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The Bishop of the Abandoned Tabernacle: St. Manuel Gonzalez Garcia
St. Manuel felt called to the priesthood at the age of 12. After his ordination in 1901, he was sent to preach at a church which he found to be unclean and abandoned. There, praying before a Tabernacle covered in dust and cobwebs, with torn altar cloths and oil dripping onto the floor from the sanctuary lamp, he decided to dedicate his life to providing for Jesus' needs in the Tabernacle. This poor, abandoned Tabernacle taught the young priest more about the Love of Jesus than his years of theological study. It marked his entire life from that moment. He dedicated himself until his death to spreading devotion to the Eucharist, proclaiming these words which he would go on to choose for his "Jesus is here! He is here! Do not abandon Him!" This saintly bishop will help you to receive Holy Communion more fervently and to love Jesus more deeply in Eucharistic Adoration. This book will awaken you to a new experience of Our Lord -- that you may see, hear, love, and console "Love who is not loved."
128 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
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April 13, 2023St. Manuel González García, Bishop of Malaga and Palencia was the founder of the Eucharistic Family for Reparation (UNER). He also founded the magazine El Granito de Arena (The Little Grain of Sand) in 1907 – for Eucharistic writings, the Union for Eucharistic Reparation: The Marys of the tabernacles (for lay women) and The Disciples of St. John (lay men) in 1910, the Eucharistic Diocesan Missionaries (for priests) in 1918 and in 1920 saw to the construction of a new seminary in Malaga and the following year, the Eucharistic Missionaries of Nazareth (religious women). In 1934, he founded the Eucharistic Children for Reparation and the Eucharistic Youth for Reparation in 1939.
But this was not a book primarily about the saint’s accomplishments, commendatory as they were. It was mostly a synthesis of his writings on devotion to the Eucharist and Eucharistic Adoration. It showed his passionate love for the Eucharistic Jesus and reinspired my own. The good bishop’s whole life was changed forever by an early experience as a young priest arriving at a town with an abandoned tabernacle. He felt the devastation of Our LORD’s total neglect by the people He had come to give His life for and then spend the rest of centuries waiting for us in forgotten tabernacles.
It is short, but powerful. I cannot recommend this book too highly.
This was a lovely book to have read during Holy Week! Talking and listening to His Sacred Heart which is loved so little in the Eucharist. Please visit Him if you can.
But this was not a book primarily about the saint’s accomplishments, commendatory as they were. It was mostly a synthesis of his writings on devotion to the Eucharist and Eucharistic Adoration. It showed his passionate love for the Eucharistic Jesus and reinspired my own. The good bishop’s whole life was changed forever by an early experience as a young priest arriving at a town with an abandoned tabernacle. He felt the devastation of Our LORD’s total neglect by the people He had come to give His life for and then spend the rest of centuries waiting for us in forgotten tabernacles.
It is short, but powerful. I cannot recommend this book too highly.
This was a lovely book to have read during Holy Week! Talking and listening to His Sacred Heart which is loved so little in the Eucharist. Please visit Him if you can.
March 3, 2019
This is book is a collection of reflections that were selected and translated by Victoria Schneider. And the collection was edited by Father Sean Davidson of the Missionaries of the Most Holy Eucharist. After extensive research I believe this might be the only book of works by Saint Manuel Gonzalez Garcia that is available in English. And it is a little gem, a treasure, a pearl. This book has received praise from some authors I greatly appreciate. Vinnie Flynn states:
“At a time when the Real Presence is neglected or ignored by the majority of Catholics, and when the sanctuary lamp burns more often than not in an empty church, this book is the perfect introduction to the timely message of St. Manuel García, canonized in 2016. His life-long goal was to foster the type of “Eucharistic amazement” later encouraged by Pope John Paul II, and to lead believers to an intimate encounter with God Himself, present in the Mass, the monstrance, and the tabernacle. You will put this book down with a renewed desire to enter more fully into the “dialogue of love” that Jesus is wanting and waiting to have with you—at every moment, of every day.”
And Eric Sammons declares:
“St. Manuel González had a powerful experience when encountering an abandoned tabernacle—an experience that changed the direction of his life forever. In this collection of his writings we are able to encounter his deep devotion to our Eucharistic Lord. It is my hope and prayer that this book will introduce the profound spirituality of St. Manuel to an English-speaking audience for the first time.”
Something drew me to this book. From the first time I saw the cover and read the title. There was something that kept calling me back to it. And once I started reading it I could not put it down. The sections in the book are:
Foreword
Preface
I. ST. MANUEL’S EUCHARISTIC LIFE
St. Manuel’s Message for the Church
II. THE ABANDONED TABERNACLE
How is the Tabernacle Abandoned?
