EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the seventh in a series of nine Eucharistic poems by Br. Dain, leading up to Corpus Christi. We hope they will be an inspiration for your prayer and reflection.
You could have chos’n a thousand ways
To stay with timid flock,
To guard, to guide, with us abide,
Protecting, with us walk. Continue reading
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the sixth in a series of nine Eucharistic poems by Br. Dain, leading up to Corpus Christi. We hope they will be an inspiration for your prayer and reflection.
Silent Lover, Gentle Host,
Why do you choose this way?
Infinite love you show to men,
Yet not a word you say. Continue reading
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fifth in a series of nine Eucharistic poems by Br. Dain, leading up to Corpus Christi. We hope they will be an inspiration for your prayer and reflection.
Howling wind through jagged clefts
Blows o’er the rocky hill,
Barren, grey with naught to stop
A cruel and biting chill. Continue reading
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth in a series of nine Eucharistic poems by Br. Dain, leading up to Corpus Christi. We hope they will be an inspiration for your prayer and reflection.
Silent altar, marble cold
Unites in one the New and Old,
Salvation history’s epic bold
Upon this muted table told.
O’erlooked, this rising Testament,
Which cradles greatest sacrifice,
The purest Lamb, the dearest price,
Unseen the victim’s body rent.
If only altar could cry out
The wonder which upon it lies,
And to all hearts in earnest shout
It’s precious cargo as it dies.
Though silent altar makes no show,
May every heart its burden know.
The mystery of the Trinity is about the life of God. Christ became man to enable us to partake in God’s life, and so we enter into this mystery. Although theologians over the past centuries have tried to explain and understand the Trinity, the immensity keeps us at a respectful distance, requiring always a submissive act of faith. This experience of faith guides us on our daily struggle. Only with faith can we enter into the Life of God, which is at the same time His love. To believe that God loves us is hard at times when all seems dark around us, or the cross is too heavy. The mystery of the Trinity is similar, impossible to understand, but yet, the only way to explain that eternal relationship between the three persons is in love. And so the only way to understand our relationship with God is in love. Just as God’s existence in a way depends on the interpersonal love, so our existence depends on being loved by God. No matter how dark it seems around us, or how hard it is to carry the cross, our only certainty that must remain is that we are loved by God.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in a series of nine Eucharistic poems by Br. Dain, leading up to Corpus Christi. We hope they will be an inspiration for your prayer and reflection.
What would Mary’s heart conceive,
When St John would the bread receive,
And take it up in priestly hands
When she his Mother present stands.
And say those words which he did say
When he was with them on that day. Continue reading
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a series of nine Eucharistic poems by Br. Dain, leading up to Corpus Christi. We hope they will be an inspiration for your prayer and reflection.
All the Love of Mighty God,
His mystery complete,
Silent Lover’s unheard shout,
In sacrament we greet.
Plenitudo temporum,
Communication real,
No unsung refrain of Love,
No more to reveal.
Calvary and empty tomb,
Victory of Grace,
All contained in silent veil:
God’s complete embrace.
Have you ever wondered why we baptize infants without even asking for their input? We hear reasons like “it is a gift freely given” – which is true – yet it is not allowed (I’m not even sure if it is valid) to baptize an adult in his sleep who does not want to be baptized. If Baptism is truly valuable and the input of the receiver does not matter, then why would you not mark that man’s soul with the indelible character of Baptism in his sleep? We balk at the idea of baptizing an adult in his sleep, but we praise the child who sleeps through his own Baptism. Why do we have the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults to educate them in the Faith before they receive it, but let infants skip the classes? Continue reading
EDITOR’S NOTE: Today is the first day we offer a series of nine Eucharistic poems by Br. Dain, leading up to Corpus Christi. We hope they will be an inspiration for your prayer and reflection.
A burning whirlwind of desire
To share with us th’ eternal meal,
Yet full aware what would transpire,
The agony within conceal.
A yearning to complete the race,
Establish firm the heavenly reign,
Yet price to bring this rule of grace,
A fear that pulses every vein.
Oh Passion! How that ardent heart,
Drowned deep within a lonely sea,
Must ache inside so torn apart
With flaming longings contrary.
This heart in violent tempest thrown,
Leaves that the wand’ring flock may eat
His body, blood, his very own,
Poured out in full, His gift complete.
What precious, final, longed-for gift,
The gift of Passion from above,
This bread and wine, to Heaven lift,
Unending, total gift of Love.
I just finished watching War Room, a touching movie about the power of prayer and Christian friendship that begins as a mentorship, or discipleship. As I listened to a spirited older woman giving advice to the younger one about how to engage in battle in prayer as the younger woman engages in a spiritual battles to save her marriage. I was reminded of a similar conversation I had with my aunt. She happens to also be my Confirmation sponsor. Since my teens, I have appreciated her wisdom and gone to her for practical advice. Continue reading