St. Michael Catholic Church in Battleboro Vermont is a pretty little, small-town church with an attached K-12 Catholic school.
Several things struck me as I knelt in meditation and prayer.
Of all the 40 or so Churches we’ve visited in this first year with Faith on the road the one thing I remember most of the churches is those in which there are kneelers or a Communion rail to receive the Lord in the Eucharist on the tongue. With the surrender to Covid, so many priests have disallowed the reverent reception of the Eucharist on the tongue. Several in our journey have allowed this but just a few have specific kneelers setup for reception on the tongue and only Our Lady of Angels in Ocala, FL had a Communion rail with everyone kneeling to receive the Eucharist.
To me, this is hypercritical in our Church and world. Reception of the Eucharist on the tongue is very humble and reverent of the soul. St. Michael had kneelers and quite a few who received our Lord so reverently on the tongue.
As I knelt before our Blessed Mother holding Jesus in this statue, it struck me of the reality and connection of Jesus, Mary and the Holy Rosary. Notice in the image that the Rosary is around both Mary and Jesus. The Rosary is Mary’s prayer to Jesus by meditation on the life of Jesus through the Blessed Mother’s eyes. The imagery of the Rosary wrapped around both, tying them together is so perfect. And, more so, though the Rosary is Mary’s prayer, it is her Son, Jesus Whom she holds Who holds the Rosary together and gives it power.
I offered prayers for you at this side altar of Divine Mercy.
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. .
In South Louisiana a good number of Catholic churches still offer the use of the communion rail. St. Joseph in Loreauville, La.