The Holy Priesthood

©srhelena2012

On the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus celebrated June 7, 2013, we remember in a special way Priests and we are encouraged to pray for their sanctification .  The Carmelites, especially in the Reform of St. Teresa of Avila, have always nurtured devotion of praying for Priests. When St. Therese of the Child Jesus was asked why she entered Carmel, she responded "I entered Carmel to save souls and to pray for Priests." I have a personal devotion of praying for Priests. Our Constitutions explicitly oblige us to pray and offer sacrifices for priests. Carmel dedicates Saturday as a special day to pray for priests and candidates to the priesthood. This devotion was initially nurtured in me by my association with the Carmelites early on. But it was reinforced and acquired a new meaning for me in later years. On a personal basis, I am grateful to God for giving me the gift of a brother who's a priest.  Having a brother-priest made me even more solicitous to pray for those called to the Priesthood. The scandal on sex abuse of children by priests even made me more cognizant of the fact that we need to pray for them. My long association with different priests made me realize how human and vulnerable they are. They are flesh and blood. They have the same need for love, encouragement, affirmation and companionship. They are confronted by the same temptations we are all subjected to. It might even be said that they have definitely chosen a more difficult life because we expect more from them. Much is given to them and so therefore, much is also expected. We do not excuse failings we see in them but rather demand a full accountability of what they do and do not do. We sometimes say "they should know better!" The sex abuse scandal was an inexcusable tragedy to the victims but also inflicted a deep wound  in the image of Priesthood and brought a crisis of faith in many, if not ruining it altogether.  The grace of priestly ordination is a treasure in earthen vessel.  Despite the imperfections of the priest, Christ has ordained to choose a weak man to continue His priestly ministry of Word and Sacraments for the good of souls and the sanctification of His Church.  May we never lose sight of this reality.  It certainly calls for a deeper faith.   It is only by keeping this mystery in mind that we can remain believers in the inherent dignity of this vocation. The world will try to convince us otherwise, and they would have proofs of their arguments, but we try to remain persuaded that the dignity of the ministerial Priesthood lies deeper than the worthiness of the man called to its office.

I love priests, not because they are inherently lovable, but because they are appointed by God to minister His sacraments here on earth. I have known many priests who have helped me grow spiritually and have helped me during great spiritual difficulties. I am always grateful to them and ask GOD to reward them. I believe it was in the Fatima apparition where the Angel told the children that when they are before the presence of a Priest and an angel, they should bow before the Priest and not the angel. This was a powerful statement for me regarding the dignity of priests. St. Teresa of Avila in her "Way of Perfection," made this statement to her nuns about Priests and the Priesthood:
"These priests, who must strengthen people who are weak and encourage the little ones.. these persons must live among men, deal with men, live in palaces and even sometimes outwardly behave as such men do. Have no fear that the world will forgive this deficiency, nor is there any imperfection it fails to recognize. I beg you to strive to pray.. that after putting these men in this combat which is not easy, they may receive protection from the Lord, so as to remain free of the many perils there are in the world and stop their ears in order not to hear the siren's songs, on this dangerous sea." This should be our constant prayer.

My brother always makes fun of my poems! "Your poem does not rhyme!" he complained. But I write them as an expression of my sentiments and do not really care much for rhyme and rhythm. So during one of those inspired moments, I came up with this poem:

"Kneeling before thy holy sanctuary,

Witness to the unfolding mystery,

Gazing at the hands holding Thee,

White Host held so reverently.

Sound of words changing substantially

Wine and bread into Blood and Body.

Hands formed in their mother’s womb

Created in secret in a hidden world,

One day will hold their Master and Lord.

Hidden from eyes of worldly curiosity,

Quietly formed in worth and dignity,

Touch with compassion, bless with devotion,

The waiting world needing Thee.

Empty hands, blessed hands!

Anointed by God for the work He began.

Do you believe how blessed you are,

Despite imperfections of being human?

This truth shall last now and forever

In life, in death, you are His priest,

Forget that never."

