Thank you! You and Tolkien said it so well and beautifully! My parents, may they rest in peace, felt same as us and Tolkien. Thank you Lord for your presence in the Eucharist!!!
There have been times when things such as the abuse scandal have shaken my faith in and love for the Church. However, one thing and one thing only has not only kept me from leaving but has restored my love for the Church, and that is Jesus, Our Lord, present in the Eucharist!
I wish more Catholics could remember this, Kathleen, but I'm glad you do. I hate to be repetitive, but here is another (long) Tolkien quote which echoes what you said: "The temptation to ‘unbelief’ (which really means rejection of Our Lord and His claims) is always there within us. Part of us longs to find an excuse for it outside us. The stronger the inner temptation the more readily and severely shall we be ‘scandalized’ by others. I think I am as sensitive as you (or any other Christian) to the ‘scandals’, both of clergy and laity. I have suffered grievously in my life from stupid, tired, dimmed, and even bad priests; but I now know enough about myself to be aware that I should not leave the Church (which for me would mean leaving the allegiance of Our Lord) for any such reasons: I should leave because I did not believe, and should not believe any more, even if I had never met any one in orders who was not both wise and saintly. I should deny the Blessed Sacrament, that is: call Our Lord a fraud to His face." (Letter 250)
Jun 11, 2023Liked by Jonathon Fessenden, Kaleb Hammond, Chantal LaFortune
Donna--because of a medical issue, I was unable to receive the Holy Eucharist for a month. It was such a delight and privilege to finally receive Him again in that way. Gloria Corpus Christi!!
Jun 11, 2023Liked by Jonathon Fessenden, Kaleb Hammond, Chantal LaFortune
Thank you! A cradle Catholic I find it helpful to experience the absence of the Holy Eucharist. The hole is palatable. A gathering of people to remember Jesus is not the same as the experience of him in the Sacraments.
Thank you! You and Tolkien said it so well and beautifully! My parents, may they rest in peace, felt same as us and Tolkien. Thank you Lord for your presence in the Eucharist!!!
There have been times when things such as the abuse scandal have shaken my faith in and love for the Church. However, one thing and one thing only has not only kept me from leaving but has restored my love for the Church, and that is Jesus, Our Lord, present in the Eucharist!
I wish more Catholics could remember this, Kathleen, but I'm glad you do. I hate to be repetitive, but here is another (long) Tolkien quote which echoes what you said: "The temptation to ‘unbelief’ (which really means rejection of Our Lord and His claims) is always there within us. Part of us longs to find an excuse for it outside us. The stronger the inner temptation the more readily and severely shall we be ‘scandalized’ by others. I think I am as sensitive as you (or any other Christian) to the ‘scandals’, both of clergy and laity. I have suffered grievously in my life from stupid, tired, dimmed, and even bad priests; but I now know enough about myself to be aware that I should not leave the Church (which for me would mean leaving the allegiance of Our Lord) for any such reasons: I should leave because I did not believe, and should not believe any more, even if I had never met any one in orders who was not both wise and saintly. I should deny the Blessed Sacrament, that is: call Our Lord a fraud to His face." (Letter 250)
As always, well done... but this one was particularly good!
Thanks, Judson, I appreciate it! God bless!
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.
Donna--because of a medical issue, I was unable to receive the Holy Eucharist for a month. It was such a delight and privilege to finally receive Him again in that way. Gloria Corpus Christi!!
Thank you! A cradle Catholic I find it helpful to experience the absence of the Holy Eucharist. The hole is palatable. A gathering of people to remember Jesus is not the same as the experience of him in the Sacraments.