THE HOLY FAMILY SEEKS SHELTER AMONG US
Perhaps as you pray in church just before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass begins, while you are preparing your heart to enter into the Mystery, you see the Holy Family approach each person in the church individually. They seek shelter within our hearts as the Son of Man is about to enter into the world.
THE GIFTS THAT FACE THE GIFT
The Lord also draws your attention to the gifts on the small table in the center isle and then at Him in the monstrance on the altar (during Eucharistic Adoration).
You are struck by the sight of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament facing the gifts on the table that will soon become His Sacred Body and His Precious Blood during the re-presentation of His Passion and Crucifixion, and also our redemption.
A short while later during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Lord shows you that each person in the congregation faces mankind's Gift on the Cross in imitation of the gifts on the table.
Just as the gifts of bread and wine are transubstantiated into the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, we are to be transformed by Christ into His likeness.
SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR DIVINE UNION
Each one of us must strip ourselves in imitation of Christ during this time of preparation before we are unified with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, and present ourselves before God with honesty, genuineness, and sincerity of heart.
This time of preparation and loving expression prior to the soul's union with God can be compared with the love shared between a husband and wife.
See and feel the Lord's words coming to you as the words spoken and sung by every person in the congregation travel to Jesus; both we and He enveloped by them, and they embrace us. Your heart and soul are being prepared to receive the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament as you wed your life to Christ.
This spiritual preparation is very, very beautiful and also deeply unifying.
During the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, individually (as we do so collectively) offer your gifts to the Lord.
We return our gifts to God as He lavishly and extravagantly loves each one of us.
During the consecration, you say the words in union with Jesus, "This is MY body, Jesus, which is given up for YOU...This is my blood..."
THE SOUL'S BRIDAL CHAMBER
The
Lord draws your attention to Father opening the tabernacle during Holy Communion...it is the soul's bridal chamber complete with a veil; the sight is so extraordinary...so much could be written about
it...
Then the Lord shows you an image of your heart facing Him as an open tabernacle that also has a veil.
The tabernacle you see mirrors the one on the altar.
The tabernacle within your heart is also a bridal chamber, and during Holy Communion each one of us is to enter into the tabernacle within the Sacred Heart of Jesus as He enters into ours.
You see this as a representation of each person's individual relationship with Jesus, but a comparison can be made to the parish family's relationship to God, just as married couples become families through God's procreative action.
We are to receive the Lord worthily not only as individuals but also as families, and as parish families.
Then the Lord shows you an image of your heart facing Him as an open tabernacle that also has a veil.
The tabernacle you see mirrors the one on the altar.
The tabernacle within your heart is also a bridal chamber, and during Holy Communion each one of us is to enter into the tabernacle within the Sacred Heart of Jesus as He enters into ours.
You see this as a representation of each person's individual relationship with Jesus, but a comparison can be made to the parish family's relationship to God, just as married couples become families through God's procreative action.
We are to receive the Lord worthily not only as individuals but also as families, and as parish families.
HEARTFELT EXCHANGES
While you wait for your turn to approach the altar to receive Jesus during Holy Communion, perhaps He
communicates to you that we are to take our hearts and very
reverently place them in the wounds on His Sacred Body that we inflicted on Him since our last confession, while apologizing and thanking Jesus for His love and mercy.
What a beautiful act of reparation we can make to Jesus just prior to receiving Him in the Sacrament of Love.
You are surprised and deeply moved when Jesus then takes His Sacred Heart and places It on your wounds, the ones that were self inflicted and also the wounds inflicted by other people.
Jesus does this to every one of us. We are loved and valued beyond measure! +
What a beautiful act of reparation we can make to Jesus just prior to receiving Him in the Sacrament of Love.
You are surprised and deeply moved when Jesus then takes His Sacred Heart and places It on your wounds, the ones that were self inflicted and also the wounds inflicted by other people.
Jesus does this to every one of us. We are loved and valued beyond measure! +
After returning to the pew unified with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and retreating into the bridal chamber with the Lord, Jesus offers you His Sacred Heart as you offer Him your heart.
The two of you exchange hearts and replace each of your hearts with that of your beloved.
"Marry Me!"
(audio)
More on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass ~ See things through a different lens.
God is so in love with you!
"Trust
all things to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and to Mary, Help of
Christians,
and you will see what miracles are."
~St. John Bosco
"The Majesty of Holy Mass"
(video)
© Joseph Karl Publishing /Michele Bondi Bottesi
Images taken at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Slovak Catholic Church,
Sterling Heights, Michigan, U.S.A. Parish Website
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God is so in love with you!!
from wherever you are!
To access a fishing boatload full of PROFOUNDLY Catholic material
including award-winning books, pictures, articles, audio, and video,
immeasurably and eternally valuable and FREE, just like God's love,
visit: www.josephkarlpublishing.com
God is so in love with you!!
THE POWERFUL DEVOTION TO THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS
To learn more about the Work of Reparation through the Devotion to the Holy Face,
which our Lord, Jesus Christ called "the most beautiful work under the sun,"
visit: Work of Reparation Through the Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus
Please share the information with others.
God is at work in you!!
+ + +
