Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament

“On entering the house, they found the child with Mary his mother.

They prostrated themselves and did him homage.” (Matt 2:11)

“We must understand that in order ‘to do’, we must first learn ‘to be’, that is to say, in the sweet company of Jesus in adoration.” (St. John Paul II)

“If we were to sit for an hour a few feet away from a radioactive element, how much would that change affect us? The Lord is infinitely more powerful than this and if we go to Him seeking grace and mercy, how much more can we hope to be changed?” (St. Faustina)

“I’ve really come to deeply value the impact of spending time with Jesus in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. There’s a sense of peace that I get from just sitting with him. I never quite understood that until actually doing it. If you just go and sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament in a chapel and focus on Christ, it’s going to affect you in ways you can’t anticipate.” (Jonathan Roumie, actor who plays Jesus on The Chosen, quoted in Knights of Columbus’ Columbia magazine)

Meditations on Receiving Holy Communion

“After having received the Lord, since you have the Person Himself present, strive to close the eyes of the body and open those of the soul and look into your heart. For I tell you again, and would like to tell you many times that you should acquire the habit of doing this every time you receive Communion and strive to have such a conscience that you will be allowed to enjoy this blessing frequently. Though He comes disguised, the disguise as I have said, does not prevent Him from being recognized in many ways, in conformity with the desire we have to see Him. And you can desire to see Him so much that He will reveal Himself to you entirely.” (St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church, Way of Perfection, 34:12).   

“Our Blessed Mother is with us at every Holy Communion we receive and at every visit to her Son in the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus and Mary are inseparable. We should always invite Mary to come with us to every Holy Mass and help us to worship. Jesus gave us the unfathomable gift of His own Mother as He hung on the Cross for our salvation. Certainly, Jesus desires that His Mother guide us to Heaven. She will always come to our aid.”(30 Marian Eucharistic Visits, Donna-Marie Cooper-O’Boyle)

Advent and Christmas Reflections

      “Every Mass brings us to the womb of Mary, the first tabernacle where Christ first became present in His Body and Blood. Christ spent the first nine months of His life in the womb of Mary, and therefore, every tabernacle is a copy of that first tabernacle. If we want to be close to Jesus in His Body and Blood, to hide ourselves away in the tabernacle with Him, we must consecrate ourselves to Mary, hiding ourselves away in her womb. Jesus remains there in all His hiddenness and littleness, in that first tabernacle.”

      “Are we too big to fit, too full of ourselves, too busy with the things of the world? Or can we let ourselves be hidden in love to find the Hidden Love who remains wrapped in love? Can we allow ourselves to be confined to God’s will as we dwell in the womb of Mary? Can we join our lives to the heart of Mary, who was always freely confined to God’s will?

“Mary teaches us to make a home, a tabernacle, a womb in our hearts for Jesus to remain always. We make this home by uttering with her our Yes to God’s will: fiat.” (The Fruit of Her Womb: 33-Day Preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus, Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB)

The Christmas Yearning: The pangs of hunger, the parched thirst, the shivering cold, the damp wetness, the frightening darkness; the cry of the babe in the manger of Bethlehem, in the manger of the Monstrance, in the manger of the Paten. He says “Come to Me, It is Really I. I can feed you, all of you, I can give you drink that you may never thirst again. I can warm the inner recesses of your soul. I can dry your tears and quell your fears. I can do anything and everything, I Am Who Am, your Lord and Savior and your Best Friend! I am the one who loves you, who died for you, who heals you, who binds you up and holds you in my arms. I am Wonderful, Counselor, Messiah, Christ the Lord! I desire to spend time with you, there are so many gifts that I yearn to give to you my dearest one. Come, come, come to Me. (Linda Bracy)

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Carmelite, Church Doctor, Patroness of Missionaries (1873-1897), France—Oct. 1:“Frequently, only silence can express my prayer. However, this Divine Guest of the tabernacle understands all, even the silence of a child’s soul filled with gratitude. When I am before the tabernacle, I can say only one thing to Our Lord: ‘My God, you know that I love you’ and I feel my prayer does not tire Jesus.” (St. Thérèse)

Respect Life Sunday—October 1: October is Respect Life month. “The two things are intimately connected: reverence for the sacred Eucharist and reverence for human life where it is most vulnerable and defenseless.” (Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone)

Guardian Angels—October 2: Celebrate the gift of your holy companion! Attend Mass and spend time before our Eucharistic Lord today—what a blessing for your Guardian Angel—to be with Our Lord, together! 

