Eucharistic Reflection - Come Down Into My Soul!

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

"Ah, Eternal Wisdom, come down so powerfully this day into my soul, that all my enemies may be driven out of her, all my crimes be melted away, and all my sins be forgiven Enlighten my understanding with the light of true faith. Inflame my will with Thy sweet love. Cheer up my mind with Thy glad Presence, and give virtue and perfection to all my powers. Watch over me at my death, that I may enjoy Thy beatific vision in eternal bliss. Amen."

(Blessed Henry Suso, O.P. from A Little Book of  Eternal Wisdom)

Eucharistic Reflection - O Unfathomable Good - Ah Sweet-Tasting Bread of Heaven - Ah, Eternal Wisdom

O unfathomable good that fills heaven and earth, incline Yourself graciously this day, and despise not Your poor creature. Lord, if I am not worthy of You, yet do I stand in need of You. Ah, gentle Lord,, are You not He Who with one word created heaven and earth? Lord with one word can You not restore health to my sick soul? O Lord, do unto me according to Your grace, according to Your infinite mercy, and not according to my desserts. Yes, You are the innocent Paschal Lamb, which at this day is still offered up for the sins of mankind.

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

Ah, sweet-tasting bread of heaven, which contains all sweet tastes according to the desire of everyone’s heart, make the hungry mouth of my soul to rejoice in You this day; give me to eat and to drink; strengthen, adorn and unite me interiorly to You.

Ah, Eternal Wisdom, come down so powerfully this day into my soul, that all my enemies may be driven out of her, all my crimes be melted away, and all my sins be forgiven. Enlighten my understanding with the light of true faith. Inflame my will with Your sweet love. Cheer up my mind with Your glad Presence, and give virtue and perfection to all my powers. Watch over me at my death, that I may enjoy Your beatific vision in eternal bliss. Amen.

(From Little Book of Wisdom by Blessed Henry Suso, O.P.)

Pondering Tidbits of Truth - April 21, 2016

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.

Blessed Henry Suso, O.P. 

"Lord, some complain that you give them suffering. Ah. Blessed is that suffering which unites the soul to you. Lord, my cherished Spouse, a pure soul finds such delight in one spiritual embrace from you that she forgets all suffering…"

(From The Exemplar: Life and Writings of Blessed Henry Suso, OP Vol. Two)

"Worth Revisiting " Wednesday - Blessed Henry Suso, O.P. and The Eucharist

(Photo©Michael Seagriff)

We thank Allison Gingras and Elizabeth Riordan for inviting Catholic bloggers to re-post their favorite articles on "Worth Revisiting” Wednesday. 

Do yourself a favor- go there now (and every Wednesday) and gouge yourself on a feast of spiritual treasures.

Be sure to visit Allison at  Reconciled To You and Elizabeth at Theology Is A Verb during the rest of the week.  You will find much spiritual nourishment and encouragement there.

Here is my contribution: 

 Blessed Henry Suso, O.P. and The Eucharist 

(Originally posted on January 23, 2016)

[Today] we remember Blessed Henry Suso, O.P. (1290-1365) a German Dominican priest, mystic and spiritual writer.

Some suggest that it is difficult to separate fact from fiction when discussing  this gifted Friar. He had as many critics as he did followers. There is a brief but interesting account of his life in Sister Mary Jean Dorcy, O.P.'s classic St. Dominic's Family - Lives of over 300 Famous Dominicans. You can also get a glimpse into his life and writings at New Advent.

His best known work, A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom, is one well worth reading and pondering. Here is a Eucharistic prayer from that book for your use and reflection:

A Prayer To Be Said When  Thou Goest To Receive Our Lord

(Image Source:Willing Shepherds.org) O Thou living fruit, Thou sweet blossom, Thou delicious paradise apple of the blooming fatherly heart, Thou sweet vine of Cyprus in the vineyard of Engaddi, who will give me to receive Thee so worthily this day that Thou shalt desire to come to me, to dwell with me, and never to separate from me!

Monday Musings - Staying Close

How different our spiritual and physical lives would be if we heeded this sound advice of a long forgotten Dominican mystic: