Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament

THE PASSION!

"My Heart is filled with sorrow to the point of death . . . . Could you not watch one hour with Me?" (Mk 14:34, 37b).

"The most sublime act in the history of Christ was His Death . . . . He was offering Himself as a Victim to be immolated, and that men might never forget that 'greater love than this no man has, that a man lay down his life for his friends,' He gave the divine command to the Church: 'Do this in memory of me' . . . And so in the Catholic Church the altar, and not the pulpit or the choir or the organ, is the center of worship, for there is re-enacted the memorial of His Passion. Its value does not depend on him who says it, or on him who hears it; it depends on Him who is the One High Priest and Victim, Jesus Christ our Lord . . . . The Mass is for that reason the greatest event in the history of mankind; the only Holy Act which keeps the wrath of God from a sinful world, ' it holds the Cross between heaven and earth, thus renewing that decisive moment when our sad and tragic humanity journeyed suddenly forth to the fullness of supernatural life" (Calvary and the Mass, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen).

Through Jesus Christ's passion and death on the Cross, He gave us the gift of the Holy Eucharist! The passion and death of Jesus was the price He paid so that we may have everlasting life in Him. The Eucharist flows from our Lord's passion! He poured out His last drop of Blood on the Cross so that He may fill you with His divine love each time that you receive Him in Holy Communion and go to Him in Adoration. "The cross is the proof that He loved us and the Tabernacle is the proof that He loves us now with tender compassion" (Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta). Your sacrifice of spending an hour with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration thanks Him for all of the sufferings He endured to give you the most awesome gift of Himself in the Holy Eucharist!

"The Eucharist is the sacramental presence of the gift that the Father makes of his Divine Son to mankind. For this reason the Eucharist, celebrated, received, adored and lived, is objectively mans most perfect act of love for God to respond to the highest manifestation of his love" (Pope John Paul II).

"From the perpetuation of the sacrifice of the Cross and her communion with the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist, the Church draws the spiritual power needed to carry out her mission. The Eucharist thus appears as both the source and the summit of all evangelization, since its goal is the communion of mankind with Christ and in him with the Father and the Holy Spirit" (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Pope John Paul II). Start Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in your parish today! The benefits that are received are many: conversions, healings, vocations, unity and peace are but a few! During the past year our Missionaries have distributed materials and helped open Adoration Chapels in all 50 United States and Canada; several countries in Central and South America, including Cuba, Haiti, and Dominican Republic; throughout Africa; many parts of Europe, including Austria, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Malta, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, and England; Russia, Australia, New Zealand, and many Asian countries, including Iraq! Please be generous with your prayers and donations so that we may continue our evangelization for Jesus!

St. Dominic Savio, Patron of Children (1842-1857), Italy--Feastday, March 9 St. John Bosco advised those about to receive First Holy Communion to take St. Dominic Savio as their Patron Saint, due to his love of Jesus Eucharistic. He loved to visit and spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament daily, and invite his friends too. St. Dominic wrote, "What else do I need to be happy? Nothing in this world but to be able to see Him, Whom I now see by faith and adore on the altar." St. Patrick, Bishop and Patron of Ireland (d. 461)--Feastday, March 17 Although kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a youth, following his escape, St. Patrick returned to the island as a priest to bring Jesus to the people. By the time of his death, almost the entire country of Ireland adored Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord!

St. Joseph, Patron of The Universal Church, Spouse of B.V.M.--March 19 "We offer this beautiful month, first for the Holy Church and for the Sovereign Pontiff, who is surrounded by so many enemies. We offer it too for our beloved country that Saint Joseph may increase its faith and virtues and above all shower on it the Bread of life the better to revive it and rescue it from spiritual starvation . . . . Set no limits on your faith and confidence if you want to receive many favors. Place your trust in the goodness of Saint Joseph. 'I leave all to your benevolence, O Good Saint. I want only what you want. You are all powerful with God. Look upon this little family kneeling at your feet; it deserves your love, for it aims to serve your Jesus Who is weaker and poorer now in the Blessed Sacrament than He was at Nazareth. Bless it, and be its father and protector.' Be assured that Saint Joseph will be moved to grant your requests" (St. Peter Julian Eymard).

Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord--March 25 Mary's fiat, "yes," to the Angel Gabriel gave us The Holy Eucharist. From the body of Jesus, formed within His Mother, came the flesh He gives us in the Blessed Sacrament. With each Hail Mary we pray--we say "Yes" to life.

St. Margaret Clitherow, Wife, Mother, Martyr (d. 1586), England--March 26 A convert, St. Margaret married a widower with two sons, and bore two more. During the persecution in England, Margaret remained devoted to the true faith, attended secret Masses and helped hide priests. So deep was her belief in the Holy Eucharist that she was imprisoned twice for her refusal to stop organizing secret Masses, and then cruelly martyred. Although Protestant, her husband attested to her great love and virtue, saying "she is the best wife in all England, and the best Catholic."

Healing Intentions: Let us pray especially for the Universal Church, Our Holy Father, Priests, Religious and Laity, especially those who are in most need of God's healing. We invite you to send in the names of family, friends and loved ones to be included in a special novena of Masses and prayers to St. Joseph during the month of March, and throughout the year. 

Your generous monthly prayers and donations of $10, $100, $500, $1,000 or more help this apostolate continue on with our evangelization ministry. (Visa and Mastercard accepted).

M.B.S., P.O. Box 1701, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (518) 561-8193 www.ACFP2000.com

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