St. Theodore Guerin, Foundress of the Sisters of Providence (1798-1856), France—Oct. 3: Called by St. John Paul II “a perfect blend of humanness and holiness,” Mother Guerin said of the Holy Eucharist, “Is there anything sweeter than to have a friend to whom we may at any hour confide our difficulties and our pain?”

St. Francis of Assisi, Deacon, Franciscan Founder, Stigmatist (c. 1181-1226), Italy—October 4: “See the humility of God, brothers, and pour out your hearts before Him! Humble yourselves that you may be exalted by Him! Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves, that He Who gives Himself totally to you may receive you totally!” (St. Francis of Assisi)

St. Faustina, Religious, Virgin, Mystic, Visionary, Apostle of Divine Mercy (1905-1938), Poland—October 5: “You wanted to stay with us, and so you left us Yourself in the Sacrament of the Altar, and You opened wide Your mercy to us. You opened an inexhaustible spring of mercy for us, giving us Your dearest possession, the Blood and Water, that gushed forth from Your Heart” (St. Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul, 1747).

Our Lady of the Rosary: Pray the Rosary every day!—October 7: “Pray the Rosary. Pray the Mass. Exult in the monotony. Transform your heart. By word and example bring others close to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and the Rosary! Love is expressed with few words, always the same and always repeated.” (St. Charles de Foucauld) Order our Eucharistic Rosary CDs and pamphlets today!

Pope St. John XXIII, Patron of Papal Delegates and the Second Vatican Council (1881-1963), Italy—Oct. 11: “In the Blessed Sacrament a heavenly school is open to you, with the best teacher one can possibly imagine, Jesus Christ Himself.” (St. John XXIII)

Anniversary of Our Lady’s Apparition at Fatima and the Miracle of the Sun (1917), Portugal—October 13:“After the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the rosary is what unites us with God by the riches of its prayers and is what best fosters the growth of faith, hope and charity.” (Sister Lucia of Fatima)

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Apostle of the Sacred Heart (1647-1690), France—Oct. 16:“Are you making no progress in prayer? Then you need only offer God the prayers which the Savior has poured out for us in the sacrament of the altar. Offer God His fervent love in reparation for your sluggishness.” (St. Margaret)

St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and martyr (d. 107)—October 17: To avoid schism, St. Ignatius taught: “Make it a point, then, to participate in one Eucharist. For the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ is one, and one is the cup that yields unity in his blood.”

Sts. Isaac Jogues, John de Brebeuf, Charles Garnier & Companions, Martyrs (1607-1646), France—Oct. 19: St. Isaac Jogues gave the original European name to New York’s Lake George, calling it Lac du Saint Sacrement, Lake of the Blessed Sacrament. On the weekend following the feast of the North American Martyrs, Oct. 20 - 22, there will be a Eucharistic Congress held at their shrine in Auriesville, NY. 8,500 people attended and worshipped at Masses and in 40 hours of Eucharistic Adoration. They also enjoyed talks on the Real Presence of our Lord.

