Monday Musings - A Painful and Upsetting Truth

Let's be frank: If we really believe that Jesus Christ is truly and  substantially present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the tabernacles of our Churches, we would be there with Him. We would do everything in our power to spend some time with Him and to encourage others to do so as well. 

But we don't really believe this essential Truth. We have abandoned our Loving Lord to His prison-tabernacle and locked the doors of His Churches so that even the few drawn to be with Him are unable to get in.

Stop for a moment and ponder this shocking reality from our Lord's perspective. Is this anyway to treat the Son of God? Of course it isn't!

Go visit and comfort our abandoned and forgotten Lord. Bring  a copy of  Stirring Slumbering Souls - 250 Eucharistic Reflections with you and let the wisdom it contains draw you into His loving embrace and Presence. Enlist in His army of Adorers. Let Him change you and the world!

Here is a sample of what others have said about Stirring Slumbering Souls which received a Seal of Approval from the Catholic Writer's Guild:

"I am still reading Slumbering Souls and wanted to thank you for reawakening my adoration and love of Jesus. - Patricia Grant

“Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful gem with me. I feel like every single Catholic should read it and have a copy and then share it with someone who isn’t and then we would be all set in this world. Such richness here and it stirs up so much in the soul." - Anne Costa

"Love Stirring Slumbering Souls. Beautiful, inspiring work."- Patricia Casey Vanderloo

"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 Zaio

 Stop what you are doing and go visit Him!

Eucharistic Reflection - Father Donald H Calloway, MIC Is Spot On!

"What would it be like to see your favorite Saint praying before the Blessed Sacrament. It would probably move you to tears. A saint’s devotion, reverence and silence before the Real Presence would leave no doubt in your mind that Jesus is truly present in the holy Eucharist. Shouldn't this be the case with all Catholics? Shouldn't this be the case with all clergy? What about you? Are you reverent in church? Are you quiet in church? Would someone who saw you praying before the Blessed Sacrament be inspired by your example of Eucharistic piety?

If you are doing these things, praise God! Many are not observing these things in church. Too many people arrive late for Holy Mass and leave immediately after Holy Communion so as to get out of the parking lot before everybody else. Before holy Mass in many parishes people are conversing in and over the pews, the choir is rehearsing and those involved in various functions at Mass are running around doing last minute tasks. Some of these things are unavoidable, of course, but it does not seem that silence before and after Mass is rare these days. With so much noise, are people truly able to prepare their hearts for the celebration of holy Mass? Are they able to give thanks and pray in silence after Mass? In many parishes, people would find a peaceful and quiet preparation and Thanksgiving very hard to do.

Sometimes the priest himself is busy as a beaver before Holy Mass, offering very little witness to recollection and prayer. Priests don't need to be stoic in a corner praying, of course, but your average person in the parish rarely sees their priest at prayer before, after or outside of Holy Mass. When is the last time you saw your priest on his knees before a Tabernacle praying? Have you ever seen him pray before or after Holy Mass? Most people have never seen this from their priests. What would happen if people came to church and saw their pastor kneeling before the Tabernacle in prayer preparing for Holy Mass? Silence. That is what would happen. That silence would change everything. People coming inside would stop talking and imitate the priest, their father, kneeling down to pray and recollect themselves in preparation for Holy Mass Do not all children imitate their parents?

What about after Mass? What would happen if instead of going outside the church to shake hands with everyone and wish them a great day, the priest returned to the sanctuary knelt down, and prayed in Thanksgiving for the Eucharist? He doesn't have to make a grand display about it, but his actions would undoubtedly spark a Eucharistic revival in that parish. No useless committee work needed. No strategic planning required. No funds spent."

(From 30 Day Eucharistic Revival - a Retreat with Saint Peter Julian Eymard by Father Donald H Calloway, MIC. Use with permission)

Monday Musings - Time To Be Bold

How can we Catholics credibly profess to believe that Jesus Christ is really, truly and substantially present in the tabernacles of  our Churches but rarely attend Sunday Mass and seldom visit Him outside of Mass? If it is true (and it is) that the more time that we spend in the Presence of our God, the more like Him we will become, why are we not encouraged to do so? Why do we keep our Churches locked so that the few who do stop for a visit, cannot get in to be with their Lord? 