The Effects of the Abandonment
III. HOW TO ADORE
The Company of Compassion
Why Jesus Wanted Us to Have Holy Communion
Adoration and the Gospel
IV. WHAT DOES JESUS DO AND SAY IN THE TABERNACLE?
Jesus in the Tabernacle is not Inactive or Silent, in Spite of Appearances
The Revealer of the Tabernacle
V. WHAT DOES THE HEART OF JESUS DO IN THE TABERNACLE?
Jesus is Looking at Me
The Heart of Jesus is Exhaling Power
Sometimes the Power from the Heart of Jesus is Wasted
The Heart of Jesus is Listening
The Works of the Heart of Jesus are Almost Always Ignored and Hardly Ever Appreciated
VI. WHAT DOES THE HEART OF JESUS SAY IN THE TABERNACLE?
Rise
Walk
Follow Me
Rest a While
A Little While
“It Is I, Do Not Be Afraid”
“But Who do You Say that I Am?”
Are You Able?
Where Are The Nine?
If I Tell the Truth. . .
Have I Been With You So Long, And Yet You Do not Know Me?
VII. ON PRIESTS AND THE LACK OF PRIESTLY TENDERNESS
The Similarity Between a Consecrated Host and a Priest
VIII. HOW JESUS STILL TRIUMPHS TODAY THROUGH THE EUCHARIST
IX. HOW TO LIVE THE MASS!
Conclusion
Orders and Ministries founded by St. Manuel González García
Saint John Paul II in his homily on the beatification of Bishop Manuel Gonzalez Garcia states:
“This was the great passion of the new blessed, Bl. Manuel González García, Bishop of Malaga and later of Palencia. His experience before a deserted tabernacle in Palomares del Río was to mark his whole life, and from that moment he dedicated himself to spreading devotion to the Eucharist, proclaiming the words he subsequently chose as his epitaph: “Here is Jesus! He is here! Do not abandon him!” Bl. Manuel González, founder of the Misioneras Eucarísticas de Nazaret, is a model of Eucharistic faith whose example continues to speak to the Church today.”
Manuel Gonzalez Garcia was canonized on October 16th 2016. We are told in the preface that the writings of this saint are for the most part unknown by the church at large. The majority of his works are only available in Spanish, and a few in French. Hopefully this volume will inspire more people to work on translating them to bring them to the wider audience that need to hear these messages. We are tdol:
“St. Manuel was a prolific writer. In his writings, he always conveyed his extraordinary love for the Blessed Sacrament, providing a Eucharistic formation for the faithful, and especially for catechists and priests. In his pastoral work, the Eucharist was always the starting point of his teaching on spirituality, of his catechetical pedagogy, and in fact, of all his projects. St. Manuel believed that the Person of Christ in the Eucharist had to be the source, the center, and the summit of the Church’s evangelization and catechesis. He experienced the primacy of the Eucharistic mystery very deeply in every aspect of his personal life. Although he lived through a tragic time for the Church in Spain, he was ever capable of drawing hope from the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. He knew that as long as there were still generous souls willing to keep Christ company in Eucharistic Adoration, there was still great hope for the Church.”
I do not know how any Catholic could read this book and not come away with a deeper appreciation for the Eucharist. How they could not desire to spend more time with Christ, and find a way to spend more time in front of a tabernacle. This book will inspire, it will challenge and it will renew your faith.
This is a an incredible read. I will be keeping my eyes open for more books by Saint Manuel González García in English. And know that I will be reading this book again soon. If you want to grow your faith this year, I am certain this book will help you. SO pick it up and give it a read.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!
“At a time when the Real Presence is neglected or ignored by the majority of Catholics, and when the sanctuary lamp burns more often than not in an empty church, this book is the perfect introduction to the timely message of St. Manuel García, canonized in 2016. His life-long goal was to foster the type of “Eucharistic amazement” later encouraged by Pope John Paul II, and to lead believers to an intimate encounter with God Himself, present in the Mass, the monstrance, and the tabernacle. You will put this book down with a renewed desire to enter more fully into the “dialogue of love” that Jesus is wanting and waiting to have with you—at every moment, of every day.”
And Eric Sammons declares:
“St. Manuel González had a powerful experience when encountering an abandoned tabernacle—an experience that changed the direction of his life forever. In this collection of his writings we are able to encounter his deep devotion to our Eucharistic Lord. It is my hope and prayer that this book will introduce the profound spirituality of St. Manuel to an English-speaking audience for the first time.”
Something drew me to this book. From the first time I saw the cover and read the title. There was something that kept calling me back to it. And once I started reading it I could not put it down. The sections in the book are:
Foreword
Preface
I. ST. MANUEL’S EUCHARISTIC LIFE
St. Manuel’s Message for the Church
II. THE ABANDONED TABERNACLE
How is the Tabernacle Abandoned?