St. Paul of the Cross, Priest, Founder of the Passionists, Mystic (1694-1775), Italy—Oct. 20: “How wonderful are the treasures which are enclosed in the divine Eucharist! I exhort you, even though you live in the world, to receive Communion often, but with piety. Holy Communion is the most efficacious means of uniting one’s self to God. Always prepare yourself well for this sacred banquet. Have a very pure heart, and watch over your tongue, for it is on the tongue that the Sacred Host is laid. Carry Our Lord home with you after your thanksgiving, and let your heart be a living tabernacle for Jesus. Visit Him often in this interior tabernacle, offering Him your homage, and the sentiments of gratitude with which divine love will inspire you. Preserve carefully the sentiments of love with which you are filled after Communion.” St. Paul took a fourth vow to spread devotion to Christ’s passion.

Pope St. John Paul II, Patron of World Youth Days and the New Evangelization—Oct. 22: St. John Paul II promoted Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. He proclaimed, “Jesus is not an idea, a feeling, a memory! Jesus is a person, always alive and present with us! Love Jesus present in the Eucharist.” For quotes from St. John Paul II on the Holy Eucharist, order our D-18 holy card at www.ACFP2000.com

St. Jude Thaddeus, Apostle, Martyr, Patron of Impossible Cases (d. 67)—October 28: Good St. Jude, help of the hopeless, intercede for me and help me take refuge in the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus!

All Saints Day—November 1:“If we get in front of the sun, we get sun tans . . . But when we get in front of Jesus in the Eucharist, we become Saints.” (Bl. Carlo Acutis)

All Souls Day: Offer Masses, Holy Hours, Rosaries and other prayers for the Holy Souls!—November 2: Jesus told St. Gertrude that this prayer releases 1,000 souls from Purgatory: “Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with all the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.” This St. Gertrude prayer is available from us. (St. Gertrude’s feast day is November 16.)

St. Martin de Porres, Patron of South America, Surgeon, Miracle Worker (1579-1639), Peru—Nov. 3: Through his many Holy Hours before Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, and sufferings, this Father of the Poor was an instrument of Christ’s healing love and generous care to multitudes. He was named the first black Saint of the West.

St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop, Patron of Catechists (1538-1584), Italy—Nov. 4: St. Charles said to seminarians and priests: “When you administer the sacraments, meditate on what you are doing. When you celebrate Mass, reflect on the sacrifice you are offering.” (Office of Readings, Nov. 4)

Pope St. Leo the Great, “Doctor of the Church’s Unity,” Writer (395-461), Italy—November 10: “For the reception of Christ’s Body and Blood does nothing less than transform us into that which we consume, and henceforth we bear in soul and body Him in whose fellowship we died, were buried, and are risen again.” St. Leo was Elected Pope unanimously although still a deacon. He presided at Council of Chalcedon.

St. Martin of Tours, Priest, Bishop, Patron of Soldiers (316-397), Italy—November 11: “St. Martin’s charitable gesture [of giving his own cloak to Christ disguised as a poor beggar] flows from the same logic that drove Jesus to multiply the loaves for the hungry crowd, but most of all to leave himself to humanity as food in the Eucharist, supreme Sign of God’s love, Sacramentum caritatis.” (Pope Benedict XVI)

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Religious, Patron of Immigrants, (1850-1917), Italy—Nov. 13: “My Jesus, I want to adore You for all,” wrote Cabrini. As Foundress of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who traveled the Americas and Europe founding schools, orphanages and hospitals, Cabrini encouraged her sisters to find their strength in the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus through Mass and by starting Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

St. Giuseppe Moscati, Physician, Medical Professor, Miracle Worker (1880-1927), Italy—November 16: St. Giuseppe was an advocate of devotion to the Sacred Heart Pioneer and is remembered as a “Doctor of the poor.” He served at Mass, received Holy Communion, and spent time in Eucharistic Adoration daily. Additionally, St. Giuseppe worked in the field of biochemistry and his research led to the discovery of insulin as a cure for diabetes.

