Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Eucharistic Miracles

Fr. Fernando Cuenca, OMV, talks about Eucharistic miracles and describes the ones in Lanciano, Santaren, and Betania. Fr. Fernando is a priest from the Congregation of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary.


Saturday, February 20, 2010

Eucharistic Adoration: Placing Christ at the Center of Our Lives

67. With the Synod Assembly, therefore, I heartily recommend to the Church's pastors and to the People of God the practice of eucharistic adoration, both individually and in community. (194) Great benefit would ensue from a suitable catechesis explaining the importance of this act of worship, which enables the faithful to experience the liturgical celebration more fully and more fruitfully. Wherever possible, it would be appropriate, especially in densely populated areas, to set aside specific churches or oratories for perpetual adoration. I also recommend that, in their catechetical training, and especially in their preparation for First Holy Communion, children be taught the meaning and the beauty of spending time with Jesus, and helped to cultivate a sense of awe before his presence in the Eucharist.

Here I would like to express appreciation and support for all those Institutes of Consecrated Life whose members dedicate a significant amount of time to eucharistic adoration. In this way they give us an example of lives shaped by the Lord's real presence. I would also like to encourage those associations of the faithful and confraternities specifically devoted to eucharistic adoration; they serve as a leaven of contemplation for the whole Church and a summons to individuals and communities to place Christ at the centre of their lives.

~ Pope Benedict XVI. Sacramentum Caritatis, 67 ~



Friday, February 19, 2010

Eucharistic Adorers at the Service of Jesus Christ

"Everything in the adorer should be at the service of Jesus Christ:
his mind, his heart, his will, his senses."

~ St. Peter Julian Eymard ~



Thursday, February 18, 2010

St. Faustina: Living the Eucharist

"Not only are we to receive and adore the Eucharist,
we must live the Eucharist.

We are to let the rays of mercy from the monstrance pass through us
and go out through all the world.

We are to be icons of mercy,
radiating love and mercy to others.

There is no greater way to energize ourselves to this task
than by spending time in the Presence of the Source of Love and Mercy,
Our Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist.

This is seen in the example given by one saintly priest:
If we were to sit for an hour a few feet away from a radioactive element,
how much would that change effect 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, Divine Mercy Prayer Book ~

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

The Great Gift of Jesus in the Eucharist

"Our Lord knew well that we were too weak to walk courageously along the road of life that is often very difficult. So His prophet who saw from afar all the treasures hidden in the Church of Jesus Christ said: "Thou hast prepared a table before me, against them that afflict me." The food of this table is Jesus Christ Himself; His Divine Flesh, His Precious Blood. It is He who prepares the feast and invites us to it. How is it that after so many Communions we still have so few victories over ourselves? We receive the God of Strength and we are without courage! It is because we have not enough faith. With a little faith, trust, and fidelity to duty, we should obtain from Our Lord all that we ask of Him. What greater gift could He give us than Himself? A soul who is simple, faithful, who sees only Our Lord, does with Him, so to speak, what she wills; He lends Himself to her least desires; she has all power over His Divine Heart."

~ St. Madeleine Sophie Barat ~

Friday, February 12, 2010

Pope John Paul II: "You Must Always Be Eucharistic Souls"

"Only through the Eucharist
is it possible to live the heroic virtues of Christianity:
charity, to the point of forgiving ones enemies;
love for those who make us suffer;
chastity in every age and situation of life;
patience in suffering
and when one is shocked by the silence of God in the tragedies of history
or of ones own personal existence.
You must always be Eucharistic souls in order to be authentic Christians."
~ Pope John Paul II ~

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Theological Insights

"Neither theological knowledge nor social action alone is enough to keep us in love with Christ unless both are proceeded by a personal encounter with Him. Theological insights are gained not only from between two covers of a book, but from two bent knees before an altar. The Holy Hour becomes like an oxygen tank to revive the breath of the Holy Spirit in the midst of the foul and fetid atmosphere of the world."

~ Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen ~

Sunday, February 7, 2010

St. John Bosco's Advice for Conquering the Devil

"Do you want the Lord to give you many graces?
Visit Him often.
Do you want Him to give you few graces?
Visit Him rarely.
Do you want the devil to attack you?
Visit Jesus rarely in the Blessed Sacrament.
Do you want him to flee from you? Visit Jesus often.
Do you want to conquer the devil?
Take refuge often at the feet of Jesus.
Do you want to be conquered by the devil?
Forget about visiting Jesus.
My dear ones,
the visit to the Blessed Sacrament
is an extremely necessary way to conquer the devil.
Therefore, go often to visit Jesus
and the devil will not come out victorious against you."

~ St John Bosco, from Jesus Our Eucharistic Love by Fr. Stefano Manelli  ~

Friday, February 5, 2010

Jesus' Revelation to St. Matilda about the Eucharist

"At the moment of Consecration I come down first in such deep humility that there is no one at Mass, no matter how despicable and vile he may be, towards whom I do not humbly incline and approach, if he desires Me to do so and prays for it;

Secondly, I come down with such great patience that I suffer even My greatest enemies to be present and grant them the full pardon of all their sins, if they wish to be reconciled with Me;

Thirdly, I come with such immense love that no one of those present can be so hardened that I do not soften his heart and enkindle it with My love, if he wishes Me to do so;

Fourthly, I come with such inconceivable liberality that none of those present can be so poor that I would not enrich him abundantly;

Fifthly, I come with such sweet food that no one ever so hungry should not be refreshed and fully satiated by Me;

Sixthly, I come with such great light and splendor that no heart, how blinded soever it may be, will not be enlightened and purified by My presence;

Seventhly, I come with such great sanctity and treasures of grace that no one, however inert and indevout he may be, should not be roused from this state."

~ Jesus to St. Matilda ~

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Pope John Paul II Encourages Eucharistic Adoration for Children

“I urge priests, religious and lay people to continue and redouble their efforts to teach the younger generations the meaning and value of Eucharistic adoration and devotion. How will young people be able to know the Lord if they are not introduced to the mystery of his presence? Like the young Samuel, by learning the words of the prayer of the heart, they will be closer to the Lord, who will accompany them in their spiritual and human growth, and in the missionary witness which they must give throughout their life. The Eucharistic mystery is in fact the "summit of evangelization" (Lumen Gentium, n. 28), for it is the most eminent testimony to Christ's Resurrection. All interior life needs silence and intimacy with Christ in order to develop. This gradual familiarity with the Lord will enable certain young people to be involved in serving as acolytes and to taking a more active part in Mass; for young boys, to be near the altar is also a privileged opportunity to hear Christ's call to follow him more radically in the priestly ministry.”

~ Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, From the Vatican, 28 May 1996 ~



~ Information about Eucharistic adoration for children from Children of Hope ~

Monday, February 1, 2010

Eucharistic Adoration: Moving Forward Spiritually

Video as featured on EWTN-- Life on the Rock--from Spirit Juice Studios:

"The world we live in does not make it easy for us to move forward spiritually. If we don't do anything we will be moving backwards in our spiritual life. We must take a step forward and spend time with Christ in Eucharistic Adoration. This is the only way we can truly move forward spiritually."