Seven Lifelines for a Grieving Heart During the Holidays
The Effect of a Sacrilegious Communion
Photo by Thays Orrico on Unsplash
This brief writing from "Benedictus” lists a fruit of Holy Communion that I had not heard before but it makes so much sense. It is sorely missing in the Church of today and the results have been disastrous.
The malice of Judas, who has received Him unworthily [in Holy Communion], so afflicts the tender and loving Heart of Jesus, that sorrow constrains him to break forth in these words: "One of you is about to betray Me" (Matthew 26:21). How dangerous to approach Jesus Christ unworthily! How true that the greatest benefits of God, if abused, deserve the most grievous punishments.
"The disciples therefore looked upon one another, doubting of whom He spoke" (John 13:22). The words of Jesus enter the hearts of the faithful disciples as a sword of fire, piercing them with a most sensible sorrow, yet that of Judas remains impenetrable. The innocent tremble, while the criminal stands unabashed. Pure souls tremble at the shadow of sin; they fear to lose Jesus. The fear of the Lord, is a fruit of Holy Communion.
Grant that Thy holy fear may so occupy my heart, that sin may no longer find place therein.
"Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, and said to him: "Who is it of whom He speaketh?" (John 13:23-24). Saint John clings to the bosom of his Master, whilst Judas shrinks from that throne of holiness. The Heart of Jesus is between them, as the diamond which attracts one and repels the other. The one brings to Holy Communion an angelic purity; the other approaches with an envenomed heart.
God of all purity, preserve me from the misfortune of this faithless apostle. I am poor and Thou art my only good. I must therefore approach Thee, since my soul cannot subsist without this divine food.
(Author: Father Jacques Nouet (d. 1680) - French Jesuit spiritual director and author of several apologetical and devotional works)
May we not receive the Eucharist in such a way that as we are processing forward to receive Communion, Jesus says of us what He said of Judas: "One of you is about to betray Me." May each one of our communions be a Holy Communion with Our Lord and may the fruit of a holy fear of the Lord grow inside of us with each Holy Communion so that we, like the apostles, tremble at the shadow of sin because we deeply fear losing Jesus!
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About the Author
I am a daughter of the Most High and of His Catholic Church. I introduce myself that way because I am so grateful for that! I have been married to Dan for 34 years and we have three young adult children - Brett, Nicole & Eryn - and three grandchildren - Cash, Bowie and Indy. I was employed as the Adult Faith Formation Coordinator at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City, Georgia for 14 years from December of 2008 to January of 2023. I earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology from Catholic Distance University and a certificate as a Catholic Spiritual Mentor from the Catholic Spiritual Mentorship Program.
I left fulltime ministry in the parish to concentrate on organizing events. I would like to extend my outreach to other parishes and organizations who would like to host a wonderful Adult Faith formation event but might not have the experience or confidence to do that on their own. I offer various services including but not limited to (fees are charged hourly for most services):
+ Event Planning: event planning from start to finish,
+ Consultation: consultation about an event,
+ Consultation about running a successful Adult Faith Formation Program.
+ I also offer different Adult Faith classes and courses that can be accessed by an individual or a group or can be taught by me via zoom or locally in person.
Website https://www.catholiceventplanning.com/ or www.redemptivesuffering.net
