America's Largest Catholic Newspaper
To the Editor:
Through the years we have all witnessed the steady and increasing decline of silence in all Catholic churches, which indirectly contributes to the heartbreaking reality that many Catholics no longer believe in the True Presence. Many see nothing wrong with carrying on lengthy, casual conversations in Church without regard that Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is in their midst.
As Catholics we are called by God to love Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and one of the means of showing our love is prayerful silence in His sacramental presence. There is an expression, which many are familiar with, but unfortunately rarely hear mentioned today: “Charity begins at home.”
Our Catholic churches are where Corpus Christi lives, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Blessed Sacrament. The God who created us, loved and redeemed us, who comforts and counsels us in our affliction, is He not worthy of our love in His sacramental presence? Not only is Jesus worthy of all our love, but He will teach us how to better love and serve our brothers and sisters, if we allow Him to.
“I looked for pity and there was none, and for comfort, but I found none” (Ps. 69). May it not be said that Catholics did not respond with love, “with great love and tender pity” to Jesus’ words.
Rosaria Incantalupo
Staten Island
