By: Laura Worhacz

Genuine progress: You say that you are not improving? Know that genuine progress consists in doing God’s holy will, in forever plucking up one’s courage, in rising after every fall, and in always saying, “I’ll do better.” -  Saint Peter Julian Eymard (Eymard Library, Volume 6, page 239)

Dearest Eucharistic Family,

“Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5:48) Here again we find an invitation from Jesus to enter into His holy life, “be perfect”. In opposition to these words lives a force that is constantly trying to vacuum us into winds of destruction, yet there is a mounting reality that comes from the Altar of God, a place to secure our souls in the Holy Eucharist.
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This Lenten season I asked Jesus to refresh my love for Him. Jesus prayed; He prayed to transmit LIFE from Our Father’s creative love. Jesus’ perfection was formed in His Triune existence. Mary, our mother, was incarnated into this holy place. She lived in the Trinity and espoused herself to the Holy Spirit; her perfections were enabled by this gift. The interior consent to Our Father’s love enfolds us into His gracious will. Our choices to freely love flow out of our reception of Communion. Our trust and security in God’s love will be nourished in our prayer time.

In my younger years I remember a time in life when I felt very far from perfect. God seemed far away.  I knew He was in existence yet could not touch Him. The pure gift we have in the Blessed Sacrament and our grace to know Jesus in this intimate way brings God’s love to us. My imperfections are made ever more present to me now, yet the gift embraced in the Eucharist enables us to take courage.

Saint Peter Julian was proclaimed at his canonization to be “An Outstanding Apostle of the Eucharist”. He lived in the gift of God’s perfections, God’s life, love, and gift of His Son in the Blessed Sacrament. Saint Peter Julian’s counsel to remain in God’s holy will, to take courage and rise when we fall seem like a perfect reminder during this holy season of Lent.  May Jesus make us His holy people, those who strive to be perfect by loving Him ever more -- PERFECT by serving Jesus and thanking Him for His Passionate death that has granted us eternal life.
 

By: Laura Worhacz

“Mary adored the hidden state of Jesus’ Divinity and Humanity in His Sacrament, veiled that man might not attach himself to the glory and beauty of His person, but should go freely to the Divinity of the Word.” - Saint Peter Julian Eymard (Eymard Library, Volume 7, page 129)
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Dearest Eucharistic Family,

In the above excerpt the word hidden seems to be prominent to my thoughts. Saint Peter Julian goes on that we “should go freely to the Divinity of the Word.”  The letter of the law is written on the heart and we are asked to lift up our hearts at every celebration of the Eucharist. In the depths of the heart is the hidden life of God within, the place of our souls where we are in relationship with Jesus, freely.  The Divinity of God reigns in this place and we are made “right and just”.

The Lenten season is almost upon us; Ash Wednesday is this coming week. What is going through our minds to offer to God?  Perhaps our hearts are the place to begin our Lenten offering. Opening up to the Divine life may be an expression of deep soul searching, a place where we see our faults and failures. Releasing the negativity and embracing the positive is transformative. Lord help me to see the good in everything, I mean everything, everything! God is working in all. Jesus has shown us the way to this Divine/Human life. He was tempted; however, He did not sin. Jesus remained hidden in His Father’s love, veiled in the holy will of God. The freedom to choose the good is strengthened by our self-sacrifice. Lent offers us an opportunity to grow in grace, God’s strength.

Today we celebrate the Chair of Saint Peter. We focus not on his martyrdom, but rather on his Seat of Authority. The unity in which St. Peter was called to lead us in is exemplified in his role as Pope.  St. Peter was called to build our Church on the foundation (rock) of his hidden life with Jesus. St. Peter’s relationship with Jesus, his love for Jesus, and his commitment to return charity to Jesus, all formed his leadership. May our Lenten season be blessed by the offering of our hearts and an openness to God’s life in us. Let us be receptive and consciously aware of the Divine life in us as we live in the humanity of our Eucharistic lives -- hidden and then seen!

“I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers” (Lk 22:32).

