Strange Things Happen on the Night of Christmas

+J.M.J.+

During these last few days before Christmas, our hearts turn more than ever to Jesus and His Coming among us.

He is still present among His brothers and sisters two thousand years after His initial appearance. We know that Christ is with us in several ways: through His Word proclaimed, by the ministry of His priests, whenever two or more gather in His Sacred Name and in a most unique and exalted fashion in the Most Holy Eucharist.

These final Advent days afford us an excellent opportunity to reflect well on the Most Blessed Sacrament and to ask ourselves how we reverence the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the God-Man, Jesus Christ.

Jesuit Father Segundo Llorente (1906-1989) was an outstanding missionary to the faithful of Alaska. A brilliant and humble priest, Father Llorente spent himself in the service of the indigenous of Alaska for decades.

Years ago, in a meditation entitled "Strange Things Happen on the Night of Christmas," this Spanish religious offered his thoughts on the adoration due the Most Holy Eucharist. This powerful essay, which was published in the February 1998 newsletter of the Catholic Society of Evangelists, seems more pertinent now than when it first was penned.

A priest told me what happened to him once in his first parish. After the Midnight Mass on Christmas Day he personally locked the church. With the keys in his pocket he went to his room and had a good sleep. At 7:30 in the morning he got up and went back to the church intending to have one hour of prayer all to himself. He opened the side door leading to the sacristy, turned on a light and then turned on the lights for the church. As he opened the sacristy door and walked into the church, he literally froze. Strange people clad in the poorest of clothes occupied most of the pews and all were in total silence. No one so much as wiggled and nobody cared to look at him. A small group was standing by the Nativity Scene contemplating the manger in total silence.

The priest recovered quickly and in a loud voice asked them how they got in. Nobody answered. He walked closer to them and asked again. "Who let you in?" A woman answered totally unconcerned: "Strange things happen on the night of Christmas." And back to total silence The priest went to check the main door and found it locked just as he had left it. He was now determined to get the facts and turned his face to the pews; but they were empty. The people had vanished.

He kept this puzzle to himself for some time. Unable to hold it in any longer, he told me just what I have told you. Could I help with any plausible explanation? Let me hurry to say that the priest in question is a model of sanity and is as well educated academically as most of the priests I know, if not better.

My explanation was and still is as follows. Those were dead people who were doing their purgatory, or part of it, in the church. It is safe to assume that we atone for our sins where we committed them. Those people were immersed in total silence. Why? Consider the irreverences committed before the Blessed Sacrament; how many people act out in church: chatting, giggling, and looking around. After Mass some people gather in small groups around the pews and turn the church into a market place with no regard for Christ's Real Presence in the tabernacle. Why did they vanish? They did not vanish. They simply became invisible; but they remained tied to their pews unable to utter one single word to atone for their disrespectful chatter while living.

The Blessed Sacrament is no laughing matter. There is a price tag to all we do or say. In the end it is God Who gets the last laugh--so to speak. Those people had to give the Blessed Sacrament the adoration and respect that Christ deserves. For how long? Only God can answer that. Why did the priest see them? So he could pray for them and for all other Poor Souls detained in other churches. Why other priests do not see these people? Well, perhaps they already know in theory that souls can be detained in churches as well as anywhere else, so they do not need a miracle.

Why were they clad in such poor clothes? To atone for their vanity while living. People often use clothes not so much to cover their nakedness but as a status symbol to impress others. But God is not impressed by, say, mink coats. Also people walk into church with hardly any clothes. In the summer months it is not unusual for people--mostly women--to go to receive Holy Communion in the most indecent clothing. The pastor may or may not put up with it; but God will have His day in court about this. Rags could be an appropriate punishment for these excesses.

Absent an official declaration from the Church that the above episode recounted by Father Llorente is true, one may dismiss it. But the deeper meaning cannot be summarily rejected, namely, that the Sacred Heart of Emmanuel, Who comes to us, is really, truly and substantially present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar and is to be "praised, adored and loved with grateful affection at every moment in all the tabernacles of the world, even until the end of time. Amen."

I Am Not Alone - just beautiful!

The first Adoration of Jesus’ Sacred Heart

Apartment of Prayer

Sometimes our vision of God’s call is a little different than how He chooses to unfold it.. Sometimes God has to ‘tweak’ our life, basically because free will gets in the way of His work. Yet when a soul ardently seeks His will, God finds a way to let it be done in one’s life. I wasn’t able to find donors to open a house of prayer, but God is accomplishing His will in another way in a little apartment.

Here is my simple, ordinary ‘Bethany House of Prayer ‘, a place where I hope Jesus can find a place to rest His Head. My day is split between a simple life of prayer and caring for triplet babies. 

Thank you to those who have tried to help me. I pray that as God continues to put good people on my path that God will bless them abundantly.

St John Paul II

I remember at World Youth Day one year the crowd chanted, ‘John Paul II, we love you and we want you to live forever!’

This man was a spiritual giant and we are so blessed to have been part of God’s work through him in the Church. 

From his first words as Pope:

“Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power. Help the Pope and all those who wish to serve Christ and with Christ’s power to serve the human person and the whole of mankind. Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization, and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows ‘what is in man’. He alone knows it.”

Fountain of Love

We do not understand the power of the Blood of Jesus. Every sore it touches is healed. Every impurity washed in it is made limpid and holy. Every dry, cracked and broken part of our heart is made fresh and whole. Every intention offered to the Father through the precious Blood is answered. Every need presented to Jesus here, in and through His Blood is provided for. Every person who drinks of this fountain (or is washed by our presenting them here) is transformed and richly blessed. Every desire is quenched and all evil is destroyed. Every soul is made more beautiful and holy by spiritual contact with just one drop. Blindness and deafness and confusion and despair and doubt and fear are taken away and replaced by wisdom, knowledge, joy, peace and love. Yes, all of this and more would be corrected and healed and transformed and made new if only we presented it daily to our Beloved Jesus’ precious Blood.

Listen to the Litany of the Most Precious Blood of
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Jesus, hear us. God, the Father of Heaven, God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, God, the Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, One God, Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony, Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, Blood of Christ, price of our salvation, Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness. Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, Blood of Christ, stream of mercy, Blood of Christ, victor over demons, Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs, Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors, Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins, Blood of Christ, help of those in peril, Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened, Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow, Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent, Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying, Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts, Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life, Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory, Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor, Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, You have redeemed us, O Lord, in your Blood.	Lord, have mercy Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy Jesus, graciously hear us. Have mercy on us. Have mercy on us. Have mercy on us. Have mercy on us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Save us. Spare us, O Lord Graciously hear us, O Lord.have mercy on us. And made us, for our God, a kingdom.
Let us pray, ---  Almighty and eternal God, you have appointed your only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by his Blood. Grant we beg of you, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord.  Amen.

My favorite St. Edith Stein quote:

“The followers of the Anti-Christ make every effort to tear the cross out of the hands of Christians... Therefore, the Savior today looks at us, solemnly probing us: ‘Will you remain faithful to the crucified?’ If you decide for Christ, it could cost you your life... If you intend to be the Bride of Christ, the Crucified, you too must completely renounce your will and no longer have any desire except to fulfill God’s will.

The Savior hangs before you with a pierced Heart. He has spilled His Heart’s blood to win your heart. If you want to follow Him in holy purity, your heart must be free of every earthly desire. Jesus, the Crucified, is to be the only object of your longings, your wishes, your thoughts... The world is in flames. Are you impelled to put them out? Look at the Cross. From the open Heart gushes the Blood of the Savior. This extinguishes the flames of hell. Make your heart free... and then the flood of Divine Love will be poured into your heart until it overflows and becomes fruitful to all the ends of the earth...”

The Cross is my anchor...

One day many years ago I was at a prayer meeting with Fr. Flanagan (the founder of SOLT) and he asked us to reflect on how we carry our crosses. When it came my turn to share I said, ‘I don’t feel like I carry my cross- I think that the cross carries me!’ More recently I had a similar thought- I noticed how when life is hardest and I feel thrown around the waves of life, clinging to Jesus’ Cross tends to be my reaction and His Cross becomes like my life jacket and my anchor in the storm. It is by placing the Calverized parts of my life with His suffering that I find the fruits of the Holy Spirit in my suffering. A saint once said (I think it was St. Francis) that the greatest gift of the Holy Spirit is union with Jesus crucified. The Cross of Jesus is truly the fountain of all our heart’s desire and need for happiness.

A novena of family healing Masses starting Sept. 8th... Please pray along

PRAYER FOR HEALING THE FAMILY TREE
Rev. John H. Hampsch, CMF
Heavenly Father, I come before you as your child, in great need of your help.
I have physical health needs, emotional needs, spiritual needs, and interpersonal needs. Many of my problems have been caused
by my own failures, neglect and sinfulness,
for which I humbly beg your forgiveness, Lord. But I also ask you to forgive the sins of my ancestors whose failures have left their effects on me
in the form of unwanted tendencies, behavior patterns, and defects in body, mind and spirit. Heal me, Lord, of all these disorders. –pause-
With your help I sincerely forgive everyone, especially living or dead members of my family tree, who have directly offended me or my loved ones in any way, or those whose sins have resulted
in our present sufferings and disorders.
In the name of your divine Son Jesus,
and in the power of the Holy Spirit, I ask you, Father,
to deliver me and my entire family tree
from the influence of the evil one. – pause –
Free all living and deceased members of my family tree, including those in adoptive relationships,
and those in extended family relationships,
from every contaminating form of bondage.
By your loving concern for us, heavenly Father,
and by the shed blood of your Precious Son Jesus,
I beg you to extend your blessing to me
and all my living and deceased relatives.
Heal every negative effect transmitted
through all past generations,
and prevent such negative effects
in future generations of my family tree. – pause –
I symbolically place the cross of Jesus over the head of each person in my family tree, and between each generation.
I ask you to let the cleansing blood of Jesus 

purify the bloodlines in my family lineage.u
Set your protective angels to encamp around us, and permit Archangel Raphael, the patron of healing, to administer your diving healing power to all of us, even in areas of genetic disability.
Give special power to our family members’ guardian angels
to heal protect, guide and encourage each of us in all our needs. Let your healing power be released at this very moment, and let it continue as long as our sovereignty permits.
In our family tree, Lord, replace all bondage
with a holy bonding in family love.
And let there be an ever deeper bonding with you, Lord, by the Holy Spirit, to your Son Jesus.
Let the family of the Holy Trinity pervade our family with its tender, warm, loving presence,
so that our family may recognize
and manifest that love in all our relationships.
All of our unknown needs we include with this petition that we pray in Jesus’ precious name.
Amen, Amen and Amen 

A Eucharistic Nanny... That's seriously what I am ...

So, what does a Missionary Hermit Eucharistic Nanny's life look like?

10pm-11am full time care for three really little ones (change, feed, burp, swaddle and love times three at 10pm, 1am, 4am, 7am, 10am- it takes 45 mins a child leaving just enough time in between to make formula, clean/organize bottles, log it all, etc.) - plus lots of prayer with them!

11:15am-12:15pm -prayer before the Blessed Sacrament

12:15-12:45 -Mass (Some days I hit a 11:40am Mass on my way home)

12:45-1:15 -Walk to train (exercise!)

1:15-1:45 -commute on train (Rosaries, Chaplets, etc.)

2:00-5:00pm -Sleep (sometimes I skip the noon Mass to sleep 12-5pm)

5:15-5:45 - Mass at parish nearby

5:45-6:45pm -adoration

6:45-8:45pm -food, more adoration or sleep, spiritual reading, icons, guitar, languages, just life

8:45-9:45pm -commute (train and walking)

10pm-11am -work again

*** On weekends I only work 12 midnight to 7:30am, so I have extra hours to sleep, exercise 8-10 additional miles by the Lake (I normally walk 5-6 miles daily), additional adoration, etc.

All of my life is a prayer united with four chalices lifted in consecration every second (all over the world)- when a life is anchored in the Eucharist even little things have great worth and bear good fruit.

A 'Bethany House of Prayer' in the city...

A religious sister I once knew used to say that we must become a 'resting place for the Holy Spirit'... That is my hope for this little place- that it simply is a resting place for God's presence to be among His people. The awesome adoration chapel nearby is the clincher- they brought the stones from Lourdes to build this replica (see bottom pictures).

God's Providence

A couple of weeks ago I was looking through old posts and I came across the 'wish list' I had made. I was floored to realize that God had somehow provided for everything I had asked for. No, I didn't get my own 'Fiat' (the car), but a car was made available to me. And the train works when I need to commute. No, I didn't buy a new guitar, but my brother BJ let me take his home with me for a while. My Mom bought me a new wardrobe. A donor helped me get art supplies and what is needed to make my lotion. Walmart had a sale on french presses. My sister bought me a real coffee pot. I am starting up with a house (apartment) of prayer hidden in Chicago (but it's Ravenswood instead of Southside inner city). I haven't had the response on gofundme from donors as I/we (Jesus and I) had hoped for or expected, but I have gotten along by the skin of my teeth and a beautiful job was offered to me: I get to take care of three 4 lb triplet newborns for 13 hours a night. Who (besides me) gets to pray with three innocent souls nightly? Not one, but THREE Baby Jesuses to love daily (and get paid for it). What I realized is how God provides for us in ways different than we expect or ask for at times, yet His answers that seem to pop up in our ordinary lives are more practical, better and an incredible 'fit' to our needs exactly. These ordinary answers that seem to just appear in our practical daily life are miracles we shouldn't forget to thank God for.

Oh Maria...

Keep us this close to you!

Fighting Humbly

I don't know how to fight and yet be humble. When I say fight I literally mean to fight viciously against anything and everything that can take me from my Jesus, while yet being docile to the gentle Holy Spirit trying to lead me and merciful to all the people who inevitably are not perfect around me. I struggle with keeping my heart stalwartly in the cement of faithfulness while being docile to God and approachable to others who may not be where I am in life. This juxtaposition that meets in the true definition of humility is the key to spiritual warfare... its the key to staying faithful to Jesus in a world that tries with its entire strength and might to rip you from Him and throw you to the dogs while being gentle in love. The saints say that humility is the weapon best used in the spiritual life -and yet sometimes I feel like I fight so hard to be faithful that there is no room left for humility. Am I nothing enough yet to walk through a spiritual battlefield with raging bombs and not be touched? And yet, is a little soldier gal supposed to be nothing -or instead aren't we supposed to be brilliant, vibrant, exuberant versions of who God created us to be. Is that humble? Humility is truth and so the answer has got to be somewhere between the bold determination and the contentness in being so weak that collide in my heart.

Good thing I don't even have to understand all this... I give it all to my Sweet Jesus and He can rearrange the furniture in my heart... He can form me... and I just have to trust Him when I don't see what He's doing in the darkness.  Its just my thoughts tonight... the musings of Mary:

Jesus, we love You. Jesus we trust in You. +