January/February 2008
Newsletter No. 110
“You alone are holy, all nations shall come and worship in Your presence”
(Rev 15:4).
The following excerpts are from Pope Benedict XVI’s Message for Lent 2007:
“They shall look on Him whom they have pierced.” Let us look with trust at the
pierced side of Jesus from which flow “blood and water” (Jn 19:34)! The Fathers
of the Church considered these elements as symbols of the sacraments of Baptism
and the Eucharist. Through the water of Baptism, thanks to the action of the
Holy Spirit, we are given access to the intimacy of Trinitarian love. In the
Lenten journey, memorial of our Baptism, we are exhorted to come out of
ourselves in order to open ourselves, in trustful abandonment, to the merciful
embrace of the Father (cf. Saint John Chrysostom, Catecheses, 3,14ff). Blood,
symbol of the love of the Good Shepherd, flows into us especially in the
Eucharistic mystery: “The Eucharist draws us into Jesus’ act of self-oblation …
we enter into the very dynamic of His self-giving” (Encyclical Deus caritas est,
13).
Let us live Lent then, as a “Eucharistic” time in which, welcoming the love of
Jesus, we learn to spread it around us with every word and deed. Contemplating
“Him whom they have pierced” moves us in this way to open our hearts to others,
recognizing the wounds inflicted upon the dignity of the human person; it moves
us, in particular, to fight every form of contempt for life and human
exploitation and to alleviate the tragedies of loneliness and abandonment of so
many people. May Lent be for every Christian a renewed experience of God’s love
given to us in Christ, a love that each day we, in turn, must “regive” to our
neighbour, especially to the one who suffers most and is in need. Only in this
way will we be able to participate fully in the joy of Easter. May Mary, Mother
of Beautiful Love, guide us in this Lenten journey, a journey of authentic
conversion to the love of Christ.
Lenten Meditations
“O my Beloved, no one had the right over You and yet You obeyed not only
the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph but even Your executioners. Now in the Sacred
Host I see You at the height of Your annihilations. How humble You are, O Divine
King of Glory”
(St. Therese of Lisieux).
“This practice of adoration, in fact, is based on strong and solid reasons. For
the Eucharist is at once a sacrifice and a sacrament; but it differs from the
other sacraments in this that it not only produces grace, but contains in a
permanent manner the Author of grace Himself. When, therefore, the Church bids
us adore Christ hidden behind the eucharistic veils and pray to Him for
spiritual and temporal favors, of which we ever stand in need, she manifests
living faith in her divine Spouse who is present beneath these veils, she
professes her gratitude to Him and she enjoys the intimacy of His friendship”
(Pope Pius XII, Mediator Dei).
“We have ups and downs and sickness and suffering.
That is part of the cross.
Anyone who imitates Him to the full
must share in His passion also.
That is why we need prayer
that is why we need the Bread of Life
that is why we have Adoration”
(Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta).
Start Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in your parish or community today!
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God & World Day of
Peace—Jan. 1
“While we sing to your divine Child, O great Mother of God, we praise you as his
living temple.
The Lord who upholds the universe came to dwell in your womb and sanctified and
glorified you and taught everyone to cry out to you: Rejoice, tabernacle of the
Word of God! Rejoice, holiest of all the saints! Rejoice, golden ark of the
covenant! Rejoice, treasury of divine life! Rejoice, precious diadem of
Christian rulers! Rejoice, pride and joy of devout priests! Rejoice, impregnable
rampart of the Church! Rejoice, invincible wall of the kingdom of God! Rejoice,
giver of victory over evil! Rejoice, destroyer of all who attack us! Rejoice,
healing of minds and bodies!Rejoice, salvation of souls!Rejoice, unwedded
bride!” (5th century Byzantine Hymn).
Sts. Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen,Bishops,Doctors, Cappadocia(4th
cen.)—Jan. 2
“[St.] Basil reminds us that to keep alive our love for God and for men, we need
the Eucharist, the appropriate food for the baptized, which can nourish the new
energies that derive from Baptism (cf. “De Baptismo” 1, 3: SC 357, 192). It is a
cause of immense joy to be able to take part in the Eucharist (cf. “Moralia” 21,
3: PG 31, 741a), instituted ‘to preserve unceasingly the memory of the One who
died and rose for us’ (“Moralia” 80, 22: PG 31, 869b). -Pope Benedict XVI,
August 1, 2007
Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus—Jan. 3
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under
the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father” (Phil 2:8-11).
