'Time' - We All Have Less Than Yesterday

Make Your Time Count

Many of us today tend to give emphasis to feeling good and being accepted in society.  Winning political victories, attaining financial success, unhindered sensuality, and being famous seem to be the most important things for the many, even within the Church.  Even those who are serious about eternity often give up because of their sins and sufferings.  We are no longer “working out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12) because we have ignored the dire warning of our Lord Jesus Christ: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Mk. 8;36). 

We all know the time we have from the present until the time we die, is all the time we have left to invest in our heavenly retirement program.  Too many people have a thought in the back of their mind that if they don’t think about death it will go away.  Not True!  Whether we think of death or not, it will still come our way.  Every day, every choice we make brings us closer to our judgement.  Start now making a difference in your relationship with God that will affect your eternal judgement.  So, get off the couch and get on your knees - make a positive change while you still can.  Try a visit to the Adoration Chapel.

The magic of Adoration in part is that the more often you participate, the longer you want to stay, and the deeper you enter into quiet and listening.  Soon you learn to trust his voice and are able to discern his advise.

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Importance of Adoration

The Importance of Adoration

Like so many pilgrims before us, we kneel in wonder and adoration in front of the ineffable mystery which is accomplished in Eucharistic Adoration.  In the Son of God who is given to us, we find rest for our souls and the true bread that never fails — the Eucharistic Bread foreshadowed even in the name of the town of His birth: Beth-lehem, the house of bread.  God lies hidden in the Child; divinity lies hidden in the Bread of Life.

In the book In Sinu Jesu a benedictine monk recorded many locutions he had received from Our Lord concerning the importance of Eucharistic Adoration.  If you are in need of a way to rejuvenate your relationship with our Lord, an easy way to start is to get a copy of this book and let the messages recorded talk to your heart.

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Mary's Request

Mary’s Request For The Rosary

Tuesday, October 7 is the Memorial to Our Lady of the Rosary.  The Rosary is one of the most popular prayer forms in the Catholic world.  

The Rosary evolved over centuries, with roots in ancient practices.  Early practitioners used beads or knots to count prayers and this method existed long before the modern Rosary was developed.  The prayers being said and counted were 150 Psalms.  Often called a ‘poor man’s psalter’: the laity who could not read the 150 psalms, adopted this counting method to pray 150 “Our Fathers” instead.  This practice became widespread across Europe.

The rise of the Hail Mary from the 11th century onward replaced the recitation of the “Our Father” with reciting 150 Hail Marys instead.  The prayer grew in stages, incorporating scriptural passages from the Annunciation and Visitation (mysteries) before its final form was approved at the Council of Trent in the 16th century.

The Rosary is one of the most popular prayer forms of those visiting the Adoration Chapel and it’s a wonderful place to start if you are new to Adoration.  To help appreciate the importance of the rosary it’s noted that in five of the sixteen Marian Apparitions approved by the church as ‘worthy of belief’, our Lady specifically asks for daily recitation of the Rosary.  Won’t you do your best to fulfill her request?

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Who Is That Magnificent Spirit Next To You?

 Who Is That Magnificent Spirit Next To You?

We’ve all heard of, and many have participated in special days such as ‘Take your child to work day’, or perhaps ‘Take Grandma to bible camp Saturday’; but have you heard of this special day for all Catholics; ‘Take your Guardian Angel to Chapel Day?’

The Catechism states that “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by the watchful care and intercession of angels.  Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.  Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.”  (CCC336)

An angel is a created spiritual person without a body.  The Church teaches there’s nine choirs of angels; most commentators believe we get our Guardian Angel from the ninth choir simply called ‘Angels’.  The importance of the Guardian Angel is that God has seen fit, in his generosity and mercy, to assign each of us a being that is far more intelligent and higher on the created order than we are.  Their essential task is to see us home, so to speak, to get us home to heaven.

To take full advantage of this gift it’s important to establish a relationship with your angel.  To do so begins by acknowledging their existence, to pray to them regularly, and to become more habitually use to calling upon them in all needs, even very small needs, because angels are there for those as well.

Seeking guidance from our angel can only help and will never hurt.  Our angel knows more about us than we know about ourselves.  This understanding is what God has given the angel to properly support us in things of morality and vocation, even in areas of suffering.

So next time you have a feeling that there’s something watching you, you’re right.  Say a prayer of thanksgiving.  And consider showing your appreciation to your angel for all it does for you by taking your angel to the Adoration Chapel and know that that act has filled your angel with JOY!

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Your Spiritual Life Need Help?

 How To Grow Your Spiritual Life

Cultivating a Eucharistic life of Adoration bears tremendous fruit in our own hearts and lives.  One cannot spend time in the rays of His Eucharistic Presence without receiving His grace, His love, His mercy, His peace.  As we gaze upon Him face to face, we are transformed little by little into a closer reflection of His divine image.  When we deepen our personal relationship with Jesus by spending time with Him in this way, we become more aware of the obstacles of sin in our life that stands between us and Our Lord.  We develop a stronger desire to make habits of virtue and self-sacrifice in imitation of Him.