Solemnity of Corpus Christi- The Body And Blood of Christ

Corpus Christi is one of God's  most beautiful and precious gifts.  It is beautiful because it encompasses the reality of the Trinity being present , and precious because it is a gift which we do not deserve and yet was given to us freely and unconditionally.  Many Saints and spiritual writers spent many long hours of contemplation before our Eucharistic Lord, and put down in writing what they have experienced during those hours of prayer and contemplation.  And yet, all of them would tell us that there is no word to describe the gift of this Presence of Jesus in this simple piece of bread.  The Holy Eucharist is both a unifying doctrine for those who accept in faith the words of Jesus, "This IS My Body!" in the passage of the Last Supper, and a stumbling block  for those who do not yet believe.  For us, Catholics, the Holy Eucharist is not just a representation of Jesus, it IS Jesus Himself, the  Real Presence.  It is not just the product of a collective imagination of pious people but a mystery presented to us which can only be apprehended by faith alone.  The Holy Eucharist is one of those mysteries of  " believe to understand" , as opposed to "understand to believe." (paraphrasing St. Augustine).

Catholic Apologists (a curious description since they are not "apologizing for anything!) are excellent guides in this debate since they point to us the Scriptural passages supporting the Real Presence.  The Holy Eucharist is inseparable from the gift and mystery of Holy Priesthood.  There is no Eucharist without the Ordained Priesthood.  They are like hand to glove, if I may be permitted to use this expression.  The Old Testament is full of prefigurations of the Eucharist: the Israelites journey in the desert for forty days and forty nights fed only by manna; the raven feeding the prophet Elijah with bread to strengthen him on his journey to Horeb, and many others.  The New Testament continues this in the many parables told by Jesus: the feeding of the five thousand, the five loaves and two fish, and most of all , Chapter 6 of St. John's Gospel.  It is most of all the events of the Last Supper which form the foundation of what we now accept as Catholics: the Institution of the Holy Priesthood and the Holy Eucharist on Holy Thursday night.
Jesus left us His Body and Blood for one reason alone: that we may have eternal life.  "he who eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the Last Day."  The Eucharist is a remedy for sin and a source of strength for living the life of virtues.  If we do not eat His Body, we do not have life in us.  We may be walking and talking, and may be living a "full life" but if we do not have the life of Jesus in us given to us in the Eucharist, we are dead men and women walking.  It is not enough to receive the Eucharist.  We must receive it worthily.  St. Paul says that we have to be mindful that when receiving we may not be bringing our own condemnation because we are receiving in sin.  To receive worthily does not mean we have to be "perfectly good."  It means that at the time of reception we are not conscious of being in the state of mortal sin.  Being in mortal sin means committing an act that is grave or serious, committing it with full knowledge, and committing it with our full consent.  In other words, we know something is seriously against God's commandments, we know it, and still we do it.  Grace is restored to us through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Confession of our sins  to an ordained priest (Sacramental Confession) makes us worthy once again to receive our Lord.  Being worthy  sacramentally-  for who of us is really worthy to receive such  infinitely good and gracious God?
As we celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, let us be mindful of the love which made this possible.  St. Therese once said that God made Himself a "Divine Prisoner" for love of us.  He allows Himself to remain in the tabernacle so that we can approach Him with confidence in times of sorrows and temptations.  He hides Himself under the appearance of a tiny piece of  bread, so that we can contemplate Him in faith.  St. Therese also reminds us that "Jesus did not come to earth to remain in the ciborium but  so that after entering our souls in holy communion we can in turn go out to bring Him to others in charity.
Let us celebrate this day of devotion with much love.  Let us return Love for love.

Why I Love You, Mary!

O Mary, how fortunate I am to call you mine,

My only treasure in this changing world.

Such tenderness.. that is your name,

Your gentleness is unsurpassed.

My heart leaps up when I think of you,

And all my sorrows melt like the snow,

With filial longing I turn to you, upon your knees

I pour out cares only you would know.

A bond between us in time was forged,

Infinite source of blessings untold!

