The fruits of the devotion

By: Father Patrick O'Connor

Praying with the Divine Guest House Chaplet has been of great

personal help to me. As a priest who celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the

Mass daily, there can be a temptation to allow the celebration of the Sacred

mysteries to become monotonous or repetitive. The Divine House Guest

devotion is a great spiritual tool to combat this temptation.

I have recommended this devotion to many priests. Priests of all

generations can find great spiritual consolation from it. For example, in the

prayer said before receiving Holy Communion, one prays that the Divine

House Guest, who has been “wearied from travelling,” may find rest within

the soul of the one receiving Holy Communion. That phrase “wearied from

travelling” can resonate with many priests, who can be wearied from their

work in the vineyard. I can remember being struck by this line after some

discouragement after encountering apathy in some to whom I was

ministering. The work of the priesthood can be wearisome, but the feelings

of weariness can help a priest grow closer to Christ, who the priest receives

daily. This devotion helped to remind me of this.

This devotion has helped me to prepare for Holy Mass better, as well.

Through ensuring the frequent reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation

and through making sure I am less distracted before Holy Mass, I have

been able to prepare my interior home to receive the Divine House Guest.

To be a good host to the Guest, my home must be clean and I must be a

focused host who receives the Guest and is not preoccupied by things

besides Him during His stay.

Lastly, this devotion has helped me to sit with the Divine House

Guest more after receiving Him in Holy Communion. I have experienced

moments of the Lord encouraging me to remember that He has entered

into my interior home and I should allow His Eucharistic visit to change me.

In a go-go-go world, the Eucharistic visit can offer the recipient the chance

to pause and adore Christ more. The different patron saints have been

helpful to pray with. They offer examples of people who receive the Divine

Guest into their busy lives.

I have been struck by how often various saints and mystics have

used the language of Guest when referring to Christ in the Eucharist, and

by how often the words “rest,” “refreshment,” “silence,” and “delight” are

found in the Scriptures, especially the Psalms. The devotion clearly stands

with the tradition of our Faith, and even that of the Jewish people. I think

that this devotion will bring more souls to Christ and His Church, and help

those who are already Baptized in His Name to become more amazed at

the mystery, and beauty, of the Eucharist.