With every face I glance at I’d love a face to face Delighting, laughing, glad to share What brightens us, or baits despair One day, by grace… We’ll have a face to face
Everyone I’ve seen One day, please God, I’ll meet To listen as they tell their story Feel with them the grief, the glory Hope to meet… With everyone I’ve seen
Every single person From posh to homeless poor Will face the choice to live as peers To give their voices; lend their ears For endless years… With every single person
I dreamt I awoke in a luminous place The King incandescent on Seraphim chair He said, “I am grateful you’vechanneled my grace My Kingdom for you is prepared…
“For when I was famished, you prepped me a plate When parched, you then poured me a glass Unknown, you gave welcome e’en when it was late All tattered, you bought me new slacks When lacking in health, you gave all for my healing And reeling in jail, you reached out”
I asked Him, while basking in love without measure “Sir, wherein and wherefore for you did I care? Just when did I see you, in work or in leisure? And whithersoever’d I serve you?”
“Yes, first I’d be grateful to know…
“When did I see You unfed; undernourished?”
With flourishing smile, He said…
“You fed me with gift cards to famishing fam’lies With snackbars for panhandlers straight from your car And cases of canned goods you’d cart to those pantries With funding you’d send near and far”
“And when did I see You unquenched or unwatered?”
With unfalt’ring joy, the Kingmentioned…
“My thirst you subverted with milk for your young Lemonade for your spouse while he cleaned out the stables With tea for those veterans, those heroes unsung And warm-ups while waiting on tables”
“And when did I see You unhailed or unknown?”
With cheer from His throne, He regaled…
“When aiding the migrants, the pre-born, the trafficked And desperate refugees spared from near death Supporting hurt vets, you disabled my sadness Your foster care spared me from meth”
“And when did I serve You unclothed or unwarm?”
With zeal like a storm, He disclosed…
“By purchasing work boots your friend couldn’t afford Crocheting bright hats for those neighbors in need By skipping the bar to give more to the poor And serving at S.V.D.P.” *
“And when did I see You uncared for; unwell?”
Then swelling with joy, He declared…
“Distressed with dementia, you’d answer my queries Over and over and over again When sick, you would visit; we’d watch that fun series Post-relapse, you sponsored Me, friend”
I begged, “Oh my King, I have just one more plea…
“When did I see You unfree, stuck in jail?”
His tale, with eyes beaming, I heeded…
“When thrown in the clink, you assailed me with visits Enduring with love countless forms; safety quizzes The darkness gave way to the faith you awakened Your calls proved I wasn’t forsaken”
Before I woke up, I spoke upone last time
“You’ve told me the ‘when’, Sir, but how ’bout the ‘how’?”
“Just how was I able to see You unfed? Unquenched and unwatered? Unknown and unhailed? And how could I notice you naked; unwarm? Unwell and unfree, stuck in jail?”
Undignified-like, the King sprang to His feet
And sang with elation, arms widening
“The ‘breaking of bread’ drew your eyes to My Host Exposing my face all around you Of the care you bestowed on so many, I’ll boast Through prayer, streams of love would surround you
“So enter My Kingdom made ready Already within you it’s bursting Long hence, you made room Your own gloom reversing Rehearsing for living and loving post-hearse
In My last-are-first
Lost-and-found
Least-of-these
Upside-down
Kingdom” ** *****
Matthew 25:31 (NIV) “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’”
*St. Vincent de Paul Society
**Matthew 21:31: “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”
NB. Blessed Archbishop Fulton Sheen said that at the judgment before our Lord we will be disappointed with ourselves but also surprised at how much we have loved Him!
Sprawled out on grass, my pal and I stared skyward, analyzing Snugly dandwiched ‘tween the green and blue The impish clouds performed their acrobatics, mesmerizing I pointed up, “A Horse! I mean, a shoe!”
When ended that, up sat my friend and asked, “Will heaven be boring?” Tried keeping calm, but couldn’t, not one bit My inner eyes had pierced the skies to realms of light outpouring Therefrom, the unseen rays my face up lit
“Will heaven be boring?” he stated again Elated, I grinned, “Um, yes! That is, if..
