Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

In his Introduction to  Godhead Here in Hiding Whom I Do Adore - Lay Dominicans Reflect on Eucharistic Adoration , Father Ignatius Schweitzer, O.P., the Priest Promoter of the Lay Dominicans St Joseph Province, USA, writes:  "The Lay Dominicans in this book have discovered the secret! They have discovered the all-surpassing treasure and value and meaning we have in our Eucharistic Lord in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and Adoration. Their deep yearnings have kept them coming back to the Eucharist to touch the human heart's ultimate fulfillment, God, and then to go out to the world with something to share." May Gloria J. Eldridge's refection, excerpted   from this inspiring book, entice all who read it, to discover and/or rediscover, the secret! (Photo by  Thays Orrico  on  Unsplash ) Sometimes and Always "Sometimes I pray. It might be the Rosary...the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Stations of the Cross. Sometimes I read. It might be Scripture...a dev...

" 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...

Homiletic and Pastoral Review Magazine  Book Reviews – November 2023 Godhead Here in Hiding Whom I Do Adore  – Lay Fraternity of St. Dominic Lay Fraternity of St. Dominic.  Godhead Here in Hiding Whom I Do Adore: Lay Dominicans Reflect on Eucharistic Adoration . Hammondsport, NY: The Lay Fraternity of St. Dominic, 2023. 351 pages. Reviewed by Fr. Ignatius John Schweitzer, OP.  ( Reprinted here with permission ) As part of the effort toward Eucharistic Revival, the Dominican Laity have released an inexpensive new book on Eucharistic Adoration,  Godhead Here in Hiding Whom I Do Adore: Lay Dominicans Reflect on Eucharistic Adoration . It is a unique and exceptional book worthy of the parish’s adoration chapel and also as a gift for a friend who has yet to discover the Eucharist. The book gathers together about 175 reflections of Lay Dominicans on what Eucharistic adoration means to them, what they do during a holy hour, ways that the Eucharist has transformed them,...

  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 ...

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 ...

  It is More Than a Book – It is an Invitation to Adore Our Loving Lord Present Here Among Us! Father Ignatius John Schweitzer, O.P gave birth to Godhead Here in Hiding Whom I Do Adore – Lay Dominicans Reflect on Eucharistic Adoration last year 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. As Father Ignatius states in his Introduction to the book: “The Lay Dominicans in this book have discovered the secret! They have discovered the all-surpassing treasure and value and meaning we have in our Eucharistic Lord in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and Adoration. Their d...

T hank you  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 .    A Great Day To Give Thanks To Our Ever-Present Lord and St. Albert the Great!  (Originally posted November 15, 2015) (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) November 15 is the feast day of St. Albert the Great (1206-1280). Who was this noted Dominican friar?    The following brief summary from the Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic ( St. Joseph ’s Province) highlights some of his accomplishments: “German Bishop, theologian of renown, philosopher, scientist, diplomat, inventor, teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas…crisscrossed his diocese on foot and so nicknamed “Doctor Boots by his contemporaries. “Universal Doctor’ of the Church…”     He was also the teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas! Today also marks the beginning of the nineteenth year of Perpetual Euch...

We thank Allison Gingras at  Reconciled To You   and Elizabeth Riordan at  Theology Is A Verb once again for  hosting Catholic bloggers at  Worth   Revisiting . It is a privilege for us to share our work with them and their readers .   Let me share this post on the feast day of our Father Dominic:  St. Dominic Pray For Us! (Originally posted on August 8, 2016) Today we Dominicans and the universal Church have the great privilege of celebrating the feast day and memorial of our Father, St. Dominic!   (Church of St. Vincent Ferrer, NYC) God has used and continues to use the Order of Preachers to defend His Church and proclaim His Truth. Since their founding, Dominicans have worked untiringly to save souls. Every day, they strive to faithfully live their motto: "To Praise, To Bless, To Preach." In my mind, nothing captures the charism of the Dominican Order and its founder better than th...

Thank you Allison Gingras  (Reconciled To You) and Elizabeth Riordan ( Theology Is A Verb ) for hosting Worth Revisiting . Be sure to stop by every Wednesday . You will enjoy your visits. Here is my contribution this week: Monday Musings - The New Evangelization Is Not So New  (Originally published on October 18, 2013 in a slightly different version) (Photo©Michael Seagriff) The call to evangelize has been an essential part of our Catholic nature and fiber since the time our blessed Lord walked this earth. He told His apostles to “go make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.  He did not then, nor does He now, teach that one Church is as good as another. Jesus has called all of us to be members of His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.  Over the ensuing centuries, we Catholics have frequently failed to heed His command, even in current times mistak...

Today we Dominicans and the universal Church have the great privilege of celebrating the feast day and memorial of our Father, St. Dominic!   This day is especially sweet this year - the 800 th anniversary of the founding of the Order of Preachers. (Church of St. Vincent Ferrer, NYC) God has used and continues to use the Order of Preachers to defend His Church and proclaim His Truth. Since their founding, Dominicans have worked untiringly to save souls. Every day, they strive to faithfully live their motto: "To Praise, To Bless, To Preach." In my mind, nothing captures the charism of the Dominican Order and its founder better than this most succinct and penetrating quotation attributed to St. Albert the Great: “The roving dogs are the Order of Preachers who do not wait at their homes for the poor but go out to them and lick the ulcers of their sins, having in their mouths the bark of preaching .” If you want a brief glimpse into the life of...

Please Join us and help spread the word! DAY OF REFLECTION  "SWIMMING IN THE SEA OF DIVINE MERCY" PRESENTED BY :         FATHER DONALD H. KARLEN [RETIRED PRIEST OF DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE AND ASSOCIATE PRIEST OF THE MADONNA HOUSE APOSTOLATE] HOSTED BY :               ST. AGATHA’S PARISH, CANASTOTA, NY SPONSORED BY :        SYRACUSE LAY DOMINICANS COME AND EXPLORE THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF GOD’S MERCY THROUGH THE SPIRITUALITY OF CATHERINE de HUECK DOHERTY – FOUNDRESS OF THE MADONNA HOUSE APOSTOLATE - AS A PRELUDE TO DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY AND AS PART OF THE JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY WHEN :           SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2016 WHERE :        ST. AGATHA’S PARISH CENTER, WILSON AVE., CANASTOTA, NY TIME :            ...