A single offering ... a sea of comfort...

I have set you an example that you 

should do as I have done for you. - John 13:15

In May 1941, Fr Jean Bernard was arrested for denouncing the Nazis and sent to Dachua’s “Priest Block,” a barracks that housed more than 3,000 clergymen of various denominations (the vast majority Roman Catholic priests).  Priestblock 25487 tells the gripping true story of his survival amid inhumane brutality, degradation and torture.  Later this book was adapted by director Volker Schlondorff into the award-winning film, The Ninth Day. (Both book and film highly recommended.)

FOLLOWING: an excerpt from

Priestblock 25487, A Memoir of Dachua by Fr Jean Bernard

“Mass is always celebrated by the same priest, a former chaplain in the Polish army, the only one who has been given permission. … The sacred rite commences.  It proceeds in haste, and the gathering is uneasy and nervous.  Everyone knows that the Mass is tolerated rather than really allowed, and each time it could be disrupted. …

The celebrant speaks the prayers of the Mass in a loud voice, and the others whisper them in accompaniment.  At the offering we raise our hands with the tiny bit of Host.  Before the transubstantiation someone plucks my sleeve.  “Prosze,” he says in Polish, “please.”  Then he puts his particle of host in my hand, next to my own.  I gather that he is not a priest, perhaps only a seminarian or monk, for the celebrant’s intention is to consecrate all the pieces of Host that are being held by priests.

“Hoc est corpus meum.”  I look at the two bits of Host in my hand, and as the One for Whom we are suffering all this comes into our midst, as in their hearts hundreds of priests join their offering with that of the Savior, tears roll down my cheeks.  It becomes a single offering that certainly creates new ties between heaven and earth. 

For Holy Communion the priests gather the pieces together; the communicants are the non-priests who entrusted a small bit of the Host to them.

It is a sea of comfort that pours out over the gathering.  Comfort and hope and strength for new suffering joyfully accepted.”

Eucharist: his only strength (Reflection 2 of 2)

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith;
be men of courage; be strong.
Do everything in love. - I Cor 16:13-14

In 1975,  Francis Xavier Cardinal Nguyên Van Thuán  (+ 2002) was arrested by the Communist government of Viet Nam and imprisoned for thirteen years, nine of them in solitary confinement.  He was finally exiled from Viet Nam in 1991.  This is an excerpt from one of his books, Five Loaves and Two Fish (pgs 37-39).  Yesterday (7/07/15) another excerpt from the same book was featured...

 “We had weekly indoctrination sessions in which the whole camp had to participate.  During our break, I and my Catholic companions took advantage of the opportunity to pass to each, or to the other four groups of prisoners, the little container that held the Blessed Sacrament:  they all knew that Jesus was among them, He who could heal all their physical and mental suffering. 

At night, the prisoners took turns for adoration; Jesus helped us in a tremendous way with His silent presence.  Many Christians regained the fervor of their faith during those days, and Buddhists and other non-Christians converted.  The strength of Jesus’ love is irresistible.  The darkness of prison became light; the seed germinated underground during the storm.

Every time I offer Mass I have the opportunity to extend my hands and nail myself to the cross with Jesus, to drink with Him the bitter cup.  Every day, praying and hearing the words of the consecration, I confirm with all my heart and with all my soul a new covenant, an eternal covenant between me and Jesus, through His Blood mixed with mine (cf.  Cor 11:23-25).”

Francis Xavier Cardinal Nguyên Van Thuán

Five Loaves and Two Fish

Other books by Cardinal Van Thuán : The Road of Hope,

Testimony of Hope and Prayers of Hope, Words of Courage

Eucharist: his only strength (Reflection 1 of 2)

It is God who arms me with strength 
and makes my way perfect.  – II Sam 22:33

In 1975,  Francis Xavier Cardinal Nguyên Van Thuán was arrested by the Communist government of Viet Nam and imprisoned for thirteen years, nine of them in solitary confinement.  He was finally exiled from Viet Nam in 1991.  This is an excerpt from one of his books, Five Loaves and Two Fish (pgs 35-37).  Tomorrow will feature another excerpt from the same book...

"When I was arrested, I had to leave immediately, with empty hands.  The next day I was allowed to request in writing the things I needed most:  clothes, toothpaste.... I wrote... Please, could you send me a bit of medicine for my bad stomach? The faithful understood what I meant and they sent a little bottle of wine for Mass, which they labeled 'stomach medicine,' as well as some hosts sealed in a flashlight to protect them from the humidity....

I will never be able to express my immense joy; every day, with three drops of wine and one drop of water in the palm of my hand, I celebrated Mass. ...  

It depended on the situation... On the boat that brought us north, I celebrated at night with the prisoners who received communion around me.  At times I had to celebrate while every one was bathing after calisthenics.  In the re-education camp, the prisoners were divided into groups of fifty; we slept on common beds and everyone had the right to fifty centimeters of space.  We arranged it so there were five Catholics near me.  At 9:30 PM the lights were turned off and everyone had to sleep.  I curled up on the bed to celebrate Mass, from memory, and I distributed communion by reaching under the mosquito netting covering us.  We made small containers from cigarette packages in which to reserve the Blessed Sacrament.  Jesus in the Eucharist was always with me in my shirt pocket."

Francis Xavier Cardinal Nguyên Van Thuán

Five Loaves and Two Fish

One body, one bread...

My purpose is that they may be 
encouraged in heart and united in love... Col 2:2a

"Let us unite ourselves

to Jesus in the Eucharist,

and unite ourselves to so many brothers and sisters

who suffer the martyrdom of persecution,

of calumny and of murder

for being faithful

to the only bread that satisfies,

that is, Jesus."

Pope Francis

Homily ~ April 21, 2015

 

That day has arrived! 
My 'little ones' will receive their First Holy Communion today!
Join in prayer for: Alyvia, Athena, Brianna, Chiashee, Helen, Kalia, Lucia, Marisa
OH, day of JOY - on earth and in heaven!