The Preborn Christ

• Patrick A. O’Donnell, SFO
• John D. McCarthy
• Susan Andrews Brindle

• Mildred Lombardi
• Jose Dureza
• Susan Andrews Bringle

This book is presented as a child’s story, but it is meant for parents and other adults as well, to aid us in our journey of faith. Our Lordf said that unless we become as little children, we will not enter the Gates of Heaven.

Children enjoy a powerful and simple faith because they have total trust in God. We pray that this story will help adults to rediscover this gift from God. It is written to touch the heart of what we as Christians believe. It is meant to touch your heart.

Those who know and love the theology of the Church and have already embraced the truth of the Incarnation (God becoming man) will grasp the importance of this little story.

We do not need to be theologians to accept and embrace the truth of this great miracle of God becoming man. Throughout the Bible and through our history, we are shown that most of the itme it is the child, the poor, the crippled, the vulnerable who enjoy the deepest and greatest relationship with God…because their knowledge of God does not come through wisdom and understanding, but through love. It is through love that wisdom and understanding are received. It is throught eh heart that truth is embraced.

This book is written like a parable, to touch our hearts. Jeremiah represents each one of us. Our dear Lord used the mustard see, the prodigal son and the widow to represent us, in order to teach us how to love and follow Him., by becoming like little children.

In Jesus through Mary,

The Authors

“When one loses sight of God, one loses sight of the value of man.”
Gospel of Life (Pope John Paul II) 

O Jesus living in Mary,
Come and live in Thy servants,
In the spirit of Thy holiness,
In the fullness of Thy might,
In the truth of Thy virtues,
In the perfection of Thy ways,
In the communion of Thy Mysteries,
Subdue every hostile power
In thy spirit, for the glory of the Father.
Amen.

– St. Louis de Montfort

This book is dedicated to The Blessed Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

We wish to express our gratitude to Dr. Dianne N. Irving, MA. Ph.D., F. Joseph Koterski, S.J., Judie Brown, Fr. John McFadden, Fr. McLean Cummings, F. Patrick Lynch, Tom Nassief, William J. Smith, Bob and Donna Van Norden, Bill Raiser, Jim and Sonyia Brake, Bob Daniels, Catholics United for Life, Angela His, John Riordan, F. Michael McNamara, William Cotter, Denise and John Zuppe, Pedro Ruben, and all who helped to make this book possible.

Philippians 2:6-11

Though he was in the form of God,
Jesus did not deem equality with God
something to be grasped at.

Rather, he emptied himself
and took the form of a slave,
being born in the likeness of men.

He was known to be of human estate,
and it was thus that he humbled himself,
obediently accepting even death,
death on a cross!

Because of this,
God highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
above every other name,

So that at Jesus’ name
every knee must bend
in the heavens, on the earth,
and under the earth,
and every tongue proclaim
to the glory of God the Father:
Jesus Christ is Lord!

Acrylic Painting by Patrick A. O’Donnell, SFO
January 1997

“Christ fully reveals man to man himself and makes his supreme calling clear.”
– Gaudium et Spes 22

Published by Precious Life Ministries
P.O. Box 1948
Lewisburg, TN 37091

ISBN #09717322-0-5

Copyright 2002 by Susan Andrews Brindle and Patrick A. O’Donnell, SFO

All rights reserved except for short excerpts for critical reviews. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any other means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

It was springtime, the season of the Passover, the time of year when many Jewish families traveled from their homes in the country to the Holy City of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah, who was named after the great prophet, was quite young, and there was much excitement and anticipation in his heart as he and his loved ones started on their pilgrimage. He had stayed close to his father, listening to him explain this holy journey and the Passover meal.

Every now and then, Jeremiah looked up at the lamb his father was carrying. The lamb was a one-year-old male without any spots. This was the lamb that would be sacrificed for the Passover.

Jeremiah’s father sensed his little boy was troubled and sought to reassure him, saying, “I know it’s hard for you to understand why the lamb must die, son. But we must trust God completely and obey Him. God has a plan.”

