Concluding Week - Day 1

By: Laura Worhacz

Consecration Week Theme: MARY'S TRIUMPH


READING

-TWENTY-NINTH DAY-
Consecration to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament St. Peter Julian Eymard, Library Vol. 7 Pages 159-164

(Or pages 152-157 on the online book. You can find the link here:)
http://archive.org/stream/monthofourladyof00eymauoft#page/152/mode/1up


St Peter Julian Eymard's words:

Chapter title: The Perfect Servant of The Blessed Sacrament
 
"Behold the handmaid of the Lord!" Her whole life was passed serving Him in the most perfect manner. She is the perfect model in our Eucharistic service. Her service in the cenacle sums up her whole life. The spirit of a servant of Jesus is thus defined; devoted love to the Blessed Sacrament in the spirit and virtues of the Blessed Virgin.
 
Devotedness longs for one thing only, and that is to give pleasure and to fulfill its duty. Our Lord does not ask us to serve Him in the outside world, not even in souls; but He says to us: "To ascend My throne of love, I must have adorers. Without such, I cannot be solemnly exposed. You will be attached to My Person; you will exist for Me, as I shall live for you. You shall go so far as totally to renounce your own will, for I want it for Myself. Renounce your personal interests, I will assume them." A king desires to build up the the fortune of his subjects, though he does not tell them what he is going to do. So the field that we have to cultivate is our Lord Himself, Him alone. He retains us for Himself and commits Himself to our care. And the reward of this devotedness? It is to live near the King, to please Him, to be His favorites. Ah, let us serve Him for His own glory and efface ourselves in everything!
 
This devotedness ought, then, to be the devotedness of pure love, pure Eucharistic love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. This love should absorb all else to become associated with the Eucharist! To become one of the staff of Jesus Christ! What is there greater on earth or in heaven? Love flies; it loves the service of Jesus better than its own repose, its own gratification. When we do not love, we do not want to go too fast, we delay our steps. But, like Mary, let us fly to the service of adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist who is waiting for us.
 
The service of our Lord is, therefore, a duty for us as it was for Mary. You are called to serve Him and not yourself. Let us be true servants of the Blessed Sacrament, as Mary was; servants who have no longer any other interests, no longer any personality, who are entirely consumed in the service of Jesus. What a beautiful title is this-the "handmaid," the servant of the Lord. It is the only one that she gave herself. Ah if anyone should be humble and devoted it is the servant of the Lord! Adoration is the sum total of her whole life.
 
Therefore, to serve Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, after the example of our Lady of the Cenacle, and as she did- there is the life of the true servant. His motto is: "All for the service of Jesus Eucharistic, in union with Mary!" Abbreviated text
 
 
 
 
 
MEDITATION
 
"Love flies; it loves the service of Jesus better than its own repose, its own gratification." St. Peter Julian is surely expressing his own life in the Eucharist here as he expresses love for Our Lady. Make your life a living prayer. This will be our lives after our consecration promise. Everything we do should be silently entwined in our union with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament through Mary. Our Lady is the Handmaid of the Lord, for she served Jesus perfectly. She adores him from the womb to His glorified life, and still adores Him with us in His Eucharistic life. When we ask Mary to clothe us in the virtues of her love we are asking her to clothe us in the hidden life of Jesus Eucharistic. Mary is the perfect servant of the Blessed Sacrament. Why? Because Mary worships her son, she adores God. St. Peter Julian sees this in Mary, "Renounce your personal interests, I will assume them." The scriptures confirm St. Peter Julian's word through Isaiah, " The Light of Israel will become a fire,
the Holy One, a flame, that burns and consumes its briers and its thorns in a single day." (Isaiah 6:17) Mary's graces are multiplied. She is inviting us to trust in the fact that all we need will be given to us and so much more when we serve Jesus Eucharistic. The grace-filled strength this lowly handmaid encompasses in her soul can only come from the grace of God. Mary is the perfect servant, for after her worship she cares for her children, you and me. This is her daily duty. St. Peter Julian tells us we need to be attached to Jesus' person in the Blessed Sacrament. The grace we need to carry out our own daily duties, whatever they may be, needs to flow from our life in the Eucharistic Lord through the heart of our Mother. St. Peter Julian tells us we need not serve the world. Our devotion needs to be serving Jesus Eucharistic. Our service will then take flight through His love and fly!
 
When we enter into the mystery of God's love more deeply St. Peter Julian reminds us that we will not know where He will take us, "Though he does not tell them what he is going to do." Jesus simply asks us to be devoted. His life in us will then manifest in all we do; "To become associated with the Eucharist! to become one of the staff of Jesus Christ! What is there greater on earth or in heaven?" We will serve Jesus most perfectly when we serve Him with Mary. Children who love their mom want to emulate her, to be like her for all that she gives. We who are Mary's children must meditate on her heart, emulate the love that comes from it, and give back for all that she sacrifices. We do not know where He will take us nor do we know the hour or moment in which He will come to us." Therefore, stay awake,for you know neither the day nor the hour." (Matt. 25:13) But we do know He has prepared a place for us; " And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." (John 14:13) Mary, help us to love. Lead us to be perfect servants of the Blessed Sacrament. Help us to enter into the mystery of God's love.
 
Jesus wants us to adore Him because He loves us so much. Our time with Him is our only way to salvation. Jesus knows we need the graces that flow from his Eucharistic Heart. Take this grace from His Eucharistic Heart and apply it to your own life. Pray when you are before the Blessed Sacrament, St. Peter Julian suggests to let your prayer flow from adoring, to Thanksgiving, to forgiveness, and lastly, to intercessions. Ask how to love Jesus more. Pray deeply for the duties your life is calling you to and how you can bring your Eucharistic love into your day by never separating from the presence of God within you. St. Peter Julian tells us that, "Adoration is the sum total of her whole life." If Adoration is the sum of Mary's whole life, this means adoration never left her. Mary brought adoration into her whole life. This is how life becomes a living prayer. We have been given an invitation to make a fervent Spiritual Communion if we cannot attend daily Mass. This practice is an entrance into a life of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. If your state in life does not offer you even a small opportunity to sit before the Eucharist, sit at home. Make your home a house of prayer. It may cost you some sleep but rise and pray. Make a holy hour at home, or a holy half hour or even twenty minutes. Set a routine and follow it as best as you can. Never despair if your day does not allow you time, just begin again. God may be calling you to care for your children or loved ones. If this is His Will, be at peace and remember we only strive to offer prayer. The call to build Eucharistic communities is essential for the restoration of all that is lost. The consecration promise is the handing over of our will to the will of God. If we long to be with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, He will find a way for us to be with him. We do need to persevere in this desire for holiness. It is our choice, a choice that will be blessed by His grace. St. Peter Julian sums it up himself with these most important words, "All for the charity of Jesus Eucharistic, in union with Mary!"
 

 
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 today on all that your daily duties ask you, how you can add some more prayer time and what you will need to give up to offer that time to Jesus.
 
 
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us.
 
-Laura
 
 
PRAYER

For this concluding week of our preparation to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, we will pray together the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. All of the prayers of preparation can become part of your daily or weekly devotions.

 
Litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary
 
 
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world:
Have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us. (repeat at end of each phrase.)
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of Heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of angels,
Queen of patriarchs,
Queen of prophets,
Queen of apostles,
Queen of martyrs,
Queen of confessors,
Queen of virgins,
Queen of all saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of peace.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
 
Let us pray:
Grant, O Lord God, we beseech Thee, that we Thy servants may rejoice in continual health of mind and body; and, through the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may be freed from present sorrow, and enjoy eternal gladness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.