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Widow, Mother, Religious, U.S. (1774-1821)—Jan. 4
“If the Lord’s body and blood were not there, really present, how could the
Apostle have said: 'He who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and
drinks a judgment on himself?’”
St. John Neumann, Redemptorist Priest, Bishop, Bohemia (1811-1860)—Jan. 5
Empowered by his ardent love and devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, St.
John began 40 hours of Adoration devotion in the United States, and opened over
80 Churches and schools.
Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord—Jan. 6
The magi “adored a simple Child in the arms of Mother Mary, because in Him they
recognized the source of the dual light that had guided them: the light of the
star and the light of Scripture. They recognized in Him the King of the Jews,
glory of Israel, but also the King of all peoples”
(Pope Benedict XVI, Epiphany 2006).
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord—Jan. 13
“Jesus, Divine Master, we adore You as the only-begotten Son of God, who came on
earth to give abundant life to humanity. We thank You because by Your death on
the cross, You give us life through Baptism and You nourish us in the Eucharist”
(Bl. James Alberione).
St. Agnes, Virgin, Martyr, Italy (c. 290-304)—Jan. 21 Let us
adore the Lamb of God Whom the virgins follow! St. Agnes preserved her
virginity in spite of imprisonment, torture & death.
St. Francis de Sales, Priest, Bishop, France (1567-1622)—Jan. 24
“Keep yourself always near Jesus Christ crucified, both spiritually by
meditation and really by Holy Communion . . . . When you lay down your heart to
rest upon Our Lord, who is the true, chaste, and immaculate Lamb, you shall see
that your soul and your heart shall soon be cleansed from all defilement and
lewdness” (St. Francis de Sales).
Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle—Jan. 25
“St. Paul tells us that faith comes from listening. In a daily Holy Hour, we
wait for Him to speak—and He does!” (Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen).
St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor of the Church (c. 1225-1274)—Jan. 28
“I adore Thee, Jesus, in the Blessed Sacrament, and with all my heart I wish to
make myself a fitting temple for Thee. Come to me, O loving Jesus” (St. Thomas
Aquinas).
St. John Bosco, Priest, Salesian Founder, Italy (1815-1888)—Jan. 31
“Our Lord is present in this sacrament [of the Holy Eucharist] in which the
martyrs and virgins received fervor, and the saints received fortitude” (St.
John Bosco).
The Presentation of the Lord—Feast, February 2
“Simeon gave back Jesus to His Mother, he was only suffered to keep Him for one
moment. But we are far happier than Simeon. We may keep Him always if we will.
In Communion He comes not only into our arms but into our hearts” (St. John
Vianney).
St. Blaise, Bishop, Martyr, Patron of Throat Diseases, Armenia
(316)—Feast, Feb. 3
St. Blaise was greatly devoted to the Holy Eucharist. While imprisoned for his
faith, he ministered to others and saved a child who was choking to death on a
fish bone. News of the miracle spread and this led to the custom of the blessing
of throats, with two candles, in Church on St. Blaise’s feast day. St. Blaise
was beheaded for his witness to Jesus.
St. Agatha,Virgin, Martyr, Patroness of Nurses, Breast Cancer, Italy
(251)—Feast, Feb. 5
Consecrated to Jesus at a young age, St. Agatha refused the advances of the
Roman Governor. She was brutally tortured and mutilated, then left to die.
Miraculously healed, the Governor was furious and sentenced her to death by
burning. St. Agatha prayed to be faithful to Jesus to the end. Dear Virgin
and Martyr, whom the Church recalls in her liturgy, you heroically resisted the
temptation of an evil ruler. Subjected to long and horrible tortures, you
remained faithful to your heavenly Spouse. Encourage nurses, those suffering
from cancer, victims of sexual violence and natural disaster. Help them to find
hope, peace and strength in Jesus, like you.