Each time he looked at the lamb, Jeremiah felt sad and wondered why it should have to die.

Six months ago, on the Day of Atonement, Jeremiah saw a lamb sacrificed for mankind’s sins. Little Jeremiah had cried, knowing that it was our sins that made it necessary for this innocent lamb to die…With sin comes death! Jeremiah asked his father, “Will this lamb also die for our sins?”

“No,” his father answered. “The meaning of this ritual will be explained to the whole family this evening during the Passover meal. For now, you must trust and believe. Remember how God had honored Abraham for his obedience…from Abraham, God Built a mighty nation.”

They arrived in Jerusalem, and at sunset, his father placed his hand on the innocent lamb and prayed. While removing his hand, the lamb was sacrificed.

Jeremiah tried desperately to hold back the tears that sprang to his eyes. He prayed, “I believe, help my unbelief.” (Mk 9:24)

All of Jeremiah’s family gathered about the dinner table and watched their mother light the candles on the table. This is the Passover meal that families and their ancestors have celebrated since Moses. He told them about God’s command to sacrifice a lamb and eat it.

Jeremiah’s father said, “The solemn Passover meal reminds us of that terrible night when Moses told the Israelites to kill a lamb and to mark the blood of the lamb on their doorposts. Seeing the blood, the Lord would pass over that door and not let the Angel of Death strike them down. )Ex 12:23) The day that followed, God delivered the Israelites in Egypt from slavery.”

When they finished drinking the wine and eating the Passover Lamb, the bitter herbs, and the unleavened bread, they all sang songs of thanksgiving, praying God would send the Messiah – the Mighty Savior – soon.

Early the next morning, the family packed themselves into their wagon and began the journey back home. Jeremiah’s brothers and sisters laughed and sang as they rode.

Suddenly, a snake struck at the donkey’s hoof. Without warning, the donkey bolted, sending the wagon into the air and throwing everyone to the ground.

As the snake slithered away, the family began to recover and pick themselves up – everyone except Jeremiah. He lay motionless on the ground. Jeremiah wasn’t breathing. As his father and mother tenderly held his small, limb body, his father cried out in a broken voice, “Oh God, spare us! Give us back our son.”

All began to sob and cry out in anguish.

Jeremiah was dead.

Even though he was dead, Jeremiah could see his family huddled over his body. He called out, “Please don’t cry. Don’t be sad, I am here.” But no one seemed to hear his voice.

Then Jeremiah began to realize he was being held. As he looked around, he was startled to see that he was looking at an angel. He was filled with awe.

Jeremiah asked, “Who are you…are you the Angle of Death?”

The angel smiled lovingly, “No, I am Samuel, your guardian angel. I have been with you since you were created. I am taking you to a special place.”

As they arrived, Jeremiah saw some of the great men and women of old his parents had told him about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Ruth, Moses, Esther, King David…Jeremiah turned to Samual and asked, “Where am I?”

The angel spoke, “Jeremiah, this is the Waiting Place, or Limbo, where all the souls of the people who die in the friendship of God wait for the Gates of Heaven to reopen.”

Jeremiah asked, “Why are the Gates of Heaven closed?”

Samuel explained, “The Gates of Heaven have been closed since the original sin when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Sin brings death and separation from God and neighbor. Unless one dies to sin, redemption is impossible. Each person chooses heaven or hell.

“Before this sin, Adam and Eve lived in a beautiful garden called Eden and enjoyed a wonderful friendship with God. Their lives were filled with happiness, for they did not know evil. But because of this original sin, they were driven from the garden, and the Gates of Heaven were then closed.”

Jeremiah asked, “Will God ever reopen the Gates of Heaven?”

“Yes, Jeremiah,” Samuel said, “God made a covenant, a holy agreement, with his people. He promised to send a Messiah who will save His people. This Savior is God himself, who will come down from heaven to make the supreme sacrifice to pay the price of sin and reopen the Gates of Heaven. Come with me, and I will show you.”

