Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament

Oct/Nov/Dec 2021

“Although nothing in Mary’s outward appearance distinguished her from other pregnant women, in the depths of her heart she was living out the closest possible union between God and one of his creatures. She was a living tabernacle where the Holy of Holies was residing. Unceasingly she prayed that she might adore the Word made flesh within her, that she might be united more closely with God and be transformed by his love, and that she might join in offering continual praise, which is the only homage worthy of the almighty and omnipotent God.” (Fr. John Hampsch)

The Holy Eucharist: God With Us

Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P.

The star over the stable was the first sanctuary lamp. By its light, angels, shepherds and kings were drawn to Bethlehem, the “House of Bread,” to adore God with us. In the presence of a baby, even the most hardhearted person changes and becomes tender and caring. But there is an even greater exceptionality about this newborn.

“For in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth.... In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” (Col 1:16, 19) In the presence of the Infant Jesus, we recognize what corresponds exactly to the deepest longings of our hearts. Everything that we have been looking for has become flesh and is now lying in this manger. We were made for this presence. All my life my “I” has been waiting to adore this “You.” To Christ we say: The fullness of my being is you, my meaning is you. Every time I adore the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus attracts my heart anew.

The Birth of Jesus and Eucharistic Adoration

We are as privileged in being called to adore Him today as were Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and Magi then, because here Jesus continues His incarnation on earth.

The Eucharist is Divine Love made visible in the Sacred Host!

This is why the angels continue to sing to Him here as they did in Bethlehem:

“Glory to God in the highest and peace to men of good will.”

Come let us adore Him for here Jesus continues to come to us

“filled with endearing love” as the Word becomes flesh in the Holy Eucharist

and makes His dwelling among us.

(From the book Come to Me in the Blessed Sacrament, available through us)

Peace be Still 

Peace be still! our God is dwelling                                   Thou hast called the heavy-laden,
Silent on His altar throne;                                                  Called the poor, the frail to Thee,
Let us kneel, our bosoms swelling,                                   See us then, O Son of Maiden!
With a joy but seldom known.                                          None could poorer frailer be,
Heart of Jesus! come we hither,                                        Thou dost know the woes and weakness
With our burdens meekly in,                                             Of a nature prone to ill,
From a world where spirits wither,                                   Heart of mercy! Heart of meekness!
From a world whose breath is sin.                                    Be our shield, our succour still!

Heart of Jesus! strength supernal!                                   Heart of Jesus! strength supernal!
Send us power from above;                                               Send us power from above;
Heart of Jesus! light eternal!                                            Heart of Jesus! light eternal!
Fill our souls with light and love!                                    Fill our souls with light and love!

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Carmelite, Church Doctor, Patroness of Missionaries, (1873-1897), France—Oct. 1:

“As a child, St. Thérèse’s father Louis brought her for a walk to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in a different Church every day. Prior to her death, St. Thérèse’s mother Zelie provided an awesome example of faith, hope, and love in the Blessed Sacrament, even amidst suffering. When she felt so sick and weak that she was unable to open the Church door, Zelie continued to attend daily Mass and humbly waited outside until someone came to open the door. When she felt abandoned, St. Thérèse discovered in the real presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist ‘consolation’ and her ‘only friend.’” (From the book The Little Way of Healing Love Through the Passion of Jesus: The Stations of the Cross With St. Therese of Lisieux, available through us)

The Holy Guardian Angels—Oct. 2:

Ask your Guardian Angel to help you to grow in love and adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. They “constantly behold the face of My Father in heaven.” (Matt 18:10)

Respect Life Sunday—Oct. 3:

“If people spent one hour per week in Eucharistic Adoration, abortion would be ended.” (St. Mother Teresa)

St. Francis of Assisi, Deacon, Franciscan Founder, Stigmatist (c. 1181-1226), Italy—Oct. 4 :

“What wonderful majesty! What stupendous condescension! O sublime humility! That the Lord of the whole universe, God and the Son of God, should humble Himself like this under the form of a little bread, for our salvation.” (St. Francis of Assisi)

Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos, Redemptorist, missionary to US, Miracle worker (1819-1867), Bavaria—Oct. 5:
Bl. Francis tirelessly ministered to the sick during the Yellow Fever epidemic in New Orleans. “Blessed Seelos, you had great devotion to our Eucharistic Lord. Pray that we may know and love the Eucharist as you did.” (Prayer)

Bl. Marie-Rose Durocher, Founder, Srs. of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, (1811-1849),Canada—Oct. 6: 

When asked for advice, Bl. Marie-Rose pointed to Jesus Eucharistic and Our Lady: “Ask Our Lady to help you. Ask her to entreat her Son to let you know what you should do.” Bl. Marie Rose spent many hours in adoration.

Our Lady of the Rosary: Pray the Rosary every day! —Oct. 7:

“All the supreme teachers, the popes, have been unanimous in proclaiming that the devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Rosary are the hope and salvation of the world in our evil and dangerous era. They have endeavored, by word and example, to bring the faithful more closely to Jesus Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament and to Our Lady’s Rosary (The Eucharist and the Rosary: The Power to Change the World, L. Kaczmarek, available from us).

Anniversary of Our Lady’s Apparition at Fatima and the Miracle of the Sun (1917)—Oct. 13:

Our Lady of Fatima’s last apparition, witnessed by 70,000 people, occurred on October l3th, 1917, culminating with the Miracle of the Sun! This miracle reflected the great love, mercy and glory of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist! Our Blessed Mother said, “I am the Lady of the Rosary, and I desire a chapel built in my honor in this place.”

St. Teresa of Avila, Carmelite, Doctor of the Church, Reformer, Mystic, (1515-1582), Spain—Oct. 15:

St. Teresa opened many monasteries and wrote several books. “I felt a great dislike to journeys, especially when they were long. But once I had started, I thought nothing of them, thinking of Him for Whose service they were undertaken and remembering that Our Lord would be praised and the most Holy Sacrament would dwell in the house I was going to found” (St. Teresa).

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Apostle of the Sacred Heart, (1647-1690), France—Oct. 16: 

“When we pray before the Blessed Sacrament, we should often take time to think about how much Jesus loves us and suffered for us. Jesus holy passion and death should fill us with joy and wisdom to help us love as He did” (St. Margaret Mary Alacoque).

St. Gerard Majella, Religious, Patron of Expectant Mothers (1726-1755), Italy—Oct. 16:

“My child’s only happiness was in church on his knees before The Blessed Sacrament. He would stay there till he forgot it was dinner time. He was born for Heaven,” said his mother of St. Gerard after his death. He is known for his great devotion to the Eucharist and miracles.

Sts. Isaac Jogues, John de Brebeuf, Charles Garnier & Companions, Martyrs, (1607-1646), France—Oct. 19:

Before coming to bring the faith to North America, St. Isaac Jogues prostrate himself before the Blessed Sacrament and asked our Lord to accept his life as an offering. St. Isaac Jogues and his companions drew their strength from the Holy Eucharist to be faithful witnesses unto death.

Pope St. John Paul II, Apostle of the Eucharist, (1920-2005), Poland—Oct. 22:

“Do not be afraid to give reasons for the hope that dwells in you, a hope that has a concrete name: Jesus Christ! This hope must be transmitted to your contemporaries, helping them to seek, offering them authentic friendship and acceptance, leading them to discover the great gift of the Eucharist.” (St. John Paul II, Oct. 9, 2004, Rome)

St. Jude Thaddeus, Apostle, Martyr, Patron of Impossible Cases (d. 67)—Oct. 28: 

Good St. Jude, help of the hopeless, forgotten apostle, please intercede for me before the face of God. Please pray for me to go to Him and seek His presence in my times of need. Amen.

