Fr. Scott A. Haynes
A young Jewish man was an accomplished organist. He had dreams of becoming a distinguished musician. When he was asked to play the organ in one of the principal Catholic Churches in Paris, he took the opportunity, thinking of the impressive organ in the church and of the large audience who would listen to him play. There in that church God awaited him.
The good Lord was not setting the stage for the man to have a triumphant musical performance. Instead God was preparing for him something infinitely more glorious. As he approached the church, he heard the choir singing the solemn chants and sacred polyphony. He hoped to add to this the grand tones of the organ, not so much to glorify God, but rather to attract attention to himself and to his talent. As the people were at a moment of Eucharistic adoration, every knee was bent and every head was bowed. As the priest bestowed upon the people the Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament, every head was bowed, save one.
The musician, having no belief in the True Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist, stood and stared at the Blessed Sacrament contained in the monstrance. Then, a mysterious and invisible hand bowed his head and humbled him to the ground. In a most clear and direct manner, a miracle of grace was effected, as this young man was conquered.
He knelt down a Jew, but he arose a Catholic. His heart wounded by the Real Presence in the Sacred Host. When he went home that night from the church, he resolved to return to seek Holy Baptism. Not many years after, he left his worldly pursuits and took up the coarse habit of a monk. This young organist was a living example of the power of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
He loved to proclaim in every place he went: "The days of grief are departed. I have found peace of heart since I have tasted the delights of the tabernacle of the Lord." If you would know the name of this privileged soul, ask it at the cloister of Mount Carmel, and they will tell you it was Father Augustine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. If this single visit to Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist transformed this Jewish boy into a good Catholic, what may we not hope to obtain by devout visits to the Blessed Sacrament?
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