“Not bland or monotonous?” he cautiously blustered Smiling, I mustered, “No way! Unless…
“Michelin” dining; “Grand vin” wining Story sharing; laughing; caring Friendship making, gift exchanging, etc….
Are monotonous!”
“Won’t it be passively static?” he asked Ecstatic, I laughed, then cried, “O no, if…
Kingdom-building; brick road-gilding
Thanking, praising, Love-embracing
For the hellbound, interceding, etc.…
Are not passive!”
“We’ll never feel badly or lonely, I reckon!” “Heck no!” I said gladly, “with umpteen new friends, like… Eve and Adam, garden-tending Noah, bird and boa-nesting Sarah, heavenly hostess-training Jacob, coaching angel-wrestling Paul and Peter, stories; teaching Forbears, Saints and angel fleets Loved ones saved by grace outreaching
She whose prayer all snares defeat Mother, Queen; with care she’ll mind us
Last to mention (but not least) The One, Who’ll from our tears, unblind us…”
“You see, my friend? All loneliness and pain unseen– O Glory Be!-
Will be…
… deceased!”
We started hiking; neither heard the striking Parson’s bell Well lost in thought of celestial locales Is Larson’s “Far Side” heaven just as silly as Larson’s hell? (1) Heav’ns Yes! We’d glimpsed a Glory plain unboring
We’d felt a good despair that earthbound hopes could quell that pain That ache which points toward a higher story We’ll claim that tale in tandem since unclouded hope is gained By boldly looking heavenward… …As pals
My Grandpa Richard and Grandma Martha. May they rest in peace and rise in glory!
From grandpa’s doting, twinkling gaze, Your hope-rays flashed and scattered In those crinkles by his eyes, Your smile I saw When embracing that new niece at Christmas, soon I saw Your starlit face Felt grateful for this grace Soaked with awe
Through mother’s firm massage, You out-caressed my heart’s distresses In my mess, my father’s patience showed Your own When a work friend called to check on me, I shared too much to mention Knew his, and Your, attention Deeply known
The mailman’s warm and playful greeting voiced Your joyful tenor In that nurse’s tender words Your Heart resounded Through a note from an old friend, Your love flowed strong and gently gripped me From dread and doubt it stripped me Joy compounded
The beauty of the dancer’s form displayed Your subtle splendor As she rendered Swan Lakes’ hops, Your thrill I sensed When the doctor cheered my child with special needs, I caught Your caring Infecting my despairing Peace commenced
*****
“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” John 14:21
“My beloved stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice” Song of Songs 2
What halts one from living this life to the full? Assaulting the outlook, a cancer of soul? Unlove On the other hand What gives every reason to leap out of bed? To find and to fill hands and hearts with one’s bread? Love.
What pledges all pleasures, corrupt ways to cope? T’ward doubt and despair, proves a slippery slope? Unlove Contrariwise What acts as a seedbed for wisdom and joy? Extracts every deed thief nor rust could destroy? Love.
What uses the other, serves things, and won’t share? What’s spiteful, impatient, and less could not care? Unlove However What gives without counting the cost, and with cheer? Delightful, and willing to lend a long ear? Love.
What guilts, blames, and shames, craving more without rest? With calling of names, leaving calm all up-messed? Unlove Nevertheless What stills restless hearts, and expands as it’s shared? What “kills ’em” with kindness, no courtesy spared? Love.
