THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS

 

`The Eucharist is a Christian’s most perfect prayer.  It leads us as a body of believers, and as individuals into a union with God.  The Eucharist is bread and wine transformed into Jesus’ body and blood by the priest.  Thank your Jesus for a our priests.  Bread and wine remain just that to human eyes, but people of faith who eat His Body and drink His Blood, are changed.  The Eucharist is the reliving of the greatest act of love that ever took place on earth, the Last Supper and Calvary combined (Jesus offering himself to the last drop of blood for each of us).  It is food to make our journey possible.  I’ve been on the road for 72 years.  In my first experience of the Eucharist, I remember the nuns telling me that Jesus lived in the Tabernacle.  I was always trying to look past the priest when the door was open, expecting to see a little bed and little sofa.  I learned that Holy Communion was sacred and a mystery.  Do you remember when we had to fast from midnight?  I was talking outside of church one Sunday and a fly flew in my mouth and I swallowed it.  I did not receive Communion because I thought the fly was protein.  Sunday Mass was an important part of my life as a Catholic wife and mother.  I needed all the grace I could get.

            Life was challenging for Frank and I.  I had nine pregnancies and seven births in fifteen years.  All but the first were risky.  I had the RH Factor.  My third baby, John, died after birth and his sister Maureen was born ten months after.  Maureen had Cerebral Palsy.  All she was capable of doing was making noise, rolling her big brown cow eyes and smiling.  So I thought.  Until she joined her brother when she was ten years old.  People at the Cerebral Palsy Center shared with me how she touched them, from the bus driver to the custodian to the aides and therapists Maureen was a joy.  I had no idea of how God was using her.  She taught us compassion and gratitude.  We all have what she had, the ability to smile and make a joyful noise to the Lord.  Thank you Jesus for Maureen.

            Twenty five years ago, we again were going through a had time and *I was invited to make a Cursillo at Saint Paul’s.  It is a special three day retreat.  I call it a gift you give yourself.  It changed my life and gave me a new way of thinking “God don’t make junk.”  I am special, unique one of a kind masterpieces, created by God.  I am the daughter of a King.  That makes me royalty “Princess Maryann.”

            On the weekend, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart in these words “Take the Ca-Ca  (#!*#&*) and turn it to fertilizer and grow from it.”  I was able to see good in people and situations.  It drove Frank crazy.  I was always making excuses as to why people did things.  Two years later he made a Cursillo (which he swore he would never do), and he started making fertilizer.  He grew into a happy, holy Christian, Catholic man, with a desire to serve.

            On my weekend, I promised to do my best to go to daily Mass.  I had a hunger and thirst to receive Jesus and hear His Holy word.  I would walk to 7 o’clock Mass, get home and eat and be ready at 7:45 am to be picked up for work.  There I met a beautiful, caring family of the Eucharist; Wanda, Bill, Jack, Kenny, Helen Grace, Mary Ann and little Rosa who kept us all in line.  It took me three decades to the Rosary to walk to Mass each day (ten blocks).  Then I got a bicycle.  When Frank saw that rain, snow and ice would not keep me from Mass, he got up and drove me.  Soon he became part of the family.  He was a daily communicant for the rest of his life “Taste and see the goodness of God.”

            Not on bread alone is man to live on, but on every utterance from the mouth of God.  God’s word is also food for the soul.  I found that there is less distraction at weekday Mass and it is easier to listen and hear the Word of God than on Sundays.  I had time to sit and listen to Jesus after Communion.  He put many good thoughts and challenges in my heart and He gave me the courage to follow them through.  He is an awesome God.  Just one word from the homily or readings would sustain me till the next day.  “If you want to avoid judgment, stop passing judgment.”  :The means with which you measure will be used to measure you.”  “Stop worrying tomorrow.  Let tomorrow take care of itself.  Today has troubles enough of its own.”  “Remember where you treasure is, there your heart is also.”  Remembering those words in times of decision making helps me to make the right choices. 

 

God is GOOD all the time.  If it is GOOD it is of GOD, because God is always in G-O-O-D