ELISHEBA BLOGLaura, Ivonne, and Rick
write about their lives in the Eucharist. |
ELISHEBA BLOGLaura, Ivonne, and Rick
write about their lives in the Eucharist. |
By: Laura Worhacz Week 4 theme: "Mother of Adorers" READING -TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY- Consecration to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament St. Peter Julian Eymard, Library Vol. 7 Pages 149-153 (Or pages 145-149 on the online book. You can find the link here:) http://archive.org/stream/monthofourladyof00eymauoft#page/145/mode/1up St Peter Julian Eymard's words: Chapter title: The Eucharist the Center of Mary's Life Mary shared the Eucharistic life of Jesus. Love desires a life in common with the Beloved. She had always shared His life of suffering, consequently with good reason she would live the Eucharistic life of her Divine Son, which is the crown of all the others. Mary lived, by means of the Eucharist, a life altogether interior and hidden, silent, separated from the world, with Jesus for her only witness and confidant. She had but one desire, to love Him still more, "My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in God, my Savior." This Eucharistic contemplation is more active than passive. It is the soul giving itself incessantly to God, under the ever new and ever livelier impression of His goodness, under the ever-increasing action of the flames of His love, which purifies it, detaches it from all earthly things, and unites it more intimately with the Well-Beloved. Prolonged prayer costs little or nothing because freed from all things, it can follow its Savior whithersoever He goeth; nothing urging or calling it elsewhere, it can then study the profound mysteries on which it meditates. It sees things as they really are in Jesus Christ; recollection and contemplation strengthen its sight and render it reflective and penetrating. Perfect must have been Mary's contemplation before the Blessed Sacrament, with the great light of her faith, the purity of her life, the perfect love of her heart. (Mary) drank in long droughts of living waters of grace and of love. She forgot the world about her in order to remain alone with Jesus; for it is a characteristic of love to isolate itself more closely to the beloved. Let the adorer, united to Mary Adoratrix, apply himself with patience, with constancy, to the virtue of recollection, to the exercise of the contemplation of Jesus Christ; studying at first to know Him rather than enjoy Him; for love comes of truth known, and the grace of enlightenment is of more value than the greatest grace of sweetness and consolation. Truth remains, but sentiment passes. Oh, happy the soul which penetrates, as Mary did, the sublimity of this mystery of love, who desires it, who asks it without ceasing, who incessantly exercises itself in it! The Kingdom of God is within it! (abbreviated text) MEDITATION Mary, "had but one desire to love Him still more"..."My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in God, my Savior." In this chapter St. Peter Julian is preparing us for life after our consecration preparation. Where do we go from here? Our lives need to remain in common with the Beloved. Our Lady's commonality is to continuously share in the suffering of her children, to rejoice with them, and to live in the depths of the heart of Christ with them. We, her consecrated children, like our Mother who adores, will share in the sufferings of the whole body of Christ as we adore Him in the Blessed Sacrament. The sorrows of others become ours. We hope the intercession of our prayers will bring consolation. "And if one member suffer any thing, all the members suffer with it; or if one member glory, all the members rejoice with it. " (1 Cor: 12:26) In our Eucharistic relationship with Jesus, we shall receive a confidant and friend that will be everlasting. We too will become sanctified by our hidden, silent life, a life separated from this world. We will become active rather than passive, for the love we absorb from Jesus will be not be kept. A life in God will become an offering. We isolate our security by purifying and strengthening our relationship in prayer, allowing it to be reflective and penetrating to all those we encounter; "A characteristic of love to isolate itself more closely to the beloved." Mary gathers her children in her likeness. We try to make the Eucharist the center of our lives. With Jesus as our center, He will become our spiritual food: Jesus Eucharistic, our confidant, and friend! So fitting that this chapter is close to the conclusion of our preparation days. St. Peter Julian tells us that, "happy the soul which penetrates, as Mary did, the sublimity of this mystery of love." The mysteries of Mary's love remain in her gift of the Most Holy Rosary- praying the Scriptures, the life of her Son, Jesus Christ. Consecration preparation needs to embrace the importance of our continued life in Christ by keeping the Rosary, after our Eucharistic prayer time, sacred. We conclude the little insight we have touched on with the first set of all the mysteries of the Holy Rosary. The first shall be last, as Matthew says, "So shall the last be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen" (Matt. 20:16). The Annunciation, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ sustains us with His life when we receive Him, for He lives on in us. We announce Him to the world. Jesus calls us like Mary to humble service. At the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus fulfills the Incarnation by handing His life freely to the divine will. Mary's humility at the Annunciation is not left without consolation. It is rather blessed all the greater with the conquering of our original sin. Jesus' agony restores our life in the Promise of God our Father. Pride is taken by humility, selfishness is conquered by love, and