The Effects of the Abandonment
III. HOW TO ADORE
The Company of Compassion
Why Jesus Wanted Us to Have Holy Communion
Adoration and the Gospel
IV. WHAT DOES JESUS DO AND SAY IN THE TABERNACLE?
Jesus in the Tabernacle is not Inactive or Silent, in Spite of Appearances
The Revealer of the Tabernacle
V. WHAT DOES THE HEART OF JESUS DO IN THE TABERNACLE?
Jesus is Looking at Me
The Heart of Jesus is Exhaling Power
Sometimes the Power from the Heart of Jesus is Wasted
The Heart of Jesus is Listening
The Works of the Heart of Jesus are Almost Always Ignored and Hardly Ever Appreciated
VI. WHAT DOES THE HEART OF JESUS SAY IN THE TABERNACLE?
Rise
Walk
Follow Me
Rest a While
A Little While
“It Is I, Do Not Be Afraid”
“But Who do You Say that I Am?”
Are You Able?
Where Are The Nine?
If I Tell the Truth. . .
Have I Been With You So Long, And Yet You Do not Know Me?
VII. ON PRIESTS AND THE LACK OF PRIESTLY TENDERNESS
The Similarity Between a Consecrated Host and a Priest
VIII. HOW JESUS STILL TRIUMPHS TODAY THROUGH THE EUCHARIST
IX. HOW TO LIVE THE MASS!
Conclusion
Orders and Ministries founded by St. Manuel González García
Saint John Paul II in his homily on the beatification of Bishop Manuel Gonzalez Garcia states:
“This was the great passion of the new blessed, Bl. Manuel González García, Bishop of Malaga and later of Palencia. His experience before a deserted tabernacle in Palomares del Río was to mark his whole life, and from that moment he dedicated himself to spreading devotion to the Eucharist, proclaiming the words he subsequently chose as his epitaph: “Here is Jesus! He is here! Do not abandon him!” Bl. Manuel González, founder of the Misioneras Eucarísticas de Nazaret, is a model of Eucharistic faith whose example continues to speak to the Church today.”
Manuel Gonzalez Garcia was canonized on October 16th 2016. We are told in the preface that the writings of this saint are for the most part unknown by the church at large. The majority of his works are only available in Spanish, and a few in French. Hopefully this volume will inspire more people to work on translating them to bring them to the wider audience that need to hear these messages. We are tdol:
“St. Manuel was a prolific writer. In his writings, he always conveyed his extraordinary love for the Blessed Sacrament, providing a Eucharistic formation for the faithful, and especially for catechists and priests. In his pastoral work, the Eucharist was always the starting point of his teaching on spirituality, of his catechetical pedagogy, and in fact, of all his projects. St. Manuel believed that the Person of Christ in the Eucharist had to be the source, the center, and the summit of the Church’s evangelization and catechesis. He experienced the primacy of the Eucharistic mystery very deeply in every aspect of his personal life. Although he lived through a tragic time for the Church in Spain, he was ever capable of drawing hope from the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. He knew that as long as there were still generous souls willing to keep Christ company in Eucharistic Adoration, there was still great hope for the Church.”
I do not know how any Catholic could read this book and not come away with a deeper appreciation for the Eucharist. How they could not desire to spend more time with Christ, and find a way to spend more time in front of a tabernacle. This book will inspire, it will challenge and it will renew your faith.
This is a an incredible read. I will be keeping my eyes open for more books by Saint Manuel González García in English. And know that I will be reading this book again soon. If you want to grow your faith this year, I am certain this book will help you. SO pick it up and give it a read.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!
July 9, 2018
This is one of the most incredible, moving, and heart-wrenching (yes, heart-wrenching!) books I've ever read about Our Lord's True Presence in the Blessed Sacrament, and how much it breaks His Heart when we ignore and neglect Him in His prison of love. Most of the book is drawn from the actual writings of Saint Manuel. As a young priest, he was sent on assignment to a village where he found, to his horror, that hardly anyone there ever went to Mass or stepped foot inside the church. The church was all but abandoned - filthy floor, stained altar linens, dirt and dust everywhere, cobwebs covering the Tabernacle. Shocked and saddened, he knelt down in the filthy sanctuary, and received what he claims was the greatest grace of his life. He felt Our Lord's crushing sadness at being left there alone and ignored, day after day, week after week, year after year. After that mystical experience, Saint Manuel dedicated his whole life to consoling Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and trying to get others to love Him. His words in this book reflect his own burning love and zeal. Every page could be meditated on for weeks without exhausting its beauty.
