Hello Everyone,
Our next Eucharistic miracle comes from Marseille-en-Beauvais, France. "In 1533, some thieves stole a ciborium containing some consecrated Hosts from a church. The thieves then discarded the Hosts in a field. Unfortunately there was a strong snow storm; however, the following day the Hosts were recovered and miraculously were found to be in perfect condition. The numerous healings and the tremendous popular devotion that followed the miracle were not sufficient to protect the Hosts, which were destroyed by some seeking to profane them."
Please see http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/english_pdf/Marseillebeauvais.pdf.
Rosary prayer groups. People, more than ever, are seeking more than what the world can offer. They are looking to God and have a desire to pray with others. For those able to pray together, we have found the following works very well and that more people from all walks of life are more likely to come:
1. Meet in a public gathering place. The best place is at Church.
2. Start on time. If you start late, you train others to come in late or to not come at all because they will have to wait around.
3. End on time. If you want to socialize, do it after you are officially finished so that busy people can leave.
4. Pray only the rosary. Avoid adding on all of the "extra" prayers and meditations. The rosary takes about 17 minutes. If people know this format, they are more likely to come and pray with you.
5. Allow people to come and go, quietly, as they please. Avoid judging them for being late or leaving early. They did what they could by just being there. Praise God!
6. Pray on a set day and time. If you are the only person to show up, pray the full rosary anyway, before leaving. In small communities especially, getting a regular group to show up can take a couple of years, we found out!
Basically, keep it simple and welcome all with open heart.
Remember to go to weekly Mass! In our experience in the United States, people rush around and have challenges even getting to Mass. In these days of Covid, some find it difficult to even view the Mass on computer or the television. There are 168 hours in a week. Do you not have just one of those hours for Jesus in the Mass? He loves you so much!
Priests, a humble request regarding daily weekday Mass. First of all, THANK YOU for your "yes" to Christ! We need you and pray for you. Missionaries of Mary is asking priests in the United States who have parishes rather close together in a community to please work together more on offering Masses when more people can attend. Most people in the United States work or attend school on first shift. This means that laypeople are unable to attend weekday Mass between approximately 7:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Maybe by working together, one parish can offer an early morning or evening Mass on one day, and another parish can offer a morning or evening Mass the next day, and so on. Also of great importance, please keep the Mass short during the week (30 minutes or less). People dearly want to attend Mass, but if it is out of their time range or it is too long and they attend, they will miss work or school or evening family matters with their children. Our prayers are with you. For those many who are already doing this, we are deeply grateful for your humility and service to God's children.
God bless you!
