Contemplative Haven

Jan 11 2009

Everything

11 responses so far

11 Responses to “Everything”

1. # Cathyon 11 Jan 2009 at 7:10 am

   WOW!! Everything can be borne between two Masses.” So very profound. I will carry this with me as a reminder when I feel discouraged!!! Thank YOU!!! Cathy
2. # Annon 11 Jan 2009 at 12:08 pm

   This is interesting, for just yesterday I read an excerpt from St Faustina’s diary where she said she learnt from God that the Eucharist she receives one day stays with her until the next Eucharist is consumed.
3. # Carolon 11 Jan 2009 at 11:06 pm

   Well, I wonder if that was just for holy brides, Ann? If that’s true for everyone, then I must gasp. Either way, one might gasp: Does His love know no bounds?!

   As for life as a layperson, I don’t mind the sordid half as much as I mind people living from within their own coffins. I’ve maxed out on that. One would think Christ was naught but an Atoner and exited the tomb despite us!

   Absolutely, Cathy–profound indeed, and I love when someone says something so astoundingly true in one line.
4. # Gabrielleon 11 Jan 2009 at 11:31 pm

   I do remember St. Faustina saying that, but I don’t remember the exact context; maybe if Ann still has it handy she could let us know. Catherine went on afterwards to speak of those who attend Mass daily, but I believe we can all pray to Jesus to ask Him to stay with us, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in a special way spiritually until we can next receive Holy Communion. He is the Bread of Life, our spiritual nourishment, the One Who sustains us in this world, and since I read that line of Catherine’s last autumn, I have not forgotten it. I remember seeing a video where Mother Teresa was receiving Holy Communion. I say this with the utmost respect – she seemed to gobble it up out of the priest’s hand just like a baby bird excitedly taking food from its mother’s beak. I’ve never forgotten that either.
5. # Carolon 12 Jan 2009 at 12:06 pm

   And mentioning Mo. Teresa reminds me of how St. M. Faustina also suffered the sensation of divine abandonment for a time (I’m only on page 67 of the Diary; beginning to think they’ll have to pack the thing in my pine box). I’m always reminded of your asylum here and your compassion for refugee souls when I read of something like that. ‘Til you, I had never ever thought of how hard it is for contemplatives, especially those who suffer that fire of holy loss and/or what seems an accompanying lack of understanding confessor, and most especially in days of long ago when so many would have to wait for a visiting priest. There are indeed more refugee souls than we know, and so many who don’t realize that they are indeed that!

   Catherine’s statement, having seen it in so many words and knowing how true it is, caused me a thought about those who perhaps gathered around Fr. Kolbe’s cot for a secret Mass now and then. What an incredible miracle and solace all those would’ve found the Eucharist, and indeed, Catherine’s thought would’ve been engraved on their hearts.
6. # Annon 12 Jan 2009 at 1:01 pm

   Here is the excerpt, taken from an online diary, where a new excerpt comes up every time you refresh the page – and there are literally thousands, mostly just a few lines long.

   The diary link is here:

   http://www.saint-faustina.com/Diary.shtml.

   I find it a great way of reading about St Faustina and learning much at the same time while online.

   She wrote,

   “Today, I have come to understand many of God’s mysteries. I have come to know that Holy Communion remains in me until the next Holy Communion. A vivid and clearly felt presence of God continues in my soul. … My heart is a living tabernacle in which the living Host is reserved” (Diary, 1302).
7. # gabrielleon 12 Jan 2009 at 5:55 pm

   It makes me think of the early days of Christianity, too, Carol – how the place (on which tomb) and time of the next Mass would be whispered from one to another in the marketplace, or at the well, etc. – and how long they might have had to wait before it was not too dangerous to have another.

   Ann, thank you so much for the link and the paragraph reference. Sorry for the delay in your comment appearing; it went into moderation because it had a link in it, and I just got home from work a little while ago. That’s wonderful that the Diary is online for those who don’t have it, and for quick reference even for those who do. St. Faustina had so many experiences surrounding the Eucharist in her short life; it’s so beautiful to read about them.
8. # Piaon 13 Jan 2009 at 11:46 am

   I spent a few minutes looking for the English version of some excerpts from the diary. I recall that one of the most incredible things she wrote about was her visions of the baby Jesus or the Child Jesus on the altar, and the lessons He gave her regarding Holy Communion, including the fact that we are actually consuming His Body…but I don’t know exactly how that could have been translated into English. I mean from what she writes, it is clear that His Body was broken into pieces…Can anybody help?

   Ps found this along the way: http://www.thedivinemercy.org/news/story.php?NID=3447
9. # gabrielleon 13 Jan 2009 at 11:55 pm

   Pia, thanks for that link; it’s a lovely site.

   If you look in my archives for June 17, 2006 (Corpus Christi), Pia, I posted something from the Diary regarding what you’re asking about, but I know there were other entries (at least one)in the Diary as well, where she does actually describe the breaking of the Body into pieces. My understanding of it would be that Jesus wanted to allow St. Faustina to truly understand, with the help of such visual impact, that the Eucharist is truly His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity – His entire Self – that is broken by the priest and consumed by all of us.
10. # ukokon 20 Jan 2009 at 7:20 am

    That’s pretty powerful stuff and something i need to really digest at this time in my life. Thanks for posting this, it was something i needed to read.
11. # gabrielleon 20 Jan 2009 at 10:31 pm

    Pia, I saw your comment on the Corpus Christi post in my archives, and I left two more quotations there for you on that topic from the Diary, just in case you didn’t see them.

    ukok, I know what you mean. We have to really digest it, really believe it, and really gain strength from it. Catherine goes on to say, “If every morning you eat the bread of the saints, you will be able to face any kind of day. Your mind and heart will be nourished, too, by the Word of God. The voice of the psalmist and the warm tones of the voice of Christ will give you courage and new hope. Your faith will be renewed.” I do not make it to daily morning Mass, but I find that this is true even from my morning prayer time, so how much moreso would it be from daily morning Mass and Holy Communion?

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