Spending time with Jesus in His Sacrament of love will also fill our hearts with abiding joy and bless our days, our jobs, our families, our lives with His protection and grace.  Each hour that we give to Our Lord bears fruit a hundredfold in this life and in the next.

Don’t limit your opportunities - Visit him in the chapel this week!

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Is Jesus Disappointed In The Way You Live Your Catholic Religion?

 Do You Disappoint Jesus?

When Jesus walked the earth and shared his message for/of salvation, there were many things he experienced that disappointed him.  He was disappointed by the large number of people who didn’t understand or believe what he was teaching and how by following him would lead to salvation. He was disappointed with the  political leaders who accused him of blasphemy.  He was disappointed by the twelve men he personally chose who failed him when he needed their support the most.

We believe He died for our salvation and in todays’ world too many of us continue to disappoint him.  Consider for a moment the large number of lukewarm catholics.  People who don’t believe in the Real Presence; people who don’t attend mass because they leave before the final blessing; people who commit to spend time in his presence then don’t.

No matter where you end up after death, I can guarantee: You will be disappointed and unhappy you didn’t do more to prepare yourself for eternity while you had the chance.  I believe what will separate us in heaven will be our capacity for happiness.  Your glass might be filled to the brim, but the soul next to you might have a bigger glass.

Jesus Offers You Comfort and Peace

 You’re Invited!   “Come to me all you who are …”  Is Not An Empty Promise

“It’s true that the voice of God is a still, small voice.  His is one that comes in the silence, the silence we sometimes fear because it is in that quiet that our heart is laid bare, not only for us to see but for God as well.  We forget that he already knows us better than we know ourselves.”  (Merridith Frediani) 

“Eucharistic Adoration is an invitation from the Almighty, the One who created everything out of nothing.  It’s an invitation to be in the very presence of a king, our King.  Imagine, we sinful, fallen, messy humans are invited, welcomed, and encouraged to be with our Lord and God.  It is this silence that we discover who we truly are.  Yes, we are sinners who stumble and lurch through this life, but we are also the beloved children of God.  We are desired.  We are wanted. We are espoused to him.  He wants us to bring him this mess because he can heal us.” (Merridith Frediani)

When the pressures and disappointments of life seem to weigh heavy and you would like the opportunity to find peace, it’s time to think ‘Eucharistic Adoration’.  It is here you are able to hear Jesus’ gentle comfort and encouragement.  And we know the more we trust and lean on him, the more helpful his actions become.

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The Beauty Of Silence

 If You Haven’t Listened To Silence, You’ve Missed A Beautiful Experience

Silence is an indispensable part of the spiritual life.  In fact, often we can gauge our spiritual health on how much we can tolerate and enter into silence.  If we cannot sit in silent prayer for even a few short moments, then this should be a red flag to us.  Our union with Christ is dependent on some level of silence.  Now, depending upon our state in life, this is easier said than done, but even the busiest of moms and dads must find a few moments a day to enter into silent prayer.

It’s easy to turn Mass and prayer time into one more thing to do on our to-do list.  Because most of society is part of a 24/7 consumer culture keeping us in a state hurried and distracted so that proper attention to ‘prayer time’ is impossible to maintain.  To correct this we start by taking back control of our ‘time’.  Control comes in small measure.  Start by asking the Holy Spirit for help; followed by identifying your ‘time wasters’ and cancelling the activity or redirecting the ‘time’ for better use.  This is one way to capture small amounts of time that can be used for silent prayer.  (Inspired by an article “The Lack of Silence” by Constance T. Hull)

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Your Spiritual Journey Should Lead To Spiritual Growth

Spiritual Growth

In order to increase our understanding of God’s great mysteries we have to be able to leave the place we are at on our Spiritual Journey and enter into a new phase of understanding.  This leaving is the first step of spiritual growth allowing us to open ourselves to the deeper mystery of the Real Presence.  This openning gives us the opportunity to increase our hope, compassion and mercy.  It is the promise delivered and the potential realized of unity between Creator, created and creation.  It is Love!  And it is given to us freely asking only that we open oursevles to it.

Stop by the Adoration Chapel often to ask God for his help to increase your understanding and growth in knowledge of the Real Presence.  Remember Jesus said “seek and you will find”.

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Find A Way To Calm Your Heart and Discover Peace Of Mind

How To Find A Calm Heart And Peace Of Mind

Whenever Jesus wanted to recenter and reconnect with God, he went to the wilderness - to the mountains, to the desert, to the sea, to the garden.  What did he find there? …  God’s creation has a patient way of silently receiving our thoughts, ponderings, complaints, objections, hopes, dreams, all of everything stirring around our heads … Bringing calm to our hearts and peace to our minds … find your wilderness, mountains, desert, sea or garden in our Adoration Chapel, simply by sitting silently in his presence and learning.

Once we open ourselves to the deeper mystery of real presence, we are able to glimpse the magnificence of the gift.  The Body and Blood of Christ is so much more than a physical specimen.  It is the soothing balm, a healing salve.  It is hope, compassion, and mercy.  It is the promise delivered and the potential realized of unity between Creator, creating, and creation.  It is love.  And it is given to us freely, asking only that we open ourselves to it.  So don’t remain ‘closed’ but ‘open’ yourself to finding a calm heart and peace of mind.  Start by spending time in the Adoration Chapel on a regular basis.

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God Will Help You Change

Looking To Change?

“God provides for our transformation and growth; you give over your sufferings to the embrace of God and you will be given peace; you hand over your feelings of anguish and despair and you will find hope rising in your heart.”  Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

God is with us in many different ways but none more intimate than experiencing him face-to-face in adoration.  He is always ready to help; all we have to do is to ‘ask’.  So if you are ready to make a change in your life go ahead and ask the Lord to help, then visit him in the chapel and go ahead lean on him.

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Your Friend Jesus

“… but I have called you friends” (John 15:15)        

- Do you desire a friend who is always delighted to see you?
- Do you desire a friend who takes a keen interest in all that is going on in your life, no matter
     how seemingly insignificant?
- Do you desire a friend who loves to rejoice with you in your joys and triumphs, but with whom
     you also feel comfortable sharing your disappointments; even your most shameful 
     experiences?
- Do you desire a friend who knows when all you need is someone to listen, but who also 
    seems to know just when to respond, and just what you need to hear?
- Do you desire a friend in whose presence you feel a deep and abiding sense of peace?
   (Pamphlet #4030 Faith Guild series)

Jesus, truly present in the Sacred Host found in the Monstrance in our Eucharistic Chapel, is just such a friend.  If you want to enhance your friendship with Jesus; just like with anyone, you have to spend time in his presence.  He is waiting for you; because he wants to show you what a good friend he will be.  Sign up for a committed hour of Eucharist Adoration and begin travel on your road to a better friendship with Jesus.  Don’t wait … begin now!

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By Faith Be In His Presence

The Magic of Faith

Faith is one of the great gifts God has given us.  We can visit the Adoration Chapel and through Faith know we are truly in His Presence and because Jesus is not limited by space and time; sit at the table during the Last Supper, or kneel at the manger along with the Wise Men, or stand next to the weeping Blessed Mother on Calvary.  How is this possible?  Because God has no limits, and for God everything is present.  Believe in his presence and contemplate being with him at any event during his human life.

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The World Is Not Enough

When God held you in the palm of his hand and breathed life into you before your birth, he had a plan uniquely designed for you.  He knew because He made you in His image and likeness that the world would not be enough.  So His plan included the return of your soul to his heavenly presence.  How are you doing executing your plan?  For a reality check stop by the Adoration Chapel and ask him.

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Breathing Can Be Prayer

Just Breath

Visit the Adoration Chapel this week and simply spend time enjoying the silence and be aware of your breathing before our Lord Jesus Christ.  St. John of the Cross points out to us, with the right intention “Breathing is praying.”   Doesn’t get any easier.

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Adoration Outside of Mass

Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass

Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle or in a monstrance is second in importance only to attendance at Mass.  Here at IHM we have a goal to maintain Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration 18 hours a day (6AM - Midnight), five days a week (M-F), where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in the monstrance in our adoration chapel.  This gives us the opportunity to develop a deeper love and closer relationship with Jesus, and helps us acquire the strength, healing and peace to make it through our pilgrimage of life and to achieve our ultimate goal - Heaven and the Beatific Vision.

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One Sacred Heart and One Immaculate Heart

The month of June we celebrate two feasts of importance in our relationship with Our Lord Jesus and His Blessed Mother.   We honor the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and we recognize the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

“The main difference between the devotions to the hearts of Jesus and Mary is that the one concerned with Jesus emphasizes his divine heart as being full of love for mankind, but with this love for the most part being ignored or rejected, while the devotion to Mary’s heart is essentially concerned with the love that her heart has for Jesus, for God.  It is not an end in itself, the love of her heart is meant to be a model for the way we should love God.  The fact that her heart is immaculate, that is sinless, means that she is the only fully human person who is able to really love God in the way that he should be loved.

Honoring Mary’s Immaculate Heart is really just another way of honoring Mary as the person who was chosen to be the Mother of God, recognizing her extraordinary holiness and the immense love she bestowed on Jesus as his mother, the person who was called to share in and co-operate in his redemptive suffering.” (Catholic News Agency Jun ’24)

We know that the Blessed Mother is always in the presence of her Divine Son; and that her Divine Son is really and truly present in our Tabernacles and Monstrances. So if you want quality time with Our Blessed Mother visit her son.

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Adoration Brings An Abundance Of Grace

An Abundance Of Grace

To pray before the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar in our Adoration Chapel is to cast a glance of faith upon Jesus Christ, true God and true man, truly present in the Bread of the Eucharist. 

To spend time before the Eucharist in Adoration is to manifest God’s mercy and tenderness for humanity and calls on each of us to intercede for the needs of men.  All who pray to Jesus exposed in the monstrance receive an abundance of grace to live in the world as beloved children; and through him, in the Spirit, each of us returns to the Father, the God of tenderness and mercy, to bless and glorify him.  So regardless of your position or state in life, through prayer, you can draw from the unfathomable riches of the Heart of Christ, given to us in the Eucharist, for the good of all.

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