When I recite the Rosary, my mind sometimes wanders off in totally unrelated directions. Sure enough, this Friday, while I was praying the first decade – the Agony in the Garden – my thoughts drifted to secular topics, which had nothing to do with Christ's  anguished beads of blood-sweat.

I looked for a new aspect of the event to get me back on track.

It occurred to me that Christ had just washed the feet of the man who - any moment now - would enter the garden and betray Him.

How did that feel?

How Did He Do It?!
Would we have washed Judas’ feet? Would we have performed such a humiliating task for the very person we already knew was going to hand us over to be scourged, hit, spat on, have thorns stuck into our head, and be forced to carry a heavy cross - so we could be attached to it with big nails driven through our hands and feet?

That’s what makes Jesus’ act of humility even more amazing. Not only was He performing a slave’s job for His followers. He already knew Judas was going to betray Him - “And you are clean, though not every one of you” (v. 10) - yet Jesus washed his feet, too! That demanded enormous love.

The article Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet reads: “For the love that is evident in the laying down of life at the crucifixion is also demonstrated in the laying down of life in humble service in the footwashing.”

Humble Re-enactment
On Maundy Thursday we witness the commemoration of that night as the priest washes the feet of twelve parishioners. And I always wonder why those particular twelve are chosen? What are the criteria for having your feet washed in church? (Thankfully I’ll never qualify - no one wants to see my sorry toes!)

One year our pastor called up twelve young men who’d expressed an interest in the priesthood. That was beautiful, and I appreciated the worthiness of those parishioners to be recognized in public.

But another priest recounted how he’d desperately not wanted to wash the feet of a particular church member, because the man was openly and loudly critical of him. For that very reason the priest’s spiritual director ordered him to include that man in the Maundy Thursday line-up.

It was very hard - humiliating and humbling – but the priest obeyed and bathed his enemy’s feet.

Now that's impressive!


Christ’s humility that night – washing all twelve disciples’ feet when He was aware that one of them would soon double-cross Him – is certainly something to recall when reciting the Agony in the Garden decade on the Rosary.

We’re familiar with Christ’s commandment to love one another, as He loves us. (John 13:34-35)

It may be a hard request to obey, but all Christian denominations understand and agree with it. No one argues that it's a bad thing to love one’s neighbor, or that Jesus' words are open to interpretation. His intention was very clear: Love thy neighbor.

But When He Said… 

What puzzles Catholics is that non-Catholic Christians don't accept one of His other very straightforward commands.

At the Last Supper, Christ gave the bread to His disciples and told them to take and eat it, “for this is My body.” (Matthew 26:26) He then gave them the cup of wine, telling them to drink of it, “for this is My blood...”  (Matthew 26:28)

He adds another command: “Do this in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19)

...What He Meant Was….

When Christ told us to love one another we believe he meant we were to love one another.

So we believe that when He told us to eat His body and drink His blood in remembrance of Him – He wanted us to eat His body and drink His blood in remembrance of Him.

Christ stated clearly what he wanted us to do. We don’t see anything to interpret here.

And yet….

Why do non-Catholic Christians, who believe in the same New Testament as us, see only symbolism in the bread and wine? Jesus asked us to partake of His flesh and blood, not eat and drink tokens.

And We Catholics Care Because…?

Why does it bother Catholics so much that other Christian denominations don’t believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist?

We're sad that our brothers and sisters in Christ are missing out on such a big part of His message of salvation. 

Before going up to Jerusalem to be crucified, Christ had already said the following to the people in the synagogue at Capernaum:

“Anyone who does eat My flesh and drink My blood has eternal life and I shall raise that person up on the last day. For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood lives in Me and I live in that person.” (John 6:54-56 The New Jerusalem Bible)

Christ didn’t ask us to eat pretend flesh and pretend blood. He was making it clear that we were to eat His real flesh and drink His real blood to gain eternal life, and be living in us.

Come Again?! 

Yes, it’s a hard concept to grasp. And the apparent cannibalism of it turned many disciples away from Christ.

But here is Peter’s reaction: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life and we believe;” (John 6:68-69 The New Jerusalem Bible)

So why don’t all Christians believe the message of eternal life that Christ so plainly stated? Again, it’s puzzling to Catholics that our Christian brethren believe a half-truth when it comes to the Eucharist.

