The Feast of Corpus Christi

The Feast of Corpus Christi reminds us that we possess an immense treasure. When a Catholic priest takes a little piece of unleavened bread and repeats the words that Jesus spoke at the Last Supper, "This is my body", and when he takes a small of amount of wine in a chalice and says, "This is my blood", the bread is no longer bread and the wine is no longer wine.

At every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we participate in a marvelous miracle, the miracle called Transubstantiation. Transubstantiation cannot be proved through scientific experimentation.

Transubstantiation belongs to the reality of faith. Faith does not contradict reason. Instead, the gift of faith that we receive at Baptism, gives us a superior vision.

Transubstantiation means "change of substance", or "change of reality." When the priest repeats the words that Jesus spoke at the Last Supper, the bread is no longer bread, and the wine is no longer wine. Instead, the entire substance of the bread and the entire substance of the wine have been changed into the substance of The Body and Blood of Christ. Transubstantiation occurs only by the power of God, and in a way that we cannot empirically detect. We know that transubstantiation takes place through the certainty of faith.

Jesus, the Son of God; Jesus the Messiah; Jesus the Lord and Savior of the universe said: "This is my body"; "This is my blood". Faith is a vision superior to reason, but it does not contradict reason, precisely because faith relies upon the authority of God who does not deceive, nor can be deceived. Jesus is the truth and thus is incapable of lying.

To read the entire reflection click here.

I thought I would share this video on a Miracle of the Eucharist that happened in Betania, Venezuela on December 7th, 1991. This is absolutely amazing and having seen this Host at Los Teques, where it is kept several times, I got a renewed appreciation for the REAL presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. I'm not saying that one needs to see a miracle such as this to believe but its so amazing, awesome, incredible, humbling, really cannot put it into words, to know that our God makes Himself present before us, and through the eyes of FAITH we know HE is really there.

The Donkey

When fishes flew and forests walked

And figs grew upon thorn,

Some moment when the moon was blood

Then surely I was born.

With monstrous head and sickening cry

And ears like errant wings,

The devil's walking parody

On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,

Of ancient crooked will;

Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,

I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;

One far fierce hour and sweet:

There was a shout about my ears,

And palms before my feet.

G.K.Chesterton

Feast of the Epiphany

On Epiphany, Christ was made manifest by the shining of a great star. Today Christ continues to make Himself known to us with the same spiritual illumination. The six Sundays which follow Epiphany are known as the time of manifestation. It was difficult for men to realize that God was living among them 1900 years ago. Today we, too, forget that all grace comes through Him, that our life is one with Him and our salvation is in Him. In order to convince His followers of his Divinity, He resorted to miracles — godly acts which mere man could not fathom. These miracles are related in the manifestation gospels. He changes water into wine. He cures the centurion's servant from a distance. He commands the sea and the winds and they obey. With such miracles He proved His Divinity and called those who loved Him to a new apostolate.

One after another declared their all embracing faith. Simeon held the Christ and declared that he had seen the salvation of all men. Do we in our homes see Christ in "the little children who round the table go?" The blind man of Jericho suddenly saw the Savior after years of darkness. What in his blindness had been but a man passing by became for him God whom he now glorified. Do we in our families see the Christ in our husbands and wives or are we still walking in blindness? Can we who have seen nineteen centuries of Christians and multitudes of miracles refuse to believe? Once we are conscious of the infinite price which Christ paid for our souls, our eyes are opened to see our shortcomings.

Source

Catholic Culture

Feast of Christ the King

Today we celebrate the feast of Christ The King. I can think of no better way to celebrate this than with Handel's Messiah. this is one of my favourite pieces of music and it is only fitting tribute to the King of Kings Lord of Lords, And He will reign forever and ever!!! ALLELUIA!!!

