October 11, 2007
It was a hot dripping day in the Bronx last summer when Br. David and I set off with one of our vocation visitors and a van load of musical equipment to a nearby parish. We were to meet one of our priests, Fr. Joseph, to minister to the kids and volunteers at a summer camp run by a group of sisters. The plan was to have a time of praise and worship followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, with a talk and some contemplative worship, ending with a Eucharistic healing procession.
When we arrived, the hundred or so kids and the staff were having lunch in the parish hall. We unloaded the music equipment into the hall and found the sister in charge. She was pleased to see us, but informed us that the parish priest had refused to allow us exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the church. “What about in the hall?” we asked. “No,” came the reply, “he won’t allow exposition anywhere.” My heart sank. What were we to do? Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament is the centre of our mission work, indeed the centre of our lives. How could we have a Eucharistic healing service without the Eucharist?
We sat down to eat some lunch and began to discuss what we should do. Father Joseph arrived and we informed him of the situation. We discussed it briefly and then he said, “Let’s pray. We’ll pray the emergency novena, the nine Memorares.” My first thought was “That’s going to take some time; isn’t there a shorter prayer?” But the four of us stood there in the crowded noisy room and began to pray. “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known…” The noise and bustle of the hall faded and the prayer took on a life of its own as we petitioned Our Blessed Mother to obtain for us permission from the priest to have Eucharistic adoration. Nobody interrupted us, and when the nine Memorares were finished, Fr. Joseph went to see the priest. He returned a short while later with permission from the priest for us to have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the church! What an amazing answer to prayer. Our Blessed Mother had come through!
After some praise and worship in the hall, we moved over to the church for a time of Eucharistic adoration. How beautiful it was to see the children and staff being ministered to by Jesus. With reverent worship music playing in the background, young and old came to kneel before Him to receive His grace, His healing, His love.
It was Blessed Mother Teresa who popularized the emergency novena of the nine Memorares. I saw for myself that scorching day in the Bronx how Our Blessed Mother carried our fervent petition to the heart of her son, Jesus, so that He could touch the lives of those broken Bronx kids and worn-out staff with His beautiful healing Eucharistic Presence.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgin, our Mother. To you do we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer us. Amen.
Br. John Bosco Mills, CFR
Canning Town, England
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