The Sacred Heart and the Eucharist

 

I am Stephanie Morris, formerly the Director of Archives of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and an Associate of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (ASBS). Sister Annette Marie O’Donnell had begun this blog as “Companions on the Journey” but has retired from actively writing. St. Katharine said we are all typewriters in the hands of the Lord; it has been a pleasure and privilege for me to serve as St. Katharine’s typist for many years.

June was a busy month, remembering dads, grads and newly-weds. This year we also had Pentecost, the Feasts of the Most Holy Trinity, of Corpus Christi, and the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.\

The Holy Spirit is an important source of grace and insight to all. Saint Katharine said all our good thoughts come from God. So, if you do or say something that makes someone else smile, the Holy Spirit is working through you to share the love of the Trinity with others.

“Corpus Christi” is, as you probably all know, Latin for the feast of “The Body and Blood of Christ.” It became one of the principal feasts of the Church. For the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, this is a very important feast, as the Blessed Sacrament is the Eucharist, the Body of Christ.

For St. Katharine, “the center, the power of the Eucharist” was the Sacred Heart. In the Eucharist Jesus gave the most precious gift He could bestow – His Sacred Heart – the “very Source and center of love.” May we feel the flame of this love when we receive the Holy Eucharist. For St. Katharine the Eucharist is the continuation of the Incarnation. Jesus comes to us as closely as He came to the Blessed Mother and unites us with all of the Saints.  

In July we will celebrate the feasts of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks. She suffered for her practice of her faith but was able to flee to Canada to practice her faith in safety before her death in 1680. Are we able to suffer a little for our faith, our belief in mercy and compassion?

Family is another theme in July, with the feasts of Saints Joachim and Anne, the Blessed Mother’s parents, and of the siblings Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. We could say a few extra prayers for our families and for families in distress.

May you and your families have a safe and blessed summer.

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D., A.S.B.S.

Feast of Corpus Christi

 

I am Stephanie Morris, formerly the Director of Archives of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and an Associate of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (ASBS). Sister Annette Marie O’Donnell had begun this blog as “Companions on the Journey” but has retired from actively writing. St. Katharine said we are all typewriters in the hands of the Lord; it has been a pleasure and privilege for me to serve as St. Katharine’s typist for many years.

On June 3, 1863, the young Kate received her first Holy Communion and Confirmation. She did not dwell on the great benefits of receiving these two sacraments. Kate wrote to Bishop O’Connor about the breakfast that was served! Only later did she realize how great a moment this had been. Her thoughts shifted from earthly, bodily food to nourishment of a more lasting type:

"Holy Communion [was] not instituted for reverence but as food, nourishment. … If the Blessed Sacrament had been instituted for reverence merely, Our Lord would have given power to consecrate a diamond, a flower, or some brilliant attractive thing. We could have been created to eat twice a year, but no one is surprised created as we are, that daily we need food. It is the same in the spiritual life. O beautiful harmony in the creation!"

Just as our bodies crave food, so should our spirits crave the graces available through reception of Holy Communion. Food gives us strength and sometimes helps us to feel good. Grace can help us by giving us the strength to listen to what God tells us and to follow God’s will. Walking in God’s steps can be challenging at times but the feeling that we are doing what God wants us to do, what He has enabled us to do, can be reassuring.

“To remember that Holy Communion is my life and to believe in Him and the power in His words: ‘Woman thou art healed’ and the same instant she is healed.”

If the woman was healed just by touching the hem of Jesus’ garment, how much more can we be healed when we receive Jesus in Holy Communion? How much more are the graces available to us directly from Jesus in Holy Communion?

You might not remember what it felt like to receive your first Holy Communion, but you may have felt feelings of happiness when a relative made his/her first Holy Communion. What do you feel at Mass when you receive Holy Communion?

Saint Katharine asked us to consider: “If we only had Holy Communion once in our lives we’d appreciate it. But we have graces poured down upon us without number. Each Communion should be an event of our lives. Make every Communion something new to us.”