By: Laura Worhacz

"It is by suffering that we are sanctified, by crosses and trials that the soul is strengthened, freed from self, in order that it may find its satisfaction in God, and God alone. This is the lesson of the mystery of Mary’s Purification, and of Jesus’ Presentation in the Temple." - Saint Peter Julian Eymard  (Volume 7 Eymard Library, page 75)
 
Dearest Eucharistic Family,

On February 2nd our Catholic Church celebrates Candlemas, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. In this great mystery there is an array of spiritual insight for us. The Spirit of God dwells in Jesus, being brought to the Temple. In the fourth decade of our joyful rosaries we may pray for the virtue of purity of heart and obedience to God’s Holy Will as we meditate on the presentation. Mary brings Jesus to the temple for the first time after his birth. She is elated to bring her Son to God and finds there the spirit of God in a message that is unexpected, “(and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34).

Where would we be without the CROSS? Most of humanity desires to be in bliss, yet God is not always found there. God is found in offering ourselves as our Savior did, presented by our Mother in the Temple. Mary is with us, as our guardian, our precious mother, with St. Joseph by our side. The Spirit of God is gift. It is a gift of life, of self, and an offering. Jesus’ life came to birth. An offering was freely given with what His parents had, small as it was in His temple, two turtle doves. Whatever we have to offer in our church today is the perfect gift for God, and the spirit of God will dwell in it. Love is offered in many measures, and longed for by our Father. The Crucifixion is the reality of our Christian life. When we find consolation in our sufferings, God’s spirit will be exemplified. The emptying of self, the offering of our gifts in the temple, will bring us true consolation. Mary embraced the message from Simeon, as excruciating as it was, and lived her life in JESUS. We are called to do the same. To pick up our CROSS and live in the Eucharist! This is the JOY of the Gospel, the Spirit of God, and the passion of God’s love found.
 

By: Laura Worhacz

​“But the mission dearest to Mary ‘s heart was that of constant prayer…”  - Saint Peter Julian Eymard

Dearest Eucharistic Family,

Mary guides us through our journey of faith. The mission of our Catholic Church continues through the Cross of Jesus Christ for our eternal salvation. Living in the mystery of our suffering and allowing the pain to be offered in humble service is the revelation of the saints. Grace pours out of the unknown. Our hidden and submissive offerings are those we may be tempted to think unseen.  God’s vision of love for our lives is seen in the silence.

Mary’s mission was that of constant prayer. If we think of our Lady’s prayer… How did she pray? She was not praying the rosary as we know it now, or the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. It seems Mary lived in a constant state of prayer. This union of prayer granted her to be the first missionary of our Catholic Church. I have been praying for years the rosary, chaplet, and many personal devotions. The prayers take my heart home to the Catholic Church and bring me into greater union with God. However, when Raymond (my husband) was in ICU for two weeks after his recent liver transplant surgery my prayer lived in the deep silence of my soul. I was blessed in those weeks to get to an early morning Mass. Receiving Communion was everything to remind my soul of its mission. The rest of the days were a blur, busy with nurses, doctors and taking care of Raymond. Our mission begins with fulfilling the duties of our state in life. The mission is granted by our interior consent to God’s Holy Will. Obedience to silent time with our Father, and receiving His son, sets us on our course. There are times we are in control of our prayer and other times we are tossed about, yet by the gift of the Eucharist we are still within, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46).

The Holy Spirit will guide our paths and all the work thereafter. God is so gracious; He offers us freedom; we give permission to His life in us. His grace is ever ready to be poured out to us. The mission of our Catholic Church begins in the heart of each believer. Where God extends our mission will be granted one breath at a time. We pray, like Mary, for our constant prayer of consent to be where our mission on earth begins.

 Happy and blessed New Year to you and your families. 

