Present in the Silence

I am reading a book called Holy Silence about Quaker worship. They have no liturgy, or preaching, just communal silence where they listen for the voice of God and become aware of His presence amongst them.

The author brought a group of young Quakers to Mass once so they could see how other Christians worshiped. He was friendly with the local Priest who gave them a talk first and explained what would be happening so that it would not be a complete mystery. 

Afterwards they had a chat over dinner and the young Quakers were asked which part of the service most closely resembled their own Quaker worship.  They all agreed that it was in the Eucharist, the Consecration. One put it like this “that was when we really felt that Jesus was there” Another added “it got so quiet then” another indicator for them of the Lord’s presence.

Many in our church scarcely believe in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist sadly and this lack of belief has been repeated over the centuries countered just as frequently with Eucharistic miracles. The first being at Lanciano in Italy where a monk wrestled with his doubts about Transubstantiation and during Mass the host was visibly changed into flesh and blood.

More than a thousand years later it remains, not having undergone any decay. Tests done in the 1980’s showed that the host was heart tissue, and the blood was still fresh. What a gift we have been given.

Let there be Light .. a Lourdes story

As international travel remains disrupted by the pandemic; most of my communication with family between England and the Philippines is through skype these days where we share stories ‘over the ether’.

My Dad shared a real gem the other day from a pilgrimage to Lourdes in the 1950’s. It began in the foothills of the Pyrenees on horseback where most of the pilgrim group (a.k.a ‘the faint hearted’) used the bridge to cross the river, Dad’s trusty steed (a distant relative of Pegasus himself) showed him the shortcut and horse and rider plunged into the icy melt waters. Historically this began a now long and consistent family tradition of death-defying equestrian misadventure. But the real drama of the trip was yet to unfold in village of Lourdes below. 

In the evening as they prayed the Rosary together at their hotel, two young Irish girls burst into the room both weeping uncontrollably. They had come as volunteers to help the sick and disabled in Lourdes and their charge was a young boy who had been born blind. When they had checked in on him to get him ready for bed they noticed he was very quiet and just sat on the edge of the bed waiting for them. They asked him what was wrong and he responded “I was waiting to hear your voices so I would know what you both looked like” 

Earlier that day he had attended a procession where the Priest had moved amongst the sick with the Monstrance blessing each person. When he came to the boy he blessed him saying “let there be light” and as he did so the boy received his sight. And the first thing he saw was his Lord, Saviour and healer.

I imagine that miracle has been brand new every morning he opened his eyes for the last 60+ years; what a wonderful miracle and gift.

Eucharistic Miracle of Santarem

The  Miracle involves a woman and her unfaithful husband. In a desperate attempt to save her marriage, the woman went to see a sorceress for help. The sorceress said she would grant the woman’s wish of renewing the husband’s fidelity: in exchange for the woman bringing her a consecrated Host. Reluctantly the woman decided to commit the sacrilege and steal a host. The woman went to Mass at the Church of St. Stephen, she received the Holy Eucharist in her mouth, then took the Sacred Host out of her mouth and wrapped it in her veil, and headed quickly out of the church.

Before she had taken more than a few steps, the Host began to bleed. It bled so much that it appeared as if she had cut her hand. Several concerned parishioners went to help her, but as they reached her, she ran out of the church.

Upon returning home, she threw the bloody Host into the bottom of an old trunk in her bedroom. As was his custom, her husband returned late that night. During the middle of the night, a mysterious light emanated from the trunk. When the couple awoke, the woman confessed to her husband what she had done. They then both knelt in adoration and repentance before the Miracle.

The next morning they told the parish priest what had happened. The Host was then placed in a wax container and solemnly returned to the Church of St. Stephen. Of course, upon hearing the news, the villagers hurried to the church to see and venerate the Miracle.

When the priest opened the tabernacle another miracle had taken place! The wax container holding the Sacred Host was found shattered in many pieces, and the Host was now enclosed in a crystal pyx. After an exhaustive investigation by ecclesiastical authorities, the Miracle was approved. It is believed that St. Francis Xavier visited the Church of the Holy Miracle before setting off for missionary work in India.

It is an article of our faith that the wine and bread literally become the body and blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ during the Consecration, and to actually see it physically manifested is a wonderful experience.

Sign of the Cross stops a Tsunami .. a Eucharistic Miracle

The miracle reportedly occurred in 1906 in Tumaco, Colombia.

At the start of the 20th century a great undersea earthquake shook the Pacific Ocean and casued a tsunami that devastated the shorelines of many cities. However, according to the inhabitants of Tumaco, Colombia, a huge wave was pushed back when the local priest processed out with the Blessed Sacrament.

When the people of Tumaco felt the ground shake on the morning of January 31, 1906, they immediately went to their parish priest, Fr. Gerardo Larrondo. The local inhabitants begged their pastor to perform a Eucharistic procession that would invoke God’s aid to fight back the tsunami wave that threatened the very existence of their city.

The people could see the giant wave approaching the city and so Fr. Larrondo gathered up his courage and with the Holy Eucharist placed in a monstrance, processed head-on towards the wave. He said to the people, “Let us go, my people. Let us go toward the beach, and may God have pity on us.”

Bravely, Fr. Larrondo approached the wave and made the sign of the cross with the Eucharist — and almost immediately the wave receded and turned back.

At the sight of the wave receding everyone shouted loudly, “Miracle, miracle!” It appeared to the people that the hand of God stayed the destructive force of the tsunami and spared the people because of their firm faith in the power of the Eucharist.

Word spread about the apparent miracle and the people of the city rejoiced and thanked God for having mercy on them in their need.