"Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you"  (Jn 6:53).

The Eucharist is the fruit of our Lords Passion. Jesus gave up His Body on the cross so that He may give you His Body in the Holy Eucharist. Jesus poured out His very last drop of Blood on the cross so that He may fill you with His Divine Love each time that you receive Him in Holy Communion and visit Him in Eucharistic Adoration!

"The bread and wine, fruit of human hands, transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit into the body and blood of Christ, become a pledge of the 'new heaven and new earth,' announced by the Church in her daily mission." "In Christ, whom we adore present in the mystery of the Eucharist, the father uttered his final word with regard to humanity and human history." "To live the Eucharist, it is necessary, as well, to spend much time in adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament, something which I myself experience every day drawing from it strength, consolation and assistance."  "How could the Church fulfill her vocation without cultivating a constant relationship with the Eucharist, without nourishing herself with this food which sanctifies, without founding her missionary activity on this indispensable support?" "To evangelize the world there is need of apostles who are 'experts' in the celebration, adoration and contemplation of the Eucharist" (Pope John Paul II, World Mission Message 2004).

"The Eucharist, in the Mass and outside of the Mass, is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, and is therefore deserving of the worship that is given to the living God, and to Him alone" (Pope John Paul II, September 29, 1979, Phoenix Park, Ireland).
 

St. Thomas the Apostle, Martyr (d. 74)--Feast, July 3
"Is not this gazing upon the Eucharistic Saviour a magnificent profession of our faith in the Divinity of Christ, such as was made by the incredulous Thomas?  When St. Thomas said, 'My Lord and my God!' we may be sure he did not keep his eyes cast down, but looked with open and sincere gaze into the eyes of his Master" (Fr. Lukas Etlin, O.S.B.).

Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, Patron of World Youth Days, Italy(1901-1925)--Feast, July 4
Bl. Pier said to youth, "Feed on this Bread of Angels and from it you will gain the strength to fight your inner battle . . . against passion and all adversities, because Jesus Christ has promised to those who feed on the Holy Eucharist eternal life and the graces necessary to obtain it. When you are totally consumed by this Eucharistic fire, then you will be able more consciously to thank God who has called you to become part of that multitude, and you will enjoy the peace that those who are happy in accordance with this world have never experienced, because true happiness does not consist in the pleasures of the world or in earthly things, but in peace of conscience, which we only have if we are pure in heart and mind."

Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin, North America (1656-1680)--Feast, July 14
Lily of the Eucharist and Lily of the Mohawks. Born in Auriesville, NY, Bl. Kateri awoke early every morning to journey through the woods to the Chapel to visit and receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.  She waited outside, even in the bitter cold of winter, until the chapel opened.  A consecrated virgin, Bl. Kateri prayed, "I offer my soul to Christ the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament." She devoted her life to prayer, penance and the care of the sick and elderly. Her litany reads: "Kateri, who loved Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us."

St. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor, Italy (c. 1218-1274)--Feast, July 15
Known as the "Seraphic Doctor," St. Bonaventure--a Franciscan--wrote: "Lord Jesus Christ, pierce my soul with your love so that I may always long for you alone, who are the bread of angels and the fulfillment of the soul's deepest desires. May my heart always hunger for you, so that my soul may be filled with the sweetness of your presence."

St. Mary Magdalene, Repentant Sinner and Disciple of Jesus--Feast, July 22
Ven. Charles de Foucauld wrote of the Blessed Sacrament, "St. Mary Magdalene was no closer to You when she sat at Your feet at Bethany than I am here at the foot of this altar."

Sts. Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary--Feast, July 26
"St. Joachim and St. Anne were poor.  They belonged to the Levitical family, and lived on the tithes of the Temple.  However, Mary was born with a splendor far surpassing all the riches of the daughters of the world . . . She was enriched with God's choicest gifts.  But on the day of her birth, she was already rich in her own right; she had already acquired treasures of merit during the nine months of silent, uninterrupted adoration in her mother's womb" (St. Peter Julian Eymard).  Sts. Joachim and Anne, pray for us!

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest, Founder of Jesuits, Spain (1491-1556)--Feast, July 31
Wrote, "Jesus in the tabernacle is my God and my All!  He is my Heaven on earth!"

Healing Intentions:  Please join in intercessory prayer for the protection of the Precious Blood of Jesus upon our country and our world! We invite you to send in the names of family, friends and loved ones, to be included in prayers throughout this month and the remainder of the year.