I have recently finished reading a book by a fine, but recently deceased priest, Fr. Richard Gilsdorf. The book is entitled, The Signs of the Times- Understanding the Church Since Vatican II. Fr. Gilsdorf helped establish the Confraternity of Clergy here in the USA to help stem the tide of error and confusion after the Council. The book is a compilation of some of his writings. One chapter which has deeply impacted me was The Doctrine of the Fragments. An image has remained in my mind: that of two remaining drops of the Precious Blood in a chalice after Holy Communion. It ties into the following verse from 1Corinthians: 11: 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. St. Ephraim writes of the Sacred Host in a similar fashion: "Do not now regard as bread that which I have given you; but take, eat this Bread, and do not tread upon its crumbs, for what I have called My Body, that it is indeed. One particle from its crumbs is able to sanctify thousands and thousands, and is sufficient to afford life to those who eat it." How vulnerable is the Lord in our midst when even we who believe might through carelessness neglect our Lord. Fr. Gilsdorf rightly highlights that we should meditate on this humility and vulnerability with which Christ comes to us. My awe of God has been greatly renewed by pondering this chapter! :shock: I'll conclude with an admonition Fr. Gilsdorf gives to his brother priests: As custodians of the Eucharist, the adoration we priests exhibit while purifying the remnants [of consecrated Hosts] should demonstrate our priestly solicitude. It would also edify the faithful. How much reparation would we provide to Christ for the cavalier carelessness of our times if we priests slowly and adoringly purify the sacred vessels with awe. Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
Mario, Its shocking the disrepect shown by both clergy and faithful to the body and blood. I saw a host dropped on the floor at the distribution of communion yesterday. A member of the congretation picked t up and handed it to the priest. This in itself was not wrong as accidents can happen but it could have just been a piece of bread to the onlooker. Pre Vatican 2 it was a big deal and the spot would be thoroughly looked at and cleansed and prayed over. I went to a church lately and the eucharistic minister there showed me a box of fragment of holy communion wafers that she has picked up from the floor of the church. She checks all the floor before allowing the cleaners to vacum clean it. In other churches these fragments are just sucked up and thrown in the rubbish. Its true that the priests have to give an example on this.We must make reperation for such disrespect. Mary
I read a nice story by a visionary one time {I forget who} who said God sends his angels to pick up bits of fallen hosts. This has always consoled me, I hope its true. 'How inspiring it is to recount and reflect upon the visits of this Angel to the three little children of Fatima -- Jacinta, Francisco, and Lucia. And how understandable that he would appear to innocent souls, who would readily accept his heavenly messages with simple, unquestioning belief! The first apparition of the Angel took place on the side of a hill called Lopa do Cabeço in the spring of 1916. Although the children had previously seen a nebulous figure of light, this was the first time they could definitely perceive the Angel and hear him speak. According to Lucia's account, after the children had finished lunch, there appeared before them "a light whiter than snow, revealing the form of a young man, transparent and much brighter than crystal pierced by the rays of the sun." The Angel approached them, saying: "Fear not. I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me." The Angel then knelt, bowing low with his head touching the ground. The three children, impelled by a supernatural impulse, did the same, and then repeated after him: "My God, I believe, I adore, I trust, and I love Thee. I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not trust, and do not love Thee." Having repeated this prayer three times, the Angel rose and said: "Pray thus. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to your supplications." The Fatima Children at prayer Lucia later told Canon Galamba about this visit of the Angel: "The supernatural atmosphere which enveloped us was so intense that, for a long time, we were scarcely aware of our own existence, remaining in the same position and repeating the same prayers. "So intimate and intense was the feeling of the presence of God, that we did not even attempt to speak to one another. "The next day we could still feel the holy atmosphere. It began to disappear only very slowly. We said nothing about this apparition... it seemed to impose silence on us. It was of such an intimate nature that it was not easy to speak of it at all."