Down South, if someone tells you with a smile, “Come back now, y’all!” Midwest, if as you leave, a friend calls out, “Watch out for deer!” If anywhere, a person says, “Safe Travels!” or “Godspeed!” They really mean, “I LOVE YOU”, crystal clear
Some common phrases transfer love, like, “Text me when you’re home!” And, “See you later, Gator!”, “After’a while, Crocodile!” “Please keep in touch”, “Don’t be a stranger”, “Don’t forget to phone!” All ways to say, “I LOVE YOU” with a smile
Say, have you heard about the five main “Languages of Love”?(1) First, “Gifts” are love-made-visible; but there are better ways Like spending “Time” that’s “Quality”; intentional attention And “Words of Affirmation”, such as praise
There’s “Acts of Service”, louder than just words to prove one’s care And “Loving Touch”, high-fives, or hugs, or kisses… (I’ll stop there!) So strive to “speak” all five of these, and fuel them with fresh prayer But don’t forget to say out loud, “I LOVE YOU”-
I think ’bout my mom I don’t doubt that she’s close But now she feels far, oh! so far
Some try to console: “She is much closer now” “Love’s ties don’t unravel at death”
Is she someWHERE else? No, rather someHOW else Since in God, connected to all
Yet I still miss her When visiting places With mem’ries: words, looks, embraces
I’m thankful for all Her beautiful features Her love for all of God’s creatures
Fruits from her garden Her generous spirit Would grow smiles on faces she shared with
Generosity She modeled for us all Op’ning home and heart to children
Not just us; all kids Held a place in her heart Defending fiercely “the least ones”
Grandkids her delight Her love for them spread joy To all within ear and eye-shot
A last word she gave “Do not forget the poor” Seared as a tattoo on my heart
And a last gesture Kisses blown, waved to me Her love overflowed at all times
She’d hand with a smile, “You deserve a medal!” Spreading her deep love for Mary
What I learned the most From her was not through words But through love’s deeds inspiring me
The character traits I cherished within her Were Christ’s own traits shining through her
What do I ask most? Faith? Peace? Hope? I think hope Hope to soon see and be with her
But not just with her Also with those she loves Espec’lly the One Who IS love
To grieve is to heal Tears- bitter, yet soothing Does God cry with me? Feel my ache?
Christ wept at the death Of Lazarus His friend Crying with Martha and Mary
Then He raised him up Promised to raise him again To raise mom for her faith in Him
Her love is not idle Her concern: our salvation Praying for us and our struggles
Thank you dear mother For teaching and showing When, where, why, how, and who to love
Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace.
Each loved one that we miss Are with us in each Mass We meet the saints and angels there Around the Altar-table, where We pray with those who’ve passed
No closer can we be To loved ones now at rest Than in His Eucharistic Gaze The simple Host, our sight betrays To hide a Humble Guest
His Body makes us whole His Blood our passions quell And where His Sacred Head is now Are found His members, who resound His snatch from sin and hell
Beyond the veil of bread Through lenses of His grace We see the face of Christ the Lord And those who Him on earth adored Within His warm embrace
*****
Blessed Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi are a married couple on their way to canonization. Heartbroken by Luigi’s passing, Maria was able to write a few months later: “Luigi is always and incessantly the love and inconsolable sorrow of each and all of us, yet he helps us, he is near to us, and he loves us as much and even more, if it is possible, than before. Little by little, he is present to me ever more, most of all, at Communion, before the altar.”
Regarding the background of Beyond the Eucharistic Veil, I wrote it after my mother Barbara passed in 2023. It was inspired by a comment my household brother shared with me in college (Franciscan University of Steubenville). He told me that after his sister died at age 17, He would find her in the adoration chapel, in the Sacred Host, recalling that if his sister was with and in Jesus, then she there in the Eucharistic Host. Christ the Head is connected to every member of His Body, the Church. Eucharistic Adoration and Mass brought him consolation in his grief, as it does for me today.
This attitude will change your life, I can’t explain quite how
That EVERY person you will meet can bring you good somehow
Think, “You have something very good to give to me… right now!
And I have something very good to give to you!”, then… wow
You’ll notice wondrous changes with each person that you meet
These changes will transform your life; you’ll feel much more upbeat
The shrinking of bad attitudes of pride and vain conceit
The growth of peace and feeling like your life is more complete
Think, “You have something good to give to me, and I to you”
They may not see the good in you, and while that may be true
Just don’t give up your valiant quest- your efforts please renew-
When you’re a light for them to see, their darkness you’ll undo
Including folks who drive you mad, who aren’t exactly “nice”
And even folks who practice every kind of hate and vice
You’ll see them with new eyes as having value without price
That’s based in Christ who gave His Life for them! in sacrifice
Rhymes for the Rejoiceful 