Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

[Excerpted from Godhead Here In Hiding Whom I Do Adore - Lay Dominicans Reflect on Eucharistic Adoration ] “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” A promise of faith, hope, and love in this valley of tears, trials and strife. Where can we find our dear Lord Himself? Catholic tabernacles for sure offer Him Whom we seek. But a Holy Hour encounter in Eucharistic Adoration is where He awaits our visit so meek. We cannot touch, hear or carry on a face-to-face conversation with the God Whom we visually do not see. Yet, we sit quietly and gaze on this Treasure of ours as He speaks to our souls, a comfort for me. With burdens of sin, guilt, sorrow, fear and pain, we believe and adore; we pray not in vain. Help us, dear Lord, to find answers and peace as we sort out the trials of our earthly place. I don’t fully comprehend — don’t know if I ever will —T he Gift resting before me in the Monstrance so bright. My worries and problems relax at the sight and my soul ...

 

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. Dan Burke and Connie Rossini   "When we have too many vocal prayers to say, our goal easily changes to getting them done instead of praying them well. They become less, rather than more, contemplative. The Holy Spirt might be moving us to linger silently on the meditation of a mystery, but we feel that we can't stop or we will never fit all our prayers in. So we find ourselves working against the Holy Spirit...We forget that the very purpose of prayer is communing with the Lord."   (From The Contemplative Rosary )     Dom Lorenzo Scupoli   "No creature ever loved Jesus Christ more ardently, nor showed more perfect submission to His will, than Mary, His mother. If then, this Savior, immolated for us sinners, gave His mother to us, an advocate and intercessor for all time, she ca...

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) " … I will treasure more than anything else the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is often said that it is the Mass that matters. This means that Mass is the most important thing in the world. It is very true. But I really think that sanctifying grace matters most of all. Still, where do I get that from if not through the Sacrifice of the Cross which is continued in the Sacrifice of the Mass. I am afraid.   I do not think as highly of Holy Mass as I should. And this reminds me of a story I have often read about the Sacred linen in Greenland. It was in the sixteenth century. There had been a religious persecution in the island and all priests had been killed or driven out, so that for fifty years there was no Mass at all in Greenland. After fifty years, there were still some scattered Catholics left. They used to meet every year for a Christmas celebration in a lonely house almost covered by snow. On one such night they all gathered together in the...

( Image Source ) [Father Windrid Herbt, S.D.S.(1891- 1988), was a renown spiritual writer and  included the following story about St. Alexis in his most excellent book,  The Way To God,  copies of which are difficult to find. I received permission to include this poignant tale in my book,  Stirring Slumbering Souls - 250 Eucharistic Reflections . This story was intended when Father first shared it and is still intended now, to challenge each us to take an honest look at our relationship with our Lord and Savior present among us.] "I recall the strange and touching story of Saint Alexis. When he was young he left home and then, because God inspired him to do so, came back to the house of his parents in Rome dressed up like a poor and unknown beggar. There he lived in some miserable old corner of the house for seventeen years; and his parents never knew that it was he. But when he died they found out. It seems he left a note or something telling them what he ha...

Plan on visiting our ever-present and loving Lord: "I visit for love. To both give my love and to receive His love.   This all-knowing Love that embraces, corrects, restores, and sees exactly who I am.   I come to remember John 3:16: “ For God so loved the world ”… and the love that He gives is here in the Blessed Sacrament, His Son Jesus Christ.   When I enter, the Church aura is heavy with love.     His love for us His adorers. Our love for Him the One adored.   The love shared between fellow adorers, and the love of the Heavenly adorers for Him and for us. I am here both alone in love with Him, and yet in a cherished communion with all who seek to adore. When I am a lover, at my very best, I approach with gratitude, praise, and thanksgiving. I wish to give love for Love, no matter what the time 5 minutes or 3 hours. I give my love, as best I can, yet often a cacophony of need can consume me. My thoughts burst into the silence with my challenges, so...

"When you have received Holy Communion, rise up reverently, return to your place and kneel down; do not at once take your book or your beads. I do not like to see people begin to read as soon as they have come from the altar.  Oh no, of what use are the words of men when it is the good God who speaks? We must be like someone who is curious and who listens at doors. We must listen to what the good God says at the door of our heart." (From The Eucharistic Meditations of the Cure of Ars )