May times of refreshing come...

Repent therefore, and turn again,

that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing

may come from the presence of the Lord. – Acts 3:19

"I look and look, and turn to look again

at the consecrated Host; its whiteness dazzles me;

its brilliant rays wound my soul to its utmost depths

by revealing to me all its defects and deformities. ...

Who can think himself humble in the presence of Him

who is hidden under the form of bread? ...

Oh, my Lord! In your presence,

I ought to feel nought but shame,

and a deep sense of my utter worthlessness;

but I also feel a great love for You ...

which purifies and transforms me,

and takes me far away from this earth,

to the purest of Hosts, the very abode of Love."

Servant of God Concepcion Cabrera de Armida

  Photo Image:  Fr Gabriel, Canon Regular of St Augustine, Australia

Holy Confessions beget holy Communions...

"Our misery caused Him to stoop to our lowness.  Even our sins

had a sort of attraction for the abundance of His mercy

and the predilection of His grace.  Our repentance wins Him to us. 

Our love makes earth a paradise to Him..."  - Fr Frederick W Faber

A vision that leads...

So I gaze on you in the sanctuary 
to see your strength and your glory.  

For your love is better than life ... 

So I will bless you all my life...Psalm 63:2-4

“Video caelos apertos, St Stephen cried

as they stoned him:  ‘I see the heavens opened’. 

The elevation is the moment at which the eternal

is made manifest in time, in the ‘divine mystery’,

the moment of vision on the Mount of Vision. 

But we are not meant to think of the vision 

as something which, however precious and sublime,

is fugitive, impermanent:  
essentially it leads on to the moment of communion, 
and that in its turn points onward to the life 
that is to be led in the world when the Mass is over.”

Gerald Vann, O.P.

The Paradise Tree (pg 193)

Prayer ~ Fasting ~ Almsgiving

"Therefore, do not lose by saving, but gather in by scattering.

Give to the poor, and you give to yourself. You will not be allowed to keep

what you have refused to give to others." - St Peter Chrysologus

Stained Glass:  Elevation of host.  Rothenburg, St Jakob (Bavaria).  Artist: Rafael Toussaint 
Photo: Operation Help the Homeless (LosAngeles ~ USA)

See far, then farther...

 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. 

For what is seen is temporary, 
but what is unseen is eternal. - II Cor 4:18

"Go as far as you can see;

when you get there

you'll be able to see farther."

Thomas Carlyle

He is lifted, I am drawn...

Fifth Sunday of Lent*

*Final Lenten Sunday before Palm Sunday

 "And when I am lifted up from the earth, 

I will draw everyone to Myself." - John 12:32

(Gospel ~ today's Liturgy)

 

"I spend every free moment

at the feet of the hidden God

[in the Blessed Sacrament]. 

He is my Master; I ask Him about everything;

I speak to Him about everything.  

Here I obtain strength and light;

here I learn everything;

here I am given light

on how to act toward my neighbor."

 

St. Maria Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament

Divine Mercy Diary, 704

Behold...behold...behold...behold...Him!

 "Behold, the everlasting oblation!  Of such power it is, that in the

whole world no other sacrifice remains but this." - St Vincent Ferrer

 

"Recall that at four important moments during the celebration of the Eucharist, the priest elevates the sacred Host and the Precious Blood of the Lord. The first moment is the elevation during the consecration. The second moment occurs when, at the conclusion of the Eucharistic prayer, the priest raises the Host and the chalice together just before the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer. Then, before the distribution of Holy Communion, the priest presents the sacred Host and the Precious Blood to the entire congregation with the words “Behold the Lamb of God….” And finally, in a more personal moment, each communicant is invited to behold and adore the sacred Host just before receiving the Bread of Life." - Archbishop Augustine Di Noia, OP

 

"At the elevation of the most holy Sacrament, we must strive to adore Him with all our heart, then to offer Him to God the Father for the remission of our sins and those of all the world,then to offer to Him ourselves and all the Church and all our relations and friends." - St Francis de Sales

Fr Dominic De Maio, OP

 

"The whole life and passion of Christ is expressed in the Mass.  So when the priest raises the sacred host and chalice, he represents how Christ was raised high upon the Cross.  All must humble themselves and bend the knee when the body of Christ is raised up, for the true Christ who is in heaven is in the host." - St Vincent Ferrer 

 

 "For the elevation is done that all present may see and ask for whatever

will profit unto salvation, according to the words: And I, if I be lifted up from

the earth, will draw all things to Myself." - Durandus, Bishop of Mende (France)

"Behold the Sun of holy Church, that scatters the clouds

and renders heaven again serene!  Behold the heavenly Rainbow, 

pacifying the storms of divine justice!" - St Leonard