Do This In Memory of Me: Baptism

By: Laura Catherine Worhacz

​Dearest Eucharist Family,

There are so many beautiful feast days in our Catholic Church. This past week we celebrated The Feast of the Child Jesus in the Temple. The Prophecy of Simeon so eloquently expresses to us what has granted him inconceivable joy, "For my eyes have seen Thy salvation" (Luke 2:30).
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Today, February 5th, is a day held in great esteem for the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. It is the anniversary of their holy founder’s (Saint Peter Julian Eymard) baptism. As a Lay Associate, Peter Julian is my spiritual father, and I rejoice with the Eymardian family in celebration of this day.

Perhaps we can all take a moment to imagine the moment of our own baptism when water was poured over us. At this moment, we are born into a family as adopted children of Our Heavenly Father. Beheld in this love, our life finds purpose beyond our understanding. We live in the mystery and will of our Creator. We find mission in love and service and a remedy for our human frailty.

Our Mother, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, is surely with every baptized person as they enter the Church. She is planning, preparing, and her soul continues to magnify our Lord as the family of God grows in grace.

The present moment is a pure gift to be reverenced; by baptism, we can see what the world cannot see.

This past week my husband and I came through COVID by a mild case. We praise God, knowing so many fatalities and severe sicknesses have come from this virus. Assured that God's love beheld us and that suffering is part of the mystery of our faith, we remained in peace as we waited for the virus to pass by. Our quarantine time was useful, with time to read through and view old journals and photos. We were attentive to eating and sleeping, and most importantly, praying for our loved ones. Special prayers were offered for all those we were in contact with before knowing we were COVID positive. We prayed specifically that we would not pass any germs on... So it came to mind our spiritual lives, how we need to be attentive to our actions, how we affect others, what may come out of our mouths, or actions that may hurt another.

Charity is the real key to the Kingdom! Our baptism can bring us there in grace. The Eucharist is our sure hope to identify with a love that is beyond this world. We can see our salvation in our Jesus, who remains so humble for us in a simple piece of bread, to find true life, true love, and meaning.
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Very close to the end of his life on earth, Saint Peter Julian Eymard consecrated his existence by offering a total gift of himself to God. He wanted to be free of his self-interest and vainglory and see all things through the light of the Eucharist. Aware of the grace of his baptism, Saint Peter Julian beheld this day so sacred, knowing it was the sacrament to bring him to perfect charity. Suffering was not exempt from his outpour of life; it is the grace that earned him canonization—a good, holy reminder for us.

We are blessed to see salvation now through the Eucharist, blessed to have a place to bring our joys and sorrows through our reception of Holy Communion. May the Liturgy be the central focus of our lives to regenerate all of our relationships in God's love.

Let us remember, too, the importance of our godparents and our godchildren. They hold a special place in our hearts. They may need our prayers for salvation, our prayers for spiritual guidance and education.

May the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance keep us clothed in our baptismal garment to live in the freedom of the Holy Spirit and true blessings from above.

​"Today, I cannot resist the joy of writing you a few words. I'm sure that you can guess why I prayed so earnestly to God for you, for our father, our mother, and my godfather! May our hearts live to ‘work for heaven and be ruled by our crucified God’. It's such a beautiful day for me. It's the most beautiful day of my life since this is the day when I had the good fortune to be baptized. If I had died, I would be in heaven now, praying for my godmother [who is] still on earth...I find that life is so precious for a heart that is working for heaven, ruled by the love of a crucifying and crucified God!” - Saint Peter Julian Eymard (Letter to Miss Marianne Eymard-February 5th, 1846 [St. Peter Julian's God-mother his sister Marianne])

Laura Catherine Worhacz

Laura Catherine Worhacz is a Lay Associate of the Blessed Sacrament and author of Consecration to Jesus Through Our Lady of The Blessed Sacrament. She is also the Director of Mothers of The Blessed Sacrament. She lives in Trinity, FL with her husband and their two daughters.