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Today, Tuesday 24th June we have 898 people from all over the world and from many Christian and some non-Christian denominations joining together in prayer.

This week's reflection is a Letter from Russia and it gave me such joy to receive it. I also have a little notice to place. There is a conference which is being held on the 11th and 12th of July (next month) in Ballina, County Mayo on the theme of 'Marriage and the Family in the New Evangelization.'. The organisers invite anyone in Ireland to attend and there is no fee involved. It will surely cover many concerns about the Family in our modern times. Details can be found at the link below or Email: 

http://www.circleofprayer.com/marriage-and-family.html

Last week we spoke about Christ at the Centre and I'd like to continue a little with that theme, albeit a bit long-winded! Sunday was the Feast of Corpus Christi for us Catholics. Corpus Christi means the Body of Christ and this feast is celebrated in the Latin Church on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday to solemnly commemorate the institution of the Holy Eucharist. But as with many other great feast days has been brought forward to the nearest Sunday!

There are many Mysteries of Faith and The Holy Trinity and Transubstantiation (the changing of bread and wine into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ) are probably two of the most difficult to understand. 'For those who believe, no explanation is necessary; for those who do not believe, no explanation is possible.'

Our Christian Faith has seen many divisions and man-made churches developing over the centuries but the early Church Fathers followed the teachings and traditions of Christ and gave us their interpretions through the ages. Even Luther believed in the Eucahrist when he declared all sacraments, with the exception of baptism, Holy Eucharist, and penance, as rejected.

Below is a short history of the Feast.

As far back as 448 the early Church Fathers introduced Natalis Calicis (Birth of the Chalice) in commemoration of the institution of the Eucharist on Holy Thursday. As the day fell during Lent, which is was a time of solemn commemoration of the Passion and Suffering of Christ, it was not celebrated as a feast day as such.

In the late 12th century St. Juliana of Mont Cornillon, in Belgium, had great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and always longed for a special feast in its honour. Bishop Robert de Thorete, then Bishop of Liège, was favourably impressed by her sanctity and devotion, that he called a synod in 1246 and ordered the celebration to be held in the following year. His early death stopped it happening and it waited until 1261 before the feast day was celebrated in Belgium. Pope Urban IV, always an admirer of the feast, ordered the annual celebration of Corpus Christi on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. His death in 1264 impeded the spread of the festival. Pope Clement V in 1311 once more ordered the adoption of the feast and it was accepted in 1306 at Cologne; Worms adopted it in 1315 and Strasburg in 1316. In England it was introduced from Belgium between 1320 and 1325.

In the mid 13th century Saint Thomas Aquinas wrote in his Summa Theologica:

"The presence of Christ's true body and blood in this sacrament cannot be detected by sense, nor understanding, but by faith alone, which rests upon Divine authority. Hence, on Lk. 22:19: "This is My body which shall be delivered up for you," Cyril says: "Doubt not whether this be true; but take rather the Saviour's words with faith; for since He is the Truth, He lieth not."

The Old Testament tells of Manna being gathered by the Isrealites while in the desert and some placed into a vessal. (Exodus 16:22-36) On their journey through the dessert God provided them with bread from heaven on six of the seven days of the weeks they spent travelling, the seventh to be kept holy with a double supply gathered on the sixth day. This bread became known as Manna and God instructed Moses and Aaron to fill a gomor and place it in a tabernacle as a sign that it was to be kept for generations to come. This instruction from God was the precursor to the presence of the Blessed Eucharist in the tabernacles in Catholic Churches throughout the world. Jesus refers to this in the Lord’s Prayer “…..Give us this day our daily bread”

Many walked away from Jesus when He said the following and did not explain it:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him" (John 6:53–56) 

And so, in every Tabernacle in the world is the true presence of Christ. On every altar that has Eucharistic Adoration is the true presence of Christ. That is why the Mass is so important to Catholics, or so it should be. We participate again in Christ's Sacrifice and He in turn gives Himself to us in the Eucharist.

