More on Eucharistic Miracles

The other day I talked in a post about Eucharistic Miracles & the Vatican Exhibit that is coming to our area. I'd like to add a little more by putting in a plug for a couple of excellent books written by Bob & Penny Lord about many of the Eucharistic Miracles that have occurred over the centuries. & to also plug their DVD that contains the series they did on some of these miracles for EWTN. The 2 books as well as the DVD (also on VHS) are entitled This Is My Body, This Is My Blood; Miracles of the Eucharist. (The DVD page also has info on several other programs about specific Eucharistic Miracles that they have done.)

Clearly, by the fact that I am telling you that I am plugging these books, I am also heartily endorsing these books. (& no, I am not getting any renumeration for doing so.) I have to also admit that I don't (yet) own a copy of any of them, although I do have another book on the martyrs that they wrote (& also did as a series on EWTN.). A friend loaned me the books to read & I saw the series on EWTN. That caveat being said on to the plug.

GET THE BOOKS & READ THEM! GET THE DVD & WATCH IT!

The books & DVD are all well researched. & the Lords' deep love & devotion to the Eucharist shines throughout (but esp in the shows). They enable you to understand the circumstances surrounding the various miracles. The Eucharistic Miracles occured for a purpose. Obviously, the prime purpose is always to bring God more glory. But, most of these miracles occured to deal with a specific doubt or heresy that was occuring at the time of the miracle. (Some. like the 1 involving St Clare also served to protect God's people from harm.) These doubts & heresies are still floating arround making the need for the information of these miracles just as pertanent today as when they 1st occured.

I enjoyed the books because they are written in a way (like all the books of theirs I've read) that is intimate & friend to friend. That style keeps what could be a long discourse on each miracle from becoming boring. You know how you share with a friend when something special happens? That is how they come across in the books (& shows). They have found something great & they want everyone to know about it. & the fact is, what they have found is great. It is "the pearl of great price" that they are sharing. They may be talking about a specific miracle but what they are ultimately doing is sharing the good news of the Gospel, the message of God's love & the Way of Salvation He provided for us through Jesus.

The books have plenty of pictures of the miracles. But, the shows bring them alive in a way that a still picture can usually only hint at. On the other hand, the books can often go into greater detail about specifics. So, the books & shows compliment each other perfectly.

I've said it before, the Catholic Church doesn't require you to believe in any of these miracles, any more than it requires belief in any approved apparition or private revelation. However, the virtue of prudence would say that, since the Church did OK them, the message they have to present does have something to say to us. They are a means to help us to grow in our faith, to deepen & strengthen it. They are signs that God still cares about us & is concerned about each & every one of us being able to live as He intends us to.

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If you have ever seen any of the shows that Bob & Penny Lord have done you know how deep their love for Christ is. You also know how this love motivates them in all they do. They want the Gospel message out there. They also deeply love the Church that Jesus founded 2000 yrs ago. & much of what they do is, in part, a strong defense of that Church. There is a gentleness in them that I suspect is a visible reflection of the gentleness of Christ when He walked among us.

In addition to the above items I would highly recommend anything they have produced.