Godly sense

By Nancy Shuman

 

St Peter Consecrates Stephen as Deacon by Fra Angelico
(Wikimedia Commons).

Recently I've been practicing lectio at Mass, praying with the readings before Mass begins.  If possible, I spend some time with these before leaving my house, and again when I get to Church.

And then, I have the most amazing opportunity.  I shudder to think of the times I've taken it for granted.  I can actually be in the physical presence of Christ Himself, and more than that:  I can receive Him.  I think I would faint were I to really grasp the fullness of this Truth.  I believe it is by the grace of God that He has gently veiled this unutterable Reality. 

Once in awhile, however, Our Lord gives us a glimmer of what's actually happening.  "Mass gave me such a joyful feeling," one of you wrote recently.  "I have not had that feeling at Mass in a very long time.  I felt an incredible sense of God's mercy flowing into me.  It made me feel such sorrow for my sins.  It was not a sad sorrow, like 'woe is me, I am so sinful.'  It was more like a sorrow wrapped in the joy of God's mercy.  If that makes sense."


Continue reading at Nancy's blog The Cloistered Heart.

Six ways to encounter Jesus in the Mass

By Nancy Ward

Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me. (Luke 22:19)

Although God’s presence is everywhere, mass is my favorite place to come into his presence. Every part of the liturgy helps me experience a personal encounter with Jesus. It will provide the same relationship with Jesus for you.

• Christ is present in the assembly of the body of Christ in the pews, for he has promised “where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them.” (Mt 18:20)  So sing and pray knowing that Christ is among us, gathered as the body of Christ.

• Christ is present in the priest or bishop who presides in persona Christi, in the person of Christ. When they vest before celebrating Mass the priests  "put on Christ" in a special way.

• Christ is present in the word proclaimed in the readings. It is Christ himself, as the Incarnate Word, who speaks when the holy Scriptures are read.

Continue reading at Nancy's blog  JOY Alive in our hearts.

Got Jesus on weekdays?

By Anabelle Hazard

A friend just asked me why I regularly receive Eucharist beyond Sunday Mass. Do I go for the kids to get used to Church?

“I go for me,” I replied.“I need Jesus.  If I let two consecutive days pass without the Eucharist, my soul is not at peace.”

To clarify: It’s not like I get heavenly consolations or mystically levitate during the Mass.  If I’m not late and trying to creep in so as not to distract the pewsitters, I can’t even concentrate from beginning to end.  Lots of days, I’m taking a child out to the bathroom, fiddling with their askew veils or correcting them. (“It’s time to stand;”  “Don’t turn your back on Tabernacle”; “Put that plastic tomato back in your purse! Why did you bring a purse when I told you not to? What do you mean you need a snack? Its toy food! Stop licking it NOW!”) I certainly don’t feel holy by just being in Jesus’ presence at Church.


Continue reading at Anabelle's blog Written By the Finger of God.

Receiving Communion well

by Ruth Ann Pilney
  

As a Catholic I believe what the Church teaches about the Holy Eucharist; that is, when consecrated by the priest at Mass, ordinary bread and wine are changed, through the use of the words that Christ spoke at the Last Supper and by the power of the Holy Spirit, into the body and blood, soul and divinity, of Jesus.  Catholics who understand this great and miraculous sacramental mystery revere and worship the Lord in his Real Presence.

When a Catholic participates at Mass, the Church encourages those who are well-disposed to receive Holy Communion. Only those who are Catholic, in the state of grace, and have observed the required fast may receive Communion.  It is also expected that the recipient will approach the sacrament prayerfully and show signs of respect in posture and dress.

The following video shows the right protocol for receiving Holy Communion.  If you are Catholic, I would encourage you to watch this short video, which is presented with both seriousness and humor.




Read Ruth Ann's suggestions for the silent period after Communion as this post continues at  From the Pulpit of My Life.