Eucharistic Reflection - Don't Die of Hunger

"..Jesus has been the Bread of life for so many centuries, and yet during all those centuries countless souls have died of hunger. Many never knew Him, many never saw him again once the day of their First Holy Communion was over. Even now there are many who are at once sick and tired of it, not to say disgusted, when you begin to speak to Him; many only then make up their minds to receive Him when a threatening voice speaks within them and fills them with fear...

So there He is, the God who has loved them from all eternity and Who ceases not to love them now; and He must look upon them while they waste away and die of hunger. He can do nothing for them; their sad indifference repels Him when He would approach, bind those divine hands that would bless and do good. The Savior without souls! Poor Jesus!"

(Eucharistic Whisperings, Father Winfrid Herbst, SDS)

Eucharistic Reflection - He Never Rests

"It is nightfall...One by one the lights go out in the dwellings of men...Millions of stars twinkle in the vast vault of heaven...But on earth one only star still glimmers - the tiny star of light in the sanctuary lamp. Its feeble rays struggle through the windows of a little church...it moves unsteadily to and fro...until it reaches you...Do you not see it? Jesus sends it to tell you that He never rests, that day and night, year in and year out, His heart is busy loving you, and the poor, and the unhappy - yes, even those who crucify Him." 

(Eucharistic Whisperings - Father Winfrid Herbst, S.D.S.)

Eucharistic Reflection - The Goal of God's Love Is My Heart

(Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash

"When Jesus remains in the quiet of the altar, in the tabernacle’s shadow, people in their blind carelessness, let Him alone, they forget all about Him. And when He exposes Himself upon the altar, He is hurt to the Heart by the irreverence of so many who either have no faith at all or a faith that is very weak. When He goes through the streets in order to bring unspeakable blessings to His beloved children, He hears curses and blasphemies that make out of His errand of mercy another way of the cross. 

But in the midst of all these bitternesses, one hope sustains Him – the hope of a place of refuge that will offer the love and peace He craves. The bitter chalice which others continually place to His lips He drinks with resignation; for He is sustained by the hope of a loving reception in my heart by way of reparation. One holy hour spent in the enjoyment of my love, and He forgets years and years of suffering… Altar and tabernacle, monstrance and church, are merely the avenues through which His love enters; its goal is my heart; it is there that He would rest. Ah! How it would pain His Divine Heart if I would not let Him in, or if I would receive Him unworthily. What a bitter disappointment that would be! " 

(Eucharistic Whisperings - Father Winfrid Herbst, S.D.S.) 

Worth Revisiting - Eucharistic Reflection - His Goal Is My Heart

Thank you Allison Gingras at Reconciled To You  and Elizabeth Riordan at Theology Is A Verb  for hosting Worth Revisiting each week. It is a privilege to share our work with you and your followers.


Eucharistic Reflection - His Goal Is My Heart

(Originally posted on July 28, 2012)

(St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, NYC)

“When Jesus remains in the quiet of the altar, in the tabernacle’s shadow, people in their blind carelessness let Him alone, they forget all about Him. And when He exposes Himself upon the altar, he is hurt to the Heart by the irreverence of so many who either have no faith at all or a faith that is very weak. When He goes through the streets in order to bring unspeakable blessings to His beloved children, He hears curses and blasphemies that make out of His errand of mercy another way of the cross.

But in the midst of all these bitternesses one hope sustains Him – the hope of a place of refuge that will offer the love and peace He craves. The bitter chalice which others continually place to His lips He drinks with resignation; for He is sustained by the hope of a loving reception in my heart by way of reparation. One only hour spent in the enjoyment of my love, and He forgets years and years of suffering…

Altar and tabernacle, monstrance and church, are merely the avenues thorough which He enters; its goal is my heart;it is there that He would rest. Ah! How it would pain His Divine heart if I would not let Him in, or if I would receive Him unworthily. What a bitter disappointment that would be!"  

(Eucharistic Whisperings, Father Winfrid Herbst, S.D.S.)

Worth Revisiting - Jesus The Beggar

Thank you once again, Allison Gingras at Reconciled To You  and Elizabeth Riordan at Theology Is A Verb  for hosting Worth Revisiting each week. It is a privilege to share our work with you and your followers.

The late Father Winfrid Herbst, S.D.S. is a treasure you must discover:

Jesus The Beggar

(Originally posted November 4, 2012)

“Jesus loves poverty with a very special love – so much so, indeed, that, because He could not find it in heaven, He came down and sought it here on earth.

