MARCH 21. BLESSED MARY CANDIDA OF THE EUCHARIST
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Lived 1884–1949
"For Mother Maria Candida the Eucharist is a school, it is food and an encounter with God, a coming together of hearts, a school of virtue and wisdom." - Pope John Paul II BABY DEVOTEE TO CHRIST'S BOD Even before she was old enough to receive Jesus in Communion, Maria used to rush to greet her mother when she returned home from mass. I want God too! she'd cry. Maria would then stand on tiptoe and her mother would bend down and and softly breathe onto her lips. Maria would place her hands across her chest, full of joy and faith, and repeat I have received God too! At ten she received her first holy Communion, and henceforth she found it to be a "great and painful cross" whenever she was deprived of the host. After her mother died, she spent much time hankering for communion, as her brothers forbade her to go out and get it on her own, and she wished to obey (and not offend) them. ASPIRING TO BE ALL MARY-LIKE Pope John Paul II says, the model of a eucharistic life is, of course, the Virgin Mary, who carried the Son of God in her womb and who continues to give birth to him in the souls of his disciples. Maria Candida of the Eucharist says: I want to be like Mary, to be Mary for Jesus, to take the place of His Mother. When I receive Jesus in Communion, Mary is always present. I want to receive Jesus from her hands, she must make me one with Him. I cannot separate Mary from Jesus. Hail, O Body born of Mary. Hail Mary, dawn of the Eucharist! DEFINE "CIBORIUMS" In 1933, Maria began writing a book of meditations on the Eucharist. The quoted passages from her tome often reference something called a CIBORIUM. A ciborium is a lidded chalice in which Roman Catholics store consecrated hosts. Who knew!? Some quotes: "I do not know how to separate the ciborium in the sacred Tabernacle from the ciborium in our hearts!" "Our Lord does not come from Heaven every day to stay in a golden ciborium. He comes to find another heaven, the heaven of our soul in which He loves to dwell." HEALING FOOT SORES FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE The following miracle is attributed to Maria's intercession: a few hours after Maria's death, a nun who she'd nursed while alive was instantly cured of a very serious foot sore that had ailed her for 20 years. Doctors had diagnosed the sore as incurable. MARY CANDIDA, ON LONGING FOR CHRIST "What mystery of love is this intimacy with our Beloved! I reflect on this, sometimes with emotion, and give praise to Him Who is Love! And with tears I contemplate this intimacy. Everything here on this earth is nothing for us, withdrawn as we are, far from Him Who loved us so much; our eyes no longer see anything: and even though we close them again to lose ourselves from the same sacred environment, we close them anxious to find Him again, to see Jesus! The most delightful Mystery of Love! He allows Himself to be found by the heart that searches for Him, by the soul that knows how to do without many things for love of Him." |