Samuel brought Jeremiah to a small room. There was a young woman praying. Samuel spoke softly, “Her name is Mary. God the Father has chosen the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the mother of His Son. Because she is to carry His Son, she was conceived without Original Sin. Mary is the Immaculate Conception.”

Soon, the room became filled with a bright heavenly light. The Archangel Gabriel appeared before Mary and said, “Hail full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women…Do not be afraid… Behold you shall conceive in your womb and bring forth a son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called Son of the Most High.” (Luke 1:28, 30-32)

Jeremiah heard Mary say, “Yes to God . . . “Be it done unto me according to Your Will.” (Luke 1:38)

Immediately, Jeremiah saw the Holy Spirit descend, like a dove, over Mary, and light shone all about her. And the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us. (John 1:14)

There in her little room, Mary, who was now with child, pondered the Scriptures. “O the beloved of my womb.” (Proverbs 31:1)

Mary had a gentle smile on her face. She was aglow with love.

Jeremiah heard a gentle voice call his name, “Jeremiah!” The voice seemed to come from Mary, but it was not her voice.

Jeremiah asked, “Who are you?”

“I AM.”

Jeremiah asked the voice, “Are you the same ‘I Am’ who spoke to Moses in the burning bush?”

“I AM”

The voice continued, “I AM the mighty God. I AM He who made heaven and earth. And I made you, Jeremiah.”

“Shall I call you I AM?” asked Jeremiah.

“I AM the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. My name is Jesus, which means ‘He who saves.’ I have this name because God the Father sent me to save the world. I AM the Son of God, and I have emptied myself, taking the form of a slave for the sake of saving all mankind. I have come that they may have life and life in abundance.” (John 10:10)

Jeremiah said, “I want to see you, Jesus.”

The Blessed Virgin Mother, opening her hands, showed Jesus to Jeremiah.

Jesus whispered, “Jeremiah, do you hear my voice?”

“Yes, I do, Jesus, but I can hardly see you. You are so very, very tiny.”

“I am tiny. I am a single-cell human being, an embryo in the zygote stage,” Jesus said, “and this is how all human beings naturally begin as either a boy or girl. From the moment of conception at fertilization, every child is already a complete person, a unique human being. This stage of a body’s growth is called an embryo and will be so called until about the end of the eighth week. I, too, start my human life as a single cell, a zygote.”

Jeremiah was startled, “Jesus, you don’t look anything at all like me!”

Jesus tenderly answered, “My dear child, at the moment I formed you, you looked exactly as I do now. At your beginning, you were a complete, unique person who never existed before and will never be repeated. At the moment I created you, I gave you a soul. Even as a single-cell embryo, each person is a source and sign of hope. Jeremiah, you must know your great dignity. You were made by God and for God. Everything about you, your hair and your eye color, your sandal size, your face, all of these things were there at the moment of conception at fertilization when I created you.”

“You are beautiful, Jesus,” Jeremiah sighed, “and I love the beautiful light that is shining around you. These rays of light seem to be touching my heart, filling it with joy. Jesus, your love and beauty are beyond words. Thank you for loving me!”

Jesus seemed to be floating and moving.

“Where are you going, Jesus?” questioned Jeremiah.

“I am on a journey from the fallopian tube to the uterus within Mary that will take me to a spot where I will make my home in the womb. It will take about a week for me to reach that home and another week before I will be fully implanted in her womb, where I will grow and develop until birth. This is a journey from the fallopian tube to the uterus that God intends for everyone and a journey you made yourself. I am God, but I became human thus like all other human beings in every way except for sin.”

As Jeremiah watched, he became confused. Like all little children, his excitement got the better of him, and he blurted out, “Jesus, what happened? …There are now two of you!”

Jesus chuckled, “No, Jeremiah. There is only one of me. I am still the same “Me” _ a complete, single person. But I am now 30 hours old, and my body has simply grown by doubling my size. At this point of growth, my body now consists of only two cells, each called a blastomere or stem cell. These two cells are my one body that will continue to grow throughout my life. Each cell will multiply to eventually make all the cells of my body.”