love is offered to redeem us. The blood Jesus sweat is given to strengthen us to "stay with Him one hour." Pray and make a promise to commit to a weekly Holy Hour after your consecration day. This would be a gift of love offered to God. We pray next, the Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan, this is our entrance into the family of God. We must keep our Baptismal promise alive by our Eucharistic dedication. Jesus and the Father are one, so we too are one with the Father through our life in the Blessed Sacrament in Baptism. We are His beloved children, who are not abandoned but loved. Our Eucharistic life should bring us into the life of the Triune God, where all of our security exists in the reality that we are beloved children of the Father, in and through the life of the Son. Finally, the Resurrection is our "Theological life of faith, hope, and love." Here our continued consecrated life is taken to an experienced life of faith, hope, and love. We live in and through the Blessed Sacrament with our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament by our side. Jesus is the center of Mary's life. He is the center of our lives. With Mary, Jesus will be Announced to us so that we may share in His agony, with Mary, Jesus will be Baptized in us, so that He may be Resurrected in us from His Eucharistic life into the fullness of the Heavenly Kingdom. With all of these gifts, we will live this side of Heaven in the presence of God, who is the Father of the Mother of Adorers. Mary is our Mother of Adorers, who brings us to the Promise of the Father in her Son, Jesus. St. Peter Julian is familiar with the cross of Christ through his earthly pilgrimage. Mary "drank in long droughts of living waters of grace and love." We will apply ourselves with her consistently to the obedience of our prayers with the same faith, hope, and love that she was graced to receive through her interior life. St. Peter Julian tells us that the sentiments will pass us by, but the truth will remain. "But now faith, hope, and love remain--these three. The greatest of these is love." (1 Cor. 13:13) Mary's obedience to the love of God made her perfect. She received God in her body, baptized Him with her love, agonized with Him in His pain, and remained with Him in His Resurrection. We, her loving children adore Jesus, the Mother of Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament. Living out our consecration, we will be fulfilled by our constancy in prayer and recollection, taking it to the activity rather than the passivity of our lives. Blessed children of God we will be when we live in the Eucharist. St. Peter Julian sends us with this, "The Kingdom of God is within it!" SEND Make a perpetual promise to recite a spiritual communion prayer if you cannot get to daily Mass. The faith you place in the prayer is the grace you will receive from it. Continue to journal and prepare for a good and humble confession. Take some time to pray about The Kingdom of God living within you. Ponder these words through your prayers this week: "In your prayer aspire to nourish yourself upon God... This is the secret of true prayer; to discover God's action and plans in His love for us! Then the soul cries out, 'How good you are, oh my God! What can I do for you? What could please you?' That is the flame which rises from the hearth. To attain such a living prayer, we must forget ourselves, or avoid seeking ourselves in any way in prayer. We must simplify the work of our mind by a simple and calm view of God's truths." -St. Peter Julian Eymard Paris, August 27, 1867 Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, have mercy on us. -Laura PRAYER For Week IV to accompany the daily readings, please pray the Litany of the Most Blessed Sacrament. You may continue the prayers from the previous weeks, the Veni Creator, the Ave Maris Stella and the prayer to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. Litany of the Most Blessed Sacrament Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy. Christ, hear us. R. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, R. have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, R. have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, R. have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, Eternal High Priest of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, Divine Victim on the Altar for our salvation, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, hidden under the appearance of bread, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, dwelling in the tabernacles of the world, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, really, truly and substantially present in the Blessed Sacrament, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, abiding in Your fulness, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, Bread of Life, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, Bread of Angels, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, with us always until the end of the world, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, summit and source of all worship and Christian life, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, sign and cause of the unity of the Church, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, adored by countless angels, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, spiritual food, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, Sacrament of love, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, bond of charity, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, greatest aid to holiness, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, gift and glory of the priesthood, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, in which we partake of Christ, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, in which the soul is filled with grace, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, in which we are given a pledge of future glory, R. have mercy on us. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. For those who do not believe in Your Eucharistic presence, R. have mercy, O Lord. For those who are indifferent to the Sacrament of Your love, R. have mercy on us. For those who have offended You in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, R. have mercy on us. That we may show fitting reverence when entering Your holy temple, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may make suitable preparation before approaching the Altar, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may receive You frequently in Holy Communion with real devotion and true humility, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may never neglect to thank You for so wonderful a blessing, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may cherish time spent in silent prayer before You, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may grow in knowledge of this Sacrament of sacraments, R. we beseech You, hear us. That all priests may have a profound love of the Holy Eucharist, R. we beseech You, hear us. That they may celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in accordance with its sublime dignity, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may be comforted and sanctified with Holy Viaticum at the hour of our death, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may see You one day face to face in Heaven, R. we beseech You, hear us. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, R. spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, R. graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, R. have mercy on us, O Lord. V. O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, R. all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine. Let us pray, Most merciful Father, You continue to draw us to Yourself through the Eucharistic Mystery. Grant us fervent faith in this Sacrament of love, in which Christ the Lord Himself is contained, offered and received. We make this prayer through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen. Description: Litany of the Blessed Sacrament: Written by St. Peter Julian Eymard, the founder of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers. This litany is ecclesiastically approved for liturgical use and has the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur.
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By: Laura Worhacz Week 4 theme: "Mother of Adorers"
READING -TWENTY-SIXTH DAY- Consecration to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament St. Peter Julian Eymard, Library Vol. 7 Pages 144-148 (Or pages 141-145 on the online book. You can find the link here:) http://archive.org/stream/monthofourladyof00eymauoft#page/141/mode/1up St Peter Julian Eymard's Words Chapter title: The Divine Spouse and King of the Heart In her adoration, Mary aimed at honoring all the different states of Jesus, at exalting Him under His dearest titles, those which establish most perfectly His empire over men's hearts. She adored Jesus in His capacity of spouse of souls. Union is the end of love. Jesus is a jealous God. The soul, His spouse, must live for Him alone. Woe to him that steals from Jesus the spouse of His Heart! At Cana she prevented the embarrassment of the bride and bridegroom, so does she adorn the faithful soul with her own virtues, in order that Jesus may find it less unworthy of Him. And though Mother of the Church, she was at the same time her daughter, and like the most submissive of her children, she obeyed Peter and John and all priests. She adored Jesus through the Church; through her worship, her liturgical prayers, her priesthood, in company with her children. Beautiful adoration was that which united Mary and the Faithful at the foot of the Most Blessed Sacrament! Mary adored Jesus as King, for the Holy Eucharist the Savior's royalty. ...Truth to triumph over men must pass through the Eucharist, in order to catch some of Its sweetness. Jesus, then, is the King of truth through the Eucharist. Oh, what sighs, what prayers for the Eucharistic reign of Jesus issued from Mary's heart in the Cenacle! The Eucharist spreading and the love of Jesus triumphing everywhere. At last, Jesus will be loved, His Eucharist will find everywhere sympathetic hearts; Its fire will envelop the world and by so doing will completely renew it. O, Divine King! May Thy truth be my ensign of honor; Thy virtues, my shield of defense; Thy love, my word of command; and Thy greater Eucharistic glory, the fruit of my victory! This is the ardent prayer of my heart, which I offer Thee through Mary, the Queen of the Cenacle, and the Mother of Adorers. (abbreviated text) MEDITATION St. Peter Julian Eymard tells us that Jesus is the Divine Spouse and King of the Heart when he says: "Thy virtues, my shield of defense." This thought flows right out of scripture where we hear..."And take unto you the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God)" (Ephesians 6:17). The living Word of God is our virtue and shield of defense, the sword of the spirit, and our helmet of salvation. St. Peter Julian in his Eucharistic mindset says this, "Truth to triumph over men must pass through the Eucharist." We find this truth in the Living Bread that comes down from heaven. We sit, we open our minds, and we try to listen after unlocking our hearts so the mind and heart may meet to "catch some of the sweetness." The Word of God is alive. "For the word of God is living and effectual, and more piercing than any two edged sword; and reaching unto the division of the soul and the spirit, of the joints also and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) What a great gift we have in the scriptures. We make Jesus the divine spouse of our hearts when we listen to all He has pledged to us. How our hearts long to be one with the Word, who has been made flesh and dwells among us. The fire of God's love will envelop the world, and the Eucharistic reign will triumph. God's people long to hear His voice. His voice will call them to the healing power of His Eucharistic Kingdom. Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament adores Jesus in the liturgical prayers. She too hears His voice in the company of her children. Mary unites with us at the foot of the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus, Divine Spouse and King of the Heart, help us to hear your voice in the depths of our longing for Your peace. God's love is evident in the fifth of the mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary, where we continue to find unending graces flowing in the virtues of our Heavenly Father's love. Faithful and true is our God when we pray for fidelity in the Finding of Jesus in the Temple. Fidelity connects to our chapter title: Jesus is the Divine spouse and King of the heart who remains in the Tabernacles of the world, loyal to His loved ones. Jesus leads us by His example, leaving the crowd to be in His Father's house, revealing to us our first call to serve God, a jealous God, who patiently waits for our love. We continue to find Jesus in the temple. Jesus, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, desiring to give us His living Word, reflects His life to us by the virtues that stream out of His Eucharistic Heart. There is so much to pray upon in the fifth of the sorrowful mysteries, The Crucifixion of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We ponder this greatest of mysteries by simply begging Him for our faithfulness from the Finding in the Temple to the cross of His Love. The Crucifixion, the Redemption of our fallen nature, is restored to the Promise of Our Father, our Creator. Jesus' faithful love to the Heavenly Father when he was found in the Temple is the same faithful love He offers in the ultimate sacrifice of humility, calling out from the cross for us to return love, to die to self so to live for others. From ages past the faithful have found divine wisdom in gazing upon the Cross of Christ. The love Jesus poured upon us is the love He longs for in return. Jesus does not leave us at the cross of His life or ours. Jesus leaves us The Institution of the Holy Eucharist. In the luminous mysteries, we give thanksgiving to Our Eucharistic Lord who remains with us in Holy Communion. The Blessed Sacrament is the living truth that will help us to be faithful servants to God, who will bless us with His promised glory. The same glory is finally reflected when Our Blessed Mother is crowned Queen of Heaven and earth. The Promise of the Heavenly Father adorns His beloved daughter for her life giving service in the likeness of Her Son. We, her consecrated children, who belong to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, will become spouses to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by offering, like Mary, our lives to Him. We are left with this practice, "We should pray constantly to Mary to extend the Eucharistic reign of Jesus Christ throughout the whole world.'' The practice lives on by praying. Praying with Mary before the Blessed Sacrament, praying with Mary in our Rosaries, along with all of our other prayerful devotions, this is where we find a life that will never end. The grace of our prayers will unfold to the end of our days here on earth. Our lives will rejoice in our Savior. God longs to reign in our hearts. We can change the course of salvation for the glory of God and His goodness through the intercession of our prayers. Prayer changes things according to His Divine Will. We find Jesus in our fidelity and in our own crucifixions. We find Him greater when we die to self and live for others. We need the nourishment of the Holy Eucharist upon the reception of Holy Communion. The continuous prayers we offer will keep us in the luminous love of God. We too will be crowned like Mary at the end of our days if we persevere to the end like our good Mother who received her crown by the perseverance of her own self-annihilation. Our union with Mary will keep us loving her as Queen and Mother, who will keep us in the truth and honor of Jesus. "May thy truth be my ensign of honor; greater Eucharistic glory, the fruit of my victory! This is the ardent prayer of my heart, which I offer Thee through Mary, the Queen of the Cenacle, and the Mother of Adorers." -St. Peter Julian SEND Make a perpetual promise to recite a spiritual communion prayer if you cannot get to daily Mass. The faith you place in the prayer is the grace you will receive from it. Continue to journal and prepare for a good and humble confession. With Jesus as King of your heart reach out to someone who may need to hear His voice through you. Ponder these words through your prayers this week: "In your prayer aspire to nourish yourself upon God. This is the secret of true prayer; to discover God's action and plans in His love for us! Then the soul cries out, 'How good you are, oh my God! What can I do for you? What could please you?' That is the flame which rises from the hearth. To attain such a living prayer, we must forget ourselves, or avoid seeking ourselves in any way in prayer. We must simplify the work of our mind by a simple and calm view of God's truths." -St. Peter JulianEymard Paris, August 27, 1867 Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, have mercy on us. -Laura PRAYER For Week IV to accompany the daily readings, please pray the Litany of the Most Blessed Sacrament. You may continue the prayers from the previous weeks, the Veni Creator, the Ave Maris Stella and the prayer to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. Litany of the Most Blessed Sacrament Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy. Christ, hear us. R. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, R. have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, R. have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, R. have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, Eternal High Priest of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, Divine Victim on the Altar for our salvation, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, hidden under the appearance of bread, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, dwelling in the tabernacles of the world, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, really, truly and substantially present in the Blessed Sacrament, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, abiding in Your fulness, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, Bread of Life, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, Bread of Angels, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, with us always until the end of the world, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, summit and source of all worship and Christian life, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, sign and cause of the unity of the Church, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, adored by countless angels, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, spiritual food, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, Sacrament of love, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, bond of charity, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, greatest aid to holiness, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, gift and glory of the priesthood, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, in which we partake of Christ, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, in which the soul is filled with grace, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, in which we are given a pledge of future glory, R. have mercy on us. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. For those who do not believe in Your Eucharistic presence, R. have mercy, O Lord. For those who are indifferent to the Sacrament of Your love, R. have mercy on us. For those who have offended You in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, R. have mercy on us. That we may show fitting reverence when entering Your holy temple, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may make suitable preparation before approaching the Altar, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may receive You frequently in Holy Communion with real devotion and true humility, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may never neglect to thank You for so wonderful a blessing, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may cherish time spent in silent prayer before You, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may grow in knowledge of this Sacrament of sacraments, R. we beseech You, hear us. That all priests may have a profound love of the Holy Eucharist, R. we beseech You, hear us. That they may celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in accordance with its sublime dignity, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may be comforted and sanctified with Holy Viaticum at the hour of our death, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may see You one day face to face in Heaven, R. we beseech You, hear us. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, R. spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, R. graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, R. have mercy on us, O Lord. V. O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, R. all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine. Let us pray, Most merciful Father, You continue to draw us to Yourself through the Eucharistic Mystery. Grant us fervent faith in this Sacrament of love, in which Christ the Lord Himself is contained, offered and received. We make this prayer through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen. Description: Litany of the Blessed Sacrament: Written by St. Peter Julian Eymard, the founder of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers. This litany is ecclesiastically approved for liturgical use and has the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur. By: Laura Worhacz Week 4 theme: "Mother of Adorers" READING -TWENTY-FIFTH DAY- Consecration to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament St. Peter Julian Eymard, Library Vol. 7 Pages 138-143 (Or pages 135-140 on the online book. You can find the link here:) http://archive.org/stream/monthofourladyof00eymauoft#page/135/mode/1up St Peter Julian Eymard's words: Chapter title: Mary's Apostolate The soul that lives on the Eucharist ought to occupy itself, before everything else, with the interests of this Adorable Sacrament. Now the first and dearest of all these interests to Jesus is His priesthood. It is through the priest that the Blessed Sacrament is given to us. By priests, Jesus receives that sacramental life which He consecrates to the glory of His Father; by them, He has given them all His rights and all His power. Pray, therefore, for the priesthood; beg for vocations to it may be multiplied; labor to obtain holy, zealous priests for people. This was Mary's prayer, the priest is Mary's privileged child. The priest formed by Mary!