I have told my son, Raphael, to spend time in front of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in his nearest Catholic church to let Jesus know all that my son is bearing, all his needs, hopes, desires, worries and joys. I also told him that if the church is closed, to find a window that is closest to the Blessed Sacrament and make his visit from there. He called me later and said that his church does have a window very close to the Tabernacle and he could have a great visit with Jesus from that point and he enjoyed it very much. Whenever my kids call me I listen lovingly. I respond just as lovingly. I tell them to do the same with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament often.
My experience with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is daily, more than once a day. I can visit Him as often as I want. It is easy. Here is how:
At St. Thecla in Clinton Township, there is a big circle drive in front of the main front doors. When I pass by there, I do not even have to get out of the car to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. As I "DRIVE BY" those full glass front doors, I can perfectly see the Tabernacle which has a spot light on it so that it can be seen through the glass door - 24/7. Every time I pass St. Thicla I always make short "Drive By Visits" to Him just to share, give Him my day, pray for someone special like Raphael and just to say "Hello". St. Thecla is unique in its design to allow these drive-by visits.
But what if every Catholic church in the Archdiocese had the Blessed Sacrament exposed or in a chalice or in a ciborium in a special place protected by bullet-proof glass that the Blessed Sacrament could be seen from outside so that anyone could do a Drive By Visit?
Jesus would get an 85% jump in receiving visits from people just driving by. Maybe even some Protestants who hear about it may make anonymous visits to the Blessed Sacrament. I think Lutherans would for sure.
We have "drive-thru" fast food, "drive-thru banking", "drive-thru pharmacy", and "drive-up" gas stations - all - because these services are convenient and sometimes very necessary. Also there is an element of added security in "drive-thru" services. Why not let Jesus share in our cultural advances and become so very convenient to see Him in the Blessed Sacrament. Also, I think that Jesus would rather see people drivng by than an empty church cut off from His people except for 1 or 2 hours a day. Most churches in the Archdiocese close after monrning Mass. I was in St. Mary's Queen of Creation Church's parking lot after Mass last Thursday. While talking to a friend outside of church for about a half an hour, I saw 2 or 3 ladies go up to the door of the church to make a visit. They tried the door, but it was shut. They left sadly. This happened in only thirty minutes time. What happens for the rest of the day? Security today has caused nearly all the church to close soon after Mass is over. St. Mary's and Immaculate Conception both close soon after Mass is over. When I was a child, Holy Redeemer was open from before Mass in the morning to about 8 pm. Those days are over; but they were glorious. Jesus blesses and prays for the whole community - good and bad. Why not let Jesus bless from a high up and secure position in the church wall where it is impossible to climb but easy to see and where Jesus will gets visits constanty?
Two experiences that tell us about how Jesus loves to visit us when we visit Him are as follows:
1) I was visiting Jesus in the Blessed Sarament exposed at St. Mary Magdalene's chapel (which is always open) in Allen Park. After a half hour of dialogue, I had to go. So as a close to my conversation with Him, I just spontaniously said: "I will see You!" and I left. As I was about to opened my car door, I heard in my heart to "please come back." So, I re-entered the chapel and knelt down in the front kneeler and said "What's up?" Jesus said: "I am going with you!" How tender of Jesus! He was saying that we were not leaving each other; He was coming with me. This touched me so deeply because Jesus loved me so that He would not leave me - even if I had to go from His Presence, He can go wherever He wishes; and He wished to go with me. Visiting Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament so pleases Jesus and brings us close to Him that He even can be lovingly humorous and most tender as a result. Nobody spends even a minute with Jesus and leaves the same. The Gospels shows a most responsive, compassionate Jesus who feeds 5000 hungry people, cures every kind of sickness and heals the lame and the blind and casts out devils and goes to weddings and at Cana helped the bride and groom. Jesus is a very out-going and tender man. Once when he was walking, he saw a mother weeping because she lost her only son. He stopped the procession and touched her son, and he arose alive and well. This was the first "drive-by visit" to Jesus. Incredible that the procession just drove by pass Jesus, and that "visit" caused a mother to have a joy of fever pitch! That is the kind of Jesus encounter in the Blessed Sacrament. His personality has not changed.
