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August 2004 Newsletter No. 81

"[Jesus] received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, 'This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased'" (2 Pet 1:17).

Adore The Eucharistic Face of Christ!

"'And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun' (Mt 17:2). The Gospel scene of Christ's transfiguration, in which the three Apostles Peter, James and John appear entranced by the beauty of the Redeemer, can be seen as an icon of Christian contemplation. To look upon the face of Christ, to recognize its mystery amid the daily events and the sufferings of his human life, and then to grasp the divine splendour definitively revealed in the Risen Lord, seated in glory at the right hand of the Father: this is the task of every follower of Christ and therefore the task of each one of us. In contemplating Christ's face we become open to receiving the mystery of Trinitarian life, experiencing ever anew the love of the Father and delighting in the joy of the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul's words can then be applied to us: 'Beholding the glory of the Lord, we are being changed into his likeness, from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit' (2 Cor 3:18) (Pope John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Ch. 1, no. 9). "A Christian community desirous of contemplating the face of Christ in the spirit which I proposed in the Apostolic Letters Novo Millennio Ineunte and Rosarium Virginis Mariae cannot fail also to develop this aspect of Eucharistic worship [Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament], which prolongs and increases the fruits of our communion in the body and blood of the Lord" (Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Ch. 2, no. 25).

How blessed we are to be with Jesus in Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament! Here Jesus conceals His awesome glory, beauty and majesty in order to be with us! Each moment that we spend in Eucharistic Adoration, communing with Him, we are transfigured and renewed. Our soul is transfigured with His glory, making it everlastingly more beautiful. In His Eucharistic Presence, Jesus teaches us true love and compassion. In the humility of His Most Holy Sacramental Presence, Jesus reveals and proves His infinite love for each one of us, healing, filling, refreshing, strengthening and perfecting us.

"Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us" (St. Alphonsus Liguori).

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven--August 15

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior" (Lk 1:46-47). "O glorious Mother Mary . . . consumed with the desire to be united with thy Divine Son in Heaven, Thy soul departed from Thy body and united itself to Him, Who, out of the excessive love He bore for Thee, His Mother, whose virginal body was His first tabernacle, took that body into Heaven, and there, amidst the acclaims of the angels and saints, reinfused into it thy soul" (Charles V. Lacey). Mary is assumed into Heaven and Her Heart is made forever one with the Heart of Jesus. These two Hearts beat as one. Where Jesus is, there Mary is also. Blessed Mother Mary is called Our Lady of The Most Blessed Sacrament. We pray for union with The Sacred Eucharistic Heart of Jesus! We ask Our Blessed Mother Mary to pray for us.

Start Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in your parish today!

St. Peter Julian Eymard, Priest of the Eucharist, France (1811-1868), Feast, Aug. 2
St. Peter Julian Eymard encouraged laity to work for the spread of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, saying: "Will you remain cold and indifferent? No! If there are societies for the spreading of evil, you will form a society for the spreading of good, a society of adoration . . . . And how often have I repeated it, nothing short of perpetual [Eucharistic] adoration will start a conflagration . . . . Never should Our Lord find Himself alone here."

St. John Vianney, Patron of Priests, France (1786-1859), Feast, Aug. 4
The Cure of Ars, St. John Vianney, wrote: "If we really loved the good God, we should make it our joy and happiness to come . . . to adore Him."

St. Teresa Benedicta, Carmelite Nun & Martyr, Germany (1891-1942), Feast, Aug. 9
A convert from Judaism, St. Teresa (Edith Stein), wrote of the importance of daily Mass and Adoration: "To make room in our life for the Eucharistic Lord, so that He can change our life into His, is that asking too much?" She was martyred at Auschwitz.

St. Clare of Assisi, Foundress of Poor Clare Nuns, Italy (1193-1253), Feast, Aug. 11
St. Clare "holding the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament in sight of the enemies [Saracen soldiers] . . . prostrated herself before the Eucharistic God. Her prayer was heard, and the enemies, struck with a sudden panic, fled in terror" (Hoever).

St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest, Martyr, Poland (1894-1941)Feast, Aug. 14
St. Maximilian--an ardent proponent of Adoration--wrote, "He remains among us until the end of the world. He dwells on so many altars, though so often offended and profaned."

St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Widow & Religious, France (1572-1641),Feast, Aug. 16
She wrote, "God, who is so great, has become so little for the love of us [in the Eucharist], that He has even hidden the splendor of His greatness, that He might appear lowly."

St. John Eudes, Priest,(1601-1680), Feast, Aug. 19
"You should adore our Lord Jesus Christ, who makes himself present to us on the altar, so that we might offer him the homage and adoration we owe" (St. John Eudes).

St. Louis IX, Husband, Father, King of France, (1214-1270), Feast, Aug. 25
"Even if I saw Jesus on the altar in His visible form, and touched Him with my hand, and heard His voice, I should not be more convinced than I now am, that He is present in the consecrated Host. The word of Christ is sufficient for me. I need no miracle" (St. Louis).

St. Monica, Wife, Mother, North Africa, (332-387), Feast, Aug. 27
Converted prodigal son, Augustine, wrote of his Mother's Eucharistic devotion: "To this sacrament of our redemption Thy handmaid had bound her soul by the bond of faith."

St. Augustine, Bishop, Doctor of the Church, N. Africa, (354-430), Feast, Aug. 28
St. Augustine wrote, "God in His omnipotence could not give more, in His wisdom knew not how to give more, in His riches had not more to give than the Eucharist."

Healing Intentions: Let us pray with Mother Mary for the conversion of all prodigal children and unbelievers, that they may come to know Jesus in the Eucharist! We invite you to send in the names of family and loved ones to be included in prayers throughout the year.

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