It can be so easy to let frequent reception of Holy Communion become merely a routine and not a deliberate choice. Do we truly appreciate the blessing of

frequent reception of Holy Communion, with its abundance of graces, strengths, and the power of God? The feast of Corpus Christi (“The Body and Blood of Christ”) is a good time to review our reception of the Body and Blood of Christ.

June is also the month of the Sacred Heart. As a young woman, Kate reminded herself: “Do not let a day pass in the month of June without saying a fervent prayer to the Sacred Heart. Let nothing worry you.”

“Let nothing worry you” – that sounds impossible. Not worry? We are human and humans do worry. But ask the Sacred Heart to stand by you, to support you and carry you through the circumstances that are causing you worry.

May you feel the healing powers of the Sacred Heart when you receive Holy Communion.

Congratulations to all Dads, grads, and newly weds!

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D., A.S.B.S.

Lent, Spring and Easter

I am Stephanie Morris, formerly the Director of Archives of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and an Associate of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (ASBS). Sister Annette Marie O’Donnell had begun this blog as “Companions on the Journey” but has retired from actively writing. St. Katharine said we are all typewriters in the hands of the Lord; it has been a pleasure and privilege for me to serve as St. Katharine’s typist for many years.

We are progressing through the Lenten season. We have just celebrated the feasts of St. Katharine Drexel (March 3), St. Joseph (March 19), and the Annunciation of Our Lady (March 25). April brings the conclusion of the Lenten season and the beginning of the glorious Easter season.

“Lent” is associated with springtime and, in music, with “going slowly.” For gardeners, this is a season of planting seeds and bulbs. And waiting, but not idly so. These promises of flowers and edible gifts require our assistance; they need watering, possibly feeding with special nutrients, and possibly weeding or pruning.

Even as they become visible, these promises of flowers and gifts still require our help. St. Katharine noted that: “Flowers in themselves seem like graces,” and in each blossom, we can see the beauty and graciousness of God.

We received the seed of Faith at our baptism. This seed was carefully nurtured by learning prayers, attending Mass, and receiving sacraments of First Penance, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. As we grow older, we can continue to nurture our Faith by frequent Mass attendance and reception of the sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation, prayers and good works.

At, Katharine noted that before His Passion, Jesus “ardently desired to suffer in order to purify us in the baptism of His blood. Now He desires with a longing desire to come to us in Holy Communion that He may sanctify us. He desires us because He has redeemed us by His sufferings, purchased us by His labors, and conquered us by His victories. He desires us because we belong to Him, are His glory and His delight.” 

Just as a gardener might need to prune leggy branches and remove weeds, so too might we have some pruning to do. Lent, the season of “going slowly,” is a good time to consider this. Are there some weeds in the form of envy, unkind words or a gradual slipping away from prayers or spiritual/corporal works of mercy that we might have let into our spiritual garden?

A St. Katharine encouraged us: “Every effort for God leaves me holier, and as long as I am trying, I am making progress in the Spiritual life, though I cannot see it.”

As we prepare for Holy Week, we can examine our garden for these unpleasant aspects and try to remedy this by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

 We still have time to prepare our “spiritual garden” to better reflect the glory and delight Our Lord prepares for us on the feast of Easter. The beautiful flowers and gifts we will receive then will be in the form of countless graces and blessings.

May you have a blessed Lenten season and a glorious Easter!

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D., A.S.B.S.

 Along with Lent comes Spring! 

I am Stephanie Morris, formerly the Director of Archives of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and an Associate of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (ASBS). Sister Annette Marie O’Donnell had begun this blog as “Companions on the Journey” but has retired from actively writing. St. Katharine said we are all typewriters in the hands of the Lord; it has been a pleasure and privilege for me to serve as St. Katharine’s typist for many years.

