The Wonder Worker of Lebanon
St. Charbel is one of my favorite saints. I especially admire his devotion to the Sacred 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.
I try to imitate him somewhat by preparing for Mass for an hour before, praying Our Lady's Rosary. I try to stay a long time after Mass in silent thanksgiving. Elsewhere online I noticed a question as to how long the real presence remains within us after communion. It's a good question, I guess. From my understanding, so long as the host/bread remains, Christ is with us, body, blood, soul and divinity. Yet that strikes me as superficial, since Christ leads us into the bosom of the Holy Trinity who dwells within our souls. We are his tabernacle. God dwells in our soul and Christ himself unites us to himself. To remain quietly in thanksgiving after communion, contemplating these things is our sanctification. There is no more intimate call to follow Jesus than that which he bids us in holy communion. It is not unlike the invitation Christ made to “Zacchaeus - come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.”
The easiest way to practice mental prayer, and to acquire the prayer of recollection, is to spend time after Holy Communion in prolonged thanksgiving. The best way to prepare for this mystical union is extended prayer with Our Lady in preparation to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Frequent spiritual communion unites us to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, reminding us throughout the day we are his tabernacle, God's temple, and the Spirit of God dwells in us.
St. Charbel demonstrates that.
St. Charbel, Wonder Worker of Lebanon, obtain for us conscious and deep reverence for Christ in the Eucharist, and heartfelt devotion to Our Lady. Instill in us an abiding recollection of the Holy Trinity's indwelling that we may do everything in union with God's will. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Great reflections on the central event of all existence. I'd be interested sometime to hear more about how you practice thanksgiving. Does it flow spontaneously? Is it a silent movement of the soul? Thanks for your insights.
ReplyDeleteIt does flow spontaneously I suppose. I mention those I pray for and make acts of thanksgiving and adoration, otherwise it is silence in the presence of God - but it is in faith. Peace and interior joy permeate the silence. It's very simple and ordinary. The 'din' after Mass doesn't distract from it - which may be the only 'supernatural' effect, if that's a correct use of the term. :)
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