Jesus continued, “Unique to the earliest human embryos, they grow bigger by the cells dividing and multiplying asynchronously, i.e., 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, etc. Sometimes, one single embryo can become twins. This could happen when some of the cells or blastomeres separate from the whole early embryo and become another new embryo, a second person, i.e., a twin. This process will be known as twinning, cloning, or blastomere separation.”

Time passed quickly. Jeremiah said, “Jesus, it’s been about six days, and your body has grown quite a bit bigger, but you still don’t look at all like me.”

Jesus responded, “I look very much like you did when you were just about a week old as I am now. This stage of a person’s growth is called a blastocyst – when the embryo forms two layers of cells – but he or she is still the same complete person as formed at fertilization. The whole blastocyst is the same person. Within the blastocyst, the embryo is an inner layer of cells made up of more stem cells. If the whole blastocyst splits into two groups of cells, each group of cells would be so filled with life that twin persons would result, each an independent person with the same genetic makeup. This, too, is a kind of twinning. It is a form of embryo multiplication. The parts can become wholes. Sometimes, although rarely, twinning could happen even after fourteen days, for example, with Siamese twins.

“As part of my embryo, these stem cells will begin to look much different in a few days as they continue to specialize. Some will eventually become blood cells, while others will eventually become heart cells, and still others will eventually become bone and skin cells and so on, making up the over 200 different cell types of the adult human body. But before then, I will have reached my home in Mary’s safe womb, where I will continue to grow until birth.”

Jeremiah had heard Gabriel tell Mary that her cousin Elizabeth had been carrying a baby for six months. Mary knew that this was a miracle because Elizabeth was very old. Jesus told Jeremiah, “My Mother Mary loves Elizabeth and is going to help her.”

Mary left her home and started on a long journey. When she arrived at Elizabeth’s home, Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, and baby John leaped in her womb – Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry. “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy!”

Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior…henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” (Luke 1:46,48)

Jesus told Jeremiah, “I assure you, there is no man born of a woman greater than this child within Elizabeth’s womb, and his name is John. God has sent this baby, John the Baptist, to prepare my people for my coming.”

Jesus whispered tenderly to Jeremiah, “I am so pleased when someone welcomes me with all his heart like baby John did.”

Two weeks after conception, Jesus completed his journey and was fully implanted within Mary’s womb. This would be his home until he was ready to be born.

Jeremiah questioned, “Jesus, without a mouth, how do you speak?”

“Jeremiah,” Jesus said, “remember that I am God, and nothing is impossible with God. God speaks to souls. The soul is what makes the body live and grow – it is the center of thought and will. Every person has a soul, and so my Father created my human soul for me at the moment of my conception in Mary’s boy. God the Holy Spirit speaks to all people’s souls. Some pay attention and listen; sadly, others do not.”

Jeremiah paused and then said to Jesus, “My soul has separated from my body, and yet I can still think, reason, and remember. My soul did not die with my body.”

Jesus said,” Your soul is immortal and will live forever. It is only separated from your body temporarily.”

A twinkle came to Jeremiah’s eyes as a big smile crept over his face. He said with a giggle, “Jesus, you are so wise for someone so small.”

Jesus was pleased with Jeremiah’s teasing, for Jesus loved the little boy dearly. Jesus said, “Jeremiah, the measure of a person is neither one’s physical size nor how smart one is, but rather how much one loves God.”

I am 28 days old and now 10,000 times larger than when I was a single cell,” Jesus told Jeremiah. “My precious blood is flowing through my veins, and my skin is forming to protect my body. Other parts of my body are just beginning to form, such as my eyes, brain, skeleton, and limbs.”

“What is that beating sound?” Jeremiah asked.

“it is my heart,” Jesus told him. “It started beating ten days ago. It is that red part in the front of my body.”

“What is that under your heart?” Jeremiah then asked.