By: Laura Worhacz

“You know my wishes for you are always the same: let us truly love our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us love him royally in his beloved Sacrament; let us serve him with joy and happiness, like the Angels and Saints in Heaven. Let us find everything good, everything fine which comes to us from his fatherly hand. Let us lovingly surrender to him our worries for the future, forgiveness for the past, and walk under the beautiful sun of his grace.” -  Saint Peter Julian Eymard (The Life and Letters of Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Vol.4)

Dearest Eucharistic Family,

Looking for the perfect gift for Christmas?

Most of you know Raymond, my husband, had liver transplant surgery this past November 16th in NYC. We have left our home in Tampa for an indefinite amount of time so Raymond can be close to his medical team. The first year after this extensive surgery is a critical time, and Ray needs to be watched very closely. Clinging to the Eucharist has kept my family secure in God’s love during this alteration in our lives. Lovingly surrendering our own wants to the pathway of Heaven found in our hearts, will keep us close to the Angels and Saints, to the goodness of Our Father. God desires a return of our love. The perfect Christmas gift may be spending more time with our Lord, falling in Love with Jesus more each day.

Change is something often feared and handed over to anxieties. As we lovingly surrender by living in the grace of the moment through the Eucharist, the will of God births into our existence. Our freedom demands our choices; this includes our dispositions. Acts of our own will are important for us to recognize. Sacramental grace lives through us. We can cast out darkness by turning on the light. Have you woken up sad? Transform the sadness by calling upon the Lord, “Jesus cast out the sadness in my soul. Turn all to Your glory. Help me give thanks.”

The Liturgical seasons afford us opportunities to love Jesus more, especially in His beloved Sacrament of the Eucharist. Thanking Him for dying so that goodness may be found in our lives, focusing on our own faults, purifying our own souls, and shining a light on what God may want from us, is a Christmas gift to be cherished. By this dying to our own selves we become a gift to God and others, and only in the Eucharist can we find the grace to live in Heaven while on earth.

Saint Peter Julian Eymard, after a long retreat in Rome, close to his own death, opened his heart to the fullness of the reality of becoming a total Gift of Self. He lovingly surrendered all for the service of the adorable Sacrament of the Altar. In our faith we find the hope of our eternal dwelling place. Jesus lovingly surrendered; His birth brought light to the world. Jesus lovingly surrendered; His passion demonstrated the truth in existence of His love. Jesus lovingly surrendered; His death gifted us with an eternal place of GRACE. In the Blessed Sacrament let us find the perfect gift, the gift of self by lovingly surrendering for Christmas.
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Christmas Blessings!
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By: Laura Worhacz 

 What I would like to ask God for you is unchanging fidelity in the love of his ever holy and gracious Will, especially upon you. Whether it be desolation, joy, sorrow, the presence or absence of human beings, let these not change your interior life. Place your soul above the realm of storms and atmospheric changes; on the contrary, may events only produce outward changes, leaving your will always united to the holy Will of God. Oh, blessed a thousand times blessed is the soul that lives in this divine life! Then, it understands the burning words of St. Paul: "Who will separate me from the love of Jesus Christ? Nothing" (Rm 8:35).[1]  
– Saint Peter Julian Eymard
 
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Dearest Eucharist Family,

It is with great joy and thanksgiving that my husband, Raymond received a liver transplant on November 16th, 2019.  As I ponder on the weeks that have passed, the intensity of the reality that I could never have endured the trials of this experience without the Blessed Sacrament is apparent. Condition yourselves, get strong in Christ. It is through obedience to the reception of daily holy Communion that the grace of God sustains us to such an extent of joy and thanksgiving amid sudden changes in our lives.

