Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

As I have acknowledged previously,  Father Ignatius John Schweitzer, O.P gave birth to Godhead Here in Hiding Whom I Do Adore – Lay Dominicans Reflect on Eucharistic Adoration  two years ago, when he invited the Lay Dominicans of the Province of St. Joseph to share their thoughts on the Eucharist and Eucharistic Adoration. He did this not knowing how many would respond or in what genre they would write. As a result of Father’s invitation, we now have a symphony of diverse reflections – from the simple to the sublime. Each reflection is a gem in its own right. Each one an invitation to a greater belief in, and reverence for, God’s Presence among us. Photo by  Eric Mok  on  Unsplash Try this gem on for size:                                                             In the Presence of the Lord  “Come out of ...

  "Please, make a visit every so often. Just go into your church for a moment and say, 'Hi, Jesus, I’m here. I don’t have much to say.' He knows that...He wants our will, our love, our faith, and our trust. Remember now, you have that, you have everything. Every day, whatever church you belong to, He waits in that tabernacle, hoping when that door opens, it’s you.  (Mother Angelica)

 

(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, tr...

 

  It should come as no surprise that the efforts of the Lay Dominicans of St. Joseph Province to help  promote Eucharistic Adoration are bearing fruit. Here is one Adoration Chapel where two copies of  their book, Godhead Here in Hiding Whom I Do Adore - Lay Dominicans Reflect on Eucharistic Adoration ,  have found a home. The reflections in this book are stirring souls and touching hearts. Have you gotten your copy yet? Is there one in your Adoration Chapel?  Why not? May Father' Bruno's observations  encourage you to do so: “Hidden within these pages, the reader discovers the God who has chosen to dwell within the Tabernacle of the human heart. Each reflection is its own monstrance, bearing the shape of its unique human author, while manifesting our heavenly Father's Spirit of Truth. Here you will find thoughts and events that are ordinary and surprising, instructive and lyrical, worthy of both cross and crown. The common life of the early Dominicans was ...

Stirring Slumbering Souls predated our Bishops' plea to rediscover belief in the Real Presence. This book received a Seal of Approval from the Catholic Writer's Guild. It provides fuel to set your heart ablaze and reignite your love for our ever-present Eucharistic Lord. Look at what others have had to say about this remarkable and timely book - Stirring Slumbering Souls - 250 Eucharistic Reflections  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. I can't wait to get to Adoration!...“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 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. I can't wait to get to Adoration!...“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   Stirring Slumbering Souls is an eloquent treasury of Eucharistic reflections which you will enjoy reading over and over again. I read the reflections during Eucharistic adoration and just before bedtime. They were comforting, peaceful, insightful, and gave me a new appreciation and love for the Eucharist. I high...

From a fellow Lay Dominican of the St. Joseph Province - an early example of how this book is already bearing fruit in the lives of readers : “A dear friend had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was in high school with my husband, and at times, has been lukewarm in his practice of the Faith. I had bumped into him a short time ago and talked about the Church being a family and coming back home. The Lord laid it on my heart to send him a copy of the book. He told me that he was going to read it while he was having chemo. Here is his complete response after starting to read the book.” “I am impressed and moved by your ability to express the Light of God in a way that opens a reader’s heart. Each of the sections allowed me to better understand the reality of the love Jesus has for each of us, even when we have become distracted by other bright lights and shiny objects. Sometimes it is good to be reminded that being Catholic and Christian requires more than lip service. The ...

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) I will continue to share this post so long as the issues it discusses continue to be ignored. There can be no authentic Eucharistic Revival until we reestablish the sense of the Sacred in our Churches. Few people warm up to lepers or prophets. That is most unfortunate. In Jesus’ time, lepers were shunned. Rarely would they show themselves in public and when they did so they kept their distance from the rest of the community – warning those nearby of their diseased presence by their voices and/or by ringing bells. What great courage and faith it took for them to seek Jesus out. They knew He was the source of mercy, forgiveness, healing and eternal life. They begged Him to have mercy on them and cleanse them physically. Jesus, defying the norms of His day, not only approached them, He touched and healed them. Unfortunately, true to human nature, not all of those cured expressed their thanksgiving and gratitude for the opport...

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. St. Faustina Kowalska "All grace flows from mercy, and the last hour abounds with mercy for us. Let no one doubt concerning the goodness of God; even if a person's sins were as dark as night, God's mercy is stronger than our misery. One thing alone is necessary, that the sinner set ajar the door of his heart, be it ever so little, to let in a ray of God's merciful Grace, and then God will do the rest." (From Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska - Divine Mercy in My Soul ) Father Patrick Mary Briscoe, O.P. "The Church’s invitation to join the Eucharistic Revival isn’t just another program. It’s a plea for each and every disciple’s heart to be re-ignited with a greater love for Christ in the Eucharist. Renewed love for the Eucharist will transform our lives and the very shape of the Church in our country....

 (Originally posted January 9, 2023) "In last week's post , which explored t he 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...

I Thirst For Your Love   is a dangerous book - one that will have you looking at our Eucharistic Lord with different eyes and a more welcoming heart. Be careful. You may not want to read this tome even though it has received the Seal of Approval from the Catholic Writers Guild. Why? It can change your life.  If you are willing to take a chance and cast spiritual caution to the wind click here and get a FREE PDF copy .  Maybe the following comments from several readers might give you the courage to click that link:      "[The author] has written a book full of little reminders as eye-opening as they are stimulating and, in some cases, conscience pricking. We are taken on a journey of considerations surrounding our behavior and attitudes toward Eucharistic Adoration and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with the effect of stirring us to spend more time with Our Lord in Adoration and being more focused and attentive at Mass...I think this book needs to be...