I am late in posting this homily from today's Mass of Saint Lucy. I want to include this painting of the Last Holy Communion of Saint Lucy (1747–1748) by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Saint Lucy is kneeling before the priest to receive the Holy Sacrament. In the Eastern fashion, her arms are crossed on her breast. Her half–closed eyes denote her profound recollection. Her whole posture indicates that, as she receives the Body of Christ, she is surrendering herself entirely to Him. Spectators are looking on from a shining white balcony high above; so too are angels, eager to welcome Lucy into glory. In the foreground we already see the bloody awl, and Saint Lucy's eyes, gouged out and placed on a platter.
Second Wednesday of Advent
December 13
Commemoration of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Isaiah 40:25-31
Psalm 102: 1-2, 3-4, 8 & 10
Matthew 11: 28-30
With Eyes Open to the Deifying Light
The Second Wednesday of Advent coincides with the radiant memorial of Saint Lucy, one of the stars shining in the Church’s winter constellation of virgins and women martyrs. Saint Lucy invites us to grow radiant in the transfiguring light of Christ. She intercedes for us today that our eyes may be opened to the deifying light that first shone for us in the humble advent of Christ in the flesh. That same light shines for us now in His Eucharistic Advent. It will blaze over the whole world in His glorious Advent at the end of time.
The Sacrament of Christ's Eucharistic Advent
Yesterday while in New York I had the opportunity to visit one of The City’s most beautiful churches: Saint Jean–Baptiste on Lexington Avenue and 76th Street. Adorers come and go there at all hours to be still in the presence of “the Lord, the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth” (Is 40:21), hidden in the pure white Host, in the sacrament of His Eucharistic advent among us.
As I pondered Isaiah’s message in today’s First Lesson, I saw it illumined by the Eucharistic advent of Christ among us. The mystery of His Eucharistic advent, coming between His first advent in the flesh and His final advent in glory, forms one single coherent adorable mystery. One cannot be drawn to one of these without, at the same time, confessing the others.
I Will Refresh You
Seek Him in the mystery of His Eucharistic advent. You will find that, “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord” — abiding in the presence of His Eucharistic advent — “shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not grow faint” (Is 40:29–31 ). It is the Eucharistic Christ who says, “Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls.” (Mt 11:28–29).
Come to Me
In the Church today, those communities that are generous in practicing Eucharistic adoration are the very ones that are flourishing and thriving. Their strength is renewed; they are walking and not growing faint. Those communities that are not generous in the prayer of adoration are withering on the vine.
Isaiah’s prophecy today speaks directly to the situation of all who are faint and weary. Christ, in His Eucharistic Advent, waits to strengthen us, to comfort and refresh us. You may think of Advent as our waiting for Him; it is, even more, His waiting for us. “Come to me” (Mt 11:28), He says. “Come to me . . . and I will refresh you.”
His Excellency, Bishop Edward J. Slattery of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma has given
Father Mark a special mandate to live under the Rule of Saint Benedict in adoration before the Eucharistic Face of Jesus, offering thanksgiving, intercession, and reparation for all his
brothers in Holy Orders. In this way, Father is preparing the foundation of the new Diocesan Benedictine Monastery of Our Lady of the Cenacle. Father Mark is available to the
priests and deacons of the Diocese for spiritual and sacramental support in their pursuit of holiness. He is also charged with the spiritual formation of women who desire to dedicate themselves to spiritual motherhood in favour of priests.
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