The prison and the Tabernacle

[Monica4316]

Hi

I was reading something from the “Way of Divine Love”, which is private revelation given to Sr Josefa Menendez… (it’s fully approved by the Church)

At one point, there’s a comparison between the prison that Jesus was in during His Passion, and the Tabernacle. Here’s a translation from the original Spanish (I think)

“Contemplate Me in the prison where I spent the greater part of the night. The soldiers came, and, adding words to injuries, insulted Me, mocked Me, outraged Me, and gave Me blows on My face and on My whole Body. Tired of their sport, at length they left Me bound and alone in the dark and noisome place, where, seated on a stone, My aching Body was cramped with cold… In the prison I endured cold, sleeplessness, hunger and thirst, pain, shame, solitude, and desertion. And there passed before My mind’s eye all the tabernacles where in the course of the ages I should lack the shelter of love… And how often should I wait for this or that other soul to visit Me in the Blessed Sacrament and receive Me into his heart… and in the prison where they pushed Me and let Me fall to the ground bound and helpless, so many were present to My mind who would prefer a moment’s satisfaction to Me…”

I found this passage very moving and very sad. Of course there is a significant difference between the prison and the tabernacle, in that the soldiers put Jesus in the prison to insult Him, while the Blessed Sacrament is put in the Tabernacle so that we could adore Him. But in a way, I could see a similarity, - like when Christ is there all alone and no one visits or even cares that He is there. People walk by the church not even knowing or believing, or caring, that Our Lord is there, and in His love and humility, He stays in the Host and does not leave. I think this passage really encouraged me to want to visit Him more… so I just wanted to share it

God bless!

 

[JRKH]

Thank you for sharing this.

The one day of the week that I am able to get out for awhile, I try to stop by church for at least 10 minutes or so, usually around noon. Only once have I walked in and found another person there praying.
In one sense this is good for me because I like being alone with our Lord. On the other hand It speaks powerfully to what you say above. How lonely it must be for our Lord in the Tabernacle knowing that the world is so full of those who do not know or care that He is so close to us…waiting…

Peace
James

 

[fred_conty]

Hi, I’m a greatgrandfather of two, in my 70’s and am a 1st born Christian since I was one day old. I’ve read a number of books and articles on the faith and in my expierence as a catholic I believe a have seen a few miracles happen. I love the suffering mysteries of Jesus in the Bible and think about them often as well as offer them to our dear Heavenly Father for those who are less fortunate than I to have His faith and peace. But I must say that I don’t feel He is a captive in the tabernacle and suffering for just being there because He is there because He loves us. His presence there in the Eucharist must have a great influence on the surrounding catholic and non-catholic community for which we are greatful. Where He is, evil does not thrive. He wants to be there living amongst us and being one with us in our community just as He wanted to be with and among the people of his time. Even if we are not in his presence in church where his real being radiates goodness, we can remember that He is with us and pray to Him in the tabernacle at great distances since space means nothing when talking to the Lord of Lords, and tell Him in our distant thoughts how much we appreciate Him being close to us and caring to be near us all during the day. His tabernacle is a home where He lives among us. And He is there because He freely and willingly wants to be there for us as a reminder of His eternal nearness and warmth of his burning love for his community of believers and non-believers. The way of the tabernacle is to draw everone closer which is another way of saying what the angels said on Christmas night,“holy,holy,holy…” to the Newborn who became one with us, Emmanuel, and has eversince stayed with us…on earth.
What I see as his real suffering, even worse than his death on the cross, is seeing those who are not experiencing his presence in the now and the hereafter. Because they have missed his love and peace for which his Father intended them to have now and later. His last prayer in the garden was that none should be lost, thinking only of us. That is his real suffering. It is important to consider this when we think of Him, and pray for those who are in real spiritual need as He did on his last night. Adoring, praising, loving, atoning, glorifying, blesssing Him now and thru all ages and especially begging Him to help those in deep spiiritual need, and addressing Him in his home among us, the tabernacle.
May everyone have a holy and close encounter with the Baby this Christmas.

 

[Monica4316]

Thank you for sharing this.

