July/August 2007
Newsletter No. 107
“Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near
through the blood of Christ” (Eph 2:13).
Almighty and Eternal God, You have appointed Your only-begotten Son the Redeemer
of the world, and willed to be appeased by His Blood. Grant, we beg of You, that
we may worthily adore this price of our salvation, and through its power be
safeguarded from the evils of this present life, so that we may rejoice in its
fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. (Closing
prayer to the Litany of the Precious Blood).
“I encourage all of you to discover ever more fully in the Eucharist, the
sacrament of Christ’s sacrificial love, the inspiration and strength needed to
work ever more generously for the spread of God’s Kingdom and the growth of the
civilization of love” (cf. Sacramentum Caritatis, 90). -Pope Benedict
XVI, April 20, 2007
“Place on thy heart one drop of the Precious Blood of Jesus and fear nothing”
(Pius IX).
“This most holy mystery thus needs to be firmly believed, devoutly celebrated
and intensely lived in the Church. Jesus’ gