Conchita

"As soon as I see the Host exposed, it is as if my soul flies to Him and adheres to Him like the light to the sun. I care nothing for people and things, only He shines in the depths of my soul dimming everything and playing the divine chord of His love in all my being."
---Concepcion Cabrera de Armida, better known as Conchita

Conchita's writings were the basis for the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit found by Fr. Jesus Felix Rougier

Conchita on the Tabernacles

Oh my God, my God! What would become of the world if there were no tabernacles?
They are the lighting conductors, the light, the warmth, the life... the
whiteness, the purity that covers the filthy mud of the Earth... Jesus is there,
and almost every time I draw near Him He asks me for purity, purity, crucified
and clean souls to console Him... The Lord is thirsty for purity and for
the Cross, and yet the world is deaf, wallowing in its dirt and sleeping on its
material comforts. A terrible awakening awaits it that makes me tremble, and
also makes that Heart that is all goodness to men tremble (incredible love!). He
wants His Cross to reign in our hearts- only the Cross can save the world;
spirits can only be sanctified through Him.

Conchita, mystical foundress of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit
Other quotes and posts about Conchita here

Do you ever feel drawn to something and you haven't a clue why? Do you ever feel irresistably drawn to something even though for one reason or another you can not get any closer to it than where you already are?

On my first day at the seminary (Gosh! That day was only about 2 years ago, but it feels like a lifetime has passed.) I saw guys running around with a black habit like the Benedictines, but the scapular had the design on the left stitched on.
From the first moment I saw men from the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit I have felt a strange pull towards them and everything about their order. I had considered joining at one point, but then I left the seminary and the next thing I knew I was dating, engaged and married. I am happily married, but still I feel the attraction. I bought just about every book on Conchita (the mystic who inspired Fr Rougier to found the order).
I remember during the orientation week when I convinced a friend to walk down the hill with me during a break to see their house. In the back they have a BIG cross, similar to the one on the right (no clouds and no dove). One of their priest explained it to us and invited us in to show us around and tell us that we were always welcome to visit. The image is hung in at least one place that I can remember in Anselm Hall.
I checked out Conchita's books from the MA library and devoured them. She has a way of speaking to my soul. But backing to the pull, I still haven't a clue why or what I should do about it. In the meanwhile I just felt like ranting on my blog.

Conchita and Mary

O Mary, nobody was ever more faithful than you to the interior voice of the Holy Spirit. Obtain for me the grace to correspond faithfully to the inspirations of grace!
-- Conchita

Conchita and the Eucharist

It is in this way that I would love you, my Jesus hidden here within the Host, without measure, with all the power of my heart, with all the energies of my soul.
-Conchita

Biography of Conchita online

Conchita: A Mother's Spiritual Diary edited by Marie-Michel Phillipon, OP is available online apparently. I found it using a google search. It is found here.

I haven't posted for a while on Conchita. She's still my favorite mystic, its just slipped my mind to post about her.

"Yes, I hear my beloved one. Suffer and fear not. Open your wings and fly to the sacrifice of yourself, and love me as I love you, as I have always loved you. For you must love me with the same love."
--Conchita, Mexican mystic and foundress of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit

eternal love

Every time I read Conchita's writing I am struck by a new pearl of wisdom or insight. Today it was this:

"On Earth friendships grow cold, human beings change, attachments become weakened, love itself vanishes and dies; but Your affection, Your tenderness and Your love do not change, do not pass away but remain forever!
That is why I place all my happiness in possessing You..."

reflection

"And this is why I suffer, because my hands are empty, and the Bridegroom will soon be here. And I shall have neither the oil of virtues nor the ardent flame of love , to offer Him!"
--Concepcion Cabrera de Armida, aka Conchita

Pardon me, Lord. Pardon me for my lack of delicacy towards You and for my exceedingly great pride, which manifests itself even in the most sacredt things.
Covered with shame and confusion, I undertake O my Jesus! to sin no more. At Your Feet in the Sacrament of Penance, I, a penitent sinner, will humbly implore your infinite mercy.
--Concepcion Cabrera De Armida, lovingly known as Conchita

Prayer Volume

"Why do you shout at me" God said to Moses,who had scarcely opened his lips. For that fervent, steadfast prayer from the bottom of his heart, sounded like thunder in the ears of God. It is that kind of prayer that I desire, which finds and echo in Your heart and reechoes in my poor soul, making it know the gift of God.
-- Conchita

Eucharist as Calvary Continued

I can see in the consecrated Host or the Eucharist a mystical passion, the
continuation of the Lord's Passion at Calvary... It is the same Heart that
suffers, and the same sins It is sacrificed for... I can see Him in a constant
act of atonement, holding back divine justice, searching for souls, but holy,
pure and sacrificed souls that in their union cry out to Heaven for pardon
and mercy... He is tireless in this mystical crucifixion, abandoned in His
solitude, infinitely patient, receiving so much ingratitude in exchange for so
much love.

--Conchita

I don't have any commentary on this. I think its speaks very well for itself.

Ramblings

Lately, I have been stuck on what to write about. I have thought about saying something about the Muslim reaction to the Pope's speech. I have a lot of thoughts about it, but everyone else is writing so much about it. Besides, I think charity would fail me.
I have seen in other blogs that sometimes the authors will start a series on some particular subject. I have thought about different things. I tried posting about a different religious order each week, but that didn't seem like what I am looking for so I have abandonned that.
I have been thinking about writing a series sometime about the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, especially the mystic woman, Conchita, who inspired Fr. Felix de Jesus Rougier to found that order. I have even thought about writing some posts on the other related orders (La Familia de la Cruz or the Family of the Cross). I feel drawn somehow to them and I feel like the Holy Spirit might be directing me to write about them.
But I have this sort of writing block and I am soliciting suggestions. Let me know what you think and feel free to suggest something else.

Missionaries of the Holy Spirit Cross

Yesterday when I went on my rant about the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit I mentioned the cross they have behind their house and that Fr. Celso explained the meaning. I realized that I hadn't said what it meant and I couldn't remember much of it myself so I looked it up. Above is a picture I took from their website. I found the explanation and picture here.
An excerpt from the site quotes from Conchita's vision:

"I saw a great fire, like white rays of light which were very vivid and brilliant. It was stronger than electrical light. In the center of that light I saw a white dove with its wings spread out. I saw under the dove, in the depths of that great light, a huge cross with a heart in the center of it. This heart had very sharp thorns that surrounded it. It was painful to see the thorns so tightly wrapped around the heart that they were piercing it. This heart had a lance piercing its side, and out of this wound came blood that flowed on the cross. The heart had life. It was beating like a human heart, but it was a glorified heart. It was surrounded by a fire that seemed to glow and sparkle like the fire of a hearth. From the top of the heart came a different type of fire. It was of greater intensity. The flames came out with violence as if coming out of a volcano. As the fire flickered and the flames moved back and forth, a small cross--which seemed to come out of the heart--could be seen. "

1,000 visits

According to my site counter at the very bottom of the page I now have 1,000 ( probably more now) visits to my site. To mark this occasion I will dig up some of my favorite posts from the archives. My blogs birthday is fast approaching too and then I'll do a top ten list.
One of my favorite quotes by Venerable Conchita
The first Captain Catholic post (there haven't been any new videos lately)
Terrorist mousetrap

Healing in the Sacraments

"Hardly had I reached the age of discretion when I began to offend You. But You, who had loved me first, had already prepared a remedy for my faults in the Sacraments!"
-- Venerable Conchita

Just like the wounds of the Israelite were healed by the Good Samaritan's oil and wine, we are also healed with oil at our Baptism and Confirmation and wine at Mass. Very often myself, and I imagine many others, forget how wonderful that healing is. God became man and establshed Sacraments to heal us body and soul.

order of the week

Ok, so I am going to try something new and see how long I can keep it up before I start spacing it. I am going to have small posts about a different religious order each week.
This week is the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit. This order was founded in Mexico by a priest, Fr. Felix Rougier, based on the mystical visions and insight of their co-foundress Conchita (I can't remember her given name). Christ the Priest Province is their US province. So far, their presence in the US is only on the west coast.