Book Review - The Bishop of the Abandoned Tabernacle – St. Manuel Gonzalez Garcia By Victoria Scheider

The Bishop of the Abandoned Tabernacle – St. Manuel Gonzalez Garcia is a must read for every Catholic, especially in these times of Eucharistic Revival, where so few of us still believe Jesus is really, substantially and physically present in the Eucharist.

Thank you to the author, Victoria Schneider, who took the time to translate and make the good Bishop’s words known to the English-speaking world. She has done a great service to all souls.

Bishop Manuel Gonzalez “was outraged by the indifferent attitude towards the Eucharist that he observed in the Church during his lifetime” (1877-1940). “What would he say today?” is the poignant question Father Sean Davidson, MSE poses in the Forward to this book. In the Preface, Father describes both the anguish in the good Bishop’s heart and the purpose of this book:

“Though the Sacred Eucharistic Heart of Jesus trembles with love for us in the tabernacle, our hearts are often indifferent to His love, sadly enough. The heart of Christ is as pierced and rejected today as it was on Calvary two thousand years ago. Love is not loved! The tabernacles are abandoned. St. Manuel would spend himself to correct this injustice. May we all follow his example.”

Restoration of belief in our Lord’s Real Presence in the Eucharist must be the Catholic Church’s priority.

Contemplating his death and the importance of this effort, Bishop Gonzalez wrote this:

“I ask to be buried next to a tabernacle, so that my bones, after death, as my tongue and my pen during life, can say to those who pass by: Jesus is there! There He is! Do not leave Him abandoned.”

Share this book with friends and family. Let everyone know that Jesus is in every Tabernacle of every Catholic Church! Let us no longer abandon Him! Visit Him!