“It is my called an umbilical cord,” explained Jesus. “It connects me to my Blessed Mother’s womb and delivers oxygen and nourishment to me. I have a separate, complete body from my mother, but this cord connects me to her – it’s a kind of lifeline for me.”

“You still don’t look like me,” Jeremiah observed.

Jesus responded tenderly, “A human body is always changing. You didn’t look the same at three years old as you did when you were an infant, did you? You had grown a lot by then, yet you have always been the same person. Even as my body is growing and changing, I remain the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

“I am now at 35 days, just five weeks old,” Jesus said. “I am about a fourth of an inch in height, and my backbone is already developing rapidly. My hands, arms, feet, and legs are now taking shape as well. Soon, I’ll be able to swim in the water that is now surrounding me, called the amniotic waters. These waters warm and protect my fragile body.

“There are those who will be born who may appear as I do now or will suffer a mishap later in life. Their hands and feet may look different, or they may even lack arms and legs. Some people may lack well-defined faces or even mental abilities. These people share in my form and in my cross because of their vulnerability and dependence on others. Each is a contradiction to the world and reminds us of the dependence each person has on God. Selfishness is challenged through these individuals. Their cross becomes a blessing for others to grow closer to God in holiness. God is greatly glorified through them. In heaven, their bodies will also be glorified as they will have borne the marks of the cross on this earth.”

Jeremiah asked, “What cross are you talking about?”

Jesus told him, “It is a cross that is always before me. It is the suffering that is freely accepted by a person for the redemption of others.”

Jeremiah pondered this.

A week later, Jesus said, “Jeremiah, it has been six weeks, or 42 days since I was conceived. My skeleton is now very complex indeed, and it will become even more complex from this point forward.

“My brain functions are measurable, just like your brain was when you were this big.

“My eyes have been growing, and I am able to respond to bright sunlight when it shines on my mother. My eyes will soon close until near birth so that they can develop a great deal more, giving me clear vision after my birth. It is dark in here; however, it is always safe and comfortable. My body has everything it needs – nourishment, rest, and love.”

“It’s so exciting to see you growing so fast, Jesus,” Jeremiah called out happily.

Although Mary knew that she was pregnant from the very first moment because of the announcement by the Angel Gabriel, many mothers, by this stage, are just becoming aware that they are pregnant. A mother’s body is going through many changes when carrying a child.

“Jeremiah,” Jesus explained, “before the baby is eight weeks old, it is called an embryo. By the end of the eighth week, with almost all of the organs formed and only in need of growing bigger and more complex, the baby is then called a fetus until birth. I am now at nine weeks since my conception and now begin my fetal period of growth.

“Babies at nine weeks can swim and kick their feet as I am doing now,” Jesus continued. “Also, my nervous system has developed. At this stage, a baby is very sensitive and can experience pain. My hands respond to touch, and my fingers can bend to form a fist. My fingernails are beginning to grow on the tip of each of my fingers and thumbs. Fingerprints are forming and will be complete within four weeks, never to change. Each person receives his or her own unique set of fingerprints. No one has the same fingerprints as another.”

“Not even identical twins?” Jeremiah asked.

“No, not even identical twins have the same fingerprints,” Jesus answered. He then added, “It is another proof that no two people are alike: there is only one you.”

Jeremiah paused and watched Jesus as he swam about in the amniotic waters. He remarked gleefully, “You are really becoming a good swimmer, Jesus.”

“Most babies are natural swimmers,” Jesus said.

“Jeremiah said, “You sure sleep a lot lately, Jesus.”

“I am so energetic and active that I must sleep for part of each day,” Jesus explained. “I can squint my eyes and wrinkle my forehead because, at ten to eleven weeks, my face and body are fully formed. All of my organs are now functioning, and forty muscles are also now working. I am even beginning to swallow the amniotic fluid.”

“I wish I could crawl in there with you, dear Jesus – it looks like so much fun – we could swim around together,” Jeremiah laughed.

