Transformation

REMEMBRANCE OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI

4 OCTOBER

J.M.J.

Dear Father Thomas:

One of the most respectable and known persons in The Philippines Conchinchina Bernardo. Just recently she became tertiary of the order of Saint Francis. When Conchinchina studied in the University of Madrid, in 1963, she met an American student, Jonas Romea, who returned to United States to be ordered priest.

Almost twenty years later, these two friends went back to meet in Manila when he was spreading the perpetual adoration during the National Eucharistic Year of 1987. Through the years, Conchinchina had developed a profound devotion to the Holy Sacrament and wanted to help to spread it. So much there was to do, that the priest needed help. When Father Jonas Romea was available, I invited him to come to Manila to live with me in San Miguel. Conchinchina financed the travel expenses for this priest could be united to the apostolate and spread the perpetual adoration.

When the Eucharistic Year finished, Father Jonas returned to United States, where perched so well that his success encouraged a priest to found a new community of priest dedicated to the spreading of the perpetual adoration around the whole world. The community is called Missionaries of the Holy Sacrament, and the priest that founded, friend pf Conchinchina, who knew her since many years, is the Father Martin Lucia. It's so that again we have connection American-Philipino.

Conchinchina is one of the thousands influenced people for Saint Francis. But it was Jesus , in the Holy Sacrament, who influenced in Saint Francis. Frequently Saint Francis passed the entire night praying before the Whole Sacrament. His only desire was the transformation of his life in union with Christ. One night of July of 1216, Christ appeared to him while he was praying before the Holiest in the Church of Saint Mary of the Angels.

After the vision, Saint Francis exclaimed: "I'll send all to heaven". He was more convinced than ever of the power of prayer. to save lives.

The 14 of September, a Seraph with fire wings, as described in Isaiah 6: 2, came down over Saint Francis while in contemplation, and printed in his flesh the mark of the nails and the wound of the spear in his side. Everyone in the region saw Mount of La Vema wrapped with light, as if the sun had raised. Brother Leon saw a fire ball descending over the face of Saint Francis when received the stigmas.

I mention this, dear Thomas, because the Holy Sacrament is the fire of Divine Love.

As fire transforms everything in fire, so one is transformed from glory to glory, and made more to the image and likeness of Christ, for every moment that we spend in his divine presence.

Do you remember our conversation about the metamorfosis of the worm to a multicolor butterfly? The difference astonishes us.

The difference in our soul from a holy hour to the next, astonishes the saints in heaven and the angels on earth. The transformation that takes place in your soul is more real and dramatic than the transformation that took place in the body of Francis when was stigmatized. For every moment that you spend in his presence, not only your hands and side, but all your being is transformed more and more to the image and likeness of Christ.

Due to this transformation, every moment that you spend with Jesus on earth will make that your soul be more glorious and more beautiful in heaven for all eternity. For this reason, dear Thomas, Saint Paul exclaimed: "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Cor 3:18)

Fraternally yours in His Eucharistic Love,

Mgr. Pepe