March brings us several important days – March 3rd is the anniversary of St. Katharine’s death in 1955 – 70 years ago. March 5th is Ash Wednesday this year. March 19th is the feast of Saint Joseph.

Saint Katharine would prefer that we focus on Lent and Saint Joseph rather than on herself.

In 1889, Saint Katharine noted that she had received the grace to accept the call to enter religious life and work among the African American and Native American people on the feast of Saint Joseph.

Saint Katharine’s close relationship with God (remember her motto – “My Beloved to me and I to Him”) perhaps grew out of Saint Joseph’s close relationship with the Son of God – Jesus, for whom he served as a foster father. Perhaps in honor of Saint Joseph, we might try this Lent to develop a closer relationship with Jesus, our Brother, and Redeemer.

In 1911, with the approach of Lent, Saint Katharine urged her Sisters:

“To Fast interiorly.

To Fast from uncharitable thoughts and words …

To Fast from unkind, ungentle, want of meekness in words to each other.”

Perhaps we could try to fast like this a little more this Lent.

Along with Lent comes spring! The days are getting longer; we enjoy more sunlight. Flowers will start making their presence known. Saint Katharine likened a field of wildflowers to the graces God is freely bestowing about us. So many beautiful colors and types, yet each flower is beautiful in and of itself.

May we remember that we are beautiful in and of ourselves in the sight of God.

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D., A.S.B.S.

February 25, 2025

2025 the Jubilee Year of Hope

I am Stephanie Morris, formerly the Director of Archives of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and an Associate of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (ASBS). Sister Annette Marie O’Donnell had begun this blog as “Companions on the Journey” but has retired from actively writing. St. Katharine said we are all typewriters in the hands of the Lord; it has been a pleasure and privilege for me to serve as St. Katharine’s typist for many years.

Pope Francis has declared 2025 the Jubilee Year of Hope.

Hope is one of the three supernatural virtues given to us at our baptism; the others are faith and love. Hope enables us to desire to be united with God and the confidence that we will be given the necessary graces to achieve this union. 

Saint Katharine noted that the more we hope in God, the more we trust in God. This does not mean that our path will be smooth, but greater trust in God will help us weather any storms.

How can we grow in Hope? By feeding it! Receiving Holy Communion is food for the spiritual life; it gives the spiritual food of faith, hope, and charity to the soul.

Pope Francis’ Prayer Intention for January 2025 is for “The Right to an Education.”

Many children and adults have limited access to schools and education. We are fortunate to have great access. Both Saint Katharine and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. recognized this need.

In January, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King is remembered in a special way. Dr. King advocated working for social justice in a nonviolent way. Saint Katharine said, “Working for social justice can take many paths.” Whichever path we take, it can help us appreciate the paths others have taken or are taking.

Dr. King (1929 – 1968) was a leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He advocated equal justice for all and led nonviolent demonstrations in an effort to secure equal rights for all. Some results of his efforts led to better educational opportunities for African Americans. For Dr. King, “Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” St. Katharine worked for social justice as well. At times, quietly in the background and at other times in a highly visible way, as in opening schools. St. Katharine found “no more elevating work than education.” One very visible school is Xavier University in New Orleans. St. Katharine urged the graduates of Xavier and other SBS schools to be “leaders, and leaders who really lead others by example, by word and by deed.” We can all be leaders and evangelizers by example, by word, and by deed.

These were not merely empty words. Xavier University began as a high school with a fifth year of “Normal School” education. Qualified African American teachers then went out to rural Southern regions to conduct the schools. Saint Katharine and the SBS opened. As teacher certification requirements changed, the SBS offered summer institutes for the Normal School graduates to meet those changes.

Just as the SBS provided African American teachers for African American students, the SBS provided Native American teachers for Native American students in the southwest. These schools had students from many cultures – Hopi, Pueblo, Apache, and Navajo. Classes were almost all in an “English as a second language” environment. The students were allowed to speak their Native languages when outside the classroom. Saint Katharine recalled hearing a boy chant in Navajo as he did his chores. Their parents brought the children to the school and stayed a few days to observe the Sisters and the school. Assured that their children were in good hands, the parents left.  Native American teachers acted as interpreters while also teaching Native history and skills.