Jesus said, “Many babies who are twins do have someone to be with and play with in the womb. They share a great closeness. But, Jeremiah, I was with you, and I am with every baby in the womb – I knew you before you were in your mother’s womb,” He said tenderly. “I created you, and I love you…I will never forget you…I will never leave you.”

At hearing the words of Jesus, the little boy’s heart leapt for joy!

“Now, by eleven weeks,” Jesus said, “my ears can respond to noises from outside – the sudden, loud noises can be startling. I love to listen to my mother’s songs of praise and her tender whispers of love for me. The Holy Spirit is her constant companion, and everything about her pleases me; even the rhythm of her heartbeat is music to my soul.”

Jeremiah said,” When my body was alive, I could not recall living in my mother’s womb. But now I remember everything.”

Jesus responded, “I remember your every moment, Jeremiah because I was with you always and never took my loving gaze off you!”

As Jesus spoke, Jeremiah exclaimed, “I remember my mother talking to me! She even sang songs to me, as your mother is doing for you. I could hear my mother and father talking about me, and I knew I was loved.”

“Your parents were very grateful to me for giving them the wonderful gift of you,” Jesus said in an assuring manner. “But even if they hadn’t been grateful, you have always been and will always be precious to me.”

“Jeremiah, do you see me holding onto my umbilical cord?” asked Jesus. “At 14 weeks, I can play and grab onto things by closing my hand to a tight fist. I enjoy turning my head, curling my toes, and opening and closing my mouth. I even begin yawning. I can breathe the amniotic fluid as if it is air, but I don’t suffocate since it is the umbilical cord to my mother that provides me with the needed oxygen to live. If air got into the womb, you would be able to hear my voice, and I could cry out loud.

“By 17 weeks, my body will be completed. I will only need to grow bigger and stronger. My Blessed Mother will feel me moving about within her. Then my somersaults and hard kicks will be most felt.”

After John the Baptist was born, Mary left Elizabeth and returned home to Nazareth.

The next five and half months passed quickly, with Jesus growing larger and stronger. Soon, it was almost time for Jesus to be born.

Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, led Mary with Jesus into Bethlehem. Jeremiah watched in sadness to see Joseph knocking on the doors of all the inns along the road. “There was no room in the inn.” (Luke 2:7) Jeremiah called out to Jesus, “Why does no one have room for you? Everyone is sending you away!”

“They are not ready for me,” Jesus said sadly, “The prophets have spoken of my coming for many years, yet they have no room for me.”

Jeremiah said, “If only they could see that the preborn baby that Mary is carrying is their King and their God…if they could see you, Jesus…surely they would find room for you!”

“Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe,” (John 20:29) Jesus said to him.

The Holy Family, led by the Holy Spirit, found their way to a stable and began to prepare for the birth of Jesus.

Jesus Was Born! A bright star shone down on the stable, and a multitude of angels appeared all around them. Singing filled the air. Jeremiah gasped in awe, seeing that Jesus was born! He touched and kissed the baby, and tears of joy came as he told Jesus how much he loved him.

Jesus told Jeremiah, “Through the generations, many will celebrate my birth, but mankind should celebrate even more my conception when I was made flesh.”

Jeremiah and Samuel kept watch through the years as Jesus grew in wisdom and age. It was some 33 years later, and He was all grown up.

Jeremiah found himself in the Upper Room, where Jesus and the apostles were sitting around a table. Jeremiah asked, “Are you celebrating the Passover meal?”

Jesus answered, “Yes, but we have finished the Passover meal of the Old Covenant. Now I will establish a New Covenant between God and his people.”

“You already sacrificed the innocent, holy lamb; where is the new lamb?” Jeremiah asked.

The small child watched as Jesus took the bread, broke it, blessed it, and said, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” Taking the wine, Jesus continued, “Take this and drink of it; this is my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting Covenant which shall be shed for all mankind.”

“Jeremiah, this is the first Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.”

“I am the innocent Lamb to be sacrificed,” said Jesus.

A chill went through Jeremiah’s heart, and tears filled his eyes as he embraced Jesus. Jeremiah asked, “What does this mean?” as he began to understand that the sacrifice of the lamb on Passover was a sign of the coming of the Savior, the Lamb of God.

