A journal dedicated to the life and mission of St. Gaspar del Bufalo, and to a life lived in response to the call and the cry of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our on-going mission is to share good news of hope and communion.
On the other hand I found a chant site that features recordings from a monastery in Brazil: Take a listen: Benedictine Monastery in Brazil
Gregorian Chant is not a cold academic excercise that is fit for a concert performance. It is fundamentally prayer. The Brazilian Monastery is a bit closer to my experience.
Tom over at Disputations wondered in the comments below if St. Gaspar ever referred to St. Catherine's many references to the Blood of Christ. The following was what I was able to find on a first search. I imagine he may have also referred to her sayings without attributing them.
From letter 2140, to Pope Gregory XVI, March, 1831
Finally, adding just a few more things in this preface, it is to be noted that in carrying out these apostolic works of the ministry, we seek to give a cult of compensation to the mysteries of our redemption, so greatly abused by sinners. We wish to awaken in their souls the great idea of the inestimable price of our eternal salvation. ... You have redeemed with blood. ... you were bought at a great price.. Those who have gone astray are encouraged to have hope for the pardon of the faults that they have committed, Christ loved us and washed us in his blood. ... what usefulness in my blood? and, finally, this is an opportunity for helping them take notice of the motives which caused a St. Bernard (Ep. 7) to exclaim: The blood of Christ calls out like a trumpet and a St. Thomas (Opusc. 158) to say: The blood of Christ is the key of paradise. St. Catherine of Siena, during the schism of her time, received the inspiration from the Lord that on this devotion depended peace within the Church.
From Letter 2193, July 28, 1831, to Mother Maria Nazzarena De Castris
From your letter I note that holy love of God is calling your soul to a special testing of your virtue. So, you must call to mind the sufferings of St. Catherine of Siena and the response that she received from the Lord. Courage "I am with him in tribulation." all of the anguish of your soul lies in the imagination; however, your heart is under the press of, suffering, and God sees what suffering there is because of your fear of offending God. But, one does not lose God without knowing it. That is, as you know, how St. Teresa put it. Suffering, then, is a sign that God is mindful of us, and there can be no more terrible temptation than that of thinking that we have been abandoned. While you are drinking that chalice of suffering, the devil would love to profit from it for himself; but, They conquered the dragon because of the blood of the Lamb.
Letter 3617, to Geltrude Crvciani
I must tell you that you should enkindle evermore your devotion to most holy Mary and never be fearful of the different surprises that the tempter may offer. Serve the Lord with joyfulness of spirit and may the Crucifix be our great book of learning. I offer you, therefore, three most useful things to be remembered and practiced in a holy fashion; they are the ones given by St. Catherine: "Keep eternity in mind; keep God in your heart; keep the world under your feet". With these maxims in mind, always regulate your actions and rid yourself of every bothersome thought that might upset you.
There are some things that make this exhaustion worthwhile. I recieved a couple of emails today from couples who had attended the Retrouvaille weekend. It can be pretty humbling when the ministry has such a profound effect on people's lives. In my preaching I have had the experience over and over again that proves what St. Thomas taught that what is heard is according to the mode of the hearer. It really does not depend on me, and I can take no credit for the results. It all depends on what the Lord is doing in the heart of the listener. As in the parables, I can cast the grain, but it is up to the soil to be a receptive place and it is up to the Lord to provide the fruit. Still, it is gratifying to recieve such emails. The following is my favorite:
Now, here's the explanation I promised. You have a great gift. That gift is understanding of the wounds of Christ. And you taught it to me and to G. From every bad event, the Lord brings great events...
First of all, your homily on the Risen Christ greeting and breathing on the Apostles and all that followed constituted the greatest homily I have ever heard. Bar none! As you talked, I did not see you. I knew it was you, but I did not see you. As you spoke, I did not hear you. I knew it was you, but I did not hear you. What I saw, what I heard, and what I felt (without a second's hesitation in my mind or heart) was Christ personified standing in front of us and speaking not only to our ears and minds, but to our souls. I saw Christ standing before me and I heard Christ tell me the story of Doubting Thomas. I felt Christ touch my heart. I saw all my weaknesses and I saw forgiveness. It shook me to my very core. Others saw it and felt it too. I know it was you, but to my dying day I will believe it was Christ.
Something tells me that this is precisely what the Word of God is supposed to do. I enjoyed preparing that homily, for the Gospel really spoke to me in the midst of this Retrouvaille experience. If I get some time today I may post a few notes from the Homily. At any rate, the Lord was able to accomplish a great deal through the team couples that worked the Retrouvaille weekend. Please continue to pray for these couples as they experience the Post program.