Your eyes ever watchful to snatch me from dangers,

Your ears ever careful to hear silent whispers.

Your hands ever present to touch and to comfort.

My heart so delights in contemplating you,

To know that in heaven I have a mother like you!

If they only know the love you have for men,

Like me, they too, will be proud of their claim.

When I was small I did not really know you,

To be the mother you proved yourself to be.

With great solicitude you came and searched for me,

As you did with Jesus on that three day journey.

How lucky I was that one day you found me,

That memorable July so imprinted in my memory!

Mount Carmel! Oh how I love her!

To me she embodies my Queen and my Lady.

She is forever my true destiny, the lot

God himself has marked out for me.

Deep in Carmel's bosom  will I cling,

Forever hopeful for the promise she brings.

Deep in her thickets I will not shy away,

For with the thorns lie the rose's true beauty.

Carmel! Mary! To me they are one,

And for that very reason, 

A Carmelite I am.

Prayer to The Most Blessed Trinity

 

 

O my God, Trinity whom I adore, let me entirely forget myself that I may abide in you, still and peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity; let nothing disturb my peace nor separate me from you, O my unchanging God, but that each moment may take me further into the depths of your mystery ! Pacify my soul! Make it your heaven, your beloved home and place of your repose; let me never leave you there alone, but may I be ever attentive, ever alert in my faith, ever adoring and all given up to your creative action. 

O my beloved Christ, crucified for love, would that I might be for you a spouse of your heart! I would anoint you with glory, I would love you - even unto death! Yet I sense my frailty and ask you to adorn me with yourself; identify my soul with all the movements of your soul, submerge me, overwhelm. me, substitute yourself in me that my life may become but a reflection of your life. Come into me as Adorer, Redeemer and Savior. 

O Eternal Word, Word of my God, would that I might spend my life listening to you, would that I might be fully receptive to learn all from you; in all darkness, all loneliness, all weakness, may I ever keep my eyes fixed on you and abide under your great light; O my Beloved Star, fascinate me so that I may never be able to leave your radiance.

O Consuming Fire, Spirit of Love, descend into my soul and make all in me as an incarnation of the Word, that I may be to him a super-added humanity wherein he renews his mystery; and you O Father, bestow yourself and bend down to your little creature, seeing in her only your beloved Son in whom you are well pleased.

O my `Three', my All, my Beatitude, infinite Solitude, Immensity in whom I lose myself, I give myself to you as a prey to be consumed; enclose yourself in me that I may be absorbed in you so as to contemplate in your light the abyss of your Splendor !

by Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, OCD

Saint Mary Magdalen de Pazzi

 Feast day:  May 25th

St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi was one of those souls in Carmel endowed by God with the gift of an abundant mystical life.  A reading of her life will make one's head spin from the many flights of supernatural experiences she was gifted with.  Following her in these mystical states is like going on a roller-coaster ride with its ups and downs, and being left with a splitting headache! Although it is true that St. Mary Magdalene's life was characterized by mystical experiences, we should not forget that these experiences were just but the overflow of the one reality we all are invited to experience- a deep love of God.  The Book of the Song of Songs testifies to it: 'deep waters cannot quench love.. if one would give everything one has to acquire it, she would be roundly mocked."  The love of God is pure gift,  infused into our hearts  to produce an overwhelming experience which brings in its trail wonderful things.  It also brings fire of purification necessary to burn the soul's imperfection and to transform it into the likeness of God.  Such was the life of St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi, the Seraph of Carmel.  St. Mary Magdalene's body is incorrupt.

More of St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi

Come Holy Spirit!

O Consuming Fire, Spirit of Love, descend into my soul and make all in me as an incarnation of the Word, that I may be to him a super-added humanity wherein he renews his mystery; and you O Father, bestow yourself and bend down to your little creature, seeing in her only your beloved Son in whom you are well pleased.

