Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

 

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. Bernard of Clairvaux “Look to the star of the sea, call upon Mary. In danger, in distress, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. May her name never be far from your lips, or far from your heart. If you follow her you will not stray; if you pray to her, you will not despair; if you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she holds you, you will not fail; if she protects you, you need not fear; if she is your guide, you will not tire; if she is gracious to you, you will surely reach your destination." (From A Homily of St. Bernard)   St. John Henry Newman “Realize it, my brethren; —every one who breathes, high and low, educated and ignorant, young and old, man and woman, has a mission, has a work. We are not sent into this world for nothing; we are not born at random; . . . God sees every one of us; He creates every soul,...

  "…to the Real Presence of Jesus, we often respond with our real absence!"     Father Florian Racine

“Many priests who have set up perpetual adoration in their parish testify to a growing demand for the sacrament of reconciliation as a fruit of Eucharistic adoration. The growth is not only in quantity but also in quality. One cannot stay before the Blessed Sacrament without the light of Christ profoundly illuminating the soul and enlightening the conscience.”  ( Father Florian Racine f rom Could You Not Watch One Hour With Me? )  

  (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) "The Curé of Ars often pointed to the tabernacle, saying: ‘Jesus is really there, and if you knew how much He loves you, you would be the happiest person in the world'."                  (Father Florian Racine from Could You Not Watch One Hour With Me?)

(Photo©Michael Seagriff) It [Eucharistic Adoration] is a time of encounter between the depths of our misery and the depths of God's love. It is there that I can know that I am loved by Christ who delivered himself for me. Everything is from him. He knows how to untie the knots that keep me in their grip. There, I to be silent in the deepest part of myself in order to be transformed by the Holy Spirit, real problems resolving themselves at the foot of the tabernacle. Jesus said to Angela of Foligno: "Concern yourself with me, and I will concern myself with you." Adoration nourishes faith, trains it to avoid lapsing into unbelief or superstition. It is essential among this people that believes that it is being injured. Adoration is not a pharmacy but the gratuitousness of God's gift. (Archbishop Kébreau of Cap-HaItien quoted in Could You Not Watch With Me One Hour? by Father Florian Racine)

The following quotation is attributed to "a holy priest whose difficult character his parishioners new well". How different our lives and the lives of those with whom we interact would be if we too came to the same realization:

I find my consolation in the only companion of mine who never leaves me, that is, our divine Savior in the Holy Eucharist. It is at the foot of the altar that we find the strength we need in our isolation. Without the Blessed Sacrament, a situation like mine would not be sustainable. But with our Lord at my side, well then! I continue to be always happy and content. With this gaiety of heart and a smile on my lips, I work with zeal for the good of the poor unfortunate lepers, and little by little, without much fuss, good is done. . . . [Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament] is the most tender of friends with souls that seek to please him. His goodness knows how to proportion itself to the littlest of his creatures as to the greatest. Do not fear, then, in solitary conversations, to speak to him of your woes, your fears, your troubles, those who are dear to you, your plans, your hopes; do it confidently and with an open heart.' (Saint Damien of Molokai, quoted in Could ...