April/May/June 2012
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“My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. He is my God, I praise him; the God of my father, I extol him.” (Exodus 15:2) “It is important that the Eucharist be always at the heart of the life of the faithful.” “[Through] Eucharistic adoration, [we are] filled with profound gratitude to God for the great love He has given us, the love with which He binds us to Himself in a filial relationship.” (Pope Benedict XVI) Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy. Christ, hear us. R. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, R. have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, God the Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, one God, Jesus, Eternal High Priest of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, Jesus, Divine Victim on the Altar for our salvation, Jesus, hidden under the appearance of bread, Jesus, dwelling in the tabernacles of the world, Jesus, really, truly and substantially present in the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus, abiding in Your fullness, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, Jesus, Bread of Life, Jesus, Bread of Angels, Jesus, with us always until the end of the world, Sacred Host, summit and source of all worship and Christian life, Sacred Host, sign and cause of the unity of the Church, Sacred Host, adored by countless angels, Sacred Host, spiritual food, Sacred Host, Sacrament of love, Sacred Host, bond of charity, Sacred Host, greatest aid to holiness, Sacred Host, gift and glory of the priesthood, Sacred Host, in which we partake of Christ, Sacred Host, in which the soul is filled with grace, Sacred Host, in which we are given a pledge of future glory, Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. For those who do not believe in Your Eucharistic presence, R. have mercy, O Lord. For those who are indifferent to the Sacrament of Your love, For those who have offended You in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, That we may show fitting reverence when entering Your holy temple, R. we beseech You, hear us. That we may make suitable preparation before approaching the Altar, That we may receive You frequently in Holy Communion with real devotion and true humility That we may never neglect to thank You for so wonderful a blessing, That we may cherish time spent in silent prayer before You, That we may grow in knowledge of this Sacrament of sacraments, That all priests may have a profound love of the Holy Eucharist, That they may celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in accordance with its sublime dignity, That we may be comforted and sanctified with Holy Viaticum at the hour of our death, That we may see You one day face to face in Heaven, Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, R. spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, R. graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, R. have mercy on us, O Lord. V. O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, R. all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine. Let us pray, Most merciful Father, You continue to draw us to Yourself through the Eucharistic Mystery. Grant us fervent faith in this Sacrament of love, in which Christ the Lord Himself is contained, offered and received. We make this prayer through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen. Written by St. Peter Julian Eymard Holy Thursday—April 5 “[Holy Thursday], the day on which He instituted the adorable Sacrament of the Eucharist! That was the most beautiful day of our Lord’s life.It was the greatest day of His love and tenderness. Jesus was on the point of perpetuating His Presence in our midst.His love on the Cross was boundless, it is true, but there would be an end to His sufferings, and Good Friday was to last only one day.Holy Thursday would endure to the end of time.Jesus made Himself the Sacrament of Himself forever.” (St. Peter Julian Eymard) Good Friday—April 6 “O boundless charity!Just as you gave us yourself, wholly God and wholly man, so you left us all of yourself as food so that while we are pilgrims in this life we might not collapse in our weariness but be strengthened by you, heavenly food. O mercenary people! And what has your God left you?He has left you himself, wholly God and whollyman, hidden under the whiteness of this bread.O fire of love!Was it not enough to gift us with creation in your image and likeness, and to create us anew to grace in your Son’s blood, without giving us yourself as food, the whole of divine being, the whole of