Fr. Joseph Illo with Mother Teresa in Calcutta
Several people have asked me to print "Mother Teresa’s Business Card", which I read during a homily some weeks back. She would give a piece of paper to folks who asked for her ―card‖ with these words on it:
Prayer is the fruit of Silence;
Faith is the fruit of Prayer;
Love is the fruit of Faith;
Service is the fruit of Love;
Peace is the fruit of Service.
On the other side was written "God bless you, M. Teresa, MC." The "M" before her name was not for "Mother", but for "Maria" and the "MC" stands for the name of her Order, the Missionaries of Charity. All of her sisters take some form of "Mary" before their given name, such as "Sr. Maria Salome," or "Sr. Marie Therese." Mother Teresa’s tender devotion for Mary centered on her Immaculate Heart. She invoked the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cause of our Joy after every prayer. This Wednesday is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and the MC’s usually make their solemn profession on this day, as they will do this Wednesday in San Francisco.
Mother Teresa never received Holy Communion in the hand, because she said we should receive Jesus in Holy Communion with the delicacy and reverence with which Mary received Him from the angel. A few months ago I encouraged reception on the tongue. Since then, many more adults have been receiving on the tongue with beautiful reverence, and those receiving on the hand do so with greater reverence. But while parents have begun receiving on the tongue, their children often continue receiving on the hand. And it is really children for whom reception on the tongue is most important. It is they who will have the greater difficulty understanding the difference between a Consecrated Host and a cracker. They often receive improperly when receiving on the hand. Reception on the tongue will greatly help children recognize the solemnity of the Eucharist. I encourage parents, even if you receive on the hand, to teach your children to receive on the tongue. It takes a bit of work to show them how this is done, and the reason for the change. But it will go a long way in helping them recognize the Presence of Christ in this tiny thing they receive.
Prayer is the fruit of Silence;
Faith is the fruit of Prayer;
Love is the fruit of Faith;
Service is the fruit of Love;
Peace is the fruit of Service.
On the other side was written "God bless you, M. Teresa, MC." The "M" before her name was not for "Mother", but for "Maria" and the "MC" stands for the name of her Order, the Missionaries of Charity. All of her sisters take some form of "Mary" before their given name, such as "Sr. Maria Salome," or "Sr. Marie Therese." Mother Teresa’s tender devotion for Mary centered on her Immaculate Heart. She invoked the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cause of our Joy after every prayer. This Wednesday is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and the MC’s usually make their solemn profession on this day, as they will do this Wednesday in San Francisco.
Mother Teresa never received Holy Communion in the hand, because she said we should receive Jesus in Holy Communion with the delicacy and reverence with which Mary received Him from the angel. A few months ago I encouraged reception on the tongue. Since then, many more adults have been receiving on the tongue with beautiful reverence, and those receiving on the hand do so with greater reverence. But while parents have begun receiving on the tongue, their children often continue receiving on the hand. And it is really children for whom reception on the tongue is most important. It is they who will have the greater difficulty understanding the difference between a Consecrated Host and a cracker. They often receive improperly when receiving on the hand. Reception on the tongue will greatly help children recognize the solemnity of the Eucharist. I encourage parents, even if you receive on the hand, to teach your children to receive on the tongue. It takes a bit of work to show them how this is done, and the reason for the change. But it will go a long way in helping them recognize the Presence of Christ in this tiny thing they receive.
RSS Feed