All Saints Day—Nov. 1:

“The saints in heaven live in perpetual adoration, because their joy is derived from eternal contemplation. On earth, where in some manner we must imitate the life of heaven, Christian devotion has striven to make the Sacred Host the center of perpetual contemplation and adoration The Sacred Host perpetually exposed on its Eucharistic throne, and, before it, day and night, loving souls in adoration and contemplation! Is this not truly heaven on earth?” (The Holy Eucharist, Jose Guadalupe Trevino).

All Souls Day: Offer Masses, Holy Hours, Rosaries and other prayers for the Holy Souls!—Nov. 2: 

O Sacred Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, have mercy on the souls in purgatory! Remember the Holy Souls in daily prayer, especially this month.

St. Martin de Porres, Patron of South America, Surgeon, Miracle Worker, (1579-1639), Peru—Nov. 3: 

“St. Martin, lover of the Holy Eucharist, St. Martin, devoted to our Blessed Mother, St. Martin, spiritual patron of Americans, pray for us” (From the Litany of St. Martin de Porres).

Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity, Carmelite Nun, (1880-1906), France—November 8:
“May I never leave You there [in the Holy Eucharist] alone but be wholly present, my faith wholly vigilant, wholly adoring, and wholly surrendered to Your creative action” (Bl. Elizabeth).

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

St. Martin converted when, as a soldier, he saw a beggar and gave him half of his cloak. This beggar was Christ, who inspired St. Martin to become Catholic and enter the monastic life. His love for the True Presence was so great that he became a defender of the faith and is known for working miracles.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Religious, Missionary, Patroness of Immigrants, (1850-1917), Italy—Nov. 13:

Greatly devoted the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, St. Frances said “We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone.”

St. Agnes of Assisi, Poor Clare Nun, Virgin, (1197-1253), Italy—Nov. 16:

St. Agnes is the younger sister of St. Clare. She also ran away to become a Nun, under the direction of St. Francis and lived a life of prayer, centered on the Holy Eucharist. St. Agnes established other convents and supported Clare in working for total poverty. Many miracles occur through her aid.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Wife, Mother, 3rd Order Franciscan Patron (1207-1231)—November 17:

St. Elizabeth gave away her wealth, devoting herself to a life of Eucharistic prayer and service to all.

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, Religious, Pioneer, (1769-1852), France—November 18:
“Although they could not communicate with her verbally, the Indians loved Mother Philippine. They named her The Woman Who Prays Always, for she spent much of her time praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament” (Ann Ball).

Feast of Christ the King: “All the nations shall come to adore you.” (Ps 86:9) —Nov. 21:

“The Lord is our king! (cf. Is 33:22). The King of kings, the Lord of Heaven and earth, dwells in a Catholic church . . . . St. John Chrysostom testifies of the early Christians, They went into the church as into the palace of a great King, where the Angels are servants, where Heaven is open, where Jesus sits upon a throne” (Fr. Lukas Etlin, O.S.B.). 

St. Cecilia, Virgin, Martyr, Incorrupt, Patron Saint of Music, (3rd century), Rome—Nov. 22

“Eternal God, you gave us the gift of St. Cecilia, a powerful protector and patron of music. We strive to pass our days faithfully and innocently like holy St. Cecilia so that we may come to Heaven where we may praise You in concert with her.” (From a novena to St. Cecilia)

Bl. Miguel Agusten Pro, Priest, Martyr, (1891-1927), Mexico—Nov. 23: 

Bl. Miguel offered Mass when it was illegal to worship publicly. Disguising himself, he administered the sacraments and sent secret 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!

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, France—Nov. 27:
Our Lady appeared to St. Catherine before the Blessed Sacrament and entrusted her with the mission of constructing and promulgating the miraculous medal. Mary promised that, although times were dark, those who adored the Holy Eucharist and wore the medal would receive the blessings of conversion, great graces, and protection.

First Sunday of Advent: O Come Let Us Adore Him in The Holy Eucharist!—November 28:

Advent Prayer (to be prayed daily): 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.

St. Francis Xavier, Jesuit Priest, Patron of Missionaries, (1506-1552), Spain—December 3:

St. Francis traveled great distances, sometimes through jungles, tirelessly spreading the Good News. When not administering the sacraments or inviting others to the faith, St. Francis kept this flame of love alive by spending hours of the night praying before Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

St. Nicholas, Bishop, Patron of Children and Russia, (4th century), Myra—Dec. 6:

“Give thanks for the real life of a holy bishop of the fourth century, a holy man whose life was lived in recognition of the real presence of Jesus Christ. Let us follow St. Nicholas in witnessing to the Presence of Christ.” (Fr. R. Veras)

St. Ambrose of Milan, Bishop, Doctor, Pt. of Candlemakers, (c. 340-397), Italy—December 7:

“He who has a wound needs a medicine….the medicine is the heavenly and venerable sacrament.”(St. Ambrose)

Feast of the Immaculate Conception: Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception!—Dec. 8:

“Praised be the Most Holy Sacrament and the pure Conception of Our Lady!”

St. Juan Diego, Visionary, (1474-1548), Mexico—Dec. 9:

After the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was enshrined in the Church, Juan added on a one room hermitage. He was the caretaker of the Church, and lived a holy life through prayer, frequent Communion and sharing the faith.

St. Lucy, Virgin, Martyr and Patroness of Eye Patients, (d. 304), Italy—Dec. 13:

St. Lucy, whose name means light or lucid, is the patroness of those with eye disorders and her feast is traditionally celebrated today. A 4^th century martyr from Syracuse, Italy, St. Lucy consecrated her virginity to Christ and refused to break this promise, despite threats of torture and death. The heroic love of St. Lucy elucidates the love of Jesus, the Light of the world, Who remains with us always in the Blessed Sacrament.

St. John of the Cross, Carmelite Priest and Doctor, (c. 1542-1591), Spain—Dec. 14:

“This eternal spring is hidden in this living bread for our life’s sake.... It is here calling out to creatures; and they satisfy their thirst.... This living spring that I long for, I see in this bread of life.” (“The Living Flame of Love”)

Merry Christmas, O Come Let Us Adore Him, Our Eucharistic Savior!!!—Dec. 25:

“‘Verbum caro factum est’ (Jn, 1,14). [‘And the Word became flesh’]. The Incarnation of the Word, the ineffable mystery of the merciful love of God, who so loved man that He became ‘flesh’ for his salvation is, in a way, prolonged and extended through the ages, and will be until the end of time, by the Eucharist, the Sacrament by means of which the Incarnate Word became Himself our ‘food.’” (Divine Intimacy, Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen)

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—Dec. 26:
O St. Joseph, two thousand years ago you found a room for Jesus and Mary in a humble stable in the little town of Bethlehem. Today the hearts and souls of your adopted children are poor, much like the stable where Our Mother gave birth to the savior. O kindest of fathers! Make haste to find rooms for Him now—where His Eucharistic heart may be adored—by shepherds, by wise men, by angels. O Dear St. Joseph, foster father of the Child Jesus, protector of the Virgin Mary, prepare our souls to receive Mother Mary, that she may prepare us to receive Jesus, your Son.

St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, Patron of Theologians, Asia Minor, (d.100), Galilee—December 27:

John rested his head upon the bosom of Jesus at the Last Supper. Let us rest upon the Sacred Heart of Jesus during our Holy Hours of Eucharistic Adoration and listen and learn from Him.

Feast of the Holy Innocents—Dec. 28: 
“The adoration of the Lord in the sacrament is also an education in sensitizing our conscience . . . When the conscience becomes dulled, this lets in the violence that lays waste the world” (Pope Benedict XVI).

St. Thomas Becket, Archbishop and Martyr, (1118-1170), England—December 29: 

St. Thomas was steadfast in leading his flock in the faith of the one, true, church in the Holy Eucharist. He was devoted to the formation of seminarians, care of the poor, sick and all in need. St. Thomas was martyred for defending the faith and authority of the Church.