Happy is the soul...

"The Eucharist is at the very center of our life;

such was the teaching of Jesus. ...  The Christian faith 
is faith in the Eucharistic Christ." - Jean Galot, SJ

"Happy is the soul

that knows how to find

Jesus in the Eucharist,

and the Eucharist in all things!"

St Peter Julian Eymard

Painting above: Grand-mere et petite fille a la campagne by Ernst Karl Georg Zimmerman (1901)

Blessed to be a blessing...

 "At the blessing, we should think that Jesus Christ

is at that moment giving us His own blessing." ~ St Francis de Sales

Fr George Welzbacher ~ Final blessing after holy Mass, St John of St Paul Catholic Church - St Paul , MN - USA

"The Cross is where the Church finds her mission.  ... At the beginning of Mass, we make the Sign of the Cross as a way of showing our solidarity with the suffering of Christ, into Whose death we were baptized, taking up our crosses and following Him. At the end of the Mass, we reaffirm that solidarity and once more take up our crosses, with renewed strength and grace because of our devout participation in the Sacrifice of the Mass."

Jeffrey Pinyan

Excerpt: Praying the Mass, 2nd Ed (2010)

 

 

"The last blessing over the people represents the sending of the Holy Spirit, whom our Lord sent among the apostles after He had ascended into heaven, according to His promise, You shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you.  It also recalls the last blessing that will be given when Christ says, Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Durandus, Bishop of Mende (France)

c.1230-1296

The voice of the bell...

 The bells they sound on Bredon

And still the steeples hum -

'Come all to Church, good people',

Oh, noisy bells, be dumb;

I hear you, I will come. -  A.E. Housman

"Ringing the bells also gave notice to those unable

to attend the Mass (the sick, slaves, outside guards, etc)

that something divine and miraculous

was taking place inside of the church building.

The voice of the bell would allow people

to stop what they were doing

to offer an act of adoration to God. 

Additionally, the bells provided the ancillary benefit

of focusing (or re-focusing) the attention of the faithful

inside the church to the miracle

that was taking place atop the altar of sacrifice."

Excerpt from Sanctus Bells by Matthew D Herrera

The Last Mass of St Benedict, Fray Juan Rizi (Spain, 17th c)

"For bells are the voice of the church;

They have tones that touch and search

The heart of young and old."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Resting a while in Him...

"Let me seek you in desiring you and desire you in seeking you,

find you in loving you and love you in finding you." - St Anselm

 

 

"Escape from your everyday business for a short while,

hide for a moment from your restless thoughts. 

 

Break off from your cares and troubles

and be less concerned about your tasks and labors. 

 

Make a little time for God and rest a while in Him."

 

St Anselm

From the Proslogion

 

Commit to a short visit to the Blessed Sacrament 

each day during Advent!

A Child's Wish (poem) ...

 

 

A Child's Wish

I wish I were the little key

That locks Love's Captive in,

And lets Him out to go and free

A sinful heart from sin.

 

I wish I were the little bell

that tinkles for the Host

When God comes down each day to dwell

With hearts He loves the most.

 

I wish I were the chalice fair

That holds the Blood of Love,

When every flash lights holy prayer

Upon its way above.

 

I wish I were the little flower

So near the Host's sweet face,

Or like the light that half an hour

Burned on the shrine of grace.

 

I wish I were the altar where

As on His mother's breast

Christ nestles, like a child, fore'er

In Eucharistic rest.

 

But oh, my God, I wish the most

That my poor heart may be

A home all holy for each Host

That comes in love to me.

 

Abram J Ryan

(1839-1886)

 

Painting above: Child in prayer by Roberto Ferruzzi

A place of heart - and home...

"Let the Church always be a place of mercy and hope,
where everyone is welcomed, loved and forgiven." - Pope Francis



"Going through the street and

passing before any church,

I will enter there...

to make a devout genuflection

to the Sacramental Jesus

and send Him an affection of the heart." 

Ven Germano Ruoppolo

Passionist priest,

Spiritual Director of St Gemma Galgani

Painting:  artist -Vincente Carducho

The building block...

Do this in memory of Me.

He sent them  ... so that as sharers in His power they might

make all peoples His disciples, sanctifying and governing them

“No Christian community

can be built up unless it has

its basis and center in the

celebration of the

most Holy Eucharist.”

Decree on the Ministry and Life of the Priests, 6

Vatican II Document

St Philip and St James

Apostles, Martyrs

FEAST DAY - May 3

Sts Philip and James, pray for us!

You are strangers and aliens no longer. 

No, you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God.

You form a building which rises on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,

with Christ Jesus Himself as the capstone. Through Him the whole structure 
is fitted together and takes shape as a holy temple in the Lord; in Him you are being built

into this temple, to become a dwelling place for God in the Spirit. - Ephesians 2:19-22

Grace is dropping down...

"To receive the grace of God into our own hearts,

they must be void of our own glory." - Fr William Doyle

"As regards prayer, you should try to follow the attraction

of the Holy Spirit, for all souls are not led by the same path.

It would not be well to spend all the time in vocal prayer,

there should be some meditation, thought or contemplation.

Try 'basking in the sun of God’s love,' that is, quietly kneeling 
before the Tabernacle, as you would sit enjoying the warm sunshine,

not trying to do anything, except love Him;

but realizing that, during all the time you are at His feet,

more especially when dry and cold, grace is dropping down

upon your soul and you are growing fast in holiness."

Fr William Doyle (+1917)
Click here: Remembering Fr William Doyle SJ

Photo image: St Peter Catholic Church in St Charles, Missouri ~ USA

Renewing strength and grace

 "At the blessing, we should think that Jesus Christ

is at that moment giving us His own blessing." ~ St Francis de Sales

 

Fr George Welzbacher ~ Final blessing after holy Mass, St John of St Paul Catholic Church (East side - St Paul , MN - USA)

 

"The Cross is where the Church finds her mission.  ... At the beginning of Mass, we make the Sign of the Cross as a way of showing our solidarity with the suffering of Christ, into Whose death we were baptized, taking up our crosses and following Him.  At the end of Mass, we reaffirm that solidarity and once more take up our crosses, with renewed strength and grace because of our devout participation in the Sacrifice of the Mass."

 

Jeffrey Pinyan

Excerpt: Praying the Mass, 2nd Ed (2010)

 

 

 

"The last blessing over the people represents the sending of the Holy Spirit, whom our Lord sent among the apostles after He had ascended into heaven, according to His promise, You shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you.  It also recalls the last blessing that will be given when Christ says, Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Durandus, Bishop of Mende (France)

c.1230-1296