Jesus looked at the boy and spoke with great tenderness, “I have been chosen by my Father to come down from heaven and take the form of a slave, offering up my life as a supreme sacrifice. You now know and understand, my dear Jeremiah, that only God can take away sins and reopen the Gates of Heaven.”

“Jesus,” Jeremiah whispered, unable to speak out loud…” I don’t want you to suffer and die like this. I love you! And what will my loved ones do without you? They need you on earth.”

Jesus explained, “I will be with them in this New Covenant, which is a new relationship between God and his people. It will be through My Precious Body and blood which will be shed for you and for all mankind. Then I will be with them in the Holy Eucharist, and I will dwell in every tabernacle across the world from now until the end of time.

“Each person receiving Holy Communion receives me and will carry me just as my own mother carried me for nine months. I will be their source of life, and they will be my temple.”

Then, Jeremiah and Samuel followed Jesus into the Garden of Olives, where He was arrested. They were with Him and watched the mock trial, followed by the sentencing of Jesus to death.

What Jeremiah now saw shook him to the very core of his being. Jesus was hanging in agony; His hands and feet were nailed to the cross. The cross was marked with His Precious Blood, just as the lamb’s blood had marked the doorposts long ago.

Jeremiah cried out and ran to embrace Jesus on the cross. Jeremiah sobbed, telling Jesus he was sorry for his sins and for the pain He was suffering because of the sins of mankind. He loved Jesus!

The little boy wept with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, there at the foot of the cross as he remembered…the careful forming, in the womb, of Jesus’ hands and feet that were now cruelly nailed to the cross…the delicate fashioning of Jesus’ eyes that had looked with love, now, in return, beheld only anger and hatred.

The body that had been bathed and warmed by fetal waters while in the womb for nine months was now cold, beaten, scourged, spat upon, and covered with His Precious Blood. The ears that were once so comforted by His Blessed Mother’s songs and the gentle beating of her Immaculate Heart were now assaulted with loud jeers, screams, screeches, insults, and lies.

Jeremiah dropped to his knees; his heart was broken. His face and hands touched the wounded and bleeding body of his God. He saw that Jesus’ shoulders and knees were bloodied by the bearing of the cross for our sins and by His three falls.

That voice that kept silent for nine months within the womb was now pleading for His Father to forgive His tormentors for what they had done to Him and His body,

Jesus CRIED OUT, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do! (Luke 23:24)…It is finished.” (John 19:30) and He bowed his head and died. Jesus, the lamb, was dead. Jesus’ Sacred Heart, which burns with love for all people, was now being pierced by a soldier’s lance to confirm His death, spilling the water and precious Blood that first flowed through His developing heart only eighteen days after conception.

As Jeremiah watched God hanging from the cross, tears burned Jeremiah’s eyes and ran down his face. Jeremiah was so overwhelmed with grief that it felt as though he was dying, too, all over again.

Then Jeremiah heard a deep and powerful voice, one he had never heard before, saying, “This final act of love, the sacrifice of my Beloved Son upon a cross, could only be accomplished with a human body. This human body was first conceived within the womb of a woman. The purpose of all that had happened within the womb is now revealed.”

Jeremiah knew he was in the presence of God the Father.

Jeremiah whispered in grief, “Father, forgive us for what we have done!”

While Jeremiah sobbed, feeling that all was lost, Jesus suddenly appeared to Jeremiah.

When Jesus rose from the dead, He came for his little friend.

“Jesus!” cried Jeremiah as he leapt into His arms.

“I have come to share the Resurrection and the joys of eternal life with all my friends,” said Jesus.

The next moment, they were at the Waiting Place. The whole multitude of souls erupted with great joy when they saw Jesus, their Savior.

Jeremiah’s father and mother, who had each just recently died, ran to embrace their son. Reunited, they all followed Jesus through the reopened Gates of Heaven, singing and praising and giving glory to God.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The End