2) Just a few minutes ago, I made a "Drive-By Visit" to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at St. Mary's Queen of Creation church. Jesus is in the Tabernacle in the chapel but only 3 feet from the interior wall. The small windows do not allow a view of the Taberncle. So, I parked my car on the street which is about 15 feet from the brick wall which is what I lovingly feel called to do every day and every time I pass that church. My position in my car is directly in line where the Tabernacle is. I gave my day to Jesus and my plans for the day. It was just a few moments or so. Again I know we connected; but I made a little mistake: I left before Jesus could make a response. I think I thought that if I talk, He listens lovingly; and the visit is nicely completed. But after I left and made a turn on to Main Street from Maria Street, again I heard that small quiet voice telling me to come back. So, I made a U-turn and another one and found myself in the very same spot as was before. This time I did not say anything but just listened. Jesus clearly said to me in a most loving way: "Go in Peace". I was touched again; because in prayer, we have to leave room for God to speak. In this case, Jesus noticed that I left with some subconscious concerns. He addressed those which I was not even aware of and spoke "Peace" into my soul. All the way home I was awed by Jesus' tender love and perceptive and penetrating personality. He is kind. He is great company. He is always new and surprising.
I was so moved by the "Peace" incident. Jesus again showed that He came with me because He talked to me from the Blessed Sacrament even after I left. But I went back to let Him know that I should have made sure there was some quiet time for listening. Even in a short visit, Jesus may have something to say that He has been wanting to say. When we visit Jesus, this gives Him a perfect opportunity to get His thoughts to us when we are s some thoughts when we are in a best disposition. I am convince that 90% of our prayer should be listening. Not just "to hear" ("audire) but to really listen ("obaudire") with "attentive obedience." Jesus taught me today to maybe come to visit Him and not say anything - just be with Him in quiet - so that He can say something we need and bless us with His Peace. Jesus lives in perfect Peace. He likes to share His Peace as I found out lovingly today. It was this incident that made me come directly home and write this Proverb 124. I wonder what else Jesus will teach me today? Everyday is full of surprises from the Father of Lights who loves us so much as to share His only begotten Son. (John 3:16)
One of Jesus' surprises is this: He will return your visits by visiting you during the day at the most unexpected times. He will just be there unmistakingly just as you were there for Him when you drove by and stayed with Him for a few minutes. I was working on pro-life gathering addresses on line for mailings of letters to doctors at abortion clinics in Michigan for the "40 days for life", when suddenly, He was with me, just visiting me just as I visited Him. He was so there! He did no say anything - He was just there with me. I believe that the awe of His presence was to let me know how much He enjoys my visits to Him. What a loving way to teach us to make visits to Him in the Blessed Sacrament. He really does enjoy our coming to see Him!
O Dearest Jesus,
present in every Tabernacle in the whole world, I visit You in all of them by my joining myself to You in every Eucharist in the world. I love You profoundly. I give You and Your Father thanks for the gift of life - and You are my life through the Holy Spirit. You said that unless we eat and drink of Your precious Body and Blood, we would not have life in us. But are here in every part of the world giving us life - Your life and Your peace. What a glorious and ineffable gift of Your love! Your Love for us is beyond our understanding but we at least know You are lovingly with us - Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity.
Help us to know the power and efficacy of "Spiritual Communions" by visits to You in the Blessed Sacrament. Grant that You will be even more available to us by inspiring the Archdiocese of Detroit to create accessible availability of Your Blessed Sacrament in creative ways so that we all can see You and visit You from our vehicles.
All this we ask in Your Name, Lord. Amen. Amen. Let it be!
So much Love,
Pio xo
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