Comments on: The Sacrifice of the Mass Part 1 http://www.thesestonewalls.com/gordon-macrae/the-sacrifice-of-the-mass-part-1/ Musings from Prison of a Priest Falsely Accused Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:33:26 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Dympna Kearns http://www.thesestonewalls.com/gordon-macrae/the-sacrifice-of-the-mass-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-526 Dympna Kearns Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:34:56 +0000 http://www.thesestonewalls.com/?p=558#comment-526 Father, Your suffering has already benefited those of us who take for granted the presence of Jesus in our churches. How ashamed I feel! I will remember you at Mass and Adoration. May God bless and strengthen you always. Father,
Your suffering has already benefited those of us who take for granted the presence of Jesus in our churches. How ashamed I feel!

I will remember you at Mass and Adoration. May God bless and strengthen you always.

]]> By: suzy http://www.thesestonewalls.com/gordon-macrae/the-sacrifice-of-the-mass-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-222 suzy Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:41:56 +0000 http://www.thesestonewalls.com/?p=558#comment-222 Dear Father. McRae, This is the first time I have visited your blog. My heart breaks for you, reading this post. Please know that I will keep you in my prayers. Dear Father. McRae,
This is the first time I have visited your blog. My heart breaks for you, reading this post.
Please know that I will keep you in my prayers.

]]> By: Fr. Joe Coffey http://www.thesestonewalls.com/gordon-macrae/the-sacrifice-of-the-mass-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-201 Fr. Joe Coffey Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:42:47 +0000 http://www.thesestonewalls.com/?p=558#comment-201 I have had the privelege of saying Mass with the late Pope John Paul II in his private chapel at the Vatican, at St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, in beautiful churches all over the World and now every day in a humble tent with wooden benches in a war zone in Afghanistan as a Navy Chaplain serving the Marines. I try to never take saying Mass for granted. I will try even harder after reading this story from Fr. Gordon. Thank you Father. You make me want to be a better priest. Semper fidelis. Fr. Joe Coffey I have had the privelege of saying Mass with the late Pope John Paul II in his private chapel at the Vatican, at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, in beautiful churches all over the World and now every day in a humble tent with wooden benches in a war zone in Afghanistan as a Navy Chaplain serving the Marines. I try to never take saying Mass for granted. I will try even harder after reading this story from Fr. Gordon. Thank you Father. You make me want to be a better priest. Semper fidelis. Fr. Joe Coffey

]]> By: Patricia http://www.thesestonewalls.com/gordon-macrae/the-sacrifice-of-the-mass-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-200 Patricia Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:43:50 +0000 http://www.thesestonewalls.com/?p=558#comment-200 Dear Fr. McRae, We are praying for you every week at our Intercessors of the Lamb meeting. Sometimes I just cannot read your comments as they are so heartbreaking. Then I think how selfish of me! Your comments actually are a wonderful source of grace for me. I am sorry , I just do not know what to say except we are so happy you get to say Holy Mass. I missed Holy Mass this a.m. so I am anxious for tomorrow a.m. Thank you for our priests , how we love you and pray for you. Sorry, if I am rambling , pray for me please. In His Name, Patricia Dear Fr. McRae,

We are praying for you every week at our Intercessors of the Lamb meeting. Sometimes I just cannot read your comments as they are so heartbreaking. Then I think how selfish of me!

Your comments actually are a wonderful source of grace for me.
I am sorry , I just do not know what to say except we are so happy you get to say Holy Mass. I missed Holy Mass this a.m. so I am anxious for tomorrow a.m.

Thank you for our priests , how we love you and pray for you. Sorry, if I am rambling , pray for me please.
In His Name, Patricia

]]> By: Esther http://www.thesestonewalls.com/gordon-macrae/the-sacrifice-of-the-mass-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-198 Esther Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:38:09 +0000 http://www.thesestonewalls.com/?p=558#comment-198 Aloha Father Gordon: All the time I was reading your new post on Mass in prison, I was thinking how at least Cardinal Nguyen Van Tranh was able to obtain a tiny piece of bread and a bit of wine to be able to celebrate the Holy Mass on the palm of his hand. It breaks my heart to know all the hardships you have had to endure all these years. I wish there was something I could do to help you dear Father. If there is please let me know. As I mentioned before, you are in my daily prayers, especially at Mass. I am grateful to you for sharing this story. I will not take the time in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament for granted anymore. God bless you. Esther PS: I will be sharing this with my fellow spiritual moms over at http://spiritualmomshawaii.blogspot.com/ Aloha Father Gordon:

All the time I was reading your new post on Mass in prison, I was thinking how at least Cardinal Nguyen Van Tranh was able to obtain a tiny piece of bread and a bit of wine to be able to celebrate the Holy Mass on the palm of his hand. It breaks my heart to know all the hardships you have had to endure all these years.

I wish there was something I could do to help you dear Father. If there is please let me know. As I mentioned before, you are in my daily prayers, especially at Mass.

I am grateful to you for sharing this story. I will not take the time in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament for granted anymore.

God bless you.
Esther

PS: I will be sharing this with my fellow spiritual moms over at http://spiritualmomshawaii.blogspot.com/

]]> By: Kathy Maxwell http://www.thesestonewalls.com/gordon-macrae/the-sacrifice-of-the-mass-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-195 Kathy Maxwell Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:08:35 +0000 http://www.thesestonewalls.com/?p=558#comment-195 Dear Father Gordon, This made me cry. It is so beautiful, despite the terrible deprivation you suffered. I have stopped going to adoration every day and your story is like a gentle reminder from Jesus, that I may not always have the opportunity. Locked away from us, you are still a wonderful priest who shepherds us better than many pastors on the outside. Thank you and God bless you again. Kathy Dear Father Gordon,
This made me cry. It is so beautiful, despite the terrible deprivation you suffered. I have stopped going to adoration every day and your story is like a gentle reminder from Jesus, that I may not always have the opportunity.

Locked away from us, you are still a wonderful priest who shepherds us better than many pastors on the outside.

Thank you and God bless you again.
Kathy

]]> By: Mary Floeck http://www.thesestonewalls.com/gordon-macrae/the-sacrifice-of-the-mass-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-193 Mary Floeck Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:12:29 +0000 http://www.thesestonewalls.com/?p=558#comment-193 Dear Fr. MacRae, This is the most moving account yet in your journal. I am in tears as I read how you have been deprived of Our Lord's presence and how very much He means to you. People don't stop to think about how much Christ means to His priests, accused or not accused, imprisoned or not imprisoned. I am so deeply touched. You are so right about how one can take for granted that Our Lord is present in each tabernacle and yet we can so casually pass Him by with not even a nod or a hello. I am so ashamed of how little attention I have given to Him. And Perpetual Adoration is available to me at my parish church. When I go I am so often given to distractions such as doors opening and closing, people coming and going, little children talking, people fumbling with their belongings. And yet, the most awesome gift in the world is before me. Fr. MacRae, you have called me to attention here today. I owe you. You are in my prayers daily, but this seems not enough. Thank you so much Fr. for this beautiful account of what it is to be denied your priestly privileges, and what it is like to have them restored, then taken away again. I know Christ is with you, or you could not have survived all this. What more can be said? I don't know Fr. but your writing is amazing. I wish each and every priest could read about your daily persecution. I will certainly pass this site along as I always do, and hope and pray that those who need to read these lines will do so. May Our Dear Precious Lord comfort you and reassure you each and every moment and may you know the joy of serving Him, even in your tiny cell and in the midst of great suffering. I am grateful to you Fr. MacRae. St. Maximillian Kolbe pray for us. Dear Fr. MacRae,
This is the most moving account yet in your journal. I am in tears as I read how you have been deprived of Our Lord’s presence and how very much He means to you. People don’t stop to think about how much Christ means to His priests, accused or not accused, imprisoned or not imprisoned. I am so deeply touched.

You are so right about how one can take for granted that Our Lord is present in each tabernacle and yet we can so casually pass Him by with not even a nod or a hello. I am so ashamed of how little attention I have given to Him. And Perpetual Adoration is available to me at my parish church. When I go I am so often given to distractions such as doors opening and closing, people coming and going, little children talking, people fumbling with their belongings. And yet, the most awesome gift in the world is before me.

Fr. MacRae, you have called me to attention here today. I owe you. You are in my prayers daily, but this seems not enough.

Thank you so much Fr. for this beautiful account of what it is to be denied your priestly privileges, and what it is like to have them restored, then taken away again. I know Christ is with you, or you could not have survived all this.

What more can be said? I don’t know Fr. but your writing is amazing. I wish each and every priest could read about your daily persecution. I will certainly pass this site along as I always do, and hope and pray that those who need to read these lines will do so. May Our Dear Precious Lord comfort you and reassure you each and every moment and may you know the joy of serving Him, even in your tiny cell and in the midst of great suffering.

I am grateful to you Fr. MacRae.

St. Maximillian Kolbe pray for us.

]]> By: Mary http://www.thesestonewalls.com/gordon-macrae/the-sacrifice-of-the-mass-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-191 Mary Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:06:32 +0000 http://www.thesestonewalls.com/?p=558#comment-191 Like my fellow posters I was moved to tears by your post Father It is obvious that only God's grace could keep you sane given such Wisdom 3: 1 - 9 1 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. 2 In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be an affliction, 3 and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. 4 For though in the sight of men they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. 5 Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; 6 like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them. 7 In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble. 8 They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them for ever. 9 Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his elect, and he watches over his holy ones. God Bless you Father Like my fellow posters I was moved to tears by your post Father It is obvious that only God’s grace could keep you sane given such
Wisdom 3: 1 – 9

1 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them.

2 In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be an affliction,

3 and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace.

4 For though in the sight of men they were punished, their hope is full of immortality.

5 Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;

6 like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.

7 In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble.

8 They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them for ever.

9 Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his elect, and he watches over his holy ones.

God Bless you Father

]]> By: Regina http://www.thesestonewalls.com/gordon-macrae/the-sacrifice-of-the-mass-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-190 Regina Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:58:18 +0000 http://www.thesestonewalls.com/?p=558#comment-190 Oh, Fr., I hardly know what to say. What heartbreaking words you write today... but it gives me some comfort in knowing that prayer and continued hope and perseverance is able to get one through even the most tragic of times. And it is a tragedy that we do not have you amongst us, in person. What an inspiration you are. But I hear the vital message here- that the Lord is with us always, present among us in the Blessed Sacrament- what a treasure. But how often do we search for something else? Only when it is denied us will we perhaps see it for what it is truly worth- the salvation of our souls. God bless you, Father- please take care of yourself- and I will pray for you during the Holy Hour this week on First Friday. Oh, Fr., I hardly know what to say. What heartbreaking words you write today… but it gives me some comfort in knowing that prayer and continued hope and perseverance is able to get one through even the most tragic of times.

And it is a tragedy that we do not have you amongst us, in person. What an inspiration you are.
But I hear the vital message here- that the Lord is with us always, present among us in the Blessed Sacrament- what a treasure. But how often do we search for something else? Only when it is denied us will we perhaps see it for what it is truly worth- the salvation of our souls.

God bless you, Father- please take care of yourself- and I will pray for you during the Holy Hour this week on First Friday.

]]> By: Evelyn http://www.thesestonewalls.com/gordon-macrae/the-sacrifice-of-the-mass-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-189 Evelyn Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:59:13 +0000 http://www.thesestonewalls.com/?p=558#comment-189 Reverend and Dear Father, thank you so much for your post today! I am an adult convert to the faith, and I was just this morning reflecting on how I lived my entire Christian life until conversion without the Presence of Christ. I wonder how I did it, how I made it through life without the Eucharist. These days I feel pangs of withdrawal if I go more than about 48 hours without making it to Mass. It breaks my heart to think of you, as a longtime Catholic, accustomed to Jesus every day, having to live without Him in that way for so long. I will continue to hold you in my prayers, and offer up my puny share of suffering for you. Reverend and Dear Father, thank you so much for your post today! I am an adult convert to the faith, and I was just this morning reflecting on how I lived my entire Christian life until conversion without the Presence of Christ.

I wonder how I did it, how I made it through life without the Eucharist. These days I feel pangs of withdrawal if I go more than about 48 hours without making it to Mass. It breaks my heart to think of you, as a longtime Catholic, accustomed to Jesus every day, having to live without Him in that way for so long. I will continue to hold you in my prayers, and offer up my puny share of suffering for you.

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