Day of Prayer and Reparation

Call for Reparation

Dear Friends

As you know, there have been a number of instances where Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament has been horribly violated and desecrated of late. I have posted about two of them, but there have been others.

I just learned from reading Te Deum Laudamus that Fr. John Trigilio of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy has called for a day of prayer and fasting on this Friday, August 1, 2008 in reparation for these horrible acts. It is the First Friday of August and the Solemnity of Our Holy Father Alphonsus Liguori, who was so greatly devoted to the Most Blessed Sacrament. Fr. Trigilio is specifically requesting that people make a holy hour of reparation. Additionally one may assist at Mass or at a second Mass, say the rosary, abstain from valid pleasures (in addition to the regular Friday abstainence from meat), offering up suffering (such as enduring discomfort from the heat or bodily pain in silence), pray extra devotions such as the Rosary or Stations of the Cross, or give alms in reparation.

To understand the gravity of these sins, they are worse than the abuse of children, one of the most horrible crimes we can imagine. The reason they are worse is because they are direct attacks against Our Lord. Remember, the Blessed Sacrament is not a symbol or a sign. The Blessed Sacrament is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ under the appearance of bread and wine. No Catholic can deny this. To look upon the Blessed Sacrament is to look upon the Face of Christ Himself though under the sacramental veils. Catholics have died rather than allow the Blessed Sacrament to be desecrated. We must, at the very least, make reparation for these most grave sins.

At the same time as we are making reparation for the sins, we must pray for the sinners who have committed these heinous acts. It is not for us to judge them, to name them as evil or depraved or call them sick. It is for us to pray for them and to love them as Christ asked us. If we judge them, we sin, and sin gravely ourselves, for to judge another is contrary to a direct prohibition of Christ Himself and is always grave matter and thus most likely mortal sin.

I know that many of you have already made holy hours and offered prayers for this intention. But let us redouble our efforts, for we can never make sufficient amends and reparation. Let us keep in mind the words Holy Church puts in the mouth of our Lord from the Reproaches of Good Friday:

"My people, what have I done to you?

How have I offended you?

Answer me!"

May God bless you,
Fr. Scott Bailey, C.Ss.R.