Feast of Christ the King: “All the nations shall come to adore you.” (Ps 86:9)—November 20: “Lay people must join priests so that together we point to the Lamb, Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, as the answer to all the ills of the Church and human society. From the Lamb flows the river, crystal clear, which provides the healing and the medicine for all the nations (Rev 22:1-2). The Lamb on the throne will shepherd us and lead us to springs of life-giving water (Rev 7:17). The lamp is the Lamb whose light casts out the darkness (Rev 21:22-24). Those in authority fight against the Lamb, but the Lamb is victorious because He is ‘Lord of lords and King of kings’” (Rev 17:14). (Excerpt from our A-5 “Worthy is the Lamb” pamphlet. Order it for your parish today!)

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary—November 21: Mary gave her life to God as a child when she was brought to the temple by her parents, Anne and Joachim.

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, France—Nov. 27: Prior to her visions of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, St. Catherine Laboure (Feast, Nov. 28) received daily manifestations of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Traditionally, following the recitation of the Miraculous Medal novena, there was Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament, as noted even in the novena booklets of today. True devotion to Our Blessed Mother is adoration of her Son in the Holy Eucharist, where Mary leads us to his “altar.”

St. Charles de Foucauld, Priest, Missionary in the Sahara of Algeria, Martyr, (1858-1916), France —Dec. 1: “The goal of every human life should be the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.” (St. Charles)

St. Nicholas, Bishop, Patron of Children and Russia, (4th century), Myra— December 6: St. Nicholas brought the presence of Jesus to others by healing the sick, helping the poor, and reflecting Christ’s Eucharistic love for all.

St. Ambrose of Milan, Bishop, Doctor, Pt. of Candlemakers, (c. 340-397), Italy—December 7: “In his own instructions to his new Christians, St. Ambrose of Milan echoes St. Cyril in urging us to take time to adore the Lord within us, thanking Him for the ‘heavenly Mysteries’ in which we have been privileged to share [in Holy Communion]. Let our hearts be full of thanksgiving, for we carry within us the Lord, who is our strength and joy!” (The Wonders of Mass and the Holy Eucharist, Sr. Mary Ann Fatula, OP)

Feast of the Immaculate Conception: Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception!—December 8: “We must adore devoutly this God of ours, hidden in the Eucharist—it is Jesus himself, born of the Virgin Mary.” (St. Josemaria Escriva, Christ is Passing By, 84)

Our Lady of Guadalupe (Apparition 1531)—December 12:­­­ “We thank you, Lord Jesus . . . for the gift of your Life . . . Increase, O Lord, our faith and our love for you, present in all the tabernacles of the continent. . . . Grant that the Church in America may flourish and grow richer in the fruits of holiness. Teach us to love your Mother, Mary, as you loved her. Give us the strength to proclaim your word with courage in the work of the new evangelization, so that the world may know new hope.” (St. John Paul II)

St. Lucy, Virgin, Martyr, Consecrated Virgin, Patroness of Eye Patients, (d. 304), Italy—December 13: St. Lucy gave her life for Christ. She chose death over sin. St. Lucy lived until she received Holy Communion.

St. John of the Cross, Carmelite Priest and Doctor, (c. 1542-1591), Spain—December 14: Of St. John of the Cross it is written that the Holy Eucharist was “all his glory, all his happiness, and for him far surpassed all the things of the earth” (The Collected Works of St. John of The Cross).

 St. Stephen, Deacon, Martyr, Patron of Deacons and Stonemasons, (d. 35)—December 26: “O God, you accept our ministry and allow us to serve at your altar; grant that while serving you we follow the example of our patron, St. Stephen, the martyr, and that we may like him, come to see Jesus standing at your right hand in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Prayer)

St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, Patron of Theologians, Asia Minor, (d.100), Galilee—December 27: “It is invaluable to converse with Christ [in the Blessed Sacrament] and, leaning against Jesus’ breast like his beloved disciple, we can feel the infinite love of his Heart.” (St. John Paul II, Letter to the Bishop of Liege, 1996)

Feast of the Holy Innocents—December 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) Pray before Jesus Eucharistic for an end to the slaughter of the unborn.

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—December 31: “The Eucharist is the link that binds the Christian family together. Take away the Eucharist and you have no brotherliness left” (St. Peter Julian Eymard)