Beloved, I’ve spent a good part of today crying over the two videos below; they are so very beautiful and demonstrate beyond all imagining the truth, strength, and power of God’s love for us.
A number of you heard that I’ve spent the past two weeks in and out of the hospital – actually two hospitals. I’m home three days now and healing, although slowly and am still quite sick to my stomach. I had gone in for a somewhat routine colonoscopy almost two weeks ago, during which my spleen was accidentally lacerated. It sent quite a bit of blood into my system which they say will take a number of weeks to heal.
I’m doing better with each day and awoke this morning with the song below in the video on my heart. I’m not often prone to crying, but cried non-stop at the words and, to me, familiar music of this hymn. What grace is this that brought Our Savior down! May we never get over it – and, please God, never get used to it or take His love and grace for granted.
The second video about the Eucharistic miracle is, I think, the most beautiful and moving one I have ever seen. Some years ago, I was invited on a tour of 13 Eucharistic miracles throughout Italy, including Lanciano. The video of this one from Venezuela has moved me more than any before.
These beautiful videos are an enormous gift to us – reminding us that whatever happens in our lives, in the world or in the Church, the gates of Hell will never prevail against the Church and nothing, not the devil himself, can ever separate or keep us from the love of God in Christ.
I pray you will bask in Our Savior’s love watching these videos and send them out to all you know, unbelievers too. He died for every soul.
Our love and prayers to you with deep gratitude to all who have been praying for my recovery. Our God is faithful.
Mother Miriam of the Lamb of God, O.S.B.
The two weeks of Passiontide begin today, the first week being known as “Passion Week,” and the second week being known as “Holy Week.”
Saint Athanasius of Alexandria (born c. 296, died 2 May, 373), bishop and confessor, is a doctor of the Church. Athanasius was the greatest champion of Catholic belief on the subject of the Incarnation that the Church has ever known and in his lifetime earned the characteristic title of “Father of Orthodoxy”, by which he has been distinguished ever since. Athanasius was even known as Athanasius Contra Mundum (Athanasius against the World). Athanasius studied under Saint Anthony the hermit, (Athanasius wrote a 
Today’s first reading gives us an important insight to understand profoundly the mystery of the Lord’s Presentation in the Temple by Mary and Joseph, in accordance with the canons of Mosaic Law. The text, taken from the Prophet Malachi says, ‘I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; and suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord who you seek’ (Mal 3:1). From all the Gospels, we know that it is the Precursor, St John the Baptist who was born 6 months before Jesus, that God sent to prepare His way. Putting these evangelical facts together, we can comprehend the words of the Prophet Malachi. The Lord God promised that He would send a Precursor to prepare His way. Since there is only 6 months between the birth of St John the Baptist and Jesus it is clear that the prophecy meant that suddenly after the Precursor, the Lord Himself will come. So, soon after the Baptist’s birth, God entered His temple. Jesus’ presentation signifies God’s entrance to His temple. God made man entered His temple, presenting Himself to those who were really searching for Him. 