He took nothing along with Him from heaven. The tiny bit of glory that He gets on earth is the free gift of the few generous hearts that are trying to show how much they love Him. He is at His lovers’ mercy! Were merely a little wafer of bread denied Him, He could not remain in our midst on earth – He, the Lord of the Universe!...

Jesus begs. I wonder for what? 

He [Jesus] begs for one little word of kindly considerate greeting when I pass by a church… for a short ejaculatory prayer from time to time…for at least one loving aspiration when the bells ring out from the church towers…for a thought, one only thought, when I am alone. A word surely…at least a word I would not even refuse the most despicable criminal. But for Jesus?...Have I a word for Jesus?...How many?

He begs for a little company. For hours and hours he is all, all alone. Oh, what a longing – one that is well-night a necessity – he has for my presence! It would cost me so very little to give Him a few minutes every day; and still, rather than pay him a brief visit, I yawn and try to while away the weary hours. Rather than sit at His blessed feet, I would quite tire myself out in searching after the pleasures of the world and its miserable distractions!”

Jesus begs for a little love.

Contemplate Him, O my soul!...Not far from Him there stands another; also he would have something of you...it is Satan!"

(Eucharistic Whisperings, Father Winfrid Herbst, S.D.S.)

Eucharistic Reflection - "In Grateful Reparation"

(Basilica of the Sacred Heart)

“In Your dear presence I humbly kneel, sweet Savior mine; and while I contemplate Your goodness to me I bewail my base ingratitude towards You. My Jesus, mercy…and grace!

Oh...I am astonished at my boldness, when I consider that I am here in Your very presence, in the presence of the omnipotent God! Were not my proper place in deepest hell, after all that I have done against You?...but instead of that I linger in Your consoling presence here, delighting in the tender familiarities of Your boundless love!...It is still permitted me peacefully to repose in the fragrant atmosphere of prayer; I am still tolerated among the good. Unto the hermits of the desert You gave to drink water from the rock-bound spring; and to eat, the herbs and roots of the earth. But to me You give the adorable Food of Your Flesh and Blood. How can I but marvel?

Eucharistic Reflection - Does Jesus Live Within You?

“The holy Gospels tell us again and again that while the Savior was visibly with us on earth He healed the sick by His mere passing by; and with an only word He raised the dead to life. If such were His active goodness then – and who would venture even to think of doubting it? – what works of charity must He do now, in His Eucharistic life! Oh, He does not merely pass before me now, He does not only speak to me – nay, He actually enters under my roof and transforms me into Himself. 

Eucharistic Reflection-Mendicant Divine

“O my Savior, what a revelation of conscience to me! With hellish insistency Your sworn enemy and mine demands of me each day that I bring him sacrifice, at the cost of virtue!...and alas! It is sadly true that seldom, very seldom, does he not get a bit of impatience, vanity, pride, self-love from me; seldom, very seldom, is it that he fails to entice me to curious glances, uncharitable words, dangerous thoughts, sinful inclinations!

And to You, O God of my soul, to You I refuse the very alms of a prayer, of an act of contrition, of a purpose of amendment!...I dare to refuse You one quarter of an hour’s adoration, the hearing of Holy Mass, the reception of Holy Communion…How lamentably considerate I am as regards my unruly passions; only in Your regard am I inconsiderate and hard of heart!

O Jesus, would that I could pay you back for Your great poverty and for all that You suffer for me – pay You back with the riches of my love! O would that, after the countless humiliations that You suffer for me, Mendicant Divine, I might strengthen, refresh, and glorify You with the treasures of virtues innumerable!

Now listen, my Jesus! You have decided to continue Your Eucharistic mendicant-life, so I must earnestly implore You to remain with me always, ever to be at the door of my heart! Only rap, and I will always open to You; only ask, and You shall always receive! I will always give You whatsoever You want; thoughts, words, desires, deeds of virtue, sacrifices, tears, penances – everything, everything, even my life. But there is one condition, my Jesus; I would so like to burn with love for You in the Blessed Sacrament that my love – that my love would know no bounds!

                                  (Eucharistic Whisperings, Father Winfrid Herbst, S.D.S.)
 

Eucharistic Reflection - Jesus The Beggar

“Jesus loves poverty with a very special love – so much so, indeed, that, because He could not find it in heaven, He came down and sought it here on earth.