The one day of the week that I am able to get out for awhile, I try to stop by church for at least 10 minutes or so, usually around noon. Only once have I walked in and found another person there praying.
In one sense this is good for me because I like being alone with our Lord. On the other hand It speaks powerfully to what you say above. How lonely it must be for our Lord in the Tabernacle knowing that the world is so full of those who do not know or care that He is so close to us…waiting…

Peace
James

I agree, James… I’ve been trying to go to Adoration more frequently during Advent because I found out the Cathedral near me has Adoration every day this month - for an hour. Whenever I go, there are usually always the same people there… the priest, an elderly lady and perhaps one or two others.

Hi, I’m a greatgrandfather of two, in my 70’s and am a 1st born Christian since I was one day old. I’ve read a number of books and articles on the faith and in my expierence as a catholic I believe a have seen a few miracles happen. I love the suffering mysteries of Jesus in the Bible and think about them often as well as offer them to our dear Heavenly Father for those who are less fortunate than I to have His faith and peace. But I must say that I don’t feel He is a captive in the tabernacle and suffering for just being there because He is there because He loves us. His presence there in the Eucharist must have a great influence on the surrounding catholic and non-catholic community for which we are greatful. Where He is, evil does not thrive. He wants to be there living amongst us and being one with us in our community just as He wanted to be with and among the people of his time. Even if we are not in his presence in church where his real being radiates goodness, we can remember that He is with us and pray to Him in the tabernacle at great distances since space means nothing when talking to the Lord of Lords, and tell Him in our distant thoughts how much we appreciate Him being close to us and caring to be near us all during the day. His tabernacle is a home where He lives among us. And He is there because He freely and willingly wants to be there for us as a reminder of His eternal nearness and warmth of his burning love for his community of believers and non-believers. The way of the tabernacle is to draw everone closer which is another way of saying what the angels said on Christmas night,“holy,holy,holy…” to the Newborn who became one with us, Emmanuel, and has eversince stayed with us…on earth.
What I see as his real suffering, even worse than his death on the cross, is seeing those who are not experiencing his presence in the now and the hereafter. Because they have missed his love and peace for which his Father intended them to have now and later. His last prayer in the garden was that none should be lost, thinking only of us. That is his real suffering. It is important to consider this when we think of Him, and pray for those who are in real spiritual need as He did on his last night. Adoring, praising, loving, atoning, glorifying, blesssing Him now and thru all ages and especially begging Him to help those in deep spiiritual need, and addressing Him in his home among us, the tabernacle.
May everyone have a holy and close encounter with the Baby this Christmas.

Fred, thank you for sharing that I agree with what you said too. I did not mean to say that Christ always suffers in the Tabernacle…He is goodness and love, He always hopes for people to return to Him, and evil in the world doesn’t decrease His joy of being with the Father.

I have no idea what it’s like to be God and how He experiences things, but perhaps (and this is just an idea) He can be happy about some things and grieved by others. For example, He is glad when we visit Him, when people repent of sin, and to see our Blessed Mother and the Saints and Angels in Heaven… but He’s also told some of the Saints that He grieves for every lost soul and it must be very painful for Him to know that there are people who are going to hell even though He died on the Cross. Perhaps He is both joyful and suffering in the Tabernacle, depending on what we are talking about. But I have no idea I’m sure my idea of God is extremely limited compared to the reality.

The way I see it, Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament loves everyone who even walks by the church, even if they don’t care that He is there… and He hopes for them to know Him, and gives them graces… but it’s very sad that so few know or care what it cost Him to be with us now, how He died on the Cross and is now in the Eucharist for love of us, - but people receive Him unworthily with unconfessed sin, do not show any reverence, etc.

God bless

 

[Monica4316]

Here is another quote from “Way of Divine Love”

“I am Love! My Heart can no longer contain its devouring flames. I love souls so dearly that I have sacrificed My life for them. It is this love that keeps Me a prisoner in the tabernacle. For nearly twenty centuries I have dwelt there, night and day, veiled under the species of Bread and concealed in the small white Host, bearing through love, neglect, solitude, contempt, blasphemies, outrages, sacrileges . ."

I think that’s a very good reason for us to say prayers of reparation… like the Golden Arrow prayer, which is reparation for blasphemy.

 

[Samson01]

I have always wondered why St. Faustina and others refered to Jesus as the “Divine Prisoner” at times. This helps me understand it a lot better. Thank you.

 

[Monica4316]

I have always wondered why St. Faustina and others refered to Jesus as the “Divine Prisoner” at times. This helps me understand it a lot better. Thank you.