40. Falling Into Place

[Check out my video about this experience HERE]

I saw Jesus today. Did you? Have you seen Him at all in the past week? Perhaps you have seen Him, but haven't perceived Him to be there...

Some people may be surprised to hear that Jesus is still on earth! He is present in the Eucharist that we receive during Mass, that we reverence during Adoration, and that awaits us in the Tabernacle!

I have a strong attraction to the Eucharist. I believe that it is partly due to the fact that I reverted in front of the Blessed Sacrament and that He has touched my heart to His through this most precious Sacrament of the Eucharist. I can't really explain my love for this miracle, and many people are surprised to see that I have such a strong devotion to it at such a young age. I don't even know why, all I know is that I do, and I must have it for a reason.

(I have written about the manner of receiving the Eucharist in a previous post, but I wish to update you to let you know that my manner of reception is now kneeling and on the tongue. If you wish for me to elaborate at some later date, I would be happy to.)

I don't know what the reason is as of yet, but this week, I think I got a bit closer to finding out.

On Christmas eve, I attended an evening Mass with my brother. I love to sit in the front of the Church to watch/hear the Consecration (my fascination with the Eucharist never ends! haha). It slipped my mind that it was a HDOO and all of the CAPE (or worse, CE) Catholics would be there, many of whom hadn't been to Mass since Easter, and haven't been to Confession in only God knows how many months.

So as Mass continued and I realized how many people fell under this category (They still don't know the responses, and it has been over a year! haha), I began to worry about the reception of the Eucharist. My anxiety only got worse as the Liturgy of the Word ended and the Liturgy of the Eucharist continued. When I got into line to receive the Eucharist, I was at least three feet from the priest, still walking when he held up the Host and proclaimed, "The Body of Christ." I wasn't near him yet! I still had to kneel down and his manner of distributing the Eucharist began to bother me. Pass and go, pass and go. Almost like it was nothing.

The reception of the Eucharist did not make me feel any better. I witnessed a lot of people wiping the Eucharist on their clothes, or chewing it in a manner that was not exactly reverent. As I prayed for these people, it began to hit me that they didn't know what they were receiving. The young children, especially!

I couldn't take it. I covered my face and began to cry. As one who loves the Eucharist so much, it actually hurt me to witness this, and see Him being treated so poorly.

After talking with a good friend who shares the same devotion to the Eucharist, I feel better about the ordeal, and he gave me some (Holy Spirit guided!) insight and advice. We both agree that this devotion to the Eucharistic Christ is a gift that I have for a reason, and I have to continue to feed it, and use it in a way that brings glory to God.

So how does God want me to use this? I can't teach Sunday School or RCIA (as I am in school myself and these don't fit my hectic schedule). I can't give lectures in the middle of Mass about the Eucharist. I can't ask people if they really believe that He is present in the Eucharist as I distribute it (I am an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion).

God threw a batch awesome opportunities at me this week, and it only is getting better!

I have been asked multiple times this week about the Real Presence, from my family, friends, and co-workers. Usually, this topic doesn't come up this much in conversation.

Today, after meeting with my fellow members of our local Street Evangelization, I was chatting with one of them who is a youth minister at a local parish. She told me that next Sunday she is having a retreat/conference for the Confirmation Candidates. And what is the topic? THE EUCHARIST! :D So of course, I volunteered to give a talk/testimony on the Eucharist, how it changed my life, and how it continues to influence me.

The witness talk went really well, and I got many good reviews on it. It seemed like it was reaching people.

That was, until a few weeks later, in the same parish that I had just spoken in, I saw mistreatment of the Eucharist that made me cry and made me lose a bit of my respect for the priest. I was in the front of the church (as usual), watching as the EM distributed Him. The EM was standing directly in front of me. I watched him distribute the Eucharist, not holding Him up, just placing Him in peoples' hands. And the moment I knew would happen came: he missed someone's hand, and dropped Christ on the floor.

Immediately I began to cry. I prayed for the EM. I prayed for the parish. I prayed for forgiveness for all souls. Christ was on the floor!

The EM picked Him up and consumed Him, and kept on distributing, not even phased.

As soon as Mass ended, I sprinted to the sacristy, moistened a purificator, and wiped up the spot where Christ was laying on the floor. After rinsing out the purificator and washing the Eucharist down the special sink that goes into the ground, I confronted the priest who was presiding, and told him what happened. I figured that he would want to know.

