Come and Kneel Before Him Now

This weekend is the Feast of Corpus Christi--the Body of Christ.

These Capuchin Franciscans bring the Blessed Sacrament into the middle of the Preston, England marketplace and preach in a beautifully simple way on Jesus through the Bible.

Come and Kneel Before Him Now

This weekend is the Feast of Corpus Christi--the Body of Christ.

These Capuchin Franciscans bring the Blessed Sacrament into the middle of the Preston, England marketplace and preach in a beautifully simple way on Jesus through the Bible.

Corpus Christi--Our Freedom

This Sunday is Corpus Christi Sunday--the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. It is traditionally a day parishes have an outdoor procession of the Holy Eucharist. This can be a bit jarring to those in the neighborhood unaccustomed to such public display of Catholicism, but it is an important tradition to continue, not only for its spiritual benefits, but also for its political.

A Corpus Christi procession can be a strong witness for Christ by literally bringing Jesus to the people. I have seen people poke their heads out of their windows in wonder to watch the procession pass by. Many have not been to church in decades. Many have never been to church at all.

Such a public display of belief is becoming more and more rare and indeed frowned upon in today's society. And yet, we still have freedom of religion in America. We are still free to practice our religion, even in public; even when it becomes uncomfortable for others. We need to maintain that freedom by exercising it on a regular and frequent basis.

This video makes me wish I could be in New York  City for *this* Corpus Christi procession!

Corpus Christi--Our Freedom

This Sunday is Corpus Christi Sunday--the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. It is traditionally a day parishes have an outdoor procession of the Holy Eucharist. This can be a bit jarring to those in the neighborhood unaccustomed to such public display of Catholicism, but it is an important tradition to continue, not only for its spiritual benefits, but also for its political.

A Corpus Christi procession can be a strong witness for Christ by literally bringing Jesus to the people. I have seen people poke their heads out of their windows in wonder to watch the procession pass by. Many have not been to church in decades. Many have never been to church at all.

Such a public display of belief is becoming more and more rare and indeed frowned upon in today's society. And yet, we still have freedom of religion in America. We are still free to practice our religion, even in public; even when it becomes uncomfortable for others. We need to maintain that freedom by exercising it on a regular and frequent basis.

This video makes me wish I could be in New York  City for *this* Corpus Christi procession!

May

May is the time
of May Crownings
and First Communions,
of blossoms
and of light,
bringing forth the delicious awareness
of the exceptional distinction
of being young,
and female,
and Catholic.

Lace and tulle bedecked,
with veils and crowns,
we share our unique significance
with the Mother of God!

With her we come forward
to receive Our Lord--
our innocent "yes"
facilitating the union--

God alive
in us.

The feelings fade
over time
but come back
in waves

like labor,

giving birth
to a long forgotten longing

and in dreams
that visit
when day time defenses
are asleep,

and call us back
to live

our ancient, created value.

Originally published on Falling Plum Poetry on April 30, 2009.  

May

May is the time
of May Crownings
and First Communions,
of blossoms
and of light,
bringing forth the delicious awareness
of the exceptional distinction
of being young,
and female,
and Catholic.

Lace and tulle bedecked,
with veils and crowns,
we share our unique significance
with the Mother of God!

With her we come forward
to receive Our Lord--
our innocent "yes"
facilitating the union--

God alive
in us.

The feelings fade
over time
but come back
in waves

like labor,

giving birth
to a long forgotten longing

and in dreams
that visit
when day time defenses
are asleep,

and call us back
to live

our ancient, created value.

Originally published on Falling Plum Poetry on April 30, 2009.  

Jesus is Waiting For You

Jesus is Waiting For You

Corpus Christi

Today is the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ--Corpus Christi. The feast was originally established in 1246 by Bishop Robert de Thorte of Liege at the suggestion of St. Juliana, who received an inspiration from Christ to promote the feast as a way to strengthen the people's faith that had begun to grow weak. In 1264, Pope Urban extended the feast to the entire Church.

