The Eucharist began to really come alive for me when our son was in the second grade. His class at Sacred Heart was preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Communion, and would come to the celebration of Mass together to learn more about it. Because of some renovating going on in the main church, daily Mass was being held in the basement of the Center, and there usually weren’t too many people besides the second graders in attendance. As it was open to adults though, I attended to be with the class.
On one occasion, Fr. Len hadn’t expected any adults to be present, but an older couple and myself came to the celebration. He hadn’t brought any Hosts from the tabernacle in church, as the second graders weren’t ready to receive yet. So at the conclusion of the liturgy, he said he would go over to the church and bring some Hosts for us adults. I didn’t know the older couple, and felt somewhat out of place; I had errands to run and things to do, so I thought I’d just leave and be on my way. It was snowing outside, so I was brushing the snow off my car when it occurred to me: if the Church teaches that Jesus Christ is truly present in the consecrated Host, what on earth am I doing walking away without receiving Him? Fr. Len had returned to the Center, so I went back in, but he thought I had left, and so had consumed the Host he had brought for me.
This really got me to thinking about what I believed.
I had recently read an article about faith, which had encouraged a doubter to just “act as if” what he professed was true, whether he felt like it or not. “Act as if.” If my faith tells me that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, how should that affect my life? Would I ever leave Mass without receiving Him? Would I be casual about the Blessed Sacrament?
I began to attend daily Mass as often as I could, and often reflected on how my life should look if I truly believed that the Lord of the Universe, the Author of Life, my Lord and my God was present and available to me each day. And as I prayed and read, the recognition grew that this awesome God wanted to come to me; He thirsted for souls to love and receive Him. More than just being “available,” He deeply desired union with us, His children.
The mystery of the Eucharist is so deep and multi-layered, I can only be amazed and incredibly grateful for the grace to believe that Jesus is truly present to us, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, in the Blessed Sacrament. So often God has revealed a truth to me through our children. The best thing I can do is pray, and the greatest prayer I can offer is the Mass…
Lord God, thank You for the incredible Gift of Yourself, offered to us at each Holy Mass. May we never take You for granted or neglect the opportunity to attend the sacred liturgy, keeping participation in the Mass at the center of our lives ~
Reflecting on the Sunday Gospel with my lectio group, the phrase “Jesus passed through…” was highlighted for me. It brought to mind a beautiful painting on the wall of the cafeteria at Mundelein Seminary in Illinois. I don’t know the story of the painting, but it has always captured my attention, as it depicts several people whose gaze is fixed on Something unseen. One person is bending down and touching the stone pavement. Others’ eyes are fixed on a long flight of stone steps. The wind seems to be strong as it is blowing the head coverings of others…All have experienced Something ~ Something that catches my heart and makes me want to know what has happened here…
My photo obviously is imperfect, as it includes the reflection of the lights in the cafeteria and on the windows of the room, but it’s enough to remind me of the painting, and it still stirs something within me ~
What does it stir? Jesus is passing by…. And how often in my day is He passing by, and I don’t notice? How often do I miss Him?
At Mass the other day, as the Eucharistic Minister was carrying the Consecrated Hosts to the back of the church for distribution, a woman in the pew in front of me bowed her head in reverence ~ Jesus was passing by…..
St Mother Teresa greeted each person she met with her hands clasped and her head bowed, in recognition of the sacredness and dignity of the person in front of her ~ seeing Jesus in each person she encountered and served. Jesus is passing by…
Lord God, help me to be more aware of Your Presence everywhere I may be, and especially within those I meet each day. May I live in awe and wonder as I believe, and know in my heart ~ Jesus is passing by…
While kayaking on the lake one summer day, I leaned on the side of my kayak and tipped over in the water. I had both my camera and my cell phone with me – the cell phone died, but the camera survived, altho it sometimes produced spots on the photos as if to remind me of my water adventure. The camera still worked pretty well most of the time, so I was using it to take some photos of the monstrance in order to promote Adoration in our parish of Sacred Heart. As I looked at the images, they were appearing with a big dot right above the monstrance, which looked just like a huge Host. I had seen dots appear before, but never like this one, and in such a perfect location. It seemed to me as if the Lord were magnifying His Presence in the Host, and the image has been a beautiful blessing for me. It’s not a photoshop trick – it’s a gift from God 🙂
We only had the tabernacle with Mary’s statue in this position for a short time before the tabernacle was moved to a position under the mosaic behind the altar – the “spot” wouldn’t have showed up there like it does on the brick wall. Perfect timing, perfect positioning… Lord God, thank You for this beautiful surprise and declaration of Your Presence in the Blessed Sacrament! May our hearts grow to welcome you and Your Presence be magnified in our lives ~
Fr. Bob was at the podium to proclaim the Gospel reading, and he had the wrong reading. Oopsie, he began again, and once more was at the wrong day. Third time was a success, and as he began his homily, with a rosy blush on his face, he remarked how blushing was an interior movement, a response to an external experience.