Transubstantiation 

All Christians believe that Christ rose from the dead. So why is it impossible for us to believe that He turned bread and wine into His body and blood, not only during the Last Supper but that He does the same at Holy Mass? For nothing is impossible to God. (Luke 1:37)

As Catholics we believe that the priest in persona Christi Capitis – acting in the person of Christ - turns bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. This is what He asked us to do, and this miracle takes place during every Mass.

There have been 126 Eucharistic miracles in which the host became flesh and began to bleed. Here is a video of one of them.

Scott Hahn in his book First Comes Love speaks thus about partaking of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ during Mass, which he calls the New Covenant meal:

“Our kinship with God is so real that His very blood courses through our bodies. We assimilate His flesh into our own........ In our communion of flesh and blood with Jesus, we receive the grace….to live and die as Jesus lived and died.”

To Conclude:


Christ wants the whole world to partake of His body and blood to become Him and be saved. If you don’t believe in the Real Presence, I sincerely hope that this post has, in some small way, helped to clarify why we Catholics believe in it. And why we wish all Christians did.

I welcome your comments!

Where would we be if Mary had terminated her pregnancy?

The 14th January began the Novena of Reparation for the Roe v. Wade decision handed down on January 22nd 1973.

You can sign up for it here:
http://www.priestsforlife.org/novenas/prayer-of-reparation.htm
or simply copy the prayer and pray it every day until the 22nd January:

Prayer of Reparation

God and Father of Life,
You have created every human person,
And have opened the way for each to have eternal life.

We live in the shadow of death.
Tens of millions of your children have been killed
because of the Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion.

Father, have mercy on us.
Heal our land
And accept our offering of prayer and penance.

In your love for us,
Turn back the scourge of abortion.
May each of us exult in hearts full of hope
And hands full of mercy
And work together to build a culture of life.

We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

In his book, First Comes Love, Scott Hahn notes that ‘when the atomistic* family becomes a society’s dominant model, then family duties are widely viewed as impediments to individual fulfillment.’

The human family has fewer and fewer members, who are becoming increasingly selfish.

*Atomistic is defined by Freedictionary.com as “Consisting of many separate, often disparate elements: e.g. an atomistic culture.”

Scott Hahn uses the term ‘trustee family’ coined by Carle C. Zimmerman in the latter’s book Family and Civilization.  The equivalent of an enormous clan, the trustee family dwindles over the lifetime of a civilization, via the domestic family stage, down to the self-seeking atomistic family.

Consider this point made by Scott Hahn: ‘The atomistic family – marked by widespread divorce, unrestrained sexual activity, and population decline – usually signifies a civilization in its ultimate decline.’ (My emphasis.)

Surely this should give us cause to stop and think about the culture of death and egotism we’re allowing in our society here in America?

Isn’t ‘pondering’ a great word? Its synonyms include: contemplate, reflect, meditate and cogitate on. You can just imagine Mary by her newborn baby, looking at him adoringly and pondering in her heart on the huge significance of this first Christmas.

Such was my inner response to the unexpected blessings this Christmas brought.

‘Twas an Unfamiliar Christmas Eve  

Florida is where my family spent Christmas this year. I was unhappy to leave my beautifully decorated Maryland home, but it was the right thing to do.

My mother is in assisted living - in Sarasota, where my husband hopes to retire soon. She cannot travel to visit us anymore, having lost the use of her left side in a stroke and being wheelchair bound.  We had to fly out and visit her, because we're her only family in the States - everyone else lives in England. 

It upset me that the closest thing to midnight Mass locally was at 10:30 p.m. Back home we have a true 12 o’clock Mass, but I reckon the older generation couldn’t stay up that late!

Offer up your sadness, I told myself. I expect Mary was a tad dismayed when she saw where her baby was supposed to sleep! And I bet she didn’t give St. Joseph a hard time about it, either. She will have smiled through her disappointment and focused on the positive. 

When Christmas Eve dinner was over I reminded the family that I was going to ‘midnight’ Mass in half an hour.

My twenty-one year old son smiled. “Mum, I’ll come with you. It’s a tradition and it won’t feel like Christmas if I don’t.”

You can imagine how overjoyed I was to hear those words! Not wanting to set myself up for misery, I’d not even secretly hoped he would come. 

Although this would have been the first year without his company, I’d been careful not to bring it up. He is no longer a regular church goer, which I pray will change. But he's too old to have his mother tell him what to think and do.

He pulled out the ironing board, and pressed a clean shirt to wear to greet Our Lord at His birth.

Graces, Godsends & Gratitude

The church was twenty minutes away, and while he drove, my son talked to me about personal things which don’t usually get discussed in the hurried life we lead. Another blessing.  

I had forgotten about the carol service immediately preceding this Mass, and the parking lot was chock full. Yet we found a space and once in the building, were lucky enough to get two seats next to each other half way up the aisle.

The pews were just regular chairs, without any kneelers. During the times in Mass when Catholics would normally kneel, the congregation had to stand.

(I’ll skip over my aggravation - as soon as I’d sat down - at seeing a parishioner walk in with two large, takeaway cups of coffee. I deliberately looked no more in their direction, as I didn’t want to see whether or not they had the audacity to drink it during the service!! Judge not lest ye be judged, I told myself.)

My son remembered all the prayers and responses during Mass, which was another wonderful surprise. The priest then incensed the offerings, and after a short while that distinctive aroma reached us.

Ross beamed. “Ah! Now it’s Christmas!”

I was so grateful to God that my son still embraced Catholic tradition.  I pray this will lead him fully back to the Church one day.

After Mass, as we were returning our hymnals, he noticed that a free book was being handed. The title was on my ‘to buy’ list: Rome Sweet Home by Scott and Kimberley Hahn. Another unexpected bonus, which I voraciously read over the next three days.

Merry Christmas to Us, and to Us a Good Night 

Our cozy chats resumed during the trip back to the semi-darkness of my mother-in-law’s house, where everyone else had gone to bed.

Traditionally, after midnight Mass Ross joins me in a glass of mulled wine and we eat a minced pie each. Sadly, he was unable to do so this year, having been recently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. God willing, he will share these things with me again next year.

Instead, we hugged and wished each other “Merry Christmas!” before he retired to bed.

Midnight Meditations

In a happy daze, I sat alone at the little breakfast table, sipping my hot spiced wine and munching on a minced pie - baked in Maryland for this very occasion - past the hour of 12 a.m.

My heart was full as I pondered this evening’s miraculous events and contemplated Mary’s wonder on beholding her child in the manger that first Christmas night.

We often pray half-heartedly, with an ‘I hope God’s listening but He probably isn’t’ attitude.

Frequently prayer is our last resort: all else has failed and we feel that ‘it can’t hurt to throw up a petition to heaven.’ There’s no real conviction behind our words. So how can we expect our prayers to be answered?

It says in the Gospel of Matthew (17:20 New Living Translation) "You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible."

Here are 10 ways to nurture that tiny seed of faith inside you and unleash the power of your prayers.

1.      Desire the Right Things 

If we want God to listen to our prayers, our requests mustn’t be un-Christian and selfish. As Albert Benjamin Simpson said:  “We cannot ask in behalf of Christ what Christ would not ask Himself if He were praying.”

We must genuinely desire our own good and the good of others. To do this we have to give up our own will - the hardest Christian virtue of all. Here’s a great quote from Alan Redpath: “Before we can pray, "Lord, Thy Kingdom come," we must be willing to pray, "My Kingdom go."  

God knows what we need, and desires to give it to us, if we’re willing to leave our egos behind when we pray.

2.      Believe and You Will Receive

Evan Roberts sums up exactly how I feel before God on so many occasions when I am tempted to doubt that he will answer my prayers:

‘Over and over again I am ashamed of myself for ever doubting that God is listening to my prayers. I have so many instances of seemingly hopeless situations where He showed me, yet again, that He is walking with me and ‘all things are possible with Him.’

I have three recent examples of seemingly hopeless situations when God answered my prayers. Twice I prayed for another’s good and once for mine, believing that God would grant my requests. He didn’t let me down.

"God does nothing except in response to believing prayer."  John Wesley

 3.      Be Persistent: Pray Daily

Don’t be one of those people who only pray when things go wrong or when they want something.

“Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when we are in trouble: prayer is a life attitude.” Walter A. Mueller

Make prayer a daily habit. First, praise God and thank Him for the good things in your life. Ask how you can glorify Him through your actions during this day, and only add your petitions at the end of your prayer sessions.

As long as your request fits the criterion of being right, pray for it with perseverance and patience.

St. Paul also exhorts us to “pray without ceasing.” (Thessalonians 5:17 New Living Translation)

Don’t expect an immediate response: God’s timing is not our timing.

4.      Defy the Devil 

Daily prayer will strengthen you as a Christian.  You will badly need to be strong, because the devil will go after you big time when he sees what you’re up to.

“No one is a firmer believer in the power of prayer than the devil; not that he practices it, but he suffers from it.” Guy H. King, Baptist Minister

He’ll tell you God isn’t listening, that God won’t mind if you skip your prayers tonight – anything to make you cease talking to Him. When you feel Satan coming at you, take heart: your prayers are working, otherwise he wouldn’t feel the need to dissuade you from talking to God.

Don’t let the devil prevent you from persistent prayer.

5.      Pray Even When You Don’t Feel Like It.

Sometimes you don’t feel all fired up about chatting to God, or you don’t know what to say.

Yet make yourself pray every day, whether or not you’re in the mood: God will appreciate your efforts.

This article “But I Don’t Feel Like Praying” may help you.

Or watch this short video of St. Josemaria Escriva explaining the benefits of praying when you don’t feel like it. He tells us that in praying when we find it difficult, we are offering a sacrifice to God which 'bears much fruit.'

6.      Don’t Test God 

Don’t demand that your prayers be answered, or else you’ll refuse to believe in God.

“Some people think that prayer just means asking for things, and if they fail to receive exactly what they asked for, they think the whole thing is a fraud.” Gerald Vann

Remember Christ’s words to Thomas:  "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me." John 20:29

We cannot pray in the spirit of testing God. He won’t be impressed.

7.      Be in Good Standing with Your Neighbor

If you bear anyone ill-will and have not forgiven those who’ve trespassed against you, don’t expect God to listen to your prayers.

“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”(Matthew 5:23-24 New Living Translation)

Before you put your personal petitions before God, pray for your enemies and wish well on them. Forgive them in your heart, and wish good things to befall them.

8.      Concentrate

Pray somewhere quiet, where you can avoid the distractions of daily life.  “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46: 10a) and listen to the whisper of His voice.

Give Him your full attention while you converse with Him. Ignore those annoying, clamoring voices in your head and allow Christ’s peace to flow into you.

Here’s a very short video which makes this point (the ads are fun but you can skip them!).

This is not easy. For example, I pray a lot while I’m driving. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

9.      Structure Your Prayer Time

We are creatures of habit who thrive on routine, and it's beneficial to apply this principle to our prayer life.

Set aside the same time every day for prayer, when you can. But don’t launch immediately into your list of woes when you talk to Him.

1.      Begin by glorifying God and naming the graces He’s bestowed on you.

2.      Then give Him thanks for everything He has done for you.

3.      When you’ve done this, you’ll feel a lot less whiny and now is a good time to put your petitions to Him.

An additional benefit of this method is that it provides a useful 'template' when praying is difficult. It also ensures that you don’t forget to give Him His due every day, in addition to your supplications.

10. Pray the Rosary

It is impossible to underestimate the power of praying the Rosary.

As Catholics we believe that the Mother of Jesus is our mother, too. She brings our petitions to her Son, Who cannot refuse her.  She has frequently asked us to pray the Rosary during her numerous appearances.

The devil hates the Rosary, it is one of our most powerful weapons against him. Our Lady crushes the serpent Satan beneath her feet with the aid of our prayers.

As Our Lady said to the children of Medjugorje on February 25, 1988:

“Therefore, little children, do not be afraid. If you pray, Satan cannot injure you even a little, because you are God’s children and He is watching over you. Pray, and let the Rosary always be in your hands as a sign to Satan that you belong to me…”


Christ was frustrated with His disciples for their lack of faith, and told them that they had only to ask and they would receive. He wants to give us so much, if only we would ask properly!

Incorporate the above 10 principles into your prayers, and you will greatly improve the quality of your conversations with God.