How I Can Continue Spiritual Practices That Bore Fruit During Lent
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As we are past the middle of the month, it's a good time to reflect on whether we are focusing our prayers and intentions on the Sacred Heart of Jesus during the month which is dedicated to Him. The Feast of the Sacred Heart is on Friday, June 24, this year. It was promulgated by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. The reception of Holy Communion on the First Fridays of the month and a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament on Thursdays before First Fridays were also requested by Our Lord, Jesus, when He appeared to her.
He surely needs our prayers, fasting, and conversion of hearts to console Him when so many in our country and world are piercing His Heart anew every day. The slaughter in Ukraine and in other parts of the world, abortion, religious persecutions, pornography, impurity, the attempts at normalizing homosexual unions, and other sins of mankind reveal a world that is far away from Jesus' love.
I am always amazed at how Jesus and the Blessed Mother take a personal interest in the affairs of humanity. Not only is Jesus with us in Holy Communion when we receive Him during the Mass, but He has appeared to saints to present plans to increase our devotion to Him. He is merciful and wants the conversion of sinners, that none should be lost to the eternal punishment of hell. This is also true of Mary in her appearances at Fatima, Lourdes, Guadalupe, and other places. Although the Church does not require belief in private revelations, the faithful have long practiced such devotions to Jesus and Mary.
I have always liked visiting the Blessed Sacrament during the day and bringing my thanksgiving, joys, sorrows, hopes, desires, petitions, and tears before Him. And He always listens in silence which is the most eloquent language of all between two people who love each other. After I bring my concerns to Him, I simply sit quietly and contemplate how truly amazing it is to have access to Jesus, God Himself, united to the Father and the Holy Spirit, in a tabernacle of a Catholic church. And how truly more remarkable it is that I can receive Him in Holy Communion; God coming down to His creature, to fill her with His solace and love.
Marianne Zanko Komek is a freelance journalist whose articles have appeared in the National Catholic Register, the Catholic News Service, Catholic Philly, Joy in Truth, and The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper for the diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey. Her poetry has been featured in the children's magazine, St. Mary's Messenger. The Manhattan School of Music featured her poetry as lyrics for a composition performed there. She has also worked as an editor and editorial assistant for publishers in Manhattan. Marianne is a consecrated member of the International Marian Apostolate of Schoenstatt. She is also a graduate of the Tepeyac Leadership Initiative. In her spare time, she enjoys classical music, experimenting with recipes, and going for walks by the bay in her hometown. Her novel for teenagers, Promises to Theresa, is available on Amazon.
