Vinny Flynn - 7 Secrets of the Eucharist

P UBLISHED BY M ERCY S ONG , I NC .
Stockbridge, Massachusetts USA
www.mercysong.com

I N COLLABORATION WITH I GNATIUS P RESS
Exclusive Distributor
San Francisco, California, USA

Scripture citations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the
New American Bible with Revised New Testament,
copyright 1986, 1970 by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine,
Washington, D.C. All rights reserved.

Quotations from the diary of St. Faustina are from
Divine Mercy in My Soul copyright 1987
Congregation of Marians. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Control No: 2006937788

ISBN-10: 1-884479-31-6
ISBN-13: 978-1-884479-31-1

Copyright 2006 by Vinny Flynn
All Rights Reserved

Cover design by Riz Boncan Marsella
P RINTED IN THE U NITED S TATES OF A MERICA

December 2006

T O F R .G EORGE
Praised be the Lord Jesus Christ!

Introduction
Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J.

Beyond the Veil

Secret 1
The Eucharist is Alive

Secret 2
Christ is not alone

Secret 3
There is only one Mass

Secret 4
Not just one miracle

Secret 5
We dont just receive

Secret 6
Every reception is different

Secret 7
Theres no limit

Afterword
Fr. Hals Grits

In reflecting on the Eucharist as the source and summit of our faith after the Second Vatican Council, Catholics sought hard to make the Eucharist relevant to the modern world. But, all too often, a fear that the Eucharist did not relate to modern experience led to an overemphasis on the community aspects of liturgy and a de-emphasis on individual worship.

Then in the 1980s, we witnessed the beginnings of a revival of Eucharistic adoration on a popular level. There was a renewed interest in greater accuracy in the translations of the Eucharistic texts and deeper theological reflection on the Eucharist as the re-presentation of Christs sacrifice on Calvary. Young people were drawn in greater numbers to find meaning in Christs real presence on the altar. They came to find Jesus in the Eucharist.

Part of the genius of this book is its ability to summon all Catholics to this deeper relationship with Jesus Christ hidden in the Eucharist. Many Catholics are like the people of Nazareth at the time of Jesus. The divinity hiding in a hard-working carpenter who cared for his widowed Mother went mostly unnoticed in town unnoticed until he announced himself in the synagogue as the fulfillment of Isaiahs prophecy (See Is 61: 1-2).

Though amazed at his words, the townsfolk lacked an expectant faith in what Christ could do or be, so when he rebuked them for their lack of faith, they rose up in fury to throw him over a cliff. But the hidden presence of his Person overcame their decision. He passed through the midst of them (Lk 4:30) and went on to amaze other towns with his wisdom and power.

This book is helpful because it takes the reader through the authors own personal questions about Christs hidden presence. We are drawn into his growing awareness and insight into the amazing secrets of the Eucharist. His step-by-step deepening of faith helps the reader to follow the same path in discovering Christs hidden presence.

One of the keys to bringing the soul into a faith-filled union with the Eucharistic Lord Jesus is the virtue of humility. The Nazarenes thought they had Jesus figured out. They had categories to keep him in his place since they knew his family, their simple occupation and social status. While the limitations of their knowledge kept the full truth of Jesus hidden, the author of this book uses the Churchs fount of knowledge continually citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Councils, Popes and saints, particularly St. Faustina in order to help us, his readers, acquire deeper wisdom and appropriate it as our own.

Another tremendous service of 7 Secrets of the Eucharist is the way St. Faustinas Diary is integrated into the theme of the Eucharist. Vinny Flynn has been instrumental in introducing millions of people to the Divine Mercy message, through his writings and talks, and through the video of his family praying the Chaplet.

This book highlights the Eucharistic aspects of St. Faustinas simply expressed, yet tremendously profound teachings in order to engage the reader in the intimately personal union with Jesus Christ that the Saint revealed in her Diary. Vinnys reflections from the Diary do not take the reader back to the first third of the twentieth century, but apply the Saints insights to contemporary concerns for meeting the Lord Jesus who is veiled in the Eucharist.

Perhaps influenced by St. Faustinas approach to the spiritual life, the author presents very profound insights into the Holy Eucharist in clear, simple ways.

We all need books like this one to help us grow spiritually, to remind us of what we are doing in the Mass, and to summon us to receive Jesus Christ in the Eucharist with fuller awareness and participation in the infinite mystery that remains always beyond the total grasp of our minds and hearts.

Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J.

Quotations used in the text are generally arranged by page number and section in the Notes at the end. Quotations from Scripture, The Catechism of the Catholic Church, certain Church documents, and the Diary of St. Faustina are cited in the text itself.

Why St. Faustina?

Canonized by Pope John Paul II, April 30, 2000, Faustina became the first saint of the Jubilee Year that ushered in the third millennium. In his homily, the pope repeatedly referred to her as a gift of God for our time. Known as the Apostle of Divine Mercy, she is also one of the greatest saints of the Eucharist. Her religious name is Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and almost every page of her Diary contains some reference to the Eucharist.

Faustina called the Eucharist the secret of my sanctity. May this book help you to discover why and to let the Eucharist lead you to sanctity as well.

O Jesus, hidden God,
my heart perceives You
though veils hide You.

St. Faustina, Diary, 524

A ll my life, the mystery that has drawn me most is the mystery of the Eucharist, the mystery of God with us, hidden by veils of bread and wine. I know I will never understand it, and thats okay.