Saint Katharine urged Native American students to become leaders among their people. Alumni returned to help the school and to be examples for the students.

February 12, 2025, will be the anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1891. We pray for all the Sisters, living and gone from us, who tried to make this a better world for all people through education.

This has not been an easy winter. Let us remember in prayer those suffering from natural and man-made disasters such as the fires in California, the hurricanes in the South, and violence in our cities. Let us also pray that our elected officials lead us in truth and mercy. 

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D., A.S.B.S.

January 20, 2025

December 15, 2024

On the third Sunday of Advent, we prayed: “Rejoice in the Lord always …. . Indeed, the Lord is near.”

As Advent comes to a close, we are quickly coming to the celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ.

Saint Katharine reminds us that “The first Christmas was the beginning of the Human Life of Jesus. This Christmas is the beginning of a new life for us.”

How can we begin a new life for ourselves? We don’t have to leave family and home, but can revitalize our lives just where we are.

Saint Katharine has a few suggestions:

        “… don’t forget daily prayer, daily meditation. Take the time for it for it is important as we were made to praise, honor and serve God.”

Archbishop Fulton Sheen recommended that we take time for a quiet hour of adoration whenever we can. Blessed James Alberione, founder of the Pauline families, also advocated spending an hour each day in quiet adoration.

Even if you can’t get to a church or chapel each day for adoration, there is something else we can do. Saint Katharine urges us to “Try always to have sweet thoughts. It is as easy to have sweet thoughts as ugly ones. It is the same expenditure and it pays.”

Ugly thoughts can so mess up our day, spoiling our mood and darkening our outlook. We could be stuck in a long express line in the supermarket. Grumbling about the large orders ahead of us could make us unhappy and feel sour. Offering a few prayers of thanksgiving, thanks for being able to buy food and a home in which to enjoy it, would occupy our minds and time. This helps to shorten the wait time and to make our day a little brighter.

Shortly after Christmas Day we remember the death of the first martyr, Saint Stephen, and a few days later, the deaths of the Holy Innocents, We remember the beginning of Jesus’ human life and the beginning of the eternal lives of St. Stephen and of the Holy Innocents.

These feasts remind us that Jesus’ human life was not always full of joy and smiles and good times. As Saint Katharine wrote on December 28, 1893: “This life is our pilgrimage, eternity is our home.”

What do we take along with us on this pilgrimage? What can we do during this pilgrimage? We don’t have to plan big events or colossal deeds. God asks us to love Him in return for the love He has given us. How can we show God this love?

Saint Katharine suggests a way: “Love is proven by little things. Great things may never be asked of us. Little things appear at every moment.” Kind acts are love in action. Love of neighbor can be a challenge, but God asks that of us as well. A smile or a kind word can brighten the day of a neighbor who is having a bad day.

January 9, 1895, was the day on which Saint Katharine pronounced her vows for life, 130 years ago. Her motto, inscribed on her ring at that time, was “My Beloved to me, and I to Him.” This phrase, from the Song of Songs, referred to the love of a married couple. For Saint Katharine, it represented her personal relationship with the Lord and, subsequently, her relationship to all of His children. May we see all others as fellow children of our Savior and God, Jesus Christ.’’

January also includes Rev. Martin Luther King’s day. Dr. King advocated working for social justice in a non-violent way. Saint Katharine said that “Working for social justice can take many paths.” Whichever path we take, it can help us to appreciate the paths others have taken or are taking.

As we approach Christmas Day, may we remember that as we receive Holy Communion, we are as close to the Infant Jesus as if we were in the manger on that first Christmas.

Best wishes for a blessed Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

Stephanie Morris, ASBS
December 15, 2024