Corpus Christi processions are an important part of the feast day. The Eucharist is reserved in a monstrance and processed under a canopy, outside, often around the block. This public display of our faith in the Real Presence is especially important today when people's faith grows cold and our rights to practice our religion are being challenged.

These public expressions of Catholicism, once taken for granted, had fallen by the wayside in the confusion following Vatican II. The result was generations being "raised Catholic" with no sense of the faith or of Catholic culture or the place of the Church in their lives.

Thankfully, we are learning to retrieve the "Baby" we had previously thrown out with the bathwater in the 1960's, and are once again proud to be Catholic and thankful for our ability to publicly practice our faith.

Corpus Christi

Today is the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ--Corpus Christi. The feast was originally established in 1246 by Bishop Robert de Thorte of Liege at the suggestion of St. Juliana, who received an inspiration from Christ to promote the feast as a way to strengthen the people's faith that had begun to grow weak. In 1264, Pope Urban extended the feast to the entire Church.

Corpus Christi processions are an important part of the feast day. The Eucharist is reserved in a monstrance and processed under a canopy, outside, often around the block. This public display of our faith in the Real Presence is especially important today when people's faith grows cold and our rights to practice our religion are being challenged.

These public expressions of Catholicism, once taken for granted, had fallen by the wayside in the confusion following Vatican II. The result was generations being "raised Catholic" with no sense of the faith or of Catholic culture or the place of the Church in their lives.

Thankfully, we are learning to retrieve the "Baby" we had previously thrown out with the bathwater in the 1960's, and are once again proud to be Catholic and thankful for our ability to publicly practice our faith.

The Crowning of Mary and of Us

Note: I usually park my poems on my Falling Plum Poetry blog, but I decided this one deserved a mention here as well.

May is the time
of May Crownings
and First Communions,
of blossoms
and of light,
bringing forth the delicious awareness
of the exceptional distinction
of being young,
and female,
and Catholic.

Lace and tulle bedecked,
with veils and crowns,
we share our unique significance
with the Mother of God!

With her we come forward
to receive Our Lord--
our innocent "yes"
facilitating the union--

God alive
in us.

The feelings fade
over time
but come back
in waves

like labor,

giving birth
to a long forgotten longing

and in dreams
that visit
when day time defenses
are asleep,

and call us back
to live

our ancient, created value.

The Crowning of Mary and of Us

Note: I usually park my poems on my Falling Plum Poetry blog, but I decided this one deserved a mention here as well.

May is the time
of May Crownings
and First Communions,
of blossoms
and of light,
bringing forth the delicious awareness
of the exceptional distinction
of being young,
and female,
and Catholic.

Lace and tulle bedecked,
with veils and crowns,
we share our unique significance
with the Mother of God!

With her we come forward
to receive Our Lord--
our innocent "yes"
facilitating the union--

God alive
in us.

The feelings fade
over time
but come back
in waves

like labor,

giving birth
to a long forgotten longing

and in dreams
that visit
when day time defenses
are asleep,

and call us back
to live

our ancient, created value.

Prayers for Reparation

In light of all the contemptuous outrages recently committed against Christ's Presence in the Holy Eucharist, and the frightening increase in the brash public debasement of the Catholic Church, I wanted to post some prayers of reparation.

The first is given by Our Lady of Akita (Japan).

Handmaids of the Eucharist

"Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist, I consecrate my body and soul to be entirely one with Your Heart, being sacrificed at every instant on all the altars of the world and giving praise to the Father, pleading for the coming of His Kingdom.

Please receive this humble offering of myself. Use me as You will for the glory of the Father and the salvation of souls.Most Holy Mother of God, never let me be separated from Your Divine Son. Please defend and protect me as Your special child. Amen."

This Prayer of Reparation was given to the children by Our Lady of Fatima in 1917.

Prayer of Reparation

O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore thee profoundly. I offer thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of thee the conversion of poor sinners.