Being the good holy priest he is, led by the Spirit, he followed up on what could have been an awkward or embarrassing moment by relating how God’s grace is too an interior movement.
Fr Bob’s life journey included a time of deep occult involvement, followed by being set free through many prayers of exorcism after a trip to Medjugorje. The Lord brought him into a powerful healing ministry, often bringing peace and healing through the laying on of his hands. He explained how the blessing he imparts when he lays hands isn’t what brings the healing, but rather that blessing evokes from the recipient what is already present ~ it awakens God’s life within the person. That holy life is already there, waiting for a catalyst. This spark ignites the embers waiting for the breath of the Spirit to fan them into flame, to bring healing and restoration.
As a drop of Jesus’ precious blood flows through our body whenever we ask, bringing healing and peace, so too we can see this new life in the eyes of the recipient, even as we see the blush on a person’s face.
Knowing God’s presence lives within us, waiting to be shared in blessing, our very presence extended in love to another can be that spark that awakens God’s life within them. The atmosphere of a conversation, of a room, can be changed just by our intentional love extended to others.
A friend recently remarked how delighted and surprised she often is by the kindness of others, a kindness she hadn’t expected. She expects this from fellow Christians, but had been less expectant of non-believers. We spoke of how the presence of God within her, the desire to love and accept all those she encounters, is perhaps that very spark again that ignites the kindnesses she witnesses. After these encounters, that person who has shown kindness is brought closer to God, and likely to continue to extend His Goodness, perhaps without any awareness of what has happened. God’s Light is within every created being, just waiting to be called forth.
Thank You Lord, for Your presence within me, always with the potential to extend the Kingdom wherever I go. Reflecting on this Reality, another of those unseen yet real manifestations of grace, reminds me again to live in this awareness of God’s presence within me, and within everyone I encounter. Even as the warmth of a blush delights my soul, may it awaken Your life in all I encounter today and every day…
Luke 15:31b. “everything I have is yours…” 10/24/19
Reflecting on the parable of the Prodigal Son, the phrase that resonated with me this day was “everything I have is yours…”. I’ve always been struck by the magnanimity of God’s generosity, by the super abundance of what he desires to give to us. My Bible is often highlighted at the words of superlatives, as I see more and more His desire to offer so lavishly from His treasures, while we so often settle for such a pittance, not expecting bounty.
CS Lewis writes, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” And sometimes we’re not pleased with the little either…
This brings me to a homily shared from his personal treasure store by our pastor, Fr Luke. He recalled a time of healing he received in the course of a directed retreat. As I remember it, the director was asking him about the up-coming Christmas celebrations, and Fr Luke responded that he always had a bit of a cloud over those celebrations. He shared that as a young boy in a large family, each child usually received one special large present and perhaps a few smaller ones. When it came his turn to open what he thought would be his much anticipated special gift, it turned out to be some mittens. He tried not to betray his disappointment, but it left him with a feeling of deep disappointment and of being overlooked and forgotten. His parents immediately realized they had actually forgotten his special gift, and made a hasty trip to buy him something special, but the wound had been created and remained with him even to this time of the retreat. The director suggested he take this to prayer, and ask the Lord where He was in this moment in time, as He was there, even though not in Luke’s awareness at the time.
Fr Luke came to prayer and returned to this memory, asking the Lord to reveal His truth in the situation. He envisioned the moment, and this time saw his older brother coming to comfort him and to assure him that indeed Luke could share and play with all of his brother’s toys, as indeed “everything I have is yours…”. The pain of the disappointment vanished as Fr Luke recognized Christ in His brother, offering all the treasures of the Father’s house to Luke.
