Eucharistic King, You changed my life and made my soul hungry for the Bread of life

"O Jesus, my Eucharistic King! In the desert of my life you appeared to me, you manifested your splendor, your greatness, your beauty. You changed my life, and dispersed all my enemies; you made my soul hungry for the Bread of life, and thirsty for your precious Blood. Well I remember the day you gave yourself entirely to me, my heart was beating fast, and I could hardly breathe. I feared that my excitement would disturb you while resting within my soul. Now that I possess you, let me say what I find in you.

Jesus Christus Hodie! Jesus Christ is today in the Divine Eucharist. Can we pronounce this word without feeling a sweet honey on our lips? A burning fire through our veins? Divine Eucharist! Our tongue is inarticulate; only our hearts have a secret sigh: Jesus Christ today!

I am weak today; I need help from above to stand on my feet; Jesus, coming from heaven, is made Bread of the strong. I am poor today; I need a shelter, and Jesus becomes the House of God, the celestial threshold, the Eucharist.

I am hungry and thirsty today; I need food to restore my heart, and Jesus becomes Wheat of the elect. Yes, I love Jesus, I love the Eucharist. Jesus today, means Jesus with me! This morning, at the altar, He came to me; He is mine, I adore Him. Tenui eum nec dimittam."** -- Ven Augustine Mary of the Blessed Sacrament, ocd

-- Herman, Flower of Israel by Don Amedeo Rodino

**"I have taken hold, and I will not let go." From the Song of Songs.

Excellent post on Hermann Cohen

Ms Vidal, from Fountain of Elias, has provided an excellent post on Hermann Cohen, also known as Fr Augustine Mary of the Blessed Sacrament. She refers to an article that is the best I have ever seen on him. Like Edith Stein, he is usually referred to by his birth name, as he was a very famous pianist prior to his conversion and entrance to Carmel. I recently posted excerpts from his writings, in case you would like to go back and check them out: You led me into solitude to speak to my heart and I invite you all to this Banquet of the Sacrament of His Love. I have another post from his writings scheduled for 28 September.

I encourage anyone suffering, because a friend or relative is living a rambunctious life, to pray to Fr Augustine Mary for their conversion. This prayer for his intercession is taken from The Story of Hermann Cohen by Tadgh Tierney, ocd.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin Mother, who at the grotto of Lourdes restored to health Fr. Augustine of the Blessed Sacrament that he might serve you faithfully in your Order of Carmel, obtain, we pray, from the Blessed Trinity the grace (mention your intention) through the intercession and merits of your devoted servant whose joy was to suffer for Jesus and to whom it was granted in answer to his heartfelt prayer, to consecrate his life in its entirety to God's will, service and glory.


Mary Mother of God, glorify, we beseech you, this your servant who through the redeeming power of Christ present in the Holy Eucharist, was brought to the knowledge of the Truth.


Make known, we pray, this apostle who was fired with devotion to the Sacrament of your son's love. May he bestow upon us, priests and laity alike, his burning zeal that the Divine Presence in the Eucharist be adored, the Mass celebrated with reverence and sincerity, Holy Communion received frequently and with devotion.


Grant that forthwith throughout the world and especially among your chosen people, Israel, there may be established the Eucharistic Kingship of the son of David, the Living Bread who came down from heaven in he womb of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.

-o-
On a personal note, I am finally at my parents' home. According to my specialists I am to rest a lot, eat a particular diet, and take it easy while taking a lot of medications and supplements for at least three months. Then I need to go for a follow-up. I have a nice phamacopoeia... Thanks be to God, I am able to live a life of quiet and recollection at home, with a very nice collection of books for spiritual reading at my leisure. I am truly blessed. Please pray for all people suffering from chronic and catastrophic diseases, that they may have the support, especially spiritual, to withstand their times of trials and purification. The battles with health insurance companies to pay for treatments and tests are sometimes worse than the side effects and symptoms of the conditions suffered. We are the Church Militant, and as such we are called to pray for and help each other in our journey Home. God reward you for your prayers!

Finally, I recently came upon the book, Don't Trust the Abbot: Musings from the Monastery by Abbot Jerome Kodell. It is such a good read! I haven't finished it yet but it is definitely a pass-it-on type of book. It just came out, so I'll post a only few excerpts for your perusal, lest Liturgical Press comes after me with a vengeance.

Many blessings!

I invite you all to this Banquet of the Sacrament of His Love

"In the Sacrament of His Love, Jesus is the only object of my life, of my songs, of my affection; to this Mystery I am indebted for all that I have...

My brethren, I invite you all to this Banquet. Once we taste it, all other food will be vapid! Young men of the world, I know your deceitful pleasures; I know of your pompous meetings that are resplendent for a moment and then followed by deadly sadness; I know what you are longing for; I have tasted your joys, and now I challenge you to deny that they leave behind anything but phantasms of sorrow and prostration!

Really, after feeding at this Table of the King of kings, all riches of the world are worthless to me. Since Jesus dwells within my soul, your palaces are miserable huts. Seeking light in the Tabernacle, all wisdom of the world is folly; sitting at the Spousals of the Lamb, all other feasts are gloomy; after reaching this port of salvation, I see you tossed on the ocean of human passions, but I can only wave my hand and call you to these shores. If you wish, I will be your pilot, for I know the seas and have endured many a tempest." -- Ven Augustine Mary of the Blessed Sacrament, ocd

-- Herman, Flower of Israel by Don Amadeo Rodino

You led me into solitude to speak to my heart

"My adorable Jesus! You have led me into solitude to speak to my heart; nights and days pass delightfully in celestial conversation with your adorable presence with the sentiments of today's Communion of God with one of His poor creatures. I lovingly kiss the walls of my cell, where my thoughts are not perturbed, where I breathe only to love your divine Sacrament, where free from earthly ties, far from material affections, disentangled from the bondage of my senses, like a dove I fly to your Tabernacle, there to enjoy the light of your grace and burn in the flames of your love. At the salutary shade of that Tree of Life, I smell its flowers, I taste its fruits; I am enchanted by the sound of your voice; I rest, full of love and happiness, at the feet of my Beloved.

Let those that have known me in the past come here and realize that they neglect a God Who died for love of them. Come, you souls of the world, before this often despised Love; if you no longer see me seeking honors and applauses, it is because I have found glory and honor at the Tabernacle of the Blessed Sacrament. Let them come, my Jesus, let them feel how you change our heart!

O my poor friends of the world, if I never again sit at your sumptuous banquets, it is because I feed on immortality at another Banquet, and I exalt with the Angels of Heaven; it is because I have found the Supreme Good; yes, I have found my Beloved! He is mine. I possess Him, and no one will separate me from Him.

Pitiful riches, sad pleasures, empty honors! After my eyes saw the light, and my heart beat with the Heart of God, oh, how I wept at your blindness in pursuing things unable to satisfy your heart!

Come to this Celestial Banquet, prepared by the Eternal Wisdom; come, approach! Our Divine Savior is always present on His throne in our Churches waiting for you. Come to His feet, give Him your heart, and you will taste the sweetness of His love. - Jesus, my love! would that they knew how happy I am! If faith didn't teach me to believe in the blessedness of Heaven, I wouldn't think of happiness grater than this Eucharistic Love. Oh, delightful Peace, O beatitude, O joy!" -- Augustine Mary of the Blessed Sacrament, ocd

-- Herman, Flower of Israel by Don Amedeo Rodino