Mother Mary Thomas — A Eucharistic Artist
Saint Paul, who emphasized that all Christians are united in the body
of Christ, a theological point that Saint Augustine enriched with a
eucharistic dimension in his famous Sermon 272. In fact, Augustine
himself joins this “communion” as he gazes in awe at the eucharistic
body of Christ from the lower left side of the painting.
To date, Mother Mary Thomas has finished the acrylic under-painting
of this grand mural and is about to begin painting the oil layer. She
paints out of love and gratitude, and with the hope that her painting
will one day find a home where it will inspire faith and love in Jesus.
Unquestionably, whether praying or painting, Mother Mary Thomas
has made the Eucharist a way of life. Nourished by God’s love in the
Eucharist, she wishes to give all she has as a gift of thanksgiving to
Jesus. She has done this through her many years of prayer in the
presence of the Blessed Sacrament, and she has done this through
her numerous paintings celebrating the love of God.
And with the wisdom and insight attained only through a lifetime of
contemplation, she even ponders the final gift she can give to Jesus
out of love. As she said so profoundly: “When you love someone very
much, you want to give as much joy to them as possible. To exercise
that love in offering to him all that you are and all that you have . . .
and I often think, being an older person . . . I would at least as my last
act . . . whatever suffering I would have to endure . . . I wish my death
would be a real joy to him.”
In Christ’s Peace
Deceased Members
Rev. Thomas H. Mohr
Diocese of Davenport
Since its inception, Emmanuel has published a list of deceased members
of the Priests’ Eucharistic League, remembering those who have served
the church generously and faithfully and have passed into the promised
eternal life. Priests in the Eucharistic League whose names begin with
J, K, L, and M are asked to celebrate Mass for deceased priests during
May and June.
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