God wants us to visit Him. Don't we trust Him?

Why have we not shared these Truths with our non-Catholic brethren? God is not in our tabernacles just for we Catholics. He is there for every soul, waiting to touch and stir their hearts, to bring them into His one, holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and His loving embrace.

There are at least two likely answers to these questions: we mistakenly believe that one religion is just as good as another; and/ or we don't believe He is there! 

Our Churches should never be empty! Our Lord should never be left alone!

Here is something each of us can do. It is relatively inexpensive and doesn't consume a great deal of your time - have business-size cards  printed (like the images that follow) and get to work:

The intent of this exercise in promoting belief in our Lord’s Eucharistic Presence is to leave these cards in places where you would not expect to see them – restaurants, stores, doctor and dental offices, hairdressers, barbers, train and bus stations - any place that allows people to post or leave business cards.

When you are paying your bills by mail, or sending cards, notes or letters to family and friends, put one of these cards in the envelope along with your check, card or note.

You get the idea – anywhere people visit - to any person whom God may prompt you to approach.

If your pastor okays it, you can leave some cards in your parish – there are many souls there in need of encouragement. 

God knows who needs to see these cards. Trust Him!

Just a suggestion from a simple soul,

Be Bold! 

Make it a personal priority to spend some time in His Presence!

 

Monday Musings – O Come Let Us Adore Him!

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

In a few days, Catholic Churches throughout the world will resonate with thousands of voices singing “O Come Let Us Adore Him!” But will they?

We do not need polls to determine whether or not and/or how many Catholics believe that Jesus is really and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist hidden in the tabernacles of our Churches and in the Sacred Hosts placed on their tongues.

We need only open our eyes and ears:

Our Churches are virtually empty; that would never happen if we actually believed God was present there.

Many of these Churches have been permanently closed.

More than 50 million Catholics have left the Catholic Church in recent decades.

Reportedly, less than a third of those claiming to be Catholic even attend Mass on Sundays and holy days. And of that number, less than a third of them believe that Jesus is really, truly and substantially present in the Blessed Sacrament.

Few Catholics understand that that the Mass is the representation of our Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection.

In too many of our Churches, the tabernacle is no longer prominently displayed; it has been hidden and is nowhere to be seen.

We have lost the sense of the sacred.

Our Churches are no longer silent, sacred oases. The loud bantering occurring before and after Mass is no different than what we experience in social, fraternal and athletic venues.

Few genuflect when entering Church and even fewer know why they should do so.

If one believed that God Himself was present in the tabernacle and the Eucharist, would he/she:  wear casual attire, immodest clothing, chew gum, talk to those on line waiting to receive Holy Communion and/or wave to family and friends as they walk down the aisle to receive?

Would Mass only take 12 minutes to complete, including a homily and prayer petitions?

Would priests fail to say the “Body of Christ” when distributing Holy Communion while irreverently dropping or tossing the Sacred Host into the extended hands of a communicant?

Would one run out of Church every week immediately at end of Mass if they believed that God was still physically present in their bodies for up to 10-15 minutes after receiving Him?

Virtually, no one even attempts to visit our Lord during the week and the few that try to do so cannot get in because the Church doors are locked.

Many spiritual writers over the centuries have taught that when we spend time with Jesus before the Blessed Sacrament, we become more like Him. Why then are we not encouraged to do so?

Houston, we have a problem. We are afraid to teach and live the Truth.

No doubt the 60,000 individuals who participated in the 10^th National Eucharistic Congress and the thousands of others who participated in some way along the various procession routes preceding the actual five-day Congress in Indianapolis or online, were profoundly impacted by that experience. These souls will no doubt impact thousands of others as they share their experiences and try to more boldly live out their Eucharistic Faith. For this we must be eternally grateful.

But let’s be real. Most of the 72 million living in this country and identifying themselves as Catholic weren’t there and are unlikely to interact with too many that had been. Has much of anything changed in our parishes?

Our Churches are still locked. More are in the process of being closed. Lack of belief in the Real Presence of our Lord in the Eucharist is still sorrowfully the norm.

