St. Charbel is one of my favorite saints. I especially admire his devotion to the Holy Liturgy/Mass. He said Mass at mid-day, prayerfully preparing to do so the entire morning, and after Mass, offering his thanksgiving the entire afternoon. He was particularly devoted to the Eucharist and the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin.
Do you prepare for Mass, especially if you are going to receive Communion? Do you spend some time after Mass praying in thanksgiving? The easiest way to practice mental prayer, and to acquire the prayer of recollection, is to spend time after Holy Communion in prolonged thanksgiving.
Though the Saint died on Christmas Eve, his feast is celebrated today, July 24.
"...a hermit of the Lebanese mountain is inscribed in the number of the blessed...a new eminent member of monastic sanctity is enriching, by his example and his intercession, the entire Christian people... May he make us understand, in a world largely fascinated by wealth and comfort, the paramount value of poverty, penance, and asceticism, to liberate the soul in its ascent to God..." - Paul VI
Terry, how does one pray after Mass in Thanksgiving? What are some good prayers to pray? How long is long enough? How long is too long?
ReplyDeleteI'd like to start doing this, but I don't know what to do.
I'm not good at telling people how to pray. I just pray quietly in silence without regard for the time.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to make acts of thanksgiving and love - and faith and hope. Sometimes ruminating upon a verse from the readings at Mass or the post communion prayer may be helpful.
But for me the best thing is to focus all my attention on Christ really truly present within my soul, body, blood soul and divinity - within the very bosom of the Holy Trinity - as Bl. Elizabeth expresses it, immensity wherein I lose myself.
Thank you for the reminder about the feast of St.Charbel. It prompted me to find a small medal of him that a friend had given me; I was surprised to see it had a third class relic glued to the back. Pinned the medal to my sweater, and he kept me company all day. The rosary I prayed I offered to St. Charbel so he would have roses to give to Our Lady.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good day.