I remembered that after one particular Mass, there was a bee chasing after me despite crowd and many flowers nearby. Don't tell me it's because of my body scent. But hey, don't try sniffing at me. Haha!
This reminds me of Saint John Vianney's quote: "The pure soul is a beautiful rose, and the Three Divine Persons descend from Heaven to inhale its fragrance." Little wonder, I often smell the fragrance at the holy place where the highest form of prayer is being celebrated. Not from the ladies' perfumes, but rather from the prayers of Heavenly Queen who is our dearest Mother, all the Angels and Saints whom I always see over there, as the representative of Christ miraculously brings His Body and Blood unto the altar table for our sacrificial worship to Most High. This is really the most powerful prayer as it consists of the universal prayers of even Our Lord Himself, Only One True Catholic Church, Blessed Mother, all Angels and Saints in Heaven. Lord Jesus said, "If two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by My Father in Heaven. For where two or three meet in My Name, I shall be there with them." (Matthew 18:19-20). It is as if we are witnessing the Heaven over there but it is a very real experience as we sing the Greater Doxology, Lord's prayer and Sanctus on the equalities with the Seraphim, Cherubim, and all Angels.
"When you are before the altar where Christ reposes, you ought no longer think that you are amongst men; but believe that there are troops of Angels and Archangels standing by you, and trembling with respect before the sovereign Master of Heaven and earth. Therefore, when you are in the church, be there in silence, fear, and veneration."
- Saint John Chrysostom
Everyday, Our Lord humbles Himself to our even lowest states despite our unworthiness, and lands on our tongue before departing into our hearts where we can communicate with Him in a state of grace. What a wonderful privilege! My mind never fails to recall that I am an unworthy sinner yet found and called to His love. All the time, my unworthy hands clasp together tightly that they cannot be separated themselves, but my knees bend themselves, acknowledging His Majesticness, as my eyes are seeing My Eternal King lowers Himself until He lands upon my tongue, and departs into my heart.
There is another powerful prayer: the Most Holy Rosary of our Blessed Mother. When you say one Pater Noster, you make one red rose. When you say one Ave Maria, you make one white rose. When you say the rosary, you make one crown of roses for our Mother. Saint Francis of Assisi was seen spitting out roses from his mouth during his rosary prayers, whereas his two guardian angels took them, made the crowns and delivered them to the Holy Queen of the Rosary. It is even magnificent when mediating upon the Life, Death, and Passion of Our Lord Jesus together with the Holy Rosary. For recitation the Holy Rosary is the body of this prayer, and mediation upon Lord Jesus is the soul of that same prayer. Saint John Vianney quoted, "When our hands have touched spices, they give fragrance to all they handle. Let us make our prayers pass through the hands of the Blessed Virgin. She will make them fragrant."
"When the Holy Rosary is said well, it gives Jesus and Mary more glory and is more meritorious than any other prayer."
- Saint Louis de Montfort
But why does prayer become the perfume to our soul and a fragrance that pleases God? It is because it grows love within our souls, for God and others. Saint Augustine said, Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul." Love just keeps growing and growing, that hate and envy cannot find place in the heart. No wonder love is the greatest among three virtues (love, hope and faith) for hope gives way to vision of our belief, and faith gives way to eternal life. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton said, "The closer a soul is to God, the more it grows in love for all the creatures made by Him, and especially for those with whom we are so much in love."
Feel inspired after reading this post? Then, take an opportunity to attend Holy Mass, make one hour adoration (if cannot, taking a moment will do), and pray rosary everyday, whenever you can. This is an encouragement inspired by the Holy Spirit for the Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament has been desiring for you.
"Take great care to go to Holy Mass, even on weekdays; and for such a cause be willing to put up with some inconvience. Thereby you will obtain every kind of blessing from the Lord."
- Saint John Bosco
"You will gain more from one single Mass than you would from distributing all your goods to the poor or making pilgrimages to all the most holy shrines in Christendom."
- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
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