He took nothing along with Him from heaven. The tiny bit of glory that He gets on earth is the free gift of the few generous hearts that are trying to show how much they love Him. He is at His lovers’ mercy! Were merely a little wafer of bread denied Him, He could not remain in our midst on earth – He, the Lord of the Universe!...

Jesus begs. I wonder for what? 

He [Jesus] begs for one little word of kindly considerate greeting when I pass by a church… for a short ejaculatory prayer from time to time…for at least one loving aspiration when the bells ring out from the church towers…for a thought, one only thought, when I am alone. A word surely…at least a word I would not even refuse the most despicable criminal. But for Jesus?...Have I a word for Jesus?...How many?

He begs for a little company. For hours and hours he is all, all alone. Oh, what a longing – one that is well-night a necessity – he has for my presence! It would cost me so very little to give Him a few minutes every day; and still, rather than pay him a brief visit, I yawn and try to while away the weary hours. Rather than sit at His blessed feet, I would quite tire myself out in searching after the pleasures of the world and its miserable distractions!”

Jesus begs for a little love.
Contemplate Him, O my soul!...Not far from Him there stands another; also he would have something of you...it is Satan!

(Eucharistic Whisperings, Father Winfrid Herbst, S.D.S.)

Eucharistic Reflection

Contemplate it – the sanctuary lamp in your church…it is the silent friend of Jesus and of all Eucharistic souls.

 

The evening shades have fallen. The church is empty; there is no longer anyone kneeling before the tabernacle; but in God’s dear house that little lamp sheds its mild rays in all directions. Gently it lights up the tiny tabernacle door. It almost seems as if it were pleading for entrance there, in order that thus it might be permitted to say to the Divine Recluse within: “See, You are not alone – I watch with You.”

 

When the faithful, having satisfied their need of prayer and love, leave the sacred edifice and go their various ways, returning to life’s daily cares and struggles, the sanctuary lamp seems to give then this farewell as they cast one last lingering glance back at God’s altar throne: “Go faithful souls, return to your toil, your sweat and perhaps tears await you; I will remain here; and in your name I will keep watch for you.”

 

What is a church, be it large or small, without a sanctuary lamp? Is it not like a body without a soul? When entering a church a Catholic instinctively lets his eyes roam over the sanctuary in search of that tiny flame of light; and if he finds it not, he seems to hear in the depths of his heart a little voice that is cold and disappointing: “Your Savior is not here!” It may be that rare treasures of art are gathered together there; but of what avail are the greatest masterpieces of the painter’s brush or the sculptor’s chisel if the beams of this dear light do not fall upon them? The art of man may indeed cross the threshold of our sacred edifices; it may exert all its skill for the glorification of God and the beautifying of our churches; but if this trembling light does not cast its magic rays upon them, not even the greatest genius can infuse into the marble its proper expression or give true life to the canvas.

 

Little sanctuary lamp, you are for me as the eye of divine love, which penetrates to the very depths of my soul, searches out its every secret, conquers my heart, and awakens its tenderest emotions! You are always, silent, and yet – how eloquent you are!

 

(From Eucharistic Whisperings)

Eucharistic Reflection

“When Jesus remains in the quiet of the altar, in the tabernacle’s shadow, people in their blind carelessness let Him alone, they forget all about Him. And when He exposes Himself upon the altar, he is hurt to the Heart by the irreverence of so many who either have no faith at all or a faith that is very weak. When He goes through the streets in order to bring unspeakable blessings to His beloved children, He hears curses and blasphemies that make out of His errand of mercy another way of the cross.

But in the midst of all these bitternesses one hope sustains Him – the hope of a place of refuge that will offer the love and peace He craves. The bitter chalice which others continually place to His lips He drinks with resignation; for He is sustained by the hope of a loving reception in my heart by way of reparation. One only hour spent in the enjoyment of my love, and He forgets years and years of suffering…

Altar and tabernacle, monstrance and church, are merely the avenues through which His love enters; its goal is my heart; it is there that He would rest. Ah! How it would pain His divine heart if I would not let Him in, or if I would receive Him unworthily. What a bitter disappointment that would be!”

(Eucharistic Whisperings, Father Winfrid Herbst, S.D.S.)

