Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

" You must spend time in the Presence of God! When you go to church to spend time at Adoration, give your full attention to the Lord. Talk to Him just as if you were talking to a friend or relative. Know that He is there in front of you, waiting for you! All you need to do is to open your eyes and your hearts to God. Even though God knows everything that is in your heart, He wants you to share those thoughts with Him. He is waiting for you to ask Him to help you, your loved ones and others in need. Only He knows what you and they need and what is best for the salvation of your soul and theirs. Be grateful that you can come into His Presence and be with Him. Remember that everything we have is a gift from God. He may not always give us what we request, but God will always give us what we need. Should we not offer all the joys and tribulations of our lives to Him? Should we not worship and love Him as He asks? Should we not ask Him to change our hearts and teach us how to love...

  (Image Source:  cathopic.com ) I come as I am, before the Eucharistic Lord, the beloved Eucharistic Son of the Father. I come in silence and sincerity  as one in need. I come neither piously nor sentimentally. I come not on my own merit, moral strength nor conviction, but one seriously aware of my personal frailty, weakness, forgetfulness, inconsistency, pretentiousness, in short my sinfulness. I come as one in need. I come in truth just as I am, in need of the mercy, forgiveness, healing and correction. Like the Publican I cry out to the merciful one before me; “Oh God be merciful to me a sinner”. (Lk. 18:13) The Lord’s Eucharistic Presence before me is the one who calls me and receives me as I am; “come to me all you who are weary and are burdened and I will refresh you. Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart” (Mt. 11:28).   I come before our Eucharistic Lord not crestfallen, downcast, dejected or depressed at my inner and ...

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 the...

[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 ...

My fellow Dominicans and friends. It is here! The book we have been working on for months – our humble contribution to the current efforts at Eucharistic Revival - Godhead Here in Hiding Whom I Do Adore – Lay Dominicans Reflect on Eucharistic Adoration. Today, Friday, September 8, 2023, in one united act of love, we are urging each of you, your family and all our Dominican brothers and sisters around the world to go on Amazon.com,  click this link and get a copy of this book. If you intend to purchase more than one copy, it would be more helpful for our getting noticed on Amazon if you buy 5 copies individually, for instance, rather than buying 5 copies at once. Pass this request on to everyone you know and love. Stop what you are doing now and pass this on to the members of your fraternity and your family and friends. We want Amazon.com, indeed the world, to take notice of this simple book    –   not to bring attention to ourselves – but for the Glory of God...