Double Blessing

Double Blessing

Submitted by Thomas Stidl

         How does one attain a double blessing?  I just found this in my own life and would like to share it with you.

         Spring is finally here in the Northern Hemisphere, and so is Daylight Savings Time.  We may have lost one hour of sleep about two weeks ago, but we gained an extra hour of daylight in the evening.  Of course, some of us make up that hour of sleep with two-hour naps, but that is a different issue.  Since it is light longer in the evening, I returned to my old habit of Saturday evening Mass.  The reason that I started Saturday evening Mass although I hate to admit it was to sleep late on Sunday morning.  Down through the years this worked very well, including when I worked on Sundays to satisfy my client’s needs.  However, biological clocks in human beings change and believe it or not, I actually became accustomed to rising early on Sunday morning.

         On early Sunday morning around 8:30am, there is a half hour Mass on television for shut-ins.  I tuned into it one Sunday morning and received amazing insights into my humanity and character during the priest’s homily.  During Holy Communion they have on the screen the Spiritual Communion formulated by Saint Alphonsus Ligouri.  I prayed that prayer and received a double blessing.  Please realize that at Saturday evening Mass I receive the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist physically.  That was the first blessing.  The Spiritual Communion was the second blessing on Sunday morning.  Please make every effort to worship God at Mass in your own parish or a church near you and receive more insights into your character and either spiritual or physical communion there.  Then, sit back and relax and enjoy a second Mass on television and receive further insights into yourself and spiritual communion.  This is the second blessing.  This is truly a powerful Lenten practice that can be done throughout the year.  It allows the grace of God to reinforce your soul with sanctifying grace and the actual graces to avoid sin.  This is what our Catholic life should always encompass, a life closer to God and farther away from sin.

         Until next time, Laus Tibi, Christe.  Deo Gratias.  Gloria Tibi Domini.  Laus Deo.  See you in Paradise.