Monday, October 26, 2009

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and a Chinese Martyr of the Eucharist

Servant of God Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen is known to have had a great devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, a devotion that he encouraged in others, especially priests. On the day of his ordination, he resolved to make a continuous daily Holy Hour before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. In his autobiography, Treasure in Clay, he tells the following true story of a priest adorer and a young Chinese martyr of the Eucharist:

"..in China, a priest had just begun Mass when Communists entered and arrested him and made him a prisoner in a house adjoining the little church. From a window in that house he could see the tabernacle. Shortly after his imprisonment, the Communists opened the tabernacle, threw the Hosts on the floor and stole the Sacred Vessels. The priest then decided to make adoration to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament as much as he could day and night. About three o'clock one morning he saw a child who had been at the morning Mass open a window, climb in, come to the sanctuary floor, get down on both knees, press her tongue to the Host to give herself Holy Communion. The priest told me there were about thirty Hosts in the ciborium. Every single night she came at the same time until there was only one Host left. As she pressed her tongue to receive the Body of Christ, a shot rang out. A Communist soldier had seen her. It proved to be her Viaticum.

Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests, and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests. Amen.

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