Cardinal Van Thuân

Ave Maria! The Vatican has announced that the cause for the canonization of Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuân was officially opened this week. I have a great love for Cardinal Van Thuân and previously blogged about him here and here. He suffered for 13 years in Vietnamese prisons without trial, nine of them in solitary confinement. I never tire of re-reading his few books, which always fill me with great hope and renewed gratitude for the Holy Eucharist. Cardinal Van Thuân said over and over again that the Eucharist was his secret strength which kept him alive and sane during his captivity in prison. With three drops of wine and one drop of water, he was able to celebrate Mass daily and thus always carry the Blessed Sacrament on his person. Having our Eucharistic Lord with him at all times was an immense joy for him, and he prayed repeatedly, "Jesus, You in me and I in You".

At the 49th International Eucharistic Congress which was held June 2008 in Quebec, Elizabeth Nguyen Thi Thu Hong, Cardinal Van Thuân's youngest sister, gave an address about her brother's message of faith and devotion to the Eucharistic Jesus. She noted how Cardinal Thuân's daily celebration of the Eucharist was not limited to those moments of the Mass itself but extended to every moment of the day and night:

"He points out to all of us that Christ offered his sacrifice with immense fervour, as in the hour of His passion and crucifixion, when He obeyed the Father; and this, even to the point of His humiliating death on the cross to bring back to the Father a redeemed humanity and a purified creation. In prison with the Eucharistic Jesus in their midst, Christian and non-Christian prisoners slowly received the grace to understand that each present moment of their lives in the most inhuman conditions can be united with the supreme sacrifice of Jesus and lifted up as an act of solemn adoration to God the Father. Together each day, Thuân would remind himself and encouraged everyone to pray: 'Lord, grant that we may offer the Eucharistic sacrifice with love, that we accept to carry the cross, and to be nailed to it to proclaim Your glory, to serve our brothers and sisters.'"

For Cardinal Van Thuân as for our Lord Jesus whom he loved so much, the Eucharist and the cross were inseparable. Through his intercession, may this always be true for us as well.

"Jesus, You in me and I in You!"

Today's Feast: St. John Chrysostom

How many of you say: I should like to see His face, His garments, His shoes. You do see Him, you touch Him, you eat Him. He gives Himself to you, not only that you may see Him, but also to be your food and nourishment. ~St. John Chrysostom

Jesus, my Lord, my God, my all! May I never fail to praise You for the fullness of life and love that You give me each day in the Holy Eucharist -- Your very self! Amen! Alleluia!

The Eucharist: My Only Strength

On this Holy Thursday, I am remembering Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, 1928-2002, who was imprisoned by the Vietnamese Communist regime for 13 years, nine of which he spent in solitary confinement. During those long years of agonizing captivity, the Eucharist was his only strength. As a constant reminder of his imprisonment, he wore ever after as his pectoral cross one he had fashioned out of wood and metal in prison with the help of a sympathetic guard. He said of his cross, "It is not beautiful, but it is for me a symbol, a reminder always to love and forgive and reconcile." It was Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist who enabled Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan to love, forgive and reconcile. O dear Lord, thank You for doing the same for us! May we always hasten to receive Your precious Body and Blood, given to us for the life of the world! Amen.

The Eucharist: My Only Strength

Around the Eucharistic table the harmonious unity of the Church is realized and made manifest; the mystery of missionary communion, in which all feel that they are children, sisters and brothers. John Paul II, Message for the Twelfth World Youth Day, 1997, n. 7

"Were you able to celebrate the Eucharist in prison?" is one question that many people have asked me. And they are right to ask: The Eucharist is the most beautiful prayer; it is the culmination of the life of Jesus. When I answer "yes," I already know the next question: "How were you able to obtain the bread and wine?"

When I was arrested, I had to leave immediately, with empty hands. The next day I was allowed to request in writing the things I needed most: clothes, toothpaste... I wrote to my addressee: "Please, could you send me a bit of medicine for my bad stomach?" The faithful understand what I meant and they sent a little bottle of wine for Mass, which they labeled "stomach medicine," as well as some hosts sealed in a flashlight to protect them from the humidity. The police asked me: "Do you have a bad stomach?"

"Yes," I answered.

"Here’s some medicine for you."

I will never be able to express my immense joy: every day, with three drops of wine and one drop of water in the palm of my hand, I celebrated my Mass.