Feast of the Nativity of Mary

Father of mercy, give your people help and strength from heaven. The birth of the Virgin Mary's Son was the dawn of our salvation. May this celebration of her birthday bring us closer to lasting peace. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

It was at Carmel that the prophet Elijah in 9th cent. B.C. challenged the followers of Baal to a contest to establish the supremacy of the God of the Israelites over their god. As the result of this encounter, Carmel became recognized as a holy place where God met His people. Situated between Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee, Carmel, during the crusades of the Middle Ages, became a place of retreat for hermits who took up residence in the many caves in the area.

Later, in the 13th century, A.D., these hermits joined together to form a community which came to be known as the Carmelites. The Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Simon Stock on Sunday, 16 July, 1251 in answer to his appeal for help for his oppressed order. She appeared to him with a scapular in her hand and said: "Take, beloved son this scapular of thy order as a badge of my confraternity and for thee and all Carmelites a special sign of grace; whoever dies in this garment, will not suffer everlasting fire. It is the sign of salvation, a safeguard in dangers, a pledge of peace and of the covenant".

In the years following, their rule was modified to enable them to engage in a more active apostolate, and the Order spread to Europe. A separate Order for Women was established. The Carmelites have produced some of the great mystics of the Church. St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross and, of course, in more modern times, St. Therese of Lisieux are among the more illustrious. The Carmelites have promoted the devotion to the Scapular.

This meeting of God with His people in Biblical times at Carmel foreshadowed the time when God, in the person of Christ, would again meet his people as Leader and Saviour. This meeting is foretold in the first reading of today's Mass - "for I am coming to dwell in the middle of you". This would happen with the co-operation of Mary. Hence her song of praise and thanksgiving in the Responsorial Psalm.

In the gospel of today's Mass we see this meeting of God with his people unfolding and not without difficulty. As was to be expected, he was not welcomed with open arms by everyone. It is on record how his fellow townspeople at Nazareth ran him out of town. After hearing him teach in their synagogue, they became enraged and hustled him out of town. It was then that Jesus had complained that no prophet is ever accepted by his own people! He wept over Jerusalem because she had refused to welcome him.

But it was not only the people who were uncertain about him. His own family - explain use of "brothers and sisters"- also opposed him. It is one of the great human tragedies in Jesus' life that his nearest and dearest did not understand him. St. John in his gospel records -"Not even his brothers had faith in him"(Jn 7:5) St. Mark tells us that when Jesus set out on his public mission, they tried to restrain him because they were convinced that he was out of his mind! (Mk 3:21)

And, again, today's reading would seem to indicate another crisis. Whilst speaking to the people his family sends a message - we need to talk! Knowing what was on their mind, Jesus turns the occasion into an opportunity to let it be known that his mission is bigger than family. He belongs to all who hear his word and accept it.

There are times, too, when, in terms of our Christian commitment we must assess out loyalties. We still encounter examples of people wishing to follow their consciences and being opposed by those nearest and dearest to them. Not only do they meet with opposition, but open hostility is shown. It is an unfortunate fact that sometimes a person's blood relations are the ones who understand least, proving that real understanding more easily exists between those who share a common ideal and work together for that goal.

There is little on record about Mary's reaction to Jesus' attitudes in these family encounters. But actions speak louder than words. She was always there to encourage and to comfort. No doubt that same comfort and encouragement is available to those who, today , encounter opposition in their efforts to serve Christ.

That is why we pray today that the "prayers of the Virgin Mary protect us and help us to reach Christ her Son". Amen

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

"O banquet most precious! O banquet most admirable! O banquet overflowing with every spiritual delicacy! Can anything be more excellent than this repast, in which not the flesh of goats and heifers, as of old, but Christ the true God is given us for nourishment? What more wondrous than this holy sacrament! In it bread and wine are changed substantially, and under the appearance of a little bread and wine is had Christ Jesus, God and perfect Man. In this sacrament sins are purged away, virtues are increased, the soul is satiated with an abundance of every spiritual gift. No other sacrament is so beneficial. Since it was instituted unto the salvation of all, it is offered by Holy Church for the living and for the dead, that all may share in its treasures."

St. Thomas Aquinas