By Sarah Damm
Photo by Giulia Bertelli on Unsplash
“Close your eyes after Holy Communion,” Father Andrew instructed. “Let yourself feel the loving embrace of Jesus.”
The time after Holy Communion is powerful, intimate, and sacred, if we allow it to be. I always try to remain present to the presence of Jesus, believing with all my heart that His precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity now rest in me. As a mom of six, however, I often have to spend this time with one eye open, making sure my children stay relatively still and quiet, while our parish community prays around us.
But when I attended my annual four-day silent retreat and took to heart Father’s words, something powerful happened. For in the silence of the heart, God truly speaks. And in the silence, the distance between heaven and earth is closer than we realize, and the reality of the mystical Body of Christ comes into focus.
At this particular Mass, I returned to my pew after receiving Our Eucharistic Lord and closed my eyes, like Father instructed. I let myself feel Jesus’ loving embrace. I imagined His heart beating within me.
Then, I felt the presence of my Guardian Angel right next to me. His full attention was on Jesus within me. His arms extended toward me, as if reaching for a hug, but they really were outstretched in worship of the Lord. I felt my angel’s strength and devotion, and I leaned into him, resting my head upon his chest. We adored Christ together.
At that point, I envisioned Our Blessed Mother, with her adoring gaze on Jesus within me. Her arms embraced me and my angel, in a motherly gesture of protection and affection. All three of us worshipped Jesus together.
As I knelt there in the presence of Jesus, with Mary and my Guardian Angel, Mary gently encouraged me to open myself even more to her Son.
“Open your heart more to Him. Let Jesus reach the darkest and most-hidden corners of your heart,” she guided.
Trusting her encouragement, I felt myself open up even more to the Lord. I invited Jesus to enter deeper into my heart, and as He did, a type of light moved within me. Warm, soft brightness permeated places that desperately needed hope and healing. I didn’t even realize what I needed until I received it.
In that moment, I praised God for the gift of His love, presence, healing, and mercy. I also thanked Him for the gift of His mother, who is our mother, too.
Mary is someone we can always turn to for guidance and understanding, because she was a woman of faith in the midst of uncertainty, in the midst of sorrow, and in the midst of joy. She experienced the highs and lows of life, just like we do. She opened her heart completely to the Lord, and now she shows us how we can do that, too. Mary always brings us closer to Jesus. Always.
Mary, queen of heaven and earth, queen of the Christian heart, pray for us.
About the author:
Sarah Damm is a Catholic wife and mother of six children, living in Minnesota. She spends her days running errands, helping with homework, and keeping up with laundry and the family schedule. Sarah loves her faith, coffee, and good books. You can find out more about her and her writing at sarahdamm.com.
Thank you Sarah, for the beautiful reflection on a most wonderful day to celebrate our Heavenly Queen and Mother! God bless you
Mary, thank you for your kind comment. It is, indeed, a wonderful day to honor Our Lady!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful lesson, it is my gift today from our Mother, Mary Queen of Heaven and earth.
God bless you, Bernadette! And may you always feel the tender compassion of our Mama Mary. She is with you and guiding you ever closer to the Lord.
I remember telling my dear Fr. Nolan that my husband, a non-religious Protestant who had agreed to come to church with me each Sunday, said he wanted to learn the Hail Mary. Fr. Nolan said that Mary was getting to him, and a few years later, my husband announced he was beginning RCIA classes. She is so gentle yet so powerful at the same time!! Dear God, thank you for our Blessed Mother!!
So beautiful, Kathy! Thank you for sharing. I recently heard another story of Mary’s intercession, and this dear woman’s Jewish husband is becoming Catholic now! Praise the Lord! Mary, Our Queen and Our Mother, continue to pray for us!
Hi Sarah, so sorry we have not met yet. After reading your post, I feel we have a lot in common as far as our mystical relationship with the Lord. Jesus’s desire for us and the profound love found within His Most Sacred Heart are transformative. Hoping you may read my new book, The Healing Eyes of Mercy. A Trinity of Love available at my website spiritualsafariguide.com. I think you will find much you can identify with and find inspiration and healing within its pages also. Each person of the Trinity of Love has so much to offer. When we simply give our yes, open up our hearts, our lives and relationships can be transformed in way we never anticipated. Thank you for your witness and wonderful, heartfelt sharing! Karen Sheehy