Eucharistic Reflection - Sometimes and Always

In his Introduction to Godhead Here in Hiding Whom I Do Adore - Lay Dominicans Reflect on Eucharistic Adoration, Father Ignatius Schweitzer, O.P., the Priest Promoter of the Lay Dominicans St Joseph Province, USA, writes: 

"The Lay Dominicans in this book have discovered the secret! They have discovered the all-surpassing treasure and value and meaning we have in our Eucharistic Lord in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and Adoration. Their deep yearnings have kept them coming back to the Eucharist to touch the human heart's ultimate fulfillment, God, and then to go out to the world with something to share."

May Gloria J. Eldridge's refection, excerpted from this inspiring book, entice all who read it, to discover and/or rediscover, the secret!

(Photo by Thays Orrico on Unsplash)

Sometimes and Always

"Sometimes I pray. It might be the Rosary...the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Stations of the Cross.

Sometimes I read. It might be Scripture...a devotional...a recommended spiritual book.

Sometimes I just look upon Him and He looks upon me.

Sometimes I struggle and time passes slowly.

Sometimes I have questions.

Sometimes He answers immediately.

Sometimes He wants me to wait on Him.

Sometimes I fall asleep.

Always, I am glad I commit to Adoration time every week.

Always, I look forward to the quiet and peace I will feel in His presence in the Adoration chapel.

Always, I feel connected to Him in the Adoration Chapel in ways I don't experience anywhere else.

Always, I leave refreshed.

Always, I thank Him for the uninterrupted one-on-one time with Him in His holy presence.

Always, I marvel that He loves me.

Always, I want Him to know how much I love Him." 

(Gloria J. Eldridge, Mater Dei Lay Fraternity of St. Dominic, Libertytown, MD) 

 

Monday Musings - What Is The Height of Perfection?

 

Pondering Tidbits of Truth - September 4, 2025

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.

Vinny Flynn “The first level of contrition is a contrition of fear. It's called, "imperfect contrition" or "attrition," because it's motivated by awareness of the ugliness of sin and by fear of eternal damnation. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, it begins a process of inner conversion that disposes us to grace and is completed by sacramental absolution...The second level of contrition, called "perfect contrition," [is] motivated not by a self-oriented fear, but by love for God and the awareness of how good He is. This is much more personal, leading to a deeper relationship with God and a growing desire to avoid anything that might offend Him." (From 7 Secrets of Confession)

St. Teresa of Avila "I believe we shall never learn to know ourselves except by endeavoring to know God, for, beholding His greatness we are struck by our own baseness, His purity shows our foulness, and by meditating on His humility we find how very far we are from being humble. Two advantages are gained by this practice. First, it is clear that white looks far whiter when placed near something black, and on the contrary, black never looks so dark as when seen beside something white. Secondly, our understanding and will become more noble and capable of good in every way when we turn from ourselves to God: it is very injurious never to raise our minds above the mire of our own faults." (From Interior Castle)   Father Romano Guardini "We do not come to church to attend the service as a spectator, but in order, along with the priest, to serve God. Everything we do—our entering, being present, our kneeling and sitting and standing, our reception of the sacred nourishment—should be divine service. This is so only when all we do overflows from the awareness of a collected heart and the mind’s attentiveness."  (From Meditations Before Mass)

Eucharistic Reflection - Son Bathing

There is a famous story from the life of St. John Vianney. He noticed a farmer who spent many hours in the parish, praying before the Blessed Sacrament. When St. John Vianney asked him what he did in this time of prayer, he answered, “I look at Him, and He looks at me.”

In my experience of Eucharistic Adoration, I have come to a surprising and somewhat startling discovery: I often do not feel anything happen during that time of prayer. Sometimes that time feels dry and seems fruitless. If I am in the presence of God Himself, spending direct time with Jesus physically before me, how come this is not the most fruitful and consoling time of prayer? How come I can often feel very little or nothing at all?

Despite this, I still find it important to be with Him in Eucharistic Adoration. I imagine that people who go sunbathing do not feel themselves getting tanned. They may feel the warmth of the sun, but do they perceive the chemical changes that are occurring to change the tone of their skin? From being accidentally darkened by too many hours in the sun myself, I think the answer is no (at least for me!). And yet, the change happens—silently, gradually, almost imperceptibly.

I believe Eucharistic Adoration is much the same, and perhaps can be colloquially called “Son bathing.” I may not perceive any change in myself, but I am confident the change is occurring. In fact, many times, I have felt the fruit of prayer not during the time of prayer, but after it has concluded. In this time of Eucharistic Adoration, it is not the skin that changes but our souls that are altered in appearance, more closely resembling Jesus the more we spend time in His presence. Perhaps St. John Vianney’s farmer understood this and did not feel anything in his long hours of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, yet remained faithfully before Him.

Jesus said to St. Faustina, “The flames of mercy are burning Me—clamoring to be spent; I want to keep pouring them out upon souls; souls just don't want to believe in My goodness.” Centuries earlier, He revealed His Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque as a burning furnace of Divine Love, both verbally and visually. Are the Eucharist and His Sacred Heart not one and the same? In Eucharistic Adoration, let us bathe in this flame of love, regardless of what we perceive to be happening. Let us walk away with hearts that are inflamed with Divine Love like His, as we slowly become more like Him through the furnace of the Eucharist. 

(Benjamin Dominic, St, Louis Bertrand Fraternity, Syracuse, NY, from Godhead Here in Hiding Whom I Do Adore - Lay Dominicans Reflect on Eucharistic Adoration)

 

 

Monday Musings - Be Diligent in Prayer

Monday Musings – Be Diligent in Prayer

 

“Have you noticed that you always have plenty of time for the things that you love, but there's never enough time for the things that you don't? Some people dread, avoid or find little joy in prayer because they spend their time worriedly digging into their troubles, rather than focusing on the Lord.

It is so much harder to be diligent in prayer if prayer is more a matter of discipline than desire. Turn your thoughts heavenward, look up to Jesus who walked on water. Keep from peering down into the stormy seas. The more you gaze at Him, the more prayer will be a joy.

I have excerpted the words above from a reflection on Diligence in Prayer contained in Mary’s Mantle – Consecration Prayer Journal by Christine Watkins - a book I highly recommend and one which has provided me with much fruit for mediation.

Let me share my journal response to Christine’s reflection in hopes that something she or I have written will stir your soul:

I do set aside time every morning and evening to pray, to meditate and to think of You Lord. The problem with my prayer life revolves around aridity, routineness, inattentiveness and distractedness. Prayer is often the first thing that I discard when my normal routine is disrupted. There have been times when I have gotten upset when something occurs that interrupts my prayer time or when someone does not respect it or makes it difficult or impossible for me to pray. But ultimately, it is only I who can thwart those impediments by simply being faithful to my prayer commitment.

Lord, your spiritual advisors over the centuries make it clear that the better form of prayer is to not just repetitively recite the words of others (though that has much value) but to use one's own words, to talk to You, heart to heart and, most importantly, to let You speak to me. This, of course, requires me to remain silent so I can hear You.

I admit Lord that I use the words of others too often. I acknowledge Lord that many times I just read the words without much reflection, recollection or understanding. While that is better than no prayer, You have so much more to offer me.

I thank you Lord for the exercises in Christine Watkins’ journal because they have helped me to focus on You with greater attention. I thank you Lord for the insight You have given me; now I must allow all that to take root in my heart, mind and soul- all for Your glory.

Please Lord, sanctify the time I spend in prayer. Remove the routineness and distractedness that is sometimes a part of my prayer time. Let me not gloss over a single word, since each one is a gift from You and is intended to take root in my life and to blossom.

Whenever the evil one manifests itself (especially while I am attempting to pray) “turn my thought heavenward”, make me “look up to You, Jesus, and keep me from peering down into the stormy sea.”

Lord, please bridge the huge gap that exists between what I profess to believe and how I actually live my life. NEVER, LORD, NEVER I PLEA, may I abandon my prayer life, no matter how dry and unproductive it may seem to be. Give me “the grace to focus more on You during my prayer time than digging into my troubles”.

Your words, O Lord, are alive as are the words you have placed on the lips of Your saints. Bring these Words to life when I pray, read and ponder them. Make my prayer time fruitful and joyful and a source of comfort to You. For this I pray.