It depended on the situation, however. On the boat that brought us north, I celebrated at night with the prisoners who received communion around me. At times I had to celebrate while everyone was bathing after calisthenics. In the re-education camp, the prisoners were divided into groups of fifty; we slept on common beds and everyone had the right to fifty centimeters of space. We arranged it so that there were five Catholics near me. At 9:30 p.m. the lights were turned off and everyone had to sleep. I curled up on the bed to celebrate Mass, from memory, and I distributed communion by reaching under the mosquito netting covering us. We made small containers from cigarette packages in which to reserve the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus in the Eucharist was always with me in my shirt pocket.

In The Road of Hope I wrote: "You believe in one strength: the Eucharist, the Lord’s Body and Blood that gives you life. ‘I have come so that they may have life and have it abundantly’ (Jn. 10:10). As manna nourished the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land, so the Eucharist nourishes you on your road of hope" (n. 983).

We had weekly indoctrination sessions in which the whole camp had to participate. During our break, I and my Catholic companions took advantage of the opportunity to pass to each, or to the other four groups of prisoners, the little container that held the Blessed Sacrament: they all knew that Jesus was among them, he who could heal all their physical and mental suffering. At night, the prisoners took turns for adoration; Jesus helped us in a tremendous way with his silent presence. Many Christians regained the fervor of their faith during those days, and Buddhists and other non-Christians converted. The strength of Jesus’ love is irresistible. The darkness of prison became light; the seed germinated underground during the storm.

Every time I offer Mass I have the opportunity to extend my hands and nail myself to the cross with Jesus, to drink with him the bitter cup.

~Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan

Today's Saint: St. Clare

Clare is the passionate lover of the poor, crucified Christ, with whom she wants to identify absolutely…

In reality Clare's whole life was a eucharist because, like Francis, from her cloister she raised up a continual "thanksgiving" to God in her prayer, praise, supplication, intercession, weeping, offering and sacrifice. She accepted everything and offered it to the Father in union with the infinite "thanks" of the only-begotten Son, the Child, the Crucified, the risen One, who lives at the right hand of the Father.

Pope John Paul II, Letter for the Eighth Centenary
of the Birth of Saint Clare of Assisi, 9/11/93

Today is the feast of St. Clare, and so it is my feast day because my dear parents named me "Alice Claire," making this wise and passionate woman my patron saint. St. Clare has led me in the life of prayer and contemplation for as long as I can remember, and she has also led me to the life of consecrated virginity. Most and best of all, she has led me to our Christ, our Crucified and Risen Lord and Savior. Thank you, dear Jesus, for the gift of St. Clare to me and to the church. May she help us to become a eucharist as she was, for the life and salvation of the whole world. Amen.

"Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me. " ~Saint Clare of Assisi

Prayer to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament

Blessed are you, Mary, exalted Daughter of Sion! You are highly favored and full of grace, for the Spirit of God descended upon you.

We magnify the Lord and rejoice with you for the gift of the Word made flesh, our bread of life and cup of joy.

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, our model of prayer in the Cenacle, pray for us that we may become what we receive, the body of Christ your Son.

Amen.

The Holy Eucharist is for me!

And where is Jesus my Savior? In heaven and also in the Blessed Sacrament. Heaven is for the angels and saints in glory; the Holy Eucharist is for me.

The Holy Eucharist is my joy, my riches, my home, my palace, wherein dwells the King of my life and the God of my heart. The Holy Eucharist is my heaven on earth, and before It I will adore, as the angels and saints adore before the throne of the Lamb in heaven.

The Holy Eucharist shall be my heart's center, wherein it shall live and love, find rest and inspiration. Jesus said, "Where your treasure house is, there your heart is too."

I will have no other treasure beside Thee, good Jesus! My heart shall no longer seek its Best-Beloved; it has found Him. My love shall no more languish far from Thee, now that I know Thy dwelling place.

Oh, draw me now entirely to Thee, divine Lover, my mind with all its thoughts, my heart with all its desires and affections, my will with all its actions, my body with all its senses, that I may live no longer in myself but in Thee!

St. Peter Julian Eymard

St. Katharine Drexel, Feastday March 3, Part 1: "a never-ending sacrifice"

The Eucharist is a never-ending sacrifice.
It is the Sacrament of love, the act of love.
Help me each moment today and always
to communicate myself to you by doing your will.
Let the doing of your will each moment
be a spiritual communion.
In it you will give me yourself;
I will give you myself.
St. Katharine Drexel