It is of interest that in every country in the world overrun by communism it is not the governments or the army generals who are the first to be rounded up and killed, it is the Priests. Why? Because without the Priests there is no Mass and without Mass there is no Eucharist! Here's a question for you - Why do Satanists have more respect for the Eucharist than many Catholics and even some Priests and go to any lengths to obtain Sacred Hosts? Because they know the truth and wish to desecrate the Body of Christ in their Black Masses!

I've made this suggestion many times before and will continue to do so. For anyone troubled in mind, body or spirit there is no better way to seek peace than to spend a little time of silence in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It really does 'soothe the soul'.

Ah, well, enough of my 'ramblings' from here for this week, God Bless and thank you all for praying for and with each other and for a very, very sick world.

All of the Reflections to date are available to read on the website for anyone who's interested and can be found at the Archives page.

The Weekly Intentions are available on a plain page to be able to print off and kept to hand for your own prayer time. The list has become too long now to include each week but please say the two wee prayers below. The Loving Father knows the heart of each person requesting prayer.

"Father, bless all those who have requested prayers in whatever it is that You know they may be needing this day! Father, we ask You to heal the broken bodies, broken minds, broken spirits, broken hearts and broken relationships and may all their lives be full of Your peace, prosperity, and power as they seek to have a close relationship with You. Amen."

"Thank You Jesus for answering our prayers because we know You hear every prayer and never refuse to answer. You are providing answers and healings from the prayers of all these wonderful people. Praise God!"

"Breathe in me O Holy Spirit that my thoughts may all be holy;
Act in me O Holy Spirit that my work, too, may be holy;
Strengthen me O Holy Spirit to defend all that is holy;  Guard me
then O Holy Spirit that I always may be holy."

"O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me, tell me what I should do. Give me Your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your will. Amen"

God Bless you all for praying for and with each other and may the Holy Spirit ever be your guide,

Mary in Galway

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A Letter from Russia

Our Dearest friends! We are very glad to pass to you our cordial wishes from New Holy Russia and want to send you thousands of angels from Our Lady's Sunny Throne. With glad tidings from Russia!!!  The prophecy of Our Lady in Fatima (1917) is coming true in the sight of the whole world. The evil Empire is collapsing and the Land of peace - New Holy Russia - is rising in its stead.
Russia is transfigured by unbelievable sufferings of hundreds of thousands new martyrs of all religions and denominations in the 20th century (more then 30 millions victims of GULAG), through the prayers of the righteous of the Western world, among them Pope John Paul II and through the sacrifices of the Most Holy Virgin. The world will be cleaned from errors and illusions.

Archbishop John leads the Marian branch of the Orthodox catacomb Church, that is the mystical and spiritual opposition to the communism regime. His fatherly heart adopted dozens of thousands of people from all countries. Being zealot of the authentic orthodox tradition of poverty, father John has been able to over-step confessional boarders and has entered the dialog of the fraternal love with Western bishops, spiritual leaders and inspired visionaries. The fruits of prayers for Russia are now revealed to the Christians of America, Canada, Italy, Croratia, Germany, France and Japan. The Light is coming forth from the East to ward off nuclear danger.

There are more than 150 priests in the new Marian movement under the spiritual guidance of Father John. There are about 30 convents in Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia, Japan, Croatia and others. The gift of prophetic communication with the Most Holy Virgin and Heavenly world was bestowed on him since 1984. Destines of the world and of ordinary men and women are revealed unto Arch. John. Many people were healed by Our Lady's intercession through his prayers. He entirely preaches love and gratitude for Our Mother in Heavens and calls to thank glory to Her; to live a less of holiness and follows to Her messages. The human race will spared future disasters if it consecrate itself to Her Immaculate Heart. The Reign of Holy Spirit will come - a Divine civilization III! The triumph of the Immaculate Heart is coming!

May Our dear Lord send you the thousands of their blessings! May the grace of Immaculate Conception embrace you! Fr. John send the Angels of prayer for you and all your family. With love in Christ and Mary - Fr. Cyril and Fr. Gleb, Marian Center for Russian Spirituality in Moscow

God Bless you all.

Mary in Galway