Fr. Leo Clifford, O.F.M.: Reflections on Holy Communion

Eucharistic Devotion: Consecrating Ourselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

"...I urge you to draw close to the Heart of Jesus opened wide for you in the Holy Eucharist, by your faithful participation in the Sunday Mass and in weekday Mass, when possible, and by your Eucharistic devotion, especially Eucharistic visits and adoration.

"Placing our hearts within the Sacred Heart of Jesus through participation in the Holy Eucharist and Eucharistic devotion, let us enthrone the image of His Sacred Heart in our homes and places of work and recreation, consecrating ourselves and all that we do to His service. The Sacred Heart devotion is a most fitting and efficacious way of extending Eucharistic worship and devotion into every moment of our lives and every aspect of our lives. Christ must reign in us for the salvation of the world. Sharers in Christ’s own Spirit, we must more and more turn over our lives completely to Him."

~ Archbishop Raymond Burke, Installation Mass Homily, St. Louis, Misssouri, 2004 ~ 

Verbo Caro Factum Est: The Word Became Flesh

Verbum Caro factum est. Habitavit in nobis (The Word became flesh & dwelt among us)

Notum fecit Dominus, salutare suum (The Lord has made his salvation known)

Prope invocavit me, Pater meus es tu (Near is He who calls me, You are my Father)

(Sung by the Cathedral Singers, Richard Proulx (RIP) director)

Fr. Samuel Medley: Risen Jesus in the Eucharist Tranforms Us

"Jesus rose from the dead.

St. Paul was transformed.

The Host at Lanciano turned to Blood and Flesh.

The Shroud of Turin left an imprint.

Are these great miracles?

Another great miracle is your transformation, but do you believe?"

~ Fr. Samuel Medley ~

Audio of Fr. Medley's homily:  Risen Jesus in the Eucharist Transforms Us 

Cardinal Arinze: Communion-plates, Altar Rails, Training of Altar Servers, Number of Daily Holy Communions Allowed

[93.] The Communion-plate for the Communion of the faithful should be retained, so as to avoid the danger of the sacred host or some fragment of it falling.[180]

[94.] It is not licit for the faithful “to take . . . by themselves . . . and, still less, to hand . . . from one to another” the sacred host or the sacred chalice.[181] Moreover, in this regard, the abuse is to be set aside whereby spouses administer Holy Communion to each other at a Nuptial Mass.

[95.] A lay member of Christ’s faithful “who has already received the Most Holy Eucharist may receive it again on the same day only within a Eucharistic Celebration in which he or she is participating, with due regard for the prescriptions of can. 921 § 2.”[182]

~ Excerpts from Redemptionis Sacramentum

On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided

regarding the Most Holy Eucharist

Cardinal Arinze: Communion on the Tongue and Kneeling is the Church Norm

[90.] “The faithful should receive Communion kneeling or standing, as the Conference of Bishops will have determined”, with its acts having received the recognitio of the Apostolic See. “However, if they receive Communion standing, it is recommended that they give due reverence before the reception of the Sacrament, as set forth in the same norms”.[176]

[91.] In distributing Holy Communion it is to be remembered that “sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who seek them in a reasonable manner, are rightly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them”.[177] Hence any baptized Catholic who is not prevented by law must be admitted to Holy Communion. Therefore, it is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing.

[92.] Although each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice,[178] if any communicant should wish to receive the Sacrament in the hand, in areas where the Bishops’ Conference with the recognitio of the Apostolic See has given permission, the sacred host is to be administered to him or her. However, special care should be taken to ensure that the host is consumed by the communicant in the presence of the minister, so that no one goes away carrying the Eucharistic species in his hand. If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful.[179]

~ Excerpt from: Redemptionis Sacramentum

On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided

regarding the Most Holy Eucharist ~

Archbishop Timothy Broglio: Participation in the Mystery of the Eucharist

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, speaks about the Eucharist.

Pope Benedict XVI Supports Receiving Communion on the Tongue While Kneeling

Pope Benedict XVI speaks without words!

Old news from June, 2008--but worth meditating upon.  

Prayer of St. Padre Pio After Holy Communion

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You.
         You know how easily I abandon You.
Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You, I am without fervor.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You, I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.
Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much, and always be in Your company.
Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.
Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I want it to be a place of consolation for You, 
         a nest of love.
Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close, and life passes;

         death, judgment, eternity approaches.

         It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You.

         It is getting late and death approaches,

         I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows.

         O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!
Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers. I need You.
         Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread,

         so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness,

         the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.
Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You,

         if not by communion, at least by grace and love.
Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolation, because I do not merit it,

         but the gift of Your Presence, oh yes, I ask this of You!
Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for,
         Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit,

         because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.
With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth
         and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity.
Amen.

Prayer to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament to Become a Saint

Dear Jesus, in the Sacrament of the Altar,

be forever thanked and praised.

Love, worthy of all celestial and terrestrial love!

Who, out of infinite love for me,

ungrateful sinner,

didst assume our human nature,

didst shed Thy most Precious Blood in the cruel scourging,

and didst expire on a shameful Cross

for our eternal welfare!

Now illumined with lively faith,

with the outpouring of my whole soul

and the fervor of my heart,

I humbly beseech Thee,

through the infinite merits of Thy painful sufferings,

give me strength and courage

to destroy every evil passion which sways my heart,

to bless Thee by the exact fulfillment of my duties,

supremely to hate all sin,

and thus to become a Saint.