Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

" 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.)

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

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) "Be convinced that the Lord is waiting for you to open your hearts to him in prayer. He wants to meet you personally and to enter into a dialogue with you. This conviction will fill you with an urgent desire to seek periods of silence in your daily life where you have the space to be drawn into union with God in prayer. In this regard I should like to commend to you the practice of Eucharistic Adoration...Adoration draws us away from external distractions into a growing communion with Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament. Encourage your friends to join in this practice." Archbishop Antonio Mennini

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.” ...