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament

"Blessed are thou among women!" O mother of God, all praise to you! You are a tabernacle of innocence and holiness - the only tabernacle worthy of Jesus. It was you who gave to the world the Bread of Life: you had first to be the bread of life to Him before He could be the bread of Life to us...To men, weakened by sin, you gave the Bread of the Strong; to men, starved through feeding on the empty vanities of this world, you gave the Bread of Angels. Be forever praised and thanked...

(Eucharistic Whisperings by Father Winfrid Herbst, SDS)

(Image credit to:perpetualadoration13.blogspot.com)

Eucharistic Reflection

“It is nightfall...One by one the lights go out in the dwellings of men...Millions of stars twinkle in the vast vault of heaven...But on earth one only star still glimmers - the tiny star of light in the sanctuary lamp.”

“Its feeble rays struggle through the windows of a little church...it moves unsteadily to and fro...until it reaches you...Do you not see it? Jesus sends it to tell you that He never rests, that day and night, year in and year out, His heart is busy loving you, and the poor, and the unhappy - yes, even those who crucify Him.”

(Eucharistic Whisperings by Father Winfrid Herbst, SDS)

Eucharistic Reflection

"We pass the church and have no greeting for our amiable Savior; we meet Him on the street and are almost ashamed to recognize Him as God. Great sinners, notorious criminals, are treated better than He...Poor Jesus!"

(Eucharistic Whisperings, Father Winfrid Herbst, SDS)

Eucharistic Reflection

Listen. Jesus is speaking…Being in heaven I came down to earth; and then I instituted the Blessed Sacrament in order to be with you always. In Holy Communion I really and truly come to you…And you?...When do you come to Me? In Holy Communion I visit you; but, tell Me, My child, when do you visit Me? Perhaps our sacred meeting in the morning satisfies you; it does not satisfy Me. I long to see you here in My presence again before evening. My child. That is why I now invite you. Won’t you accept the invitation?

(Eucharistic Whisperings, Father Winfrid Herbst, SDS)

Image credit to Pat Gohn

Eucharistic Reflection

In the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament I invariably find something that the world always hides from me, namely, knowledge of self. In the light of the Holy Eucharist all my faults and failings and all my sins, past and present, become clear to me; and then from the very depths of my heart there wells up a cleansing, purifying font of sorrow. Oh, how poor and miserable I appear to myself when in the presence of Jesus! And yet how sweet and salutary are the tears that I shed at the sight of transgressions!

If I cannot find it here, then where in the world can I find it – a little patch of earth, I mean, one to be watered by my tears so that thereon the tender blossoms of hope may germ and grow? Who, if not Jesus, can say to me, “Go in peace, thy sins are forgiven thee”?

(Eucharistic Whisperings, Father Winfrid Herbst, SDS)

Eucharistic Reflection

“Ah, how it hurts to see in what manner our Savior is treated! There He is in the tabernacle, the Prisoner of Love, waiting for souls to come and visit Him. But who ever gives Him even a thought, one only thought?...It would cause so very little trouble to go to Him...for just a sweet moment. It would be so very easy to cast a tender glance upon that tiny door...to send a loving thought a-speeding towards that tabernacle...to breathe a few whispered words of affection...but, alas! When it comes to doing something for Jesus that something, no matter how small, becomes at once irksome and grievous-so weak are we!”

(Eucharistic Whisperings, Father Winfrid Herbst, SDS)

Eucharistic Reflection

"..Jesus has been the Bread of life for so many centuries, and yet during all those centuries countless souls have died of hunger. many never knew Him, many never saw him again once the day of their First Holy Communion was over. Even now there are many who are at once sick and tired of it, not to say disgusted, when you begin to speak to Him; many only then make up their minds to receive Him when a threatening voice speaks within them and fills them with fear...So there He is, the God who has loved them from all eternity and Who ceases not to love them now; and He must look upon them while they waste away and die of hunger. He can do nothing for them; their sad indifference repels Him when He would approach, bind those divine hands that would bless and do good. The Savior without souls! Poor Jesus!"

(Eucharistic Whisperings, Father Winfrid Herbst, SDS)

Eucharistic Reflection

“I told Him this morning in Holy Communion that I want to belong wholly to Him and that always…What a loving glance He gave me then!...O how far away from Him my thoughts already are…how far away my heart…how far!

O why do I treat Him so? Poor Jesus! He always thinks of me, and I think so seldom of Him.”

(Eucharistic Whisperings, Father Winfrid Herbst, SDS)