THE YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise;

Give thanks to Him; bless His name” (Ps 100:4).

“The very meaning of the word ‘Eucharist’: [is] thanksgiving. In Jesus, in his sacrifice, in his unconditional ‘yes’ to the will of the Father, is contained the ‘yes’, the ‘thank you’ and the ‘amen’ of all humanity. The Church is called to remind men and women of this great truth . . . . In this Year of the Eucharist Christians ought to be committed to bearing more forceful witness to God’s presence in the world” (From the Pope’s new apostolic letter Mane Nobiscum Domine (Stay with us, Lord), released October 7, 2004).

Jesus Christ, our King, is always present to us in the Holy Eucharist—24 hours a day, 7 days a week—in the tabernacle of every Catholic Church throughout the world, because of His awesome love for us. In the Holy Eucharist, Jesus waits to heal, bless and shower us and our loved ones with His love, grace, mercy and peace. By spending a weekly Holy Hour with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration we express our thanks to Him for His Personal Presence.

“During this year Eucharistic adoration outside Mass should become a particular commitment for individual parish and religious communities. Let us take the time to kneel before Jesus present in the Eucharist, in order to make reparation by our faith and love for the acts of carelessness and neglect, and even the insults which our Saviour must endure in many parts of the world. Let us deepen through adoration our personal and communal contemplation drawing upon aids to prayer inspired by the word of God and the experience of so many mystics, old and new” (Mane Nobiscum Domine, 18).

“May all of you, the Christian faithful, rediscover the gift of the Eucharist as light and strength for your daily lives in the world, in the exercise of your respective professions amid so many different situations. Rediscover this above all in order to experience fully the beauty and the mission of the family” (Mane Nobiscum Domine, 30).

Ideas inspired by Ecclesia de Eucharistia to help celebrate the Year of the Eucharist:

Week 5 “Could you not watch one hour with Me?” (Mt 26:40). “The holy hour, [is] the hour of the redemption of the world” (Art 4). Jesus asked His disciples to watch and pray with Him. Offer a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration for the conversion and redemption of the world.

Week 6 “I Myself am the living bread come down from heaven” (Jn 6:51). The Holy Eucharist is“Mysterium fidei!—The Mystery of Faith!” (Art 5). Host a parish dessert hour at which a reflection on the True Presence of Jesus will be given. (Videos are also available through us).

Week 7 Jesus in the Holy Eucharist is “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev 19:16). Thank God by “Halting before the ‘Eucharistic face’ of Christ and pointing out with new force to the Church the centrality of the Eucharist” (Art 7).On the Feast of Christ the King, plan a parish Holy Hour of Adoration, beginning with a Eucharistic procession and ending with Benediction.

Week 8 “Their eyes were opened and they recognized him” (Lk 24:31). “To contemplate Christ involves being able to recognize him . . . above all in the living sacrament of his body and his blood” (Art 6). Share the good news that Jesus is Personally Present in the Holy Eucharist with parish groups and classes, by giving presentations and sharing appropriate materials.

“If the only result of this Year were the revival in all Christian communities of . . . an increase in Eucharistic worship outside Mass, this Year of grace would be abundantly successful” (Mane Nobiscum Domine, 29).

Copyright, Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament. All rights reserved.

All Saints Day—November 1

“May all the saints of God, especially those who burned with a more ardent devotion to the divine Eucharist, intercede before the Father of mercies so that from this same faith in and devotion toward the Eucharist may result and flourish perfect unity of communion among all Christians” (Pope Paul VI, Mysterium Fidei). Please ask the Saints to intercede for us!

All Souls Day—November 2

O Sacred Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, have mercy on the souls in purgatory. Please pray for the holy souls in purgatory!

St. Martin de Porres, Patron of South America, Peru (1579-1639)—November 3

A Dominican Friar and Father of the Poor, born to an Afro-Peruvian woman and a Spanish soldier. Through his many Holy Hours before Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, and sufferings, St. Martin was an instrument of Christ’s healing love and generous care to countless people. Also a skilled surgeon, he was named the first black Saint of the Western Hemisphere.

St. Martin of Tours, Bishop, Patron of Soldiers, Italy (316-397)—November 11

As a soldier, Martin was charitable. Later, his Eucharist devotion drew him to the Priesthood where he became a great preacher and teacher! Let us pray for our soldiers and veterans!

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Religious, Patron of Immigrants, Italy (d. 1917)—Nov. 13

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini said of Jesus Eucharistic, “The more I love Thee, the less I love Thee, because I would like to love Thee more, but I cannot. Oh enlarge, enlarge my heart.”

St. Albert the Great, Bishop, Doctor of the Church, Germany (1206-1280)�—Nov. 15

Patron of Scientists, St. Albert wrote of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament: “Hail, thou Saviour of the world, the Father’s Word—true victim, living flesh, wholly God, truly man.”

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Wife, Mother (1207-1231)—November 17

Patroness of hospitals and third order Franciscans, St. Elizabeth was devoted to the sick and poor. Empowered by Jesus, her Eucharistic love, she built a hospital and fed hundreds daily!

Feast of Christ the King—November 21

“All the nations shall come to adore You and glorify Your name, O Lord” (Ps 86:9).

Bl. Miguel Pro, Jesuit Priest and Martyr, Mexico (1891-1927)—November 23

Bl. Miguel served the people in Mexico when it was illegal to worship publicly. Disguising himself, he administered the sacraments to Catholics and sent cryptic messages to the faithful, reminding them of the love of Jesus in the Eucharist. Devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe and Christ the King, he died praying aloud: “Viva Cristo Rey!” Long live Christ the King!

St. Catherine Laboure, Religious Mystic and Visionary, France (1806-1876)—Nov. 25

Daughter of Charity, received apparitions of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, wrote: “I found my Bridegroom on the day of my First Communion. To Him alone have I given myself.”

First Sunday of Advent—Nov. 28

Advent Prayer: O Jesus, little child, come into my heart on Christmas morn, to wash away my sins and remain there in eternally. O Mary, Mother of my Savior, prepare for Jesus a cradle in my heart. Amen. O Come Let Us Adore Him in The Eucharist!

November Intentions: Please send us the names of dearly departed relatives, friends and loved ones you would like us to pray for throughout the year, before Jesus Christ Our Eucharistic King!

Please help! Your prayers and donations will help lead people back to Jesus Christ The Eucharistic King and continue spreading Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration! (Visa / MC accepted)

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

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