On the importance of the Holy Communion

"When was the Church most impotent? It was in those ages in which the Blessed Sacrament was most misunderstood, most dishonored, most ignored. It was in those times when the Church was overwhelmed by materialism and its officials were time-servers, the least conscious of the supernatural and of the high estate of their calling. And certainly the opposite has been true and is true today. A true spiritual revival has come into the Church when the sacrament of Holy Communion was most honored and revered. The result was not only a deepening of great spirituality, but a revival in inner missions, home missions, and foreign missions. The source of the amazing revivals in the Church which have lasted and spread through the Church and the world is the Holy Communion. It has always been the source of the most amazing things done in the kingdom."

— The Presence, by Berthold von Schenk

This book was first published in 1945, and sadly, the present day – 60+ years later – seems to be another example of "those times when the Church [is] overwhelmed by materialism and its officials [are] time-servers, the least conscious of the supernatural and of the high estate of their calling." At least, in too many of its branches. But God be thanked, by His grace a revival is always possible!

And God willing, in just a couple more months, I shall be ordained to the priesthood and able to celebrate this most holy and blessed Sacrament! Thanks be to God!