Christmas celebrations became no longer a source of sadness and deprivation, but rather an assurance of God’s Goodness and abundant provision, of comfort and of love.
This recollection often brings tears to my eyes, even today when I related it to a friend. The sense of God’s desire to bless me abundantly is revealed to me over and over again as I experience His Goodness in day to day living, and fills my heart with gratitude! Yesterday He surprised me as I came from out of town to a conference of about 1000 people and walked in right next to a good pastor I’ve known for 20 years and had been hoping to see, and led me to a table where I turned around and found 8 ladies from a prayer group that were all so dear to my heart. Hugs and smiles and joy flowed as we were all so delighted at the unexpected meeting! Eph 3:20 comes to mind, “Now to him who is able to accomplish more than all we ask or imagine…”.
Lord God, thank You for the abundance of Your Goodness and Grace! May my capacity of expectant faith continue to grow as I experience Your Goodness overflowing, again and again. May I be ever grateful for Your desire to bless us in so many varied ways, even outside of time as You bring restoration and healing to our hearts…
While kayaking on the lake one summer day, I leaned on the side of my kayak and tipped over in the water. I had both my camera and my cell phone with me – the cell phone died, but the camera survived, altho it sometimes produced spots on the photos as if to remind me of my water adventure. The camera still worked pretty well most of the time, so I was using it to take some photos of the monstrance in order to promote Adoration in our parish of Sacred Heart. As I looked at the images, they were appearing with a big dot right above the monstrance, which looked just like a huge Host. I had seen dots appear before, but never like this one, and in such a perfect location. It seemed to me as if the Lord were magnifying His Presence in the Host, and the image has been a beautiful blessing for me. It’s not a photoshop trick – it’s a gift from God!
We only had the tabernacle with Mary’s statue in this position for a short time before the tabernacle was moved to a position under the mosaic behind the altar – the “spot” wouldn’t have showed up there like it does on the brick wall. Perfect timing, perfect positioning… Lord God, thank You for this beautiful surprise and declaration of Your Presence in the Blessed Sacrament! May our hearts grow to welcome you and Your Presence be magnified in our lives ~
And of course I fell asleep, but that’s ok. Time of rest, of quiet, of peace…
I’ll go for a walk now, outside in the breezes. Walk to Perch Lake, remember the oak…. Walking with family, walking with Trinity ~ never really alone, pleasant companions 🙂 You lead me beside the still waters, You restore my soul…. Thank You Lord, praise You! I’m coming, I’m coming….
The Peshtigo Fire has always intrigued me, especially after learning the story of how the area where the Virgin Mary appeared in Champion, WI was spared from the blaze. I had read a lot about her apparition there, how the people fled to the Shrine and processed around the chapel with the statue of Mary, begging her help, and how that night the rains came. The next morning, the area surrounding the chapel grounds was all charred and laid waste, with the outer side of the fence black and burned, while within the fenced area the grass was vibrant green, and the fence still white, untouched by the fire. It was described as an emerald island in a desolate wasteland.
Somehow I wanted to read more about the fire itself, and on a recent trip to the Shrine, found an account written by Fr Pernin, an eyewitness survivor of the fire. The date of Mary’s first apparition to Adele Brise, the Belgian immigrant girl, was October 8, 1859, and the date of the Peshtigo Fire was that same day in October, in the year 1871. I brought the book home and read it that evening, caught up in the sheer horror described in it. It detailed the tragedy in a very graphic way, as Fr Pernin wrote of his sense of foreboding prior to the actual blaze, and then of the frantic effort to escape when the world around him exploded in flames of hurricane force. Railroad cars were tossed in the air, fire explosions were everywhere.
Although he was caught in the midst of this tremendous storm of fire, with people frantically seeking safety, he felt a certain inner calm that carried him to do what was necessary to save himself from the blaze. He took the wooden tabernacle from the church on a wagon and was able to get to the river, where he pushed the wagon holding the tabernacle into the water.
As the firestorm swept through the area, everything was destroyed. People were bursting into flame with bodies everywhere – his descriptions are horrific. After the rain finally came and the fire stopped, he found the tabernacle untouched, carried by the wind and set upon some logs in the river ~ the consecrated Host inside was intact, and even the silk interior was preserved unscathed. We’re celebrating a year of Eucharistic Revival in the world, and the preservation of the Sacred Host in a wooden tabernacle in the midst of an unprecedented firestorm speaks to my heart of the enduring presence of the Eucharist, residing in the tabernacle of Mary’s womb.
Perhaps what has drawn me so powerfully to this account are the mounting prophetic words about the state of our world today, and the firestorm of God’s wrath that may come through war or some other horror.
Mary’s persistent pleas, from Fatima, from Medjugorje, and other apparition sites keep calling for prayer, especially the rosary. Mary is called the tabernacle where Jesus resides, the only safe harbor amidst the escalating evil.
At a prayer meeting recently, a word that came after prayer and Adoration warned that when we may no longer have Christ present for us in the Eucharist, when our churches may be closed, when our priests may be gone, we will always have Mary and the rosary. October 7th is the feast of the Holy Rosary, celebrated one day before the dates of the Fire and of the Apparition.
A second word that was shared was of an image of being presented with a sword to engage in this spiritual battle, with the sword being transformed into the rosary. It reminded me of the bishop from Nigeria who, when praying the rosary, saw Jesus appear to him holding a sword. When Jesus extended the sword to the bishop, it turned into a rosary, and Jesus told him that the rosary was the weapon that would overcome Boko Haran, the extremist group that had kidnapped hundreds of young girls. The bishop traveled extensively sharing this vision and calling for prayer of the rosary; within 3 years the girls were released and many members of Boko Haran turned themselves in to the authorities.
When I heard these words I had with me my Magnificat Magazine, with a photo tucked between the pages of a statue of Mary which is on the campus of St Thomas in St Paul. It’s a huge statue, and shows Mary with a giant sword in front of her, with the rosary wrapped around it.
This sequence of events calls me to pray it often, and to do what I can to help others in their relationship with the Blessed Mother, our refuge in time of trial, who can bring us to Jesus. Praying the rosary is a safe harbor to help others find safety in this time of spiritual drought, when the landscape is becoming tinder dry and the winds of the evil one are escalating.
This doesn’t bring me anxiety or fear, but rather a strong desire to help others find refuge in the womb of Mary, beneath her Immaculate Heart, cradled there with Jesus. I recently completed the Consecration to Mary by Fr Bonifice Hicks, where he explains that we are baptized into the womb of Mary, together there with Jesus, and we’re to remain there until we are born to eternal life. This consecration has helped me to envision this place of safety, and to enter into it spiritually. His prayer of Entrustment to the Womb of Mary follows:
Almighty God, Heavenly Father, who have placed me, by Baptism, in the womb of the Virgin Mary beneath her Immaculate Heart to be together with her Son and ever more conformed to Him by the power of the Holy Spirit, grant that I may whole-heartedly embrace my dependence on you as I place all my trust in my Mother Mary. May I never scorn my weakness which your Son chose to share with me, but may I always be grateful to be little and helpless, knowing that without you I can do nothing. Veiled with her beneath the protective care of Saint Joseph her spouse, may I find in her a refuge against every danger and in her womb a hiding place invisible to the ancient foe. May I know that I am loved perfectly like Jesus by Joseph and Mary, those parents who, receiving everything from You, will always provide for all of my needs, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
“I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!” These words of Jesus from Luke 12:49 bring to mind not only the refining fire of repentance and purification, but also the Fire of the Holy Spirit! St John the Baptist cries out, “I baptize you with water, but one mightier than I is coming…he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with Fire!” (Luke 3:16). The Holy Spirit is the Spouse of the Blessed Mother, and He too cannot be taken from us. Nor can any word of Scripture that we have hidden in our hearts. God’s Word is powerful, as Isaiah states:
“So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Is 55:11) “Our God is a consuming Fire!” (Heb12:29)
I was also blessed to be able to go to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help on October 8th to commemorate the anniversary of the Fire and Apparition, to join in the candlelight rosary procession, in Adoration, and to give thanks to God, through the hands of Our Lady of Good Help, for the many blessings received from her intercession. I begin every prayer period with this Holy Spirit prayer: “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful. Enkindle in us the Fire of Your Love!” May the Fire of His Merciful Love fall upon the earth and bring peace to the hearts of all His people….
The Peshtigo Fire has always intrigued me, especially after learning the story of how the area where the Virgin Mary appeared in Champion, WI was spared from the blaze. I had read a lot about her apparition there, how the people fled to the Shrine and processed around the chapel with the statue of Mary, begging her help, and how that night the rains came. The next morning, the area surrounding the chapel grounds was all charred and laid waste, with the outer side of the fence black and burned, while within the fenced area the grass was vibrant green, and the fence still white, untouched by the fire. It was described as an emerald island in a desolate wasteland.
Somehow I wanted to read more about the fire itself, and on a recent trip to the Shrine, found an account written by Fr Pernin, an eyewitness survivor of the fire. The date of Mary’s first apparition to Adele Brise, the Belgian immigrant girl, was October 8, 1859, and the date of the Peshtigo Fire was that same day in October, in the year 1871. I brought the book home and read it that evening, caught up in the sheer horror described in it. It detailed the tragedy in a very graphic way, as Fr Pernin wrote of his sense of foreboding prior to the actual blaze, and then of the frantic effort to escape when the world around him exploded in flames of hurricane force. Railroad cars were tossed in the air, fire explosions were everywhere.
Although he was caught in the midst of this tremendous storm of fire, with people frantically seeking safety, he felt a certain inner calm that carried him to do what was necessary to save himself from the blaze. He took the tabernacle from the church on a wagon and was able to get to the river, where he pushed the wagon holding the tabernacle into the water.
As the firestorm swept through the area, everything was destroyed. People were bursting into flame with bodies everywhere – his descriptions are horrific. After the rain finally came and the fire stopped, he found the tabernacle untouched, carried by the wind and set upon some logs in the river ~ the consecrated Host inside was intact, and even the silk interior was preserved unscathed.
Perhaps what has drawn me so powerfully to this account are the mounting prophetic words about the state of our world today, and the firestorm of God’s wrath that may come through war or some other horror. Mary’s persistent pleas, from Fatima, from Medjugorje, and other apparition sites keep calling for prayer, especially the rosary. Mary is called the tabernacle where Jesus resides, the only safe harbor amidst the escalating evil.
The word that came after Adoration on Monday warned that when we may no longer have Christ present for us in the Eucharist, when our churches may be closed, when our priests may be gone, we will always have Mary and the rosary. October 7th is the feast of the Holy Rosary, celebrated one day before the dates of the Fire and of the Apparition. This sequence of events calls me to pray it often, and to do what I can to help others in their relationship with the Blessed Mother, our refuge in time of trial, who can bring us to Jesus. The Marian Servant community is a graced vehicle to help others find safety in this time of spiritual drought, when the landscape is becoming tinder dry and the winds of the evil one are escalating.
This doesn’t bring me anxiety or fear, but rather a strong desire to help others find refuge in the womb of Mary, beneath her Immaculate Heart, cradled there with Jesus. Fr Bonifice Hicks’ Consecration to Mary has helped me to envision this place of safety, and to enter into it spiritually.
His prayer of Entrustment to the Womb of Mary follows:
Almighty God, Heavenly Father, who have placed me, by Baptism, in the womb of the Virgin Mary beneath her Immaculate Heart to be together with her Son and ever more conformed to Him by the power of the Holy Spirit, grant that I may whole-heartedly embrace my dependence on you as I place all my trust in my Mother Mary. May I never scorn my weakness which your Son chose to share with me, but may I always be grateful to be little and helpless, knowing that without you I can do nothing. Veiled with her beneath the protective care of Saint Joseph her spouse, may I find in her a refuge against every danger and in her womb a hiding place invisible to the ancient foe. May I know that I am loved perfectly like Jesus by Joseph and Mary, those parents who, receiving everything from You, will always provide for all of my needs, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
There may be more pieces coming together as this story unfolds. For now, I’m heading for the Shrine on October 8th to commemorate the anniversary of the Apparition, to join in the candlelight procession, and to give thanks to God, through the hands of Our Lady of Good Help, for the many blessings received from her intercession. May the Fire of His Merciful Love fall upon the earth and bring peace to the hearts of all His people….
Spiritual Sun Pennies 