After reading the first chapter of this book, I made a resolution to never let a day pass that I don't visit a church and keep Jesus company for at least a few minutes. This book has truly been life changing for me. I wish I could give a copy to every Catholic in the whole world!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
After reading the first chapter of this book, I made a resolution to never let a day pass that I don't visit a church and keep Jesus company for at least a few minutes. This book has truly been life changing for me. I wish I could give a copy to every Catholic in the whole world!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
July 23, 2023
This book was translated by Victoria Schneider, but the writings are those of St. Manuel Gonzalez Garcia who died in 1940.
St. Manuel was ordained in 2001 and in 1902, Archbishop Spínola sent him to preach a mission, and when he arrived, Manuel found the church dirty and abandoned. Manuel knelt and prayed in bold faith in the real presence.
This book is one you can read anywhere, but is especially beautiful to be read and prayed with in Adoration. I have been taking my time with this book, a chapter at a time and it is so enriching and brings such love and peace especially when in the presence of the Lord in the Tabernacle or Monstrance. These are the writings of a saint and it is very apparent.
St. Manuel was ordained in 2001 and in 1902, Archbishop Spínola sent him to preach a mission, and when he arrived, Manuel found the church dirty and abandoned. Manuel knelt and prayed in bold faith in the real presence.
This book is one you can read anywhere, but is especially beautiful to be read and prayed with in Adoration. I have been taking my time with this book, a chapter at a time and it is so enriching and brings such love and peace especially when in the presence of the Lord in the Tabernacle or Monstrance. These are the writings of a saint and it is very apparent.
January 31, 2025
In this call from US bishops to have an Eucharistic Revival, to find again the blessing of the Blessed Sacrament in the altar, to again have Catholics genuflect and believe in the Real Presence, a central tenet of our Faith, here we find a saint totally devoted to this concept as a way of stopping the wave of paganism engulfing Western civilization.
This is more than a biography. It is a survey of the thought of St Manuel Gonzalez Garcia. And it is a great little book to take with you during a Holy Hour, as you sit in front of Real Presence, and meditate.
It is also a reminder that Jesus does lie abandoned in many a tabernacle as Catholics lose, but can once acquire, an Eucharistic spirit.
Highly recommended
This is more than a biography. It is a survey of the thought of St Manuel Gonzalez Garcia. And it is a great little book to take with you during a Holy Hour, as you sit in front of Real Presence, and meditate.
It is also a reminder that Jesus does lie abandoned in many a tabernacle as Catholics lose, but can once acquire, an Eucharistic spirit.
Highly recommended
August 14, 2025
I was blessed enough to find this in a little free library, and this book was so enlightening and full of truth. I love the call to Christians to not just be at church or Mass, but to truly engage with the God who loves us so much and has given us everything. Jesus is there, He is with us, all we need to do is stop being so distracted and actually be present. So much will change in our lives when that happens!
I'm certainly challenged and encouraged to do exactly that in my life. The Lord has been so good to me, I don't want to miss a moment of His Presence.
I'm certainly challenged and encouraged to do exactly that in my life. The Lord has been so good to me, I don't want to miss a moment of His Presence.
October 7, 2023
The book starts with a bang by captivating the reader with a provocative premise (i.e., how to take up the spiritual slack for others in a manner that both worships well and loves the other). What follows is a set of reflections that explore how better to look upon duty and devotion as something that fulfills the person and conforms them towards an ideal and Christian life. The remainder of the book, however, better serves as an appendix.
March 9, 2025
Enjoyed the insights and focus on how to live the Eucharist. Might have been just me but really struggled to identify when Schneider was writing and when the writings were from Saint Manuel. I wish the writings from him were italicized or something to make it more obvious. I also would like to have seen more of what documents the writings of his were coming from.
June 1, 2019
I picked this up because the idea of "abondaoned tabernacles" and a bishop who minstered to them intrigued me. This is an amazing gift to all who spend time in Adoration. read it, share it.
March 16, 2022
The book for this generation! Most holy Sacrament of the Altar: Have mercy on us!
August 11, 2024
An excellent book to take to Adoration and contemplate the writings of this saint. There are so many truths in this little book especially this year, 2024 the year of the first Eucharistic Congress in the US in over 80 years. It's a call to pray and to action. We must focus on Jesus.
September 17, 2021
A brief, beautiful, and powerful book that has captured the words of St. Manuel González García, a bishop in Palencia, Spain at the turn of the 19th century . His dedication to the Eucharist not only transformed his own life, but those of his parishioners – and the world. I can say little about this book except to encourage everyone to read it. For Catholics, it draws you into a deeper understanding of the power of Christ's Eucharistic Presence, and the pain He suffers from daily mistreatments in churches around the world. For non-Catholics, it explains the depth of mystical beauty surrounding the Eucharist, and explores why it is so important in the Catholic faith. St. Manuel's words are captivating, as are all the words of the holy men and women who write as Christ's instruments.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews