“Let us adore for all eternity the Most Blessed Sacrament.”
(Rev FX Lasance, “The New Missal for Every Day”, 1925, p132*)
‘This is my Body ...’
“The immolation of Jesus took place hidden under the appearances of the bread. He is now there, with his Flesh and with his Blood, with his Soul and with his Divinity. He is the same as on the day that Thomas placed his fingers in His glorious Wounds.
“And yet, on so many occasions, you saunter by, giving not even a hint of a greeting out of simple good manners that you would give to any person you knew when you met him.
“You have much less faith than Thomas!”
Ref: Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 684
The visit to the Blessed Sacrament
Eucharistic piety “should be centred above all on the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, which perpetuates the pouring out of His love on the Cross. But it has a logical prolongation in the adoration of Christ in this divine Sacrament, in the Visit to the Blessed Sacrament, in prayer beside the Tabernacle, as well as in those exercises of devotion, personal and private.
“... Jesus waits for us in this Sacrament of Love. Let us not be mean with our time when it comes to going to meet him in adoration, in contemplation that is filled with faith, and disposed to make reparation for the grave faults and crimes of the world.” (John Paul II, “Address”, 31 October 1982) Jesus is in the nearest Tabernacle; maybe just a few miles away or perhaps a few yards only.
How easy it is to understand the ancient custom of daily visits to the divine tabernacles! (Pius XII, “Mediator Dei”, 20 November 1947) There Jesus has been awaiting us for the past 20 centuries (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 537); we can be together with him like Mary, the sister of Lazarus, she who chose the better part (cf Lk 10:42), in that house in Bethany.
Jesus is awaiting our visit; in a way, a return of his visit to us in Holy Communion; and “a proof of gratitude, an expression of love, an acknowledgement of the Lord’s presence.” (Paul VI, “Mysterium Fidei”, 3 September 1965) A continuation of our act of thanksgiving for the previous Communion and a preparation for the next.
In front of the tabernacle, we can accurately say in all truth: God is here! In the presence of this mystery of faith the only attitude should be that of adoration: “... O hidden God, devoutly I adore You” (“Adoro te devote” by St Thomas in “Handbook of Prayers”, edited by Fr Charles Belmonte & Fr James Socias, 1988, pp214-5); of respect and astonishment; and, simultaneously, of unlimited confidence.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:319-20
Fruits of the Resurrection
Our Lord often used the miracle of his coming Resurrection to support the doctrines which he taught. He also decreed that all precautions taken by the Jews only served to prove even more the wonderful fact. The apostles, besides, always cited it as the basis of the faith they preached. “If Christ had not risen again, your faith is vain, for you are yet in your sins.” (1 Cor 15:17)
How happy am I to possess a faith so clearly divine; and all the graces belonging to my state in life! Do I show my gratitude by my works as well as my words?
My own resurrection to life and bliss eternal, if I only take care to secure it, is as certain as the resurrection of Jesus. In the words of the Holy Spirit, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ as first fruits, then they who are Christ’s, who have believed, at his coming.” (1 Cor 15:22-3)
What consolation there is in the thought that this body, which I care for so much, will one day be given back to me endowed with new and wonderful powers! Immortal, with an immensely increased capacity for enjoyment. Death viewed in such a light is no loss, but rather a gain to the Christian, a source of the sweetest hope and inexpressible comfort.
A man sadly regards the crumbling of the house he lives in; but if he learns that it is to be rebuilt more beautifully than before, his sorrow turns into joy. Our body, the dwelling-place of the soul, is not a very stable one. Despite all our care, sooner or later it deteriorates. It is a saddening thought.
However, we know God has promised to raise it up infinitely more beautiful; never again to be destroyed. “If our earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven.” (2 Cor 5:1) Should we fall and die, still in the prime of life, we may say with St Paul, ‘to die is gain’.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp192-4
The Resurrection: Model of our spiritual resurrection
The Lord is risen! He has left the grave, entered upon a new life more perfect than the first; and subject to none of its infirmities. So must we at this holy season rise from the grave of sin, imperfection and tepidity; to a more perfect and fervent life exempt, as far as possible, from our past defects.
The Lord is risen ‘indeed’. Not only in appearance, as Samuel raised up Saul. Nor for a time only, as our Lord raised Lazarus. “Christ rising from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has dominion over him.” (Rom 6:9)
Such should also be our spiritual resurrection -- ‘indeed!’ A real passage from a life more or less tepid to one of fervor. To a life based upon the resolution to persevere in the grace of God, and to fall no more into our former state of infidelity.
Our Lord put the fact of his resurrection beyond dispute by appearing to his apostles and disciples several times during the forty days he remained on earth. He allowed them to touch him, and ate with them.
The third mark of our spiritual resurrection must be ‘exterior’. It must not be known only to God, but be seen by our colleagues or subordinates -- before everybody we come in contact. They must perceive the change in us, and rejoice at it. Perhaps our former negligences and defects have annoyed or grieved them; or even scandalized our neighbors.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp194-6
Joy -- “The cheerfulness you should have is not the kind we might call physiological -- like that of a healthy animal. Rather, it is the supernatural happiness that comes from the abandonment of everything, including yourself, into the loving arms of our Father God.” (Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 659)
• On this day a blind man is said to have recovered his sight in the Church of Our Lady of Montserrat, in the year 1538. — Balinghain or. Calend. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Montserrat (cure of a blind man, Spain). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• “Nuestra Señora de Montserrat”. Spain. Restoration of sight to a blind man. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Fourviere, France. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
• “Notre Dame de Fourviere”. France. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
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