WHITE HOUSE JESUIT RETREAT

St. Louis, MO 63129

1-800-643-1003

Jesuit retreat center high on the bluffs of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, MO.  Since 1922, thousands of people from around the world make annual three-day silent, guided retreats here to relax, reconnect with God and strengthen their spirituality.  A true gem in the Midwest!  Call 314-416-6400 or 1-800-643-1003.  Email reservations@whretreat.org  7400 Christopher Rd.  St. Louis, MO 63129

Both men's and women's retreats are offered as well as recovery retreats.

Take Spirituality to the Next Level!

Weekend Reflection for 6/20/14

June 20, 2014  /  Joe Parisi

Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ

 

Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."(John 6:51)

 

I have said more than once that I do not like speaking or writing about the Blessed Sacrament. I say that because it seems at times that I am speaking or writing about some thing, not someone. For we believe that this Blessed Sacrament is nothing less than the Body and Blood of Christ, the second person of the Holy Trinity, given to us, present to us, always with us. I wonder how I can ever be blaséwhen I realize that Jesus is before me, is with me.

 

When I am at Mass or at Benediction I have the most powerful experience of the Communion of Saints which we profess in our creed. For as I am gazing on Jesus and thanking him for what he has done for me, for us, I am aware that that is exactly what my mother and father, my grandparents, so many friends and family are doing at that very moment -they too are gazing on Jesus and thanking and praising him. I have never felt closer to those who have gone before me than at that moment when I realize we are all doing this together, we are in communion, present to Jesus as he is present to us.

 

In the words of the Eucharistic hymn, Adoro te, devote, as translated by Gerard Manley Hopkins:

 

Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore,

Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more,

See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart

Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.

 

Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived:

How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed;

What God's Son has told me, take for truth I do;

Truth himself speaks truly or there's nothing true.

 

I am not like Thomas, wounds I cannot see,

But can plainly call thee Lord and God as he;

Let me to a deeper faith daily nearer move,

Daily make me harder hope and dearer love.

 

Jesu, whom I look at shrouded here below,

I beseech thee send me what I thirst for so,

Some day to gaze on thee face to face in light

And be blest for ever with thy glory's sight. Amen.

 

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE ON RETREAT THIS WEEK AS WELL AS OUR DECEASED RETREATANTS.

 

 

UPCOMING RETREATS WITH SPACE:

 

Men: 6/23, 7/10, 7/31

Co-ed: 8/29 (2-day, starts Friday evening)

Women: 9/8, 10/6, 11/17

Men in Recovery: 8/14

 

Call 314-416-6400 or visit www.whretreat.org

 

 

IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY LECTURE SERIES

 Featuring Fr. John Padberg, S.J.

"5 Questions for Ignatian Spirituality: World, Mind, Women, Society, Church"

Wednesday July 23, 2014 at 7:30pm

This event will be held at SLUH's

Si Commons building (4970 Oakland Avenue).  

Admission is free. 

 

We will have a brief commissioning ceremony before the lecture to welcome the new director of White House,

Mr. William Schmitt. 

 

Please register by calling 314-416-6400