A Glimpse: The JPII Eucharistic Center

This is a small little preview of the much-asked-about John Paul II Eucharistic Center in progress here at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament & Our Lady of the Angels Monastery. To Catholics and believers of all faiths alike, the reason for the Shrine, while prominent, remains an inexhaustible mystery . At the center and heart of the chapel here is Christ truly present in the Eucharist. The JPII center is a 'small' yet significant and innovative tribute to Jesus' unfathomable gift to us - Himself in the Eucharist. Here, visitors to the Shrine can step into recreations of a Jewish home at Passover (a foreshadowing of the Eucharist) and a constructed synagogue like the one where Christ would have given the discourse in John chapter 6. On display are immense paintings depicting the price Christ paid to give us this memorial of His passion and death. Multi Media presentations including stunning reenactment of historical Eucharistic miracles as well as dynamic question and answer segments are available at various booths. Not least of all are tributes to Saints and martyrs who gave the ultimate confession of faith in Christ's Real Presence - their own life. Your prayers and support for this great work are truly appreciated! Adoro te devote!

Beginning Again

Not long ago, we had a reunion - Part II - with our AZ Sisters! Having recently moved ‘on site’ with their newly constructed chapel and in need of help to build a monastery, the Desert Nuns were invited to be on EWTN’s Life on the Rock show. That’s where their visit with us at OLAM began… sharing stories from the years when we’ve been many miles apart and getting a ‘simulated-imagine-it-in-your-mind’ tour of their chapel (with no pics!) from their chief ‘architect’ Sr. St. Paul, was great fun! All too soon, it was time to see them off…and off to the show!

Close on the heels of this excitement, another (albeit unexpected) ‘friend’ invited himself into the chapel. High up on a wall, by a large stained glass window there was a small black blot – a bat. Although his kind has taken refuge, or found adventure maneuvering their way into the Shrine – this one behaved quite differently from those who have previously visited us. As darkness fell, and the lights went off, this nocturnal creature put his flying, diving and swooping skills on display for Sisters spending an hour with the Lord! By nightlights and candlelight, these adorers saw enough to give them a night to remember! Providentially, that week we had readings at Mass about Noah and his incredible trial of faith: 40 days in the Ark with hoards of animals - and the known world obliterated. It made 1 night in the chapel with 1 bat sorely pale in comparison! Just imagining a ship the size of the Shrine filled with all kinds of creatures, having minimal light, ventilation and silence… made Noah seem more heroic than ever before. Thankfully he began again, all over again after the flood… or where would we be? So here we have it: another day to begin again!

Vows At Candlemas

Sr. John Paul, named after the soon to be beatified Pope, made her first profession of vows on February 2^nd, the day her namesake had dedicated as the day for Consecrated Life. February 2^nd, primarily the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, is suffused with the Light of Christ as we celebrate him as the light of revelation to the nations. Fittingly, Sister made her public profession to follow Christ in poverty, chastity and obedience on this day.

The candlelight procession at this Mass, (also known as Candlemas), seems to resonate with other celebrations where all present hold a light as a sign and testament of their faith – the Easter Vigil, Rosary Processions and World Youth Day Vigils, just to name a few. Particularly at the Easter Vigil, each member of the faithful, standing in the light of their own candle and those surrounding them, renews his or her baptismal promises to reject Satan and the works of darkness and also professes one’s faith in God. Sister John Paul deepened this act of faith by religious profession in order to live according to the Gospel and its counsels. What an awesome gift to make such a promise in the presence of this cloud of witnesses (both on heaven & earth!). And what a grace for us, to have another Sister zealously dedicated to the adoration and service of Our Lord! Sister herself was beaming with smiles throughout this joyous day – a testimony that the light of Christ was truly burning within!

“You must be strong with the strength that comes from faith… I ask you to accept once again your spiritual heritage… with faith, hope and love… I ask that you never despair, never grow weary, never become discouraged; that the roots from which we grow are never severed; that you keep your faith despite your weakness, that you always seek strength in Him; that you never lose that freedom of spirit for which He has liberated man; that you never spurn that love… expressed by the cross, without which human life has no roots and no meaning. I ask this of you.”Venerable John Paul II