God?What drove you?Nothing but your charity, mad with love as you are!” (St. Catherine of Siena) (Start the Divine Mercy Novena today!) Holy Saturday—April 7 The Miracle Prayer: Lord Jesus, I come before Thee, just as I am, I am sorry for my sins, I repent of my sins, please forgive me. In Thy Name, I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce Satan, the evil spirits and all their works. I give Thee my entire self, Lord Jesus, I accept Thee as my Lord God and Savior. Heal me, change me, strengthen me in body, soul, and spirit. Come Lord Jesus, cover me with Thy Precious Blood, and fill me with Thy Holy Spirit, I love Thee Lord Jesus, I praise Thee Lord Jesus, I thank Thee Jesus, I shall follow Thee every day of my life. Amen. Mary, My Mother, Queen of Peace, all the Angels and Saints, please help me. Amen. Easter Sunday—April 8 Easter, the Resurrection of Christ, is ajoyous celebration of the Paschal mystery of His Real Presence among us. The Blessed Sacrament is truly Jesus, Our Risen Lord and Savior!Let us go to Him in adoration and receive His healing love and mercy in the Most Blessed Sacrament! “May we dwell long and often in adoration before Christ in the Eucharist.” (Bl. John Paul II)
Feast of Divine Mercy—April 15: Go to Mass, Adoration, Confession, & Pray the Chaplet! Jesus specifically requested that the feast of Divine Mercy be celebrated on the second Sunday of Easter. This magnificent day illumines God’s greatest attribute, His Divine Mercy, which He manifests in the Holy Eucharist.“I desire that Adoration take place for the intention of imploring Mercy for the world,” revealed Jesus to Saint Maria Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament. St. Bernadette, Lourdes Visionary and Nun, France (1844-1879)—April 16 “Take advantage of Our Lord’s presence to ask Him for all kinds of graces.” (St. Bernadette) St. Louis Mary de Montfort, Priest, Missionary, France (1673-1716)—April 28 St. Louis de Montfort said of Eucharistic Adoration, “I would not give up this hour of thanksgiving even for an hour of Paradise.” St. Gianna Beretta Molla, Wife, Mother, Doctor, Italy (1922-1962)—April 28 St. Gianna, a Catholic action member, was devoted to the Mass,Eucharistic Adoration and the Rosary, which inspired her to care for the poor, sick and lonely, and form the young in faith.Gianna was a holy wife, mother, and physician with a great love of Jesus, Mary, and children.When Gianna was pregnant with her fourth child she had fibrous tumors in her ovary and her Doctor wanted to terminate her pregnancy.Gianna refused, giving her unborn baby the gift of life. Gianna gave birth to a healthy daughter, and died soon after. World Day of Prayer for Vocations—April 29: Pope Pius XII’s Prayer for Vocations Jesus, who from the tenderness of Your divine Heart, uttered prayers of compassion for poor humanity, seeking a guide that might conduct it along the difficult paths of the world towards the light and the life; O Lord, who made messengers of Your angels and flaming fires of Your servants, send to these people who are Yours, and who wish to be Yours, many priests, and clothe them with holiness so that Your saints may rejoice./You who know all hearts, point out the elect to whom You wish to entrust so sublime a ministry of truth and love. Enlighten their minds so that they may understand the great grace of Your divine call. Strengthen their wills so that they may not allow themselves to be overcome by carelessness and pleasure or trapped by the hidden evil desires of human nature and so that they may not fear sacrifice, but spread their wings and, like the royal eagle, soar towards the serene and glorious heights of Your eternal Priesthood./Reveal to their parents the honor and matchless beauty of the gift of their own sons that they would make to You. Grant them the strength to overcome opposing interests and affections. Inspire in generous souls a desire to aid generously those of Your elect whom poverty prevents from following Your voice. Bestow upon their teachers the necessary light to cultivate in their young hearts the delicate plant of a vocation until the day when, ardent and pure, they will mount to Your holy altar./Then, Jesus, in their turn may they become true angels for Your people-angels of purity who renounce for Your divine love all human love, tender and holy though it be; angels of charity who renounce the consolations of an earthly family to create another and greater family of which they will be both father and pastor, and in which the little ones, the unfortunate, the weary and the abandoned, will be the object of their love; angels of light through whom faith in You will cause human understanding to be as resplendent as the morning star; angels of sacrifice who will be consumed for the welfare of their brethren; angels of counsel and comfort who will console them in their grief, sustain them in the combat, and point out to them in the trying hour of doubt, the bright way of virtue and duty; angels of grace who will purify and comfort souls and unite them to You by distributing among them the Bread of Life; angels of peace who, at the moment of death, will cause them to taste the inexpressible sweetness of desire for and love of You and will open to them the gates of heaven, where You are the light and the infinite joy of hearts forever. Amen. (From Mediator Dei)
Pope St. Pius V, Dominican, Church Reformer, Italy (1504-1572)—April 30 Pope Pius V tirelessly worked to promote the true faith and Divine Worship.When forces sought to destroy Christianity in Europe at the battle of Lepanto, Pope Pius V instructed all Churches to hold 40 hours of Eucharistic Adoration and recite the Rosary. The Catholic faith was saved by prayer before Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and the offering of the Holy Rosary. St. Joseph the Worker—May 1 “Saint Joseph served the Incarnate Word with perfect fidelity.Think of the lively faith which inspired his uninterrupted contemplation of the Divinity of the Christ Child; think of the love and faith with which he adored his God hidden in this little Child Whom he held in his arms and carried about always with the respect due to God.And when the Child had grown a little, notice how Joseph follows attentively everyone of His movements, His gestures, His acts, and His works.” (St. Bernardine) St. Joseph help us adore and serve Jesus! St. Damien Joseph of Molokai, Apostle to the Lepers, Belgium (1840-1889)—May 10 “Damien, brother on the journey, happy and generous missionary, who loved the Gospel more than your own life, who for love of Jesus left your family, your homeland, your security and your dreams. Teach us to give our lives with a joy like yours, to be in solidarity with the outcasts of the world, to celebrate and contemplate the Eucharist as the source of our own commitment. Help us to love to the very end and, in the strength of the Spirit, to persevere in compassion for the poor and forgotten so that we might be good disciples of Jesus and Mary. Amen.” (Prayer)
Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, May 13 “This title, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, is perhaps the most meaningful of all.” (Pope St. Pius X) St. Peter Julian Eymard, of France, had a strong devotion to the Holy Eucharist and Our Lady and began his priestly life in the Society of Mary. Our Blessed Mother drew St. Peter Julian close to her Eucharistic Son. Jesus spoke these words to his heart: “Ask permission to establish a religious society of Perpetual Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament.” Our Lady told St. Peter Julian: “All the mysteries of my Son have a religious order of men to honor them. The Eucharist alone has none.” With the encouragement of Pope Pius IX, St. Peter Julian founded the Congregation of the Most Blessed Sacrament on May 13, 1856. The title of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament was first given to Mary by St. Peter Julian Eymard in May 1868. A few years later he described what her statue should look like: “The Blessed Virgin holds the Infant in her arms; and He holds a chalice in one hand and a Host in the other.” He exhorted them to invoke Mary: “Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us who have recourse to thee!” Later, Pius IX enriched the invocation with indulgences. Twice, St. Pius X did the same. On December 30, 1905, he granted a 300 days indulgence to the faithful who pray: “Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us.” In 1921 the Sacred Congregation of Rites authorized the Blessed Sacrament Congregations to celebrate each year, on the 13th of May, a “solemn commemoration of the Blessed Virgin,” with the intention of honoring Mary under the title of “Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.” And of course this Feast is still celebrated today with great joy by all the spiritual sons and daughters of St. Peter Julian Eymard. (Adapted from our A-7 “Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament” pamphlet) Pope Bl. John XXIII codified the title of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament when he declared St. Peter Julian Eymard a saint on December 9, 1962, at the end of the last session of the Second Vatican Council.
Our Lady of Fatima—Feast, May 13 During Our Lady’s apparitions, at Fatima, she requested that we center our lives on the Holy Mass, Holy Communion, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & the Holy Rosary; if we follow her requests she said, “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph!” The Ascension of The Lord—May 17 “He wished to remain among us even after His ascension into Heaven and, by a perpetual miracle, to continue in a mystical manner the mysteries of His earthly life and of His sacred Passion and death. This He accomplished by instituting the Most Blessed Sacrament. Oh, wondrous love, which compels the Son of God to remain continually with us on our altars! Truly, the mercy of our Redeemer has reached even to the depths of Divine love in order to give us this adorable Sacrament.” (The Blessed Sacrament: God With Us) St. Rita of Cascia, Wife, Mother, Nun, Patroness of the Impossible, Italy(1381-1457)—May 22 “St. Rita, during the last four years of your earthly life, you drank the bitter cup of suffering on a bed of pain. Sickness wasted your body. You were sustained only with the Eucharistic Bread of the Saviour. Yet, in all this time, you uttered no word of complaint. Your peace and patience was admired by everyone who came to visit you. And when the hour of your death arrived, you joyfully breathed forth your soul to your loving Saviour. St. Rita, obtain for us also the courage to face life’s trials patiently. May we have the grace of a happy death in the embrace of Jesus, so that we may be happy with Him forever.” (From the novena to St. Rita of Cascia) St. Philip Neri, Priest, Patron of Rome, Oratory Founder, Italy(1515-1595)—May 26 “Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to the Blessed Virgin are not simply the best way, but in fact the only way to keep purity. At the age of twenty nothing but Communion can keep one’s heart pure ... Chastity is not possible without the Eucharist.” Pentecost Sunday—May 27 “We want this Year to arouse in every believer the aspiration to profess the faith in fullness and with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope. It will also be a good opportunity to intensify the celebration of the faith in the liturgy, especially in the Eucharist, which is ‘the summit towards which the activity of the Church is directed; ... and also the source from which all its power flows.’ At the same time, we make it our prayer that believers’ witness of life may grow in credibility. To rediscover the content of the faith that is professed, celebrated, lived and prayed, and to reflect on the act of faith, is a task that every believer must make his own, especially in the course of this Year.” (From “Porta fidei,” Pope Benedict XVI's Apostolic Letter declaring the Year of Faith, made public Oct. 17, 2011. The Year of Faith will take place from Oct. 11, 2012 - Nov. 24, 2013) The Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth—May 31:“Blessed is she who believed.” (Lk 1:45) “This is the joy of the Visitation mystery: ‘in the tender compassion of our God" He continues to visit us in the Holy Eucharist that we may come to Him with confidence. As John the Baptist recognized Jesus hidden in the womb of Mary, the first tabernacle of the Lord, so now we recognize Jesus hidden in the Blessed Sacrament, the mystery of our faith. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and John leaped for joy in His presence then, as we rejoice in His presence now for here Jesus pours our His Spirit upon us in this Sacrament of infinite love.” (From the book Come to Me in the Blessed Sacrament) The Most Holy Trinity—June 3 “The goal of the Eucharist is precisely, ‘the communion of mankind with Christ and, in Him, with the Father and with the Holy Spirit.’” (Bl. John Paul II, World Mission Sunday Message, 2004) Corpus Christi, The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ—June 10 “The Church lives from this presence [the Holy Eucharist]and has, as her raison d'etre and existence, the spread of this presence in the whole world.” (Pope Benedict XVI, Address, April 15, 2010) “Jesus could have limited his presence only to the celebration of Mass, but no! He wanted to make a permanent dwelling among us.Night and day he awaits us and offers himself to us at all times.Like a most tender mother, he opens his arms to us.He is there generously to give us his gifts. He is there to draw us to him and lead us to paradise with him.Oh!Let us go visit him often.” (St. John Bosco) “There is the question, why did Christ institute this Sacrament of his Body and Blood? And the answer is very simple. It was because he loved us and wished to be with us. ‘My delights are to be with the children of men.’ He made us and he loved us. His presence in the Blessed Sacrament is the great proof of that love.” (Dorothy Day, Servant of God) “The Eucharist is the food of pilgrims that becomes strength also for whoever is tired, exhausted and disoriented.” (Pope Benedict XVI, Jan. 11, 2012, General Audience)
St. Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church, Patron of the Poor, Italy (1195-1231)—June 13 “His flesh and blood in the Sacrament of the Altar is our daily food.” (St. Anthony) The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus——June 15 & The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary—June 16 “History relates that the Tartars, having spread terror throughout Europe, besieged with a large army Kinwalous, the capital of European and Asiatic Russia. After a vigorous resistance, the city was taken by assault and sacked by the enemy who, having massacred great numbers of the inhabitants finally set fire to it. When the victorious army entered the town, St. Hyacinth, a Dominican monk, was at the altar saying Mass: his religious brethren came and warned him that there was not a moment to lose, and that if he wished to save himself and his community it was necessary to fly at once, otherwise he would fall into the hands of the barbarians. He followed their advice, but unwilling to leave the Holy Eucharist exposed to the profanations of the enemy, he took in one hand the ciborium and in the other the image of the Blessed Virgin, saying to his religious: ‘Follow me, my brethren, and be full of confidence; the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and the Immaculate Heart of Mary will save us.’ He left the church followed by the community, went through the burning streets and passed by the hordes of barbarians, who gazed on him with respect and admiration. Reaching the banks of the richer Borsythenus and not finding any boat there, he recommended himself to Jesus and Mary and stepping on the water which remained firm beneath him, he crossed the river with dry feet, accompanied by all his brethren, and thus they were saved! O Christian! Receive the divine Host into your heart, place upon your breast the image of Mary and you will triumph over all the enemies of your salvation. Heart of Jesus, Heart of Mary, be always our hope, our love, our refuge and our salvation.” (Moments Divine Before the Blessed Sacrament: Historic and Legendary Reading and Prayers, Fr. Frederick Reuter, K.C.B.S.)
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Patron of Youth, Jesuit Seminarian, Italy (1568-1591)—June 22 “Delight of the Blessed Virgin, Pray for us. Most chaste youth, Pray for us Desirous of the salvation of souls, Pray for us. Perpetual adorer of the Holy Eucharist, Pray for us.” (Litany) St. Thomas More, Husband, Father, Ptn. of Lawyers, England(1478-1535)—June 22 “It is in Communion that I recollect myself. I have temptations many times a day; by daily Communion I get the strength to overcome them. I have much very important business to handle and I need light and wisdom; it is for this reason that I go to Holy Communion every day to consult Jesus about them.” (St. Thomas More) St. John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr, England (1469-1535)—Feast, June 22 St. John wrote to someone who left the Church: “Had you but tasted one drop of the sweetness which inebriates the souls of those religious from their worship of this Sacrament, you would never have written as you have, nor have apostatized from the faith that you formerly professed.” The Birth of St. John the Baptist—June 24:“Behold the Lamb of God!” Adore Him! “We do well also to invoke the intercession of the Lord’s great precursor [St. John the Baptist], now adoring Him perpetually in this Sacrament. We should ask him to win for us a share in the joy that filled him even while still in Elizabeth’s womb.” (Fr. R. Foley, S.J.) Sts. Peter and Paul—June 29 Archbishop Sheen said, “When I stand up to talk, people listen to me; they will follow what I have to say. Is it any power of mine? Of course not. St. Paul says, ‘What have you that you have not received and you who have received, why do you glory as if you had not?’ But the secret of my power is that I have never in fifty-five years missed spending an hour in the presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. That’s where the power comes from. That’s where sermons are born. That’s where every good thought is conceived.” We wish you a Happy and Blessed Easter Season! Prayer Intentions: Please send us the names of your family, relatives, loved ones, priests, religious, & other intentions you would like us to pray for in our daily masses, and Holy Hours throughout the Easter Season before Jesus, Our Eucharistic Savior! Please be generous with your donations during this Easter Season. Please don’t forget us when you receive your tax refund. Gifts of $10.00, $25.00, $50.00, $100.00, or more will help us spread the news about His Eucharistic Presence and Adoration! We need your prayers and financial help more urgently than ever to continue on this most important ministry! Help us spread Eucharistic Adoration, please be generous. (Visa / MC accepted) M.B.S., P.O. Box 1701, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (518)561-8193 www.acfp2000.com Start Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in your parish or community today!
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