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. Father Richard D. Breton "The Eucharist...challenges us to ask how we are giving ourselves to others. A Catholic cannot receive the Body of Christ and then refuse to become a gift to his family, his parish, his neighbor or the person who needs mercy. The Eucharist sends us forth. We come to the altar empty. We receive Christ. And we are sent back into the world to bring Christ with us. This is why Eucharistic devotion cannot end when Mass ends. The Church gives us the beautiful gift of Eucharistic adoration because the Eucharistic Lord remains with us. The tabernacle is not a decorative piece of furniture. It is a place of encounter. Jesus is there, waiting quietly and patiently for us." (From The Eucharist: When Heaven Comes Down to Earth , published in the September 17, 2026 issue of The Wanderer ) Dorothy Day, Servant of God "When ...

"The Eucharist is not something casual. It demands reverence. It demands preparation. It demands faith. Perhaps one of the greatest spiritual questions we can ask ourselves before every Mass is: 'Do I really believe that Jesus is here? ' Not intellectually. Not theoretically. But personally. Do I believe that when I walk through those church doors, I am entering sacred space? Do I believe that the tabernacle contains the Real Presence of Jesus Christ? Do I believe that the altar is not merely a table, but the place where the sacrifice of Christ is sacramentally present? Do I believe that Holy Communion is not merely receiving something, but receiving Someone?" ( Father Richard D. Breton f rom The Eucharist: When Heaven Comes Down to Earth , published in the September 17, 2026 issue of The Wanderer )

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. Father Richard D. Breton “May our parishes become beacons of hope in a culture that thirsts for meaning. May they become places where people say” ‘Here I encounter Christ. Here I belong. Here I am sent to share His love.’ May we [our] priests lead the way, with the laity at our side, trusting the Holy Spirit, grounded in the sacraments, committed to truth and open to renewal.” (From A Transcendent Brand of Hope and Renewal -  A Priest’s Reflection published in November 6, 2025 issue of The Wanderer )     D r. Gregory Popcak   "When you are at Mass, don't just go through the motions. Ask God to help you find Him in the Eucharist. When you hear or read Scripture, prayerfully ask God what He is saying to you through the words. When you pray, don't just say words at God. Bring your whole self to it, rededicate your li...

  “So how do we grow in humility through the Eucharist? A few simple practices can help. First, we must always approach the Eucharist with reverence. Come to Mass prepared, recollected and aware of the great mystery before you.   One way we do this is by looking at the prayers and readings beforehand, thus allowing us to participate more fully at Mass. Second, make frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament. Even a few minutes in prayer before the tabernacle can teach the soul humility, We don't need to worry about bringing a prayer book or what we are going to say, just be with Jesus. Third , we must allow the Eucharist to shape our daily lives. After receiving Communion, ask yourself: How can I be’ bread broken’ and ‘wine poured out’ for others today? Fourth, serve in your ministry, quietly. Remember anything we do for the Church is not our right, it is a privilege. Allow your love for Eucharist to spill over into hidden acts of service that reflect Christ's humility. ...

  (Photo ©Father Lawrence Lew, O.P. Used with Permission) “If you want to grow in humility, spend time in Eucharistic adoration. In the silence of the chapel before the Blessed Sacrament, we come face to face with the humility of God. There, Christ waits for us - not demanding, not forcing, but simply inviting. In adoration. we learn to quiet the noise of our pride and ambitions. We learn to listen more than we speak. We learn to rest in God's presence without needing to prove ourselves. Adoration teaches us that humility is not about doing but about being - being with Christ, who humbled Himself to be with us.” (Excerpted from L earning Humility from the Eucharist written by Father Richard D. Breton and published in the October 16, 2025 issue of The Wanderer)