This last prayer is part of a Litany in Reparation to Our Lord in the Eucharist.

For the outrageous contempt of this most wonderful Sacrament, We offer Thee our reparation.
For Thine extreme humiliation in Thine admirable Sacrament,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For all unworthy Communions,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the irreverences of wicked Christians,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the profanation of Thy sanctuaries,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the holy ciboriums dishonored and carried away by force,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the continual blasphemies of impious men,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the obduracy and treachery of heretics,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the unworthy conversations carried on in Thy holy temples,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the profaners of Thy churches which they have desecrated by their sacrileges, We offer Thee our reparation.

Prayers for Reparation

In light of all the contemptuous outrages recently committed against Christ's Presence in the Holy Eucharist, and the frightening increase in the brash public debasement of the Catholic Church, I wanted to post some prayers of reparation.

The first is given by Our Lady of Akita (Japan).

Handmaids of the Eucharist

"Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist, I consecrate my body and soul to be entirely one with Your Heart, being sacrificed at every instant on all the altars of the world and giving praise to the Father, pleading for the coming of His Kingdom.

Please receive this humble offering of myself. Use me as You will for the glory of the Father and the salvation of souls.Most Holy Mother of God, never let me be separated from Your Divine Son. Please defend and protect me as Your special child. Amen."

This Prayer of Reparation was given to the children by Our Lady of Fatima in 1917.

Prayer of Reparation

O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore thee profoundly. I offer thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of thee the conversion of poor sinners.

This last prayer is part of a Litany in Reparation to Our Lord in the Eucharist.

For the outrageous contempt of this most wonderful Sacrament, We offer Thee our reparation.
For Thine extreme humiliation in Thine admirable Sacrament,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For all unworthy Communions,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the irreverences of wicked Christians,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the profanation of Thy sanctuaries,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the holy ciboriums dishonored and carried away by force,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the continual blasphemies of impious men,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the obduracy and treachery of heretics,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the unworthy conversations carried on in Thy holy temples,
We offer Thee our reparation.
For the profaners of Thy churches which they have desecrated by their sacrileges, We offer Thee our reparation.

A Story for Corpus Christi

I was truly touched by a story that our priest told us during the homily today. Two weeks ago, our parish had its First Holy Communion. Last week, Father said, a young boy who had made his first communion the week before came forward in the communion line with his arms crossed, indicating that he was not going to receive the Eucharist that Sunday. Father said his heart was broken. He asked to see the young boy after Mass. The child said, "Father, I had a tiny sin on my soul and I didn't want to receive Jesus in communion until after I had gone to confession."

Wow. At the age of 7. In the year 2008. Wow. There is a saint in the making here, folks.

Jesus said to them, "Yes. Did you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing babies you have perfected praise?'" ~Matthew 21:16

The image is from Holy Cards for Your Inspiration.

A Story for Corpus Christi

I was truly touched by a story that our priest told us during the homily today. Two weeks ago, our parish had its First Holy Communion. Last week, Father said, a young boy who had made his first communion the week before came forward in the communion line with his arms crossed, indicating that he was not going to receive the Eucharist that Sunday. Father said his heart was broken. He asked to see the young boy after Mass. The child said, "Father, I had a tiny sin on my soul and I didn't want to receive Jesus in communion until after I had gone to confession."

Wow. At the age of 7. In the year 2008. Wow. There is a saint in the making here, folks.

Jesus said to them, "Yes. Did you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing babies you have perfected praise?'" ~Matthew 21:16

The image is from Holy Cards for Your Inspiration.

The Real Presence and the Rosary--Meditating on the Mystery

The Real Presence and the Rosary--Meditating on the Mystery

The Real Presence and the First Christians

This is one of Steve Silvia's videos. He has some wonderful videos on YouTube.

The Real Presence and the First Christians

This is one of Steve Silvia's videos. He has some wonderful videos on YouTube.