tabernacle. I would draw souls to My open Heart, I would have them experience what it is to abide in the radiance of My Eucharistic Face, I would give Myself in intimate friendship to souls drawn to Me in the Sacrament of My love, but you priests, shepherds of souls, have forgotten that keeping open your churches is integral to your sacred ministry. I would pasture souls in My Eucharistic presence, but you, by continuing to close My churches to souls, frustrate and contradict the desires of My Eucharistic Heart.

There is sorrow in heaven over this. It is not difficult to keep My churches open and to provide for the spiritual needs of those who would readily enter them in search of My friendship. The obstacles are not those of which you think; the obstacle is a lack of faith, a loss of belief in My real presence. My priests will be held responsible for the coldness and isolation that has come to surround Me in the Sacrament of My love.

How I desire to see My churches open! Open the doors of My consecrated houses and trust Me to fill them with adorers in spirit and in truth!

Come to Me in the Sacrament of My love and I will fill you with the sweetness of My friendship. Know that there is no companionship on earth that can be compared with Mine. For this too did I institute the Sacrament and Sacrifice of My Body and Blood: so that souls might find Me present in My churches and, by remaining in My presence, learn from Me all that I have heard from My Father. For this reason do I call you friends. You are My friends because, from the tabernacle where I am present, and from the monstrance that exposes Me to your gaze, I will share with you the secrets of My Heart."

(From In Sinu Jesu - When Heart Speaks To Heart -The Journal of A Priest At Prayer)

 

Monday Musings - The Secret of Sanctity and Happiness

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

I am going to reveal to you the secret of sanctity and happiness. Every day for five minutes control your imagination and close your eyes to all the noises of the world in order to enter into yourself. Then, in the sanctuary of your baptized soul (which is the temple of the Holy Spirit) speak to that Divine Spirit, saying to Him: 

 

O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me. Tell me what I should do; give me Your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your Will.

If you do this, your life will flow along happily, serenely, and full of consolation, even in the midst of trials. Grace will be proportioned to the trial, giving you the strength to carry it and you will arrive at the Gate of Paradise, laden with merit. This submission to the Holy Spirit is the secret of sanctity.

(Prayer to the Holy Spirit by Cardinal Désiré-Joseph Mercier

Book Review - Raising a Purposeful and Goal Oriented Child by Robert Newberry

Want Your Children to Be Successful in Life? Read this book!

Writing a book that others will want to read and benefit from is a challenging task. To succeed in doing so three consecutive times is an extraordinary publishing achievement. In scripting Raising a Purposeful and Goal Oriented Child, author Robert Newberry has done just that.

Like the two volumes in this series that preceded this current gem (Green Beans and Legacies: Reflections for Raising Successful Children and and Becoming Your Child’s First and Most Important Teacher) this short, but life-altering book, lays out a clear path for parents to follow if they desire to raise well-rounded and successful children.

In his unique and entertaining style, Newberry utilizes the image and operation of a sailboat to “teach children how to build a successful life”. He equips parents to “teach their children how to successfully use the rudder of his or her sailboat to become purposeful, goal-oriented and positively motivated”. This author achieves his goal by contrasting Nine Winning Practices with Nine Losing Practices. In the process, he shares stories that you will long remember – Leland Pond and Fleas, Elephants, and Muggsy Bogues were my favorites.

I found it difficult to put this book down. It is a quick read, packed with sound, tested and practical advice and compelling stories. This book will be one that you will re-read many times – and hopefully share with those you love.

Raising a Purposeful and Goal Oriented Child is a book every parent and everyone one who works with and cares about children should read. This is a resource our nation needs as the assault on the traditional family escalates.

I commend this man of faith for gifting us with this work - the fruits of a life-long effort to help parents and children be all that God intended them to be.

You will to.