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

FAITH IS HEAVEN ON EARTH

"It seems to me that I have found my heaven on earth for heaven is God, and God is in my soul... I live in the heaven of faith in the center of my soul. Faith alone can give us genuine light on Him whom we love. It is faith which floods our inner being with all spiritual blessings.. faith gives us God even in this life, veiled it is true, but nonetheless God Himself. When we have learned to believe in God's excessive love for us, it may be said that we are made strong by the very sight of Him who is "invisible." We no longer stops at tastes or feelings. We care little whether we feel God present or not, whether He gives us joy or pain; the more we are tried the stronger grows our faith, because we over-leap, so to speak, all obstacles to find our rest in the bosom of Infinite love.. I confide to you that it is this intimacy with Him which has been the bright sunshine lighting up my life, making it already an anticipated heaven. It is what upholds me today in my suffering. I am not afraid of my weakness, in fact it is what gives me confidence, for the mighty God is in me and He is all powerful, powerful enough to carry out His purpose beyond all our hopes and dreams." - Bl. Elizabeth

Mary, My Mother

 

O Mary, how fortunate I am to call you mine.

My only treasure in this changing world.

Such tenderness... that is your name,

Your gentleness is unsurpassed!

My heart leaps up as I think of you!

And all my sorrows melt like the snow.

With filial longing I turn to you,

Upon your knees I pour out cares only you would know.

A bond between us in time was forged.

Infinite source of blessings untold!

Your eyes ever watchful to snatch me from dangers.

Your ears ever careful to hear silent whispers.

Your hands ever present to touch and to comfort.

My heart so delights in contemplating you.

To know that in heaven I have a Mother like you!

If they only know the love you have for men,

Like me, they too, will be proud of their claim.

When I was small I did not really know you,

To be the Mother you proved yourself to be.

With great solicitude you came and searched for me,

As you did with Jesus on that long journey.

How lucky I am that one day you found me,

That memorable July so imprinted in my memory!

Carmel! Oh how I love her!

To me, you embody my Queen and Lady.

You are forever my destiny, the lot God

Himself has marked out for me.

Deep in your bosom will I cling,

Forever hopeful of the promise you bring.

Deep in your thickets I will not shy away.

For with the thorns lie the beauty of the rose.

Carmel! Mary! To me you are one!

And for that simple reason, 

I am yours and you are mine.

Therese said it best with the heart of a child.

"Of heaven and earth, Mary is Queen,

But to me she is Mother, more than a Queen!"

Happy Mother's Day!

HEAVEN IN FAITH- A MAJOR WORK

 

"Heaven in Faith" is the first of Bl. Elizabeth's major works. It was written in August 1906 with barely 3 months left before her death in November 1906. It was conceived as a surprise gift for her sister Marguerite whom she had a very close relationship. This work is a great exposition of Elizabeth's own faith even amidst darkness. It reminds us that heaven is a reality which begins here on earth, not something we can only experience after we die, for someone who knows how to search for it in the dark night of faith.

The entirety of the work "Heaven In Faith" will be presented here in parts. The source is from ICS Publications of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity's "Complete Works- Volume I."

1. "Father, I will that where I am they also whom You have given Me may be with Me, in order that they may behold my glory which You have given Me, because You have loved Me before the creation of the world."
Such is Christ's last wish, His supreme prayer before returning to His Father. He wills that where He is we should be also, not only for eternity, but already in time, which is eternity begun and still in progress. It is important then to know where we must live with Him in order to realize this divine dream. "The place where the Son of God is hidden is the bosom of the Father, or the divine Essence, invisible to every mortal eye, unattainable by every human intellect." as Isaiah said: "Truly You are a hidden God." And yet His will is that we should be established in Him, that we should live where He lives, in the unity of love; that we should be , so to speak, His own shadow.

2. By baptism, says St. Paul, we have been united to Jesus Christ. And again: "God seated us together in heaven in Christ Jesus, that He might show in the ages to come the riches of His grace." And further on: "You are no longer guests or strangers, but you belong to the city of saints and the House of God." The Trinity, this is our dwelling, our "home," the Father's house that we must never leave. The Master said one day: "The slave does not remain with the household forever, but the son remains there forever." (St. John).

to be continued....