I am rejoicing in my heart recounting every blessing, grace and prayer God has granted to allow Raymond the miracle of having liver transplant surgery. Each and every prayer has called down a great blessing from Heaven. Leaving home so suddenly, spending two weeks in the hospital, day and night…caretaking for someone to this extent is a humbling experience. Each morning God would allow me the grace of time to get to Holy Mass throughout Raymond's hospital stay. There were a couple of days when I entered the church, knelt down to pray, and a flood of tears fell forth from my eyes. A few days I would feel numb staring at the Tabernacle or before the Blessed Sacrament in the Monstrance. On the Solemnity of Christ the King, my heart was rejoicing beyond explanation, dancing, singing in my soul. The Divine Life walks with our human existence; there may be fears, tears, joys and sorrows, yet the love of God is with us and "nothing", as Saint Peter Julian quotes St. Paul, can take us from the love of God found in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
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Raymond's new liver came from a 62-year-old man who passed from a stroke. I will pray for the deceased every day for the rest of my life. The surgeon declared Raymond's liver fully diseased; he would not have survived much longer with it. The new liver is already working, and Raymond's body is happy to have an organ that is not diseased. The new organ is getting to know the other parts of his body and so it is with the Body of Christ. As we relinquish our sins and live in the forgiveness of God's love, we grow closer to our loved ones. We become united, whole, and function as Our Father would want us to in His Divine LOVE, His Divine life. This is the God of Heaven's gracious and holy Will, to live in His Son through the Eucharist and within it the whole human family.

Let the Holy Spirit guide us so we may live in the grace of the moment. Holding back from imagining too much yet preparing; restraining from thinking of what may happen to the extent of anxieties, "Be Still and Know that I am God!” (Psalm 46).  Offering with you unchanging fidelity to God's ever gracious Will. We live in the freedom of our existence. As we enter into the new Liturgical year, may we be aware more than ever to make the love of God known in the Eucharist. Jesus is with us, the Divine Life on earth as it is in HEAVEN. Happy New Liturgical Year!

We beseech You, O God, to help us earnestly ask for the grace to promise to be ever more faithful to the Blessed Sacrament of Your love; to make a greater commitment to spend time with Jesus Eucharistic -- a vow, if you will -- to receive Him as much as our daily duties allow, or at least to offer a Spiritual Communion if we cannot receive Him sacramentally.

St. Peter Julian Eymard, Apostle of the Eucharist, pray for us, Saint Andrew, pray for us. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament keep us in the halls of Heaven. 
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[1] Counsels for Spiritual Life, page 31

By: Laura Worhacz

​“…it is because she approached nearer than any other to the perfection of His humility.” - Saint Peter Julian Eymard (Eymard Library Volume 7, page 167)

Dearest Eucharistic Family,

Do this in memory… of Me -- Humility present in the Blessed Sacrament and the Word of God. The Eucharist is our food for the journey of grace; God’s Word humbles our existence. In the above excerpt, St. Peter Julian reminds us to consider the humility of Mary; her salvation came forth from listening to the voice of God. Mary was closest to the humility of God. Jesus lived in her womb; his birth into her life brought love to others. Recall all the times you needed to hear God’s voice and have opened to a scripture that affirmed, consoled, guided, and sometimes chastised you. Mary listened to the voice of Jesus in life; the humility in which He lived and died, she absorbed.

Over 20 years ago my husband had his gallbladder removed. It was then that we learned of the beginning of his liver disease. He went in for surgery and I found myself in the hospital chapel. There was a Bible, which happened to be open on the book of Job. I began reading and reading… and reading. The nurse came into the chapel to inform me the surgery was complete. In what seemed like a flash of time, the surgery was over; I was immersed in the word of God. This experience called me to greater communion with God; it led me to daily Mass. I often think of people who are not nourished by God’s Word. Like many of you, I did not grow up listening to the Word of God. I am elated to know now that I have been blessed to hear God’s voice. With that, I have a deep desire to share the fire of God’s love in His Word, in the Eucharist, in His LOVE.

Mary's salvation began on earth from the streams of life that came forth from hearing God's voice. The humility Jesus lived on earth, died for and rose with, remains as a gift in the Eucharist. Mary has followed the way to salvation through the humility of Jesus. She witnessed the humility that was transformed into the Eucharist after the death of her son. Our Father in Heaven gave us the gift of salvation through Jesus' love. The humility of Christ was taken on by Mary in Word and deed; she leads us in the way of salvation. Let’s take some time today to pray to the Holy Spirit and send a scripture passage to someone who may only hear God’s voice through our intercession. Blessings!