- O good and holy priest, how well Jesus will receive thee! The priest is the father of Jesus Eucharistic, the spiritual king of souls: he is a god on earth, terrenus Deus, who has received all the riches of God- who opens and closes heaven. The mission and the duties of the priest in regard to the Eucharist and in regard to souls are the same as those of Mary. The priest is, first of all, an adorer and the guardian of the Blessed Sacrament. He must begin at the foot of the altar his exterior apostolate. Mary in the Cenacle! Behold the Divine Mother in her first duty. Her office there is that of an adorer. She adores by taking care of the Eucharistic worship. She repairs the glory of God outraged by sinners. Behold the faithful priest- one who understands the favor of the Savior's love for him- owes to Jesus! She revealed the mysteries of His life to the Apostles and the Evangelists. She spoke incessantly of Him and made Him loved by all around. She was the first zealatrix of Jesus. She loves them (Priests) for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. If we love the Eucharist, if we desire to have It served, preached, loved by all, let us incessantly beg of Jesus, through Mary, to give us holy priests, apostolic workers, faithful adorers. The glory of the Blessed Sacrament and the salvation of the world are at stake. (abbreviated text) MEDITATION "The priest is Mary's privileged child." St. Peter Julian Eymard understands the mission and duty of the sacred priesthood. He understands the immense importance of priests held by Our Blessed Mother. Our Lady knows Jesus receives His Sacramental Life, which He glorifies to the Father, through the priesthood. We as her consecrated children have an obligation to pray fervently for priests, to restore any dignity that may be lost due to our humanity. We can consider it a grievous sin to engage in gossip about a priest. Offer to pray if anyone suggests conversation of one. If you feel you need find a good and holy confessor to confide in, do so, but never engage in talk with others, rather pray. For the hands of the priest confect the Eucharist at the altar of the Lord through the power of Almighty God. This is the epitome of gifts this side of heaven hold. We pray for our priests for they are the ones who open and close the door to heaven. Mary's Apostolate was graced with the knowledge that her priests stand in the person of her Son during the Mass. She holds them as her privileged children. Souls who live on the Eucharist must treasure the sacred priesthood and occupy with Mary, the Mother of Adorers, the intercession of our love for our priests, for their mission, and for their duties. St. Peter Julian reminds us that, "She reveals the mysteries of His life." We should offer our daily rosary for priests. Meditating on the Fourth Mysteries, we begin with the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. In this mystery, we pray for purity of heart, mind, body, soul, and obedience. Mary brings her priests to the temple to offer them this grace. The Carrying of the Cross, the next in the thread of fourth mysteries, obliges us to pray for patience amongst our sufferings. Purity will bring us here, for we begin to understand the offering and the grace that will come from carrying our sorrows. The saints grasped this gift and longed for sacrifices to offer, to beg for graces to come down upon them. We remember the Transfiguration at every Holy Mass, recalling Mount Tabor. This is our consolation in the Eucharistic Lord. We too would only want to say like St. Peter, "Lord it would be good for us to stay here" yet the mission of our lives needs to be fulfilled. We face crosses, toils, and disappointments. We need the altar (Mount Tabor) to remember when we are in the face of evils, that Jesus will raise us back to the mountaintop in the illumination of His graces received in Holy Communion. Jesus will remind us of the Father's words, "This is my beloved son/daughter in whom I am well pleased". The Assumption is the most glorious reminder that God will never be outdone in His generosity. Our Blessed Mother was assumed from her pain, taken by the love of her Father to heaven. To know Jesus through Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament will reveal all the mysteries of Jesus Christ to our hearts and souls. Mary's Apostolate will live on in her children, and Jesus Eucharistic will be with us unto the end of the world. "The priest is the father of Jesus Eucharist." St. Peter Julian's love for his own divine office is a passion of his love for the Blessed Sacrament, for he knows the priest is needed to continue the life of Christ in God's Holy Mother Church. St. Peter Julian knows too that we need to pray for our Lady, to continue to form relationships with her priests for, "She was the first zealatrix of Jesus." Zealatrx is a serious word for a serious mission. Mary's mission is our mission. We pray with her for the most sacred and high office this side of heaven, which lives in God's priests. The indelible mark placed upon the soul of a priest is the mark that consecrates the Eucharistic sacrifice. Mary's duty is appointed to her by God the Father to behold her priests. God's promise is fulfilled in the redemptive life of His Son, Jesus Christ. Our Blessed Mother was the privileged one to bring Jesus into the world. God chose no other way than through the heart, life, soul, and womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The priests live in Jesus' person, in persona Christi. Mary too must keep them in her heart, soul, life, and womb. The same way she carried Jesus. The children carry out the mission of the family, so we with Mary honor the sacred priesthood. We restore by our love anything humanity may have shattered. The priest is the father of the Eucharist. We need to pray for good and holy priests. Mother of Adorers help us to pray for, "The glory of the Blessed Sacrament and the salvation of the world are at stake" (St Peter Julian). Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament your apostolate is ours, teach us to be like you the Mother of Adorers. "And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35) SEND Make a perpetual promise to recite a spiritual communion prayer if you cannot get to daily Mass. The faith you place in the prayer is the grace you will receive from it. Continue to journal and prepare for a good and humble confession. Pray with Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament for priests try to identify with them all the duties of their life and offer a hidden sacrifice for the gift of their love. Ponder these words through your prayers this week: "In your prayer aspire to nourish yourself upon God. This is the secret of true prayer; to discover God's action and plans in His love for us! Then the soul cries out, 'How good you are, oh my God! What can I do for you? What could please you?' That is the flame which rises from the hearth. To attain such a living prayer, we must forget ourselves, or avoid seeking ourselves in any way in prayer. We must simplify the work of our mind by a simple and calm view of God's truths." -St. Peter JulianEymard Paris, August 27, 1867 Our Lady of The Blessed Sacrament pray for us, - Laura PRAYER For Week IV to accompany the daily readings, please pray the Litany of the Most Blessed Sacrament. You may continue the prayers from the previous weeks, the Veni Creator, the Ave Maris Stella and the prayer to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. Litany of the Most Blessed Sacrament Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy. Christ, hear us. R. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, R. have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, R. have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, R. have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, Eternal High Priest of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, Divine Victim on the Altar for our salvation, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, hidden under the appearance of bread, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, dwelling in the tabernacles of the world, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, really, truly and substantially present in the Blessed Sacrament, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, abiding in Your fulness, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, Bread of Life, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, Bread of Angels, R. have mercy on us. Jesus, with us always until the end of the world, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, summit and source of all worship and Christian life, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, sign and cause of the unity of the Church, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, adored by countless angels, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, spiritual food, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, Sacrament of love, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, bond of charity, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, greatest aid to holiness, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, gift and glory of the priesthood, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, in which we partake of Christ, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, in which the soul is filled with grace, R. have mercy on us. Sacred Host, in which we are given a pledge of future glory, R. have mercy on us. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. For those who do not believe in Your Eucharistic presence, R. have mercy, O Lord. For those who are indifferent to the Sacrament of Your love, R. have mercy on us. For those who have offended You in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, R. have mercy on us. That we may show fitting reverence when entering Your holy temple, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may make suitable preparation before approaching the Altar, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may receive You frequently in Holy Communion with real devotion and true humility, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may never neglect to thank You for so wonderful a blessing, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may cherish time spent in silent prayer before You, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may grow in knowledge of this Sacrament of sacraments, R. we beseech You, hear us. That all priests may have a profound love of the Holy Eucharist, R. we beseech You, hear us. That they may celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in accordance with its sublime dignity, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may be comforted and sanctified with Holy Viaticum at the hour of our death, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may see You one day face to face in Heaven, R. we beseech You, hear us. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, R. spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, R. graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, R. have mercy on us, O Lord. V. O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, R. all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine. Let us pray, Most merciful Father, You continue to draw us to Yourself through the Eucharistic Mystery. Grant us fervent faith in this Sacrament of love, in which Christ the Lord Himself is contained, offered and received. We make this prayer through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen. Description: Litany of the Blessed Sacrament: Written by St. Peter Julian Eymard, the founder of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers. This litany is ecclesiastically approved for liturgical use and has the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur. |
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AuthorsWe are Ivonne J. Hernandez, Rick Hernandez and Laura Worhacz, Lay Associates of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, and brothers and sisters in Christ. |