Monday Musings - For Those Suffering From Amnesia

 

Catholics! Don’t Read This Book - It May Change Your Life

 Stirring Slumbering Souls - 250 Eucharistic Reflections

Let’s be frank. We are all guilty of inattention, indifference and irreverence toward the God Who lives among us and wishes to live within us.

To have the Son of God here with us and not to spend time with Him is the same as telling Him that we are not interested in getting to know or have an intimate relationship with Him and that He is not welcome in our minds, hearts or souls. Like the Gadarenes (Matthew 8:28-34), we are telling the Son of God we do not want Him in, or to interfere with, our lives. We are telling God we are not interested - to leave.

May our loving and waiting Lord use the 250 quotations in this book to increase belief in, reverence for, devotion to and love of His Eucharistic Presence, touch lukewarm hearts, stir slumbering souls, and re-ignite the flame of love for Him that He placed in our hearts the second He breathed life into them.

Listen to Him speak as you read and ponder these truths. Take a close look at yourself. Recognize the many ways in which you offend Him daily. Feel His pain and anguish over being abandoned and ignored and treated irreverently. Understand how thirsty He is for your love. Then love and treat Him as He deserves.

Available here with free postage or on Amazon.com for $9.99

 Excerpts from Reviews

“This book accomplished what author Michael Seagriff hoped: that is to ignite my heart and stir my soul to love Jesus more and more. The words contained in this volume speak Truth and breathe Life and offer the reader a broad sampling of some of the finest thoughts and reflections on the Eucharist-our source and summit and surest Love. - Anne Costa

“Stirring Slumbering Souls is an eloquent treasury of Eucharistic reflections which you will enjoy reading over and over again…They were comforting, peaceful, insightful, and gave me a new appreciation and love for the Eucharist. I highly recommend this book for all who desire to grow in their love of Jesus in the Eucharist.” - Jean M. Heimann

“If you bring this book with you to adoration, there is material enough to meditate upon for weeks or even months. Seagriff then supplies ten questions for further reflection, testimonies of adorers, and various prayers. I can't imagine anyone reading this book without their devotion to the Blessed Sacrament increasing.” - Connie Rossini 

Stirring Slumbering Souls is a beautiful anthology from saints, mystics and friends of Jesus. This book has the potential to facilitate deeper reflection and response for its readers who truly seek to grow in their faith and appreciation for the Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. For some, just one quote could bring the moment of change and profound conversion for which they have longed. For others, this will be a companion to them in their prayer times at home and in Church. As for me, it will be among my select and treasured go-to spiritual books.   Christine M. Arabik, M.A.

 “Michael Seagriff’s recently published, Stirring Slumbering Souls, gently reminds us that ‘to the Real Presence of Jesus, we often respond with our real absence!’ (Father Florian Racine). [The author responds to this sad truth] with a carefully researched collection of two-hundred and fifty meditations that document the Church’s response to Jesus’ call to intimacy.” - Don Mulcare

“Seagriff has done an exceptional job at bringing together all the voices, that we need to hear. Voices that sing the same song: Spend time with Jesus now, in faith. If you can’t find the time, or the desire, to spend time with Jesus now, then why should Jesus think that you would want to spend eternity with him, later?” - Ginny Lieto

Michael Seagriff describes himself as a simple man, but his thoughts and reflections, and his choice of 250 Eucharistic Reflections in Stirring Slumbering Souls, are anything but simple. Rather, his choice reflects his profound love of his Lord and his devotion to The Eucharist. Buy a copy and keep it with you to read and re-read. You will be profoundly moved.” - David Torkington

“I absolutely LOVED this book. The saints' quotes about the Eucharist were so profound. The author did a fantastic job getting inspirational quotes from so many different sources. I didn't want to put this book down and have purchased it as gifts for several friends” - Janeen  

"This is a gem of a book! Truly, these reflections do more than stir this slumbering soul; they set my heart on fire.”- Vijaya Bodach

When an art curator is looking to do a new exhibit there are many factors to take into account.  Whatever the subject matter, there are always hundreds or even thousands of choices to fill the space that is limited by the size of the gallery. The curator must choose only the best pieces of art to display…Michael [Seagriff]has been curating only the best Eucharistic quotes and reflections for many years.…As with most master curators, Michael Seagriff does all the work and we get the benefit!.. I highly recommend Stirring Slumbering Souls: 250 Eucharistic Reflections. It has been a blessing to me and I am certain it will be for you as well.” – Tony Agnesi

“So moving, so much potential to impact hearts. There should be copies in every Adoration Chapel as well as in every home.” - Kathy Kreinheder

About the Author: He is a Lay Dominican, retired attorney and Administrative Law Judge who has also served as the coordinator of a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel and of a prison ministry program. In addition to his eight books, Homiletic & Pastoral Review, The Catholic Sun, Catholic Exchange.com, CatholicLane.com, Catholic Online.com, Catholic Writers Guild Blog, and Zenit.org. have published articles he has written. The author has been invited to speak at local parishes and publishes a blog at: https://harvestingthefruitsofcontemplation.blogspot.com/. You can contact him at mseagrif@gmail.com or at (315) 510-6787.

Pondering Tidbits Of Truth - May 27, 2021

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

 

 

 

Father Jacques Philippe

The Eucharist is the highest expression of Divine Charity, of God's love for His creations. Through it, God shows how much He wants to be with us forever, sharing His own life with us, living with us and in us. As Father  Jean-Claude Sagne said, ‘What makes the Eucharist the Sacrament of love is that Jesus here gives Himself in person, in the fullness of His presence. He gives all that He is, the entirety of His life. More than any word or action, it is Jesus Himself who comes to us and delivers Himself into our hands. The Eucharist is a giving without limit on Jesus’ part: ‘This is My body, given up for you.’ What we receive in the Eucharist is Jesus in the very act of giving His life for all mankind, the act in which He personally loves each of us with the greatest of loves: ‘Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends’ (John 15:13). Each time we receive the Eucharist, we should be moved with the same awe that Saint Paul had, in knowing: [He] loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

(From Fire & Light – Learning to Receive The Gift of God)

 

St. Leonard of Port Maurice

“Treasures, however great and precious, are never appreciated until examined, counted over, and summed up. Hence it is, dear reader, that by many there is formed no due estimate of the holy and awful Sacrifice of the Mass. Though the greatest treasure which glorifies and enriches the Church of God, it is still a hidden treasure, and known to few. Ah, if this jewel of paradise were but known, who would not give up all things to obtain it! No one would then permit to escape from his mouth the scandalous words, ‘A Mass more or less makes little difference.’

Rather, like the merchant in the Gospel, would each man sink his whole fortune to render himself master of a treasure so precious: Abiit et vendidit omnia quae habuit, et emit eam, ‘he went and sold all that he possessed, and bought it’.’ (St. Matthew 13:46).

(From The Hidden Treasure)

 

Venerable Bruno Lanteri

“We proclaim God's holiness ‘with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominions, and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven.’ When we pray, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of Your glory,’ we say this prayer together with the Heavenly Court. Joined with them in praise, Venerable Bruno invites us to pray these words with their same sentiments and heart, with deep gratitude for God's saving love, with hearts raised in thanksgiving and adoration, and with the joy of those who sing the heavenly song.

Have you ever considered that, when the priest prays the Preface, when you join your heart to his words as you listen, and when you say or sing the 'Holy, Holy, Holy,' you are praying with the Angels, the Archangels, and all the heavenly host? Stop briefly now and consider this truth.

Contemplate the Heavenly Court for a moment. ‘See’ and ‘hear’ the Angels and the blessed gathered around the throne as they worship, adore and sing God's praises with glad hearts. Let the warm and joyful sentiments of their hearts fill your own heart.”

(From A Biblical Way of Praying Mass - The Eucharistic Wisdom of Venerable Bruno Lanteri)

Eucharistic Reflection - Who Shall Dare To Assign Limits To The Omnipotence of God?

 

(Photo©Michael Seagriff)

“You are surprised, perhaps, to hear me speak of the Mass as a stupendous work. But what tongue, human or angelic, may ever describe a power so immeasurable as that exercised by the simplest priest in Mass? And who could ever have imagined that the voice of man, which by nature has not the power even to raise a straw from the ground, should obtain through grace a power so stupendous as to bring from Heaven to earth the Son of God? It is a greater power than that which would be required to change the place of mountains, to dry up seas, and to turn around the heavens; it even emulates, in a certain manner, that first fiat with which God brought all things out of nothing, and in some sort would seem to surpass that other fiat with which the sweet Virgin drew down into her bosom the Eternal Word. She did nothing else than supply matter for the body of Christ - made indeed from her most pure blood, but not by her, in the sense of her own potential act. 

But altogether different, and most marvelous, is the sacramental manner in which the voice of the priest, operating as the instrument of Christ, reproduces Him, and does so as often as he consecrates. The Blessed Giovanni Buono made this truth…in some sort comprehensible to a hermit, his companion, who was unable to imagine how the words of a priest could be allowed such power as to change the substance of bread into the Body of Jesus Christ, and the substance of wine into His blood, and who, unhappily, had consented to the devilish suggestions of doubt.

The good servant of God, perceiving this man’s error, conducted him to a fountain, took thence a cup of water, and gave it to him to drink. He, when he had drunk of it, declared that during his whole life he had never tasted a wine so pleasant. Then Giovanni Buono said, ‘Do not you now feel, my dear brother, the marvelous truth? If through means of me, a miserable man, water is changed into wine by Divine power, how much more ought you to believe that, through means of the words of God - for the priest only uses the words instituted for the purpose by God Himself - the bread and wine are converted into the substance of the Body and Blood of Christ? Who shall dare to assign limits to the omnipotence of God?’ This so effectually enlightened the hermit that, banishing every doubt from his mind, he did great penance for his sin.

Let us have but a little faith, a little living faith, and we should confess that the mighty and admirable things contained in this adorable sacrifice are without number; nor will it then seem too strange to us to behold the marvel repeated continually - the thrice-holy humanity of Jesus multiplying itself in thousands and thousands of places, enjoying, so to speak, a kind of infinity denied to every other body, and reserved to it alone through the merit of His life, sacrificed to the Most High.”

(St. Leonard of Port Maurice from The Hidden Treasure)