Belief in the Real Presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is a gift from God – one He wants to share with everyone. But He will not force Himself on any soul. It’s time to evict the elephants of irreverence and unbelief that have tainted our Church for too long. It is time to unlock our Church doors and invite Catholics to become more like God - to come and spend time on their knees before their Lord and Savior. That’s when God will “do His thing” and the tide of unbelief will end.

This would be so simple to do. Experience suggests only a few will make the effort to do so. Our Lord will likely remain alone, abandoned, and ignored and our Churches locked or forever closed.  

 

Monday Musings – Measuring Authentic Success of Our Eucharistic Revival Efforts

(Photo©Father Lawrence Lew, O.P. - Used With Permission)

I appreciate the ongoing efforts of the U.S. Bishops to reawaken and foster greater belief in our Lord’s Real and Substantial Presence here with and within us. The number of Eucharistic processions and Holy Hours with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament that have taken place throughout this nation have been heartening. The excellent homilies, posts, videos and testimonies of lay Catholics that our bishops have shared on social media are inspiring. I have no doubt that countless souls have been touched by these efforts. 

We pray that the bishops’ efforts (as well as our own and those of our individual parishes) are reaching not just the choir but the millions of non-believing Catholics and former Catholics who inhabit this great nation.

How are we going to assess the success of the U.S. Bishops’ efforts as well as our own individual and parish endeavors?

Simply and radically!

If we actually believe that God is really, truly and substantially present in the consecrated Hosts in our tabernacles and in those placed on our tongues, we will flock to our Churches to be with the God who loves us and lives among and with us. We would recognize that we are on holy ground. We would eat of His Body and drink of His Blood frequently. Our Churches would be filled with reverent silence. They would never be empty and never be locked.

If we really believe God is there waiting for our visit, nothing would keep us away! Nothing! We would spend some time with Him every day! That's what lovers do!

Pray God that we witness such authentic belief!  

Monday Musings - Let Us Be Real About Eucharistic Revival

 (Originally posted January 9, 2023)

"In last week's post, which explored the dishonor accorded the sacredness of the Mass, I asked: "How can we expect the current efforts toward Eucharistic Revival to bear fruit when we have not addressed the real and obvious reasons why so few Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament?

This week I invite you to read the following post on lack of reverent silence and sacredness within our Churches. Are there any specific Revival efforts planned to catechize and instruct souls as to how they should conduct themselves while in the Presence of God? 

Without Reverent Silence Nothing Else We Do Will Be of Any Value

A Forgotten Truth:  "The Blessed Sacrament is that Presence which makes a Catholic Church different from every other place in the world; which makes it, as no other place can be, holy." - St. John Henry Cardinal Newman:

A Catholic Church must be unlike any other building in the world because God resides there. A Catholic Church is holy ground. All who enter must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with being in the Presence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We must enter, remain and exit it in reverent and total silence. God deserves nothing less.

In far too many of our Catholic parishes we have lost the sense of the sacred and an appreciation for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that are both essential for fostering and maintaining a belief in the Real Presence. We have forgotten how to pray. We have forgotten how to act while we are in Church and no one teaches or corrects us. Many ignore He Who is Love to engage in inane chatter on topics more appropriately discussed at social and sporting events. The actions and demeanor of so many souls are inconsistent with one who professes to believe that Jesus Christ is really and truly present on the altar and in their hands.

You can read this post in its entirety here.

Eucharistic Reflection - The Primary Injustice

 

Eucharistic Reflection - Being With Jesus

"It is happiness to be in heaven, no doubt, because it is to be with Jesus; but have we not almost the same happiness here? Do we not possess Him in the Most Holy Sacrament? Did we but know how to profit by His Divine Presence, we should in some way have no reason to envy the inhabitants of the Heavenly City."

 Marie Estelle Harpain

Eucharistic Reflection - His Divine Radiance

“There are so many tabernacles on earth where I am, for all intents and purposes, like one buried, hidden, forgotten and out of sight. My Divine radiance is diminished because there are so few adorers to act as the receptors of My radiant Eucharistic love and to extend My radiance through space and into the universe of souls. Where there is faith in My Real Presence, there will be Adoration; and where there is Adoration, there will also be an efficacious radiance of My Presence drawing souls to My Eucharistic Heart and surrounding them even at a distance, with the healing influence of My Eucharistic Face.”

 (From In Sinu Jesu - The Journal of a Priest)

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.