Ash Wednesday—February 6
“Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call; have pity on me, and answer me. Of You my
heart speaks; You my glance seeks; Your presence, O Lord, I seek. Hide not Your
face from me” (Ps 27:7-9). This Lent, let us turn to the Father and ask for
healing for ourselves, our families, our society, our world. Let us pray for
God’s love, peace and mercy upon each and every person on the face of the earth.
Let us be sincere with our efforts of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, and be
mindful of all who are in need. Let us turn to the Lord with all our minds, with
all our hearts and all our strength during this Holy Lenten Season. Particularly
let us go to Him in Mass, Communion and Eucharistic Adoration.
St. Josephine Bakhita, Religious, Africa (1869-1947)—Feast, February 8
St. Josephine was tortured and enslaved after she was kidnapped from Darfur,
Sudan. Later Josephine was bought by a good family. She was eventually freed and
went to Italy with them at the age of 21. She was attracted to Catholicism
because of the true Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. She converted
and became a Canossian Sister. Sr. Josephine spent many hours daily in
Eucharistic Adoration. She said: “I will send from heaven lots of graces for the
salvation of souls.” St. Josephine, please pray for the people of Sudan!
St. Scholastica, Benedictine Nun, Abbess, Italy (480-547)—Feast, February
10
Scholastica, was the first abbess of the order of nuns founded in Monte Cassino
by her twin brother St. Benedict. Sr. Scholastica was a devout and dutiful
religious. She spent many hours daily in prayer before Jesus Eucharistic.
Scholastica was also very close to her twin brother Benedict. When she died, St.
Benedict saw her soul rise to heaven in the form of a dove!
Our Lady of Lourdes, (France)—Feast, February 11
“At Lourdes, even Mary has stepped aside to make way for Christ. There is no
place in the world where Christ in the Eucharist is more glorified. The
procession of the Eucharist by candlelight is the high point of each day. Here
the pilgrims are joined in faith, and all the countries of the world are united
as the procession winds from the grotto to show that Jesus is the Gift of the
Virgin Mary. Now she stands at the side of her Son so that He may console” (Rev.
Msgr. John F. Davis). Our Lady of Lourdes, please pray for all who are sick;
who are in need of healing of body, mind and spirit.
St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, Patron of Clerics & Youth,Italy
(1838-1862)—Feb. 27
St. Gabriel pledged to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament daily and dedicate
his life to Our Lady. His wholehearted devotion to this life led him to be a
Saint by his death at the age of 24.
Solemnity of the Epiphany of The Lord—January 6
“The light of Christmas that shone out in the night, illuminating the manger
of Bethlehem where Mary, Joseph and the shepherds stood in silent adoration,
today shines and is visible to everyone. The Epiphany is a mystery of light,
symbolically represented by the star that guided the journey of the Magi”
(From Pope Benedict XVI’s 2006 Epiphany homily).
His light shone out over the east;
Persia was enlightened by the star:
His Epiphany gave good tidings to her and invited her,
“He is come for the sacrifice that brings joy to all.”
The star of light hasted and came and dawned
through the darkness, and summoned them
that the peoples should come and exult
in the great Light that has come down to earth.
One envoy from among the stars
the firmament sent to proclaim to them,
to the sons of Persia, that they might make ready
to meet the King and to worship Him.
Great Assyria when she perceived it
called to the Magi and said to them,
“Take gifts and go, honour Him
the great King Who in Judea has dawned.”
The princes of Persia, exulting,
carried gifts from their region;
and they brought to the Son of the Virgin
gold and myrrh and frankincense.
They entered and found Him as a child
as He dwelt in the house of the lowly woman;
and they drew near and worshipped with gladness,
and brought near before Him their treasures . . . .
Let the Church sing with rejoicing,
“Glory in the Birth of the Highest,
by Whom the world above and the world below are illumined!”
Blessed be He in Whose Birth all are made glad!
-St. Ephrem the Syrian (d. 373)
“‘They fell down and worshipped Him’ (Mt 2:11). While the Magi acknowledged and
worshipped the baby that Mary cradled in her arms as the One awaited by the
nations and foretold by prophets, today we can also worship Him in the
Eucharist, and acknowledge Him as our Creator, our only Lord and Savior” (John
Paul II, August 6, 2004).
Prayer Intentions: Send us the names of loved ones and any special
intentions you would like us to pray for throughout this Season before Jesus,
Our Eucharistic King!
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