The four children learned from the Angel how to receive Communion the correct way. When he appeared on that day, he asked them: "Lets see what beautiful teeth you have." The girls showed them to him while they were laughing . . .
The teeth receive the Body of Christ . . . Far from being irrelevant, this charming exercise was part of a catechesis that lasted about a week. It prepared the visionaries to receive their first real Communion from the Angel on the following July 16, the very day of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Until then, St. Michael had given them only hosts that were not consecrated.
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 57.]
The teeth receive the Body of Christ . . . Far from being irrelevant, this charming exercise was part of a catechesis that lasted about a week. It prepared the visionaries to receive their first real Communion from the Angel on the following July 16, the very day of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Until then, St. Michael had given them only hosts that were not consecrated.
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 57.]
There's a great picture on this page of the book showing the girls smiling with their teeth fully exposed! I wish I could post it here, but I couldn't find it on Google. The Angels are great catechists, they seem to know how to teach little children!
Yes, this is also a lesson for us! When we receive the Sacred Host, most of us grind the Body of our Lord with our teeth before swallowing Him. St. Ignatius of Antioch said: "I am God's wheat, ground fine by the lion's teeth to be made Purest bread for Christ," as he offered himself as grain to be ground by the teeth of wild beasts that he might present to God the pure bread of sacrifice. Wow! What Faith!
At each Mass I have learned to offer myself with Jesus, to the Eternal Father as a living host, in reparation for my sins and the sins of the world, and as I receive Jesus in Holy Communion, I ask Him to change me into Him, so that we could be one! We all could do this as we are the Mystical Body of Christ!
It's interesting that the Angel prepared them with unconsecrated hosts . . . Do we do that with our own children? At Fatima, the Angel also gave the three children Holy Communion before Our Lady appeared to them. Lucia received the Host and Jacinta and Francesco received the Precious Blood from the chalice the Angel held. Aren't Angels wonderful! They take care of all our needs, spiritual and temporal, thank God!
Deacon John
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please no anonymous comments. I require at least some way for people to address each other personally and courteously. Having some name or handle helps.
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.