June 9, 2024
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux was a French Discalced Carmelite nun who passed from this life into the next in 1897 at 24. She wrote the following poem at the request of one of the sisters tasked with baking the altar bread. Something to whistle as she worked, so to speak. The sacristans and bread bakers quickly took on the poem as they went about their responsibilities. Among other forms of patronage, Saint Thérèse is now assigned to look after missionaries. This cloistered nun, who knew and saw little of the world, now prays for those who go out unto all the nations. These missionaries count on her intercession as they attempt to fulfill the Great Commission of Christ Jesus to make disciples. This is a bit paradoxical unless one experiences in their heart the same conviction to fill the ciborium of God with an untold number of souls!
November 1896
Here below our sweet office
Is to prepare for the altar
The bread and wine of the Sacrifice
Which brings to earth—“Heaven!”
Heaven, O supreme mystery!
Hides itself under humble bread;
For Heaven is Jesus Himself,
Coming to us each morning.
There are no queens on earth
Who are happier than we.
Our office is a prayer
Which unites us to our Spouse.
The greatest honors of this world
Cannot compare
To the peace, profound and heavenly,
Which Jesus lets us savor.
We bring a holy envy
For the work of our hands,
For the little white host
Which is to veil our divine Lamb.
But His love has chosen us.
He is our Spouse, our Friend.
We are also hosts,
Which Jesus wants to change into Himself.
Sublime mission of the Priest,
You become our mission here below.
Transformed by the Divine Master,
It is He who guides our steps.
We must help the apostles
By our prayers, our love.
Their battlefields are ours.
For them we fight each day.
The hidden God of the tabernacle
Who also hides in our hearts,
O what a miracle! at our voice
Deigns to pardon sinners!
Our happiness and our glory
Is to work for Jesus.
His beautiful Heaven is the ciborium
We want to fill with souls!
In our belief in the True Presence of Jesus Christ: Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity in the Eucharist, we are also challenged to realize how we add to or subtract from the work of the Holy Spirit to bring the love of Christ to the hearts and minds of all the world. Too often, I believe, we are overwhelmed with the work of bringing people to Christ (at least I know I am). Steadiness of heart may be found in the realization that we are not necessarily called to go out to the ends of the earth. There are those in our nation, our city, our community, and our families who have yet to have a real relationship with Jesus Christ. When Jesus animates every aspect of our day, we can prepare for Mass or dinner, bake bread, or share a hello in such a way that reveals what we have received and who we are called to be. We begin by examining our heart, putting one foot in front of another, and responding Amen to that which empowers our faith, hope, and love!
Two Parishes, One Heart,
Fr. Adam