• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

  • Our Team
  • Catholic Hymnal
  • Jogues Missal
  • Site Map
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

That Little Tabernacle Light

Corrinne May · August 5, 2020

CYCLED about 20 minutes from my home to the church of the Blessed Sacrament the other evening, hoping to catch a glimpse of my Beloved in the Tabernacle. I reached the church and found the gate unlocked, but the church was closed and the doors of the church were locked due to restrictions imposed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. I walked around the outside perimeter of the brick church building. It was all dark within the church. But I knew that if I could just spot that little tabernacle light, I would be able to know that the Lord was close by.

It was pitch-black in the church and I walked all around, peeking through every narrow window I could find. But I still could not spot the tabernacle light. “Where are you Lord? Are you there?” I pleaded. Finally, behind a statue on the far side of the building, I looked through the small narrow slots of the window and I spotted the familiar red light, pulsing away in the darkness. “There you are Lord!” Tears streamed down my face. I knew that the Lord was close to the red tabernacle light, and even though I could not see the tabernacle in the darkness of the church, my heart was satisfied that I had found my Lord.

I have come to realise that we are all called to be that little tabernacle light. Especially in this day and age where so many cannot see Our Lord because of the coronavirus shuttering our churches. We are that tabernacle light for the world to see, for even though the world does not see or know Him, we do. We are the people of whom He spoke the words “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” (John 20:29)

Masses are still suspended at this point in time in Singapore and they have been suspended since mid-February. Many of the faithful here have not partaken of the Eucharist for many, many months. The churches have just started re-opening for private worship, but even then, only a small number of people are allowed to be before the Lord. It is hard when we cannot see Him, feel Him or partake of Him in Holy Communion. The Eucharist is hidden from us. But, the Body of Christ is not.

We are the Body of Christ. That knowledge has enlivened me, knowing that He walks among us. And this thought has been on my heart: “How am I to point the way to Him, the way that the tabernacle light points the way to Him?”

The world cannot see His Sacred Heart, 1 but they can see our hearts, like that candle, pulsing with love for Him. Is my heart and my love for the Lord on fire, just like that candle that faithfully glows and pulses beside the tabernacle? Am I willing to melt away with the fire of that love, the way His Heart melted away for me upon that cross? Am I willing to be that little tabernacle candle that burns itself out with the fire it’s been kindled with?

Lord, set our hearts aflame
with love for You,
that we may truly be
your Light in the world.

ADDENDUM: In the time which has elapsed since I wrote this article, Singapore has begun (somewhat) to resume Masses over the past month, with limits on how often the laity can attend. Right now, the quota is one weekend Mass per month, with a limit of 50 parishioners at each Mass. So churches are gradually opening up, but many adoration chapels remain closed and churches still have limited Mass times. Masks are mandatory and communion is restricted to reception in the hand, which I am truly sad about, but I’m hoping measures will ease and allow for reception on the tongue as soon as possible.

 


NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   This calls to mind a beautiful hymn from the 12th century: Lux Alma, Jesu, Mentium. In the Brébeuf hymnal it is #746, and a literal translation is provided. The third verse is quite beautiful: “How happy the man that is host to You, for You are the companion of the Father at His right hand. You are the light that consoles heaven, but is unseen by man on earth.” The Brébeuf hymnal includes a metrical version by Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman, who renders that verse as follows:

Joyous is he, with whom,
God’s Word, Thou dost abide;
Sweet Light of our eternal home,
To fleshly sense denied.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: August 5, 2020

Subscribe to the CCW Mailing List

Corrinne May

About Corrinne May

Corrinne May is one of Singapore’s most celebrated singer-songwriters. She is also a wife and homeschooling mother.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

Can You Spare 33 Seconds?

Here’s an audio excerpt (33 seconds) of a setting for Kyrie VIII which was recorded live last Sunday at our parish in Los Angeles. The setting (“Missa de Angelis”) is by composer Richard Rice, and you can download the free PDF if you click here and scroll to the bottom. I think Richard’s composition is marvelous. I missed a few notes on the organ, but I’ll get them right next time.

—Jeff Ostrowski
5 April 2021 • When Girls Sing

Covid restrictions here in California are still extremely severe—switching “two weeks to flatten the curve” into “two years to flatten the curve.” Since 2020, we’ve had police breaking into our church to check if everyone is wearing a mask…even when only 5-6 people are present! But we were allowed to have a small percentage of our singers back on Easter Sunday, and here is their live recording of the ancient Catholic hymn for Eastertide: Ad Cenam Agni Providi. The girls were so very excited to sing again—you can hear it in their voices!

—Jeff Ostrowski
29 March 2021 • FEEDBACK

“E.S.” in North Dakota writes: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you have put—and continue to put—into your wonderful website. In the past two years, my parish has moved from a little house basement into a brand new church and gone from a few families receiving Low Masses twice a month to several families (and many individuals) receiving Mass every Sunday, two Saturdays a month, and every Holy Day. Our priest has been incorporating more and more High Masses and various ceremonies into our lives, which has made my job as a huge newbie choir master very trying and complicated. CCWatershed has been an invaluable resource in helping me get on my feet and know what to do!!! Thank you more than I can express! May God bless you abundantly and assist you in your work and daily lives!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders”—is that English idiom? “For the Nazis, and all the Germans, except they say Heil Hitler! meet not in the street, holding their lives valuable”—is that English idiom?

— Monsignor Ronald Knox

Recent Posts

  • Did Solesmes Abbey Drink The 1960s Kool-Aid?
  • Fr. Thomas Reese • “Young People Should Not Be Allowed To Attend” Latin Mass
  • 10 Examples • “Diversity of Musical Styles” (Latin Mass)
  • Can You Spare 33 Seconds?
  • “The Great Reset” • For Your Choir?

Copyright © 2021 Corpus Christi Watershed · Charles Garnier on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.