Nerve-centre of the Church's life ...

 I look into the paten's gold

My consecrated fingers hold,

And mirrored in its circle see

The other Christ I'm called to be.

Adrienne Gascoigne

Translation: Accept, holy Father... (addressed to God the Father)

Holy card image: www.thewindowshowsitall.blogspot.com/

     "When the Holy Father (JPII) described the priesthood as "the nerve-centre of the Church's whole life and mission" (Holy Thursday Exhortation, 4 April 1996), he was affirming the key role played by priest in the drama of salvation.  Priests, it could also be said, are God's key-men in the further sense that to them have been given the keys of the kingdom - the kingdom of privileged sacramental treasures, notably the Eucharist and the forgiveness of sins (cf. Mt 16:19).  ...

   ...a priest's whole meaning and purpose is focused on the Eucharist in general, the Mass in particular.  For he is consecrator and sacrifice-offerer of the Blessed Sacrament, besides being distributor, custodian and privileged adorer.  How accurate and apt, therefore, is the Holy Father's (JPII) observation:  "A priest is worth what his Eucharistic life is worth."

    St Claude de la Colombiere treasured the personal graces gained through holy Mass like rubies..."Each day in my Mass He will give me new counsels, new strength.  He will teach me, encourage me.  He will grant me or obtain for me, through His sacrifice, all the graces I shall ask of Him."

       

Excerpts from Mary and the Eucharist

Fr Richard Foley, SJ

   

THESE HANDS BRING ME JESUS 

CLICK BELOW  to see this outstanding slide show video

by Stephen Golder (Turn on sound) * 7 mins

 http://www.thesehandsbmj.com/video.htm

During this grace-filled season of Lent priests offer many extra Masses

and spend many long hours celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation

for the holy benefit of those they serve.  Let us PRAY DAILY for priests -

in thanksgiving for their vocation, for their stamina and piety and to implore 

deeper, richer Eucharistic lives for them - and ultimately for the Church!


"In strengthening the priest
you strengthen the whole Church. ...
Strengthen the priest and
you strengthen the whole foundation,
you strengthen everything in the Church."

Fr Gerald Fitzgerald, s.P., Founder
Handmaids of the Precious Blood