{"id":39766,"date":"2020-03-17T15:10:35","date_gmt":"2020-03-17T21:10:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/?p=39766"},"modified":"2020-03-19T12:31:43","modified_gmt":"2020-03-19T18:31:43","slug":"invoking-the-light-of-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/invoking-the-light-of-christ\/","title":{"rendered":"Invoking the Light of Christ","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Painting by my daughter, Tianna Williams<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

IN<\/strong> my last writing, Our Gethsemane<\/a>,<\/em> I spoke about how the light of Christ is going to remain blazing in the hearts of the faithful in these coming times of tribulation as it is extinguished in the world. One way to keep that light aflame is Spiritual Communion. As nearly all of Christendom approaches the “eclipse” of public Masses for a time, many are just learning about an ancient practice of “Spiritual Communion.” It is a prayer one can say, like the one my daughter Tianna added to her painting above, to ask God for the graces one would otherwise receive if partaking of the Holy Eucharist. Tianna has provided this artwork and prayer on her website for you to download and print out at no cost. Go to: ti-spark.ca<\/a><\/p>\n

In order for a Spiritual Communion to be most effective, one should properly prepare, just as we do to receive the Eucharist. The following is taken from my writing Jesus is Here!<\/em><\/a> followed by three other powerful prayers you can make to welcome the light of Jesus into your heart and families…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION<\/p>\n

The Mass is not always accessible to us for many reasons. However, did you know that you can still receive the graces of the Eucharist as if you were present at Mass? The saints and theologians call this \u201cspiritual communion.\u201d It is taking a moment to \"\"turn to Him, wherever He is, and desire <\/em>Him, adore <\/em>Him, and welcome<\/em> the rays of His love that knows no boundaries:<\/p>\n

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If we are deprived of Sacramental Communion, let us replace it,\u00a0as far as we can, by spiritual communion, which we can make every moment; for we ought to have always a burning desire to receive the good God\u2026 When we cannot go to the church, let us turn towards the tabernacle; no wall can shut us out from the good God.<\/strong> \u2014St. Jean Vianney. The Spirit of the Cur\u00e9 of Ars<\/em>, p. 87, M. L\u2019Abb\u00e9 Monnin, 1865<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The degree to which we are not united to this Sacrament is the degree to which our hearts grow cold. Therefore, the more sincere and prepared we are to make a Spiritual Communion, the more effective it will be. St. Alphonsus lists three essential ingredients to making this a valid Spiritual Communion:<\/p>\n

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I. An act of faith<\/em> in the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.<\/p>\n

II. An act of desire<\/em>, accompanied by sorrow for one\u2019s sins so as to worthly receive these graces as if one were receiving sacramental Communion.<\/p>\n

III. An act of thanksgiving<\/em> afterward as if Jesus was received sacramentally.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

You can simply pause for a moment in your day, and in your own words or in a prayer like the one above, pray:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION PRAYER<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

My Jesus, I believe that You are present
\nin the Most Holy Sacrament.
\nI love You above all things,
\nand I desire to receive You into my soul.
\nSince I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
\ncome at least spiritually into my heart.
\nI embrace You as if You were already there
\nand unite myself wholly to You.
\nNever permit me to be separated from You. Amen<\/strong>.<\/span> <\/em><\/span>
\n\u2014St. Alphonsus Ligouri<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

THREE MORE WAYS…<\/p>\n

The following are three more prayers to invite Jesus into union with your soul. The first is the one I taught you in my last webcast<\/a>. The Great Prayer<\/em> or Unity Prayer<\/em> was given to Elizabeth Kindelmann with the promise that “Satan will be blinded and souls will not be led into sin.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

THE UNITY PRAYER<\/span><\/p>\n

May our feet journey together,<\/span>
\nMay our hands gather in unity,<\/span>
\nMay our hearts beat in unison,<\/span>
\nMay our souls be in harmony,<\/span>
\nMay our thoughts be as one,<\/span>
\nMay our ears listen to the silence together,<\/span>
\nMay our glances profoundly penetrate each other,<\/span>
\nMay our lips pray together to gain mercy from the Eternal Father.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\nAmen.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The second prayer is the one prayed by Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta to Our Lady after she meditated on the 24th hour of Christ’s Passion. It is amost identical to the above prayer\u2014and for good reason. The Flame of Love<\/em><\/a> that Elizabeth writes about in her diary is essentially the same grace that God wants to give mankind as the “Gift of Living in the Divine Will<\/a>” revealed to Luisa. Both are invoking a “new Pentecost” upon the Church and the world. These two prayers, especially, are to become the battle song <\/em>of Our Lady’s Little Rabble<\/a>. So, say these prayers as though you and your families are in the Upper Room awaiting a new Pentecost. <\/em><\/p>\n

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That is the way Jesus is always conceived. That is the way He is reproduced in souls. He is always the fruit of heaven and earth. Two artisans must concur in the work that is at once God\u2019s masterpiece and humanity\u2019s supreme product: the Holy Spirit and the most Holy Virgin Mary\u2026 for they are the only ones who can reproduce Christ.<\/b> \u2014Arch. Luis M. Martinez, The Sanctifier<\/i>, p. 6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

So, take a hold Momma’s hand, and pray this now with me:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

THE PRAYER OF MYSTICAL UNITY
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Enclose in my mind Jesus\u2019 thoughts, <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nso that no other thought may enter into me;
\ne<\/span>nclose <\/span>in my eyes Jesus\u2019 <\/span>eyes, <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nso that He may never escape my gaze; <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nenclose in my <\/span>ears Jesus\u2019 ears, <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nso that I may always listen to him <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nand do his Most Holy Will in all things; <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nenclose my face in Jesus\u2019 face, <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nso that in looking at him so disfigured for love of me, <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nI may love him, unite myself to his Passion <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nand offer him reparation; <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nenclose my tongue in Jesus\u2019 tongue, <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nso that I may speak, pray and teach with Jesus\u2019 tongue; <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nenclose my hands in Jesus\u2019 hands, <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nso that each movement I make and each work I perform <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nmay derive their [merit and] life from Jesus\u2019 own works and acts. <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nEnclose my feet in Jesus\u2019 feet, so that each one of my steps <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nmay infuse in other souls strength and zeal <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nand dispose them for the life of salvation.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Last, on this St. Patricks feast day, is the prayer composed by the Saint himself. I have adapted it to song below.<\/p>\n

You are loved. You are not abandoned.
\nDon’t ever forget that… <\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n