Me: "Um, Father, one of the Eucharistic Ministers dropped Jesus on the floor, and although he picked up the big pieces of the Eucharist, I had to go wipe Him up off the floor..."

Fr. : "Oh, you only need to clean it up if it's the wine." And then he dismissed me.

My fury was overwhelming. I was so upset, and sad. How could a PRIEST be this irreverent as to not care that JESUS HIMSELF was on the floor!!!

A few weeks later, after praying for a way to use my love of the Eucharist, I was confronted with another opportunity: to give another witness talk (the same one) to a group of 8th graders who were learning about Eucharistic Adoration at another parish. Boy, did I jump at that chance! It all happened because the Youth Minister overheard me speaking with another YM about all of my ordeals and my witness talks. That YM (with whom I was speaking) signed me up to give another witness talk at a retreat in April.

THIS IS AWESOME!

The Holy Spirit answers prayers!

It seems like God is putting everything in place now! That awful experience at Christmas Eve Mass has sparked a flame in my heart that is leading me to evangelize the Real Presence and spread the teaching around!

Please continue to pray for me, that He may use me to do His Will and to spread devotion to Him in the Eucharist!

God bless you all!

{doGtoGevI}

~SheSpeaksWithWisdom

39. Happy John Day!

Happy John Day (March 16th)! I hope you are having a restful weekend and a fruitful Lent!

I celebrated this day by reading all of the 3:16s contained within the Bible, and I thought that perhaps you would like to join me!

The following verses are taken from the Douay Rheims Bible.

OLD TESTAMENT

Genesis 
To the woman also he said: I will multiply thy sorrows, and thy conceptions: in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children, and thou shalt be under thy husband's power, and he shall have dominion over thee.
Exodus 
Go, gather together the ancients of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared to me, saying: Visiting I have visited you: and I have seen all that hath befallen you in Egypt.
Leviticus 
And the priest shall burn them upon the altar, for the food of the fire, and of a most sweet savour. All the fat shall be the Lord's.

Numbers

Moses numbered them as the Lord had commanded. 

Deuteronomy

And to the tribes of Ruben and Gad I gave of the land of Galaad as far as the torrent Amen, half the torrent, and the confines even unto the torrent Jeboc, which is the border of the children of Ammon:

Josue (Joshua)

The waters that came down from above stood in one place, and swelling up like a mountain, were seen afar off from the city that is called Adom, to the place of Sarthan: but those that were beneath, ran down into the sea of the wilderness (which now is called the Dead Sea) until they wholly failed.

Judges

And he made himself a two-edged sword, with a haft in the midst of the length of the palm of the hand, and was girded therewith under his garment on the right thigh.

Ruth

And came to her mother in law; who said to her: What hast thou done, daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.

1Kings (1Samuel)

Then Heli called Samuel, and said: Samuel, my son. And he answered: Here am I. 

2Kings (2Samuel)

And her husband followed her, weeping as far as Bahurim: and Abner said to him: Go and return. And he returned.

3Kings (1Kings)

Then there came two women that were harlots, to the king, and stood before him: [17] And one of them said: I beseech thee, my lord, I and this woman dwelt in one house, and I was delivered of a child with her in the chamber.

4Kings (2Kings)

Thus saith the Lord: Make the channel of this torrent full of ditches.

1Paralipomenon (1Chronicles)

Of Joakim was born Jechonias, and Sedecias.

2Paralipomenon (2Chronicles)

He made also as it were little chains in the oracle, and he put them on the heads of the pillars: and a hundred pomegranates, which he put between the little chains.

1Ezdras (Ezra)

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

2Exdras (Nehemiah)

After him built Nehemias the son of Azboc, lord of half the street of Bethsur, as far as over against the sepulchre of David, and to the pool, that was built with great labour, and to the house of the mighty.

Tobias (Tobit)

Thou knowest, O Lord, that I never coveted a husband, and have kept my soul clean from all lust.

Judith

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

Esther

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

Job

Or as a hidden untimely birth I should not be, or as they that being conceived have not seen the light.

Psalms

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

Proverbs

Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.

Ecclesiates

 I saw under the sun in the place of judgment wickedness, and in the place of justice iniquity.

Canticle of Canticles (Song of Solomon)

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

Wisdom (AWESOME BOOK BY THE WAY!)

But the children of adulterers shall not come to perfection, and the seed of the unlawful bed shall be rooted out.

Ecclesiaticus

For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother.

Prophecy of Isaias (Isaiah)

And the Lord said: Because the daughters of Sion are haughty, and have walked with stretched out necks, and wanton glances of their eyes, and made a noise as they walked with their feet and moved in a set pace: 

Prophecy of Jeremias (Jeremiah)

And when you shall be multiplied, and increase in the land in those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more: The ark of the covenant of the Lord: neither shall it come upon the heart, neither shall they remember it, neither shall it be visited, neither shall that be done any more. 

Lamentations of Jeremias

Vau. And he hath broken my teeth one by one, he hath fed me with ashes.

Prophect of Baruch

Where are the princes of the nations, and they that rule over the beasts that are upon the earth?

Prophecy of Ezechiel (Ezechiel)

And at the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

Prophecy of Daniel

Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago answered and said to king Nabuchodonosor (Nebocadinosaur LOL): We have no occasion to answer thee concerning this matter.

Prophect of Osee (Hosea)

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

Prophecy of Joel

And the Lord shall roar out of Sion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem: and the heavens and the earth shall be moved, and the Lord shall be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. 

Prophecy of Amos

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

Prophecy of Abdias (Obadiah)DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

Prophecy of Jonas (Jonah)

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

Prophecy of Micheas (Micah)

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

Prophecy of Nahum

Thou hast multiplied thy merchandises above the stars of heaven: the bruchus hath spread himself and flown away. 

Prophecy of Habacuc (Habakkuk)

I have heard and my bowels were troubled: my lips trembled at the voice. Let rottenness enter into my bones, and swarm under me. That I may rest in the day of tribulation: that I may go up to our people that are girded.

Prophecy of Sophonias (Zephaniah)

In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not: to Sion: Let not thy hands be weakened.

Prophecy of Aggeus (Haggai)

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

Prophecy of Zacharias (Zachariah)

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

Prophecy of Malachias (Malachi)

Then they that feared the Lord spoke every one with his neighbour: and the Lord gave ear, and heard it: and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that fear the Lord, and think on his name. 

1Machabees

And they approached even as far as Bethoron: and Judas went forth to meet him, with a small company.

2Machabees

Now whosoever saw the countenance of the high priest, was wounded in heart: for his face, and the changing of his colour declared the inward sorrow of his mind. 

NEW TESTAMENT

Gospel According to Saint Matthew

And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him.

Gospel According to Saint Mark

And to Simon he gave the name Peter:

Gospel According to Saint Luke

John answered, saying unto all: I indeed baptize you with water; but there shall come one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to loose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 

Gospel According to Saint John

For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.

The Acts of the Apostles

And in the faith of his name, this man, whom you have seen and known, hath his name strengthened; and the faith which is by him, hath given this perfect soundness in the sight of you all. 

Espistle of Saint Paul to the Romans

Destruction and misery in their ways:

First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians

Know you not, that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Second Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians

But when they shall be converted to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. 

Epistle of Saint Paul to the Galatians

But when they shall be converted to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. 

Epistle of Saint Paul to the Ephesians

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened by his Spirit with might unto the inward man,

Epistle of Saint Paul to the Philippians

Nevertheless whereunto we are come, that we be of the same mind, let us also continue in the same rule.

Epistle of Saint Paul to the Colossians

Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom: teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God.

First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

Second Epistle of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians

Now the Lord of peace himself give you everlasting peace in every place. The Lord be with you all.

First Epistle of Saint Paul to Timothy

And evidently great is the mystery of godliness, which was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, appeared unto angels, hath been preached unto the Gentiles, is believed in the world, is taken up in glory.

Second Epistle of Saint Paul to Timothy

All scripture, inspired of God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice,

Epistle of Saint Paul to Titus

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

Epistle of Saint Paul to Philemon

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

Epistle of Saint Paul to the Hebrews

For some who heard did provoke: but not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

Epistle of Saint James 

For where envying and contention is, there is inconstancy, and every evil work. 

First Epistle of Saint Peter

But with modesty and fear, having a good conscience: that whereas they speak evil of you, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Second Epistle of Saint Peter

As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.
First Epistle of Saint John

In this we have known the charity of God, because he hath laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Second Epistle of Saint John

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

Third Epistle of Saint John

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

Epistle of Saint Jude

DOES NOT CONTAIN 3:16

The Apocalypse of Saint John (Revelation)

But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, not hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.

Thank you for reading! I know it was long, but it's SO worth it! I love sitting down and reading Scripture!

Happy John day, and God bless you!!

{doGtoGevI}

~SheSpeaksWithWisdom