THE YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST

“All of these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer,

together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus” (Acts 1:14).

“In a certain way, we can say that her [Mary's] journey was—and we are pleased to highlight this in the Year of the Eucharist—the first ‘Eucharistic procession’ of history. Living tabernacle of God-made-flesh, Mary is the Ark of the Covenant in whom the Lord has visited and redeemed His people. Jesus’ presence fills her with the Holy Spirit . . . . Is not this too the joy of the Church, that incessantly welcomes Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and carries Him to the world with the testimony of assiduous charity permeated by faith and hope? Yes, to welcome Christ and to take Him to others is the true joy of Christians! Dear brothers and sisters, let us carry on and imitate Mary, a deeply Eucharistic soul, and all our lives will become a Magnificat”(Pope Benedict XVI, June 1, 2005).

“If we wish to rediscover in all its richness the profound relationship between the Church and the Eucharist, we cannot neglect Mary, Mother and model of the Church . . . . The Church, which looks to Mary as a model, is also called to imitate her in her relationship with this most holy mystery” (Pope John Paul II, Servant of God, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 53).

With Mother Mary as our prayer partner and intercessor, we go before our Eucharistic Lord, our Brother and Savior. In the words of St. Maximilian Kolbe, “Let us not forget to visit our Prisoner [Jesus in the Holy Eucharist], if only for a minute; this will be pleasing to Jesus. Let us tell Him we love Him. We might ask Him what He wants of us, what are His wishes. Sometimes we might ask Jesus something for ourselves and something for others. One can speak to Jesus as brother to brother, as friend to friend, more so, since it often happens that men do not understand us, whereas Jesus understands each of us always. Such conversations are pleasing to Jesus.”

“Jesus, I return Thee thanks . . . . Dost Thou not give me in Holy Communion more than all creatures, more than the heavens, more than eternity, more than the angels, more than Mary herself? He that is mighty hath done great things to me; and holy is His name!” (St. Augustine).

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

Week 44 “All of these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus” (Acts 1:14). “Mary is a ‘woman of the Eucharist’ in her whole life” (53). This month, offer a Rosary before all of the weekend Masses so that the hearts of young people at World Youth Day in Germany will be inspired to be Eucharistic disciples.

Week 45 “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev 22:20). “Gazing upon Mary, we come to know the transforming power present in the Eucharist. In her we see the world renewed in love. Contemplating her, assumed body and soul into heaven, we see opening up before us those ‘new heavens’ and that ‘new earth’ which will appear at the second coming of Christ” (62). Crown a statue of Our Lady in your parish and ask her intercession for faith in and adoration of her Son in the Holy Eucharist.

Week 46 “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5). “Mary seems to say to us: ‘Do not waver; trust in the words of my Son. If he was able to change water into wine, he can also turn bread and wine into his body and blood” (54). Pray for faith in the Eucharistic Jesus in daily Mass intentions.

Week 47 “Blessed is she who believed” (Lk 1:45). “[Mary] bore in her womb the Word made flesh, she became in some way a ‘tabernacle’ – the first ‘tabernacle’ in history – in which the Son of God, still invisible to our human gaze, allowed himself to be adored” (55). Pray for the great grace to start Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in your parish and community during this year.

“The daily adoration or visit to the Blessed Sacrament is the practice which is the fountainhead of all devotional works” (Pope St. Pius X).

Start Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in your parish today!

St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor, Italy (1696-1787)—Feast, Aug. 1

“Suppose that our Lord, Jesus Christ, would be present in only one church in the whole world . . . . What a beautiful tabernacle would be built! What lighting would be placed there! With what immense respect would respond all who succeeded to get close! Well, Jesus is now in every Catholic Church where there are consecrated hosts!” (St. Alphonsus Liguori).

St. Peter Julian Eymard, Priest of the Eucharist, France (1811-1868)—Feast, Aug. 2

“How kind is our sacramental Jesus! He welcomes you at any hour of the day or night. His love never knows rest. He is always gentle toward you. When you visit Him, He forgets your sins and imperfections and speaks only of His joy, His tenderness and His love” (St. Peter Julian Eymard).

St. John Vianney, Patron of Priests, France (1786-1859)—Feast, Aug. 4

“You will always find a friend in Jesus in the Holy Eucharist to console you in your moment of need. He will never fail to help you” (St. John Vianney, Cure of Ars).

Feast of the Transfiguration—Aug. 6

“To look upon the face of Christ . . . is the task of every follower of Christ” (Pope John Paul II).

St. Teresa Benedicta, Carmelite Nun & Martyr, Germany (1891-1942)—Feast, Aug. 9

A fellow Sister testified that when St. Teresa attended Mass it was as if she were offering herself in union with Jesus in His Eucharistic sacrifice. St. Teresa spent hours in Eucharistic Adoration daily. She was martyred in Auschwitz and is remembered for saying “let us go for our people.”

St. Clare of Assisi, Foundress of Poor Clare Nuns, Italy (1193-1253)—Feast, Aug. 11

Surrounded by an army, St. Clare ran to the Blessed Sacrament and placed her trust in Jesus in the Sacred Host. St. Clare and her Sisters were protected. She wrote, “O most gentle Jesus, having redeemed me by baptism from original sin, so now, by your Precious Blood, which is offered and received throughout the world, deliver me from all evils, past, present and to come.”

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven—August 15

“The gospel itself prophesies and requires veneration for Mary: ‘Behold, from henceforth all generations will call me blessed’ (Lk 1:48)—this is a commission to the Church. In recording it, Luke presupposes that there was already praise of Mary in the Church of his time and that he considers it a commission of the Church for all generations. He saw its inception in Elizabeth’s greeting ‘Blessed are you who have believed’ (Lk 1:45) . . . . The title [Mother of God] points to the Assumption: from this birth comes only life, no death” (Pope Benedict XVI, Daughter Zion).

Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary—August 22

“Blest of all women, both Virgin and Mother,/Favored in grace for the Son whom you bore, Christ is Your Son whom all peoples must worship./Christ is your Son whom all angels adore”

(From the hymn “Mary, How Lovely”).

St. Rose of Lima, Patroness of South America (1586-1617)—Feast, Aug. 23

St. Rose stood before the tabernacle to prevent pirates from attacking Jesus and, seeing her bravery, the village joined her! In addition to this act of heroic bravery, she started Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at the Churches in her village! She is the patroness of South America.

St. Monica, Wife, Mother, North Africa (332-387)—Feast, Aug. 27

Mother of St. Augustine, St. Monica spent hours in prayer and supplication daily in union with Jesus Eucharistic for the repentance, conversion and salvation of her son.

Healing Intentions: Please list your loved ones and intentions to be included in our prayers at Mass and Adoration, through the powerful intercession of Our Lady:

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