Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

"But I hear You complain, O my Sacramental Jesus:  I was a stranger, and you took Me not in (Matt. xxv. 43); that You came on earth to be our guest for our good, and that we have not welcomed You. You are right, Lord, You are right; and I am one of these ungrateful creatures who have left You alone, without even visiting You. Chastise me as You please; but not by depriving me of Your presence, which is the chastisement I deserve. No, I will repair my fault, and the indignities which I have heaped upon You. From this day forward I will not only visit You often, but will remain with You for as long a time as I can."   (St. Alphonsus Liguori from Visits  to the Most Blessed Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin Mary)

I wrote the following review nearly eight years ago. The Church dedicates the month of June each year to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Now is the perfect time to bring this book to your attention. In one clear and engaging volume, the author has skillfully assembled a treasure trove of information, prayers and personal witnesses to the efficacy of true Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. You will learn of its history, God’s astonishing promises to those who promote and live out this Devotion, related prayers and even a step by step directions as to how to consecrate your home and your family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. You will be uplifted and encouraged by the many stories Anne shares of those whose lives have been forever changed. Read this book. Ponder its pages. Do the suggested exercises and reflections.   Ask for the grace to faithfully live out this Devotion individually and within your families. Our Lord has assured us that countless blessings and grace...

                               Photo ©Father Lawrence Lew, O.P. Used with Permission) "In our self-centered culture and classic American emphasis on work, we often feel we have to accomplish something during our times of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. We rate our experience by how 'good' our prayer was, how heartfelt our devotion was, or how focused we could remain.  Yet prayer and contemplation are fundamentally God's work, in which we are invited to participate. We need only to give Him the opening, and He will do the rest. By coming to Adoration, we are handing Him the keys to our hearts, allowing the rays of His love and grace to bathe our souls in the light of His Presence, as the rays of the sun bathe our bodies in light. If we can take the time to pull away from the busyness and distractions of life and just sit at His feet, He will lead us."  (Poor Clares...

  (Image Source: Wikipedia Commons ) Father, you did it again! You are so gifted in so many ways. Your sermon was right on. The poem you shared was a shock to the heart and soul. But when you refused to hold up our Blessed Lord’s Body and Blood while the bells were rung three times; When you so irritatingly directed the Extraordinary minister of the Cup as to where she was to stand; When you interrupted the distribution of Holy Communion to encourage communicants to stop and pick up a copy of   the poem you read at Mass and which you had placed on the altar rail; When you just threw our Lord into my wife’s hands. This is all too much. There was nothing reverent and Sacred about the manner in which you distributed Holy Communion today. No one's belief in our Lord's Real Presence would have been enhanced. It was offensive... Father…please pause…take a close look at what others see…and adjust what you do.

Dear Saint Michael: (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) What sweet delight it is to call upon you as the Guardian Angel of the Eucharist! Dear and faithful sentinel, w e believe that you always attend to our Eucharistic King, Jesus, wherever He is pleased to dwell among us.   Please help us grow in imitation of your boundless love for Jesus in this Sacrament of His Divine Love. Confirm and strengthen our faith in His Real Presence. Obtain for us the grace of receiving the Holy Eucharist worthily, mindfully and reverently each time we are blessed to approach His Sacred altar. Amen.  (Carol Puschaver from Lovingly Do I Call to You - Prayers to Saint Michael the Archangel. Used with permission)  

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. David G. Bonagura, Jr. "It has become fashionable in certain circles for parents to put off their child's baptism until he or she is older and can make a personal decision. This is a colossal mistake. To deprive a child of Baptism is akin to depriving him of an education or health care. Parents would never make teeth brushing handwashing or school optional for their children. Likewise, they should never make God and His grace optional. God is essential and Baptism is the means by which human beings begin to encounter God in His fullness.” (From 100 Tough Questions for Catholics -   Common Obstacles to Faith Today. )   St. Alphonsus Liguori "St. Augustine says, that to prevent the sheep from seeking assistance by her cries, the wolf seizes her by the neck, and thus securely carries her away and devours her. The Devil acts in...

“Receive Communion…and be deeply aware of the One who visits you, infinite love, divine madness; of One who not only became man like ourselves, but who became bread. After you receive Communion, ask Jesus, the God you hold prisoner in your soul, to stay with you throughout the day so that you may love Him and give Him thanks.”  (St. Teresa of the Andes , excerpt from  Letters of Saint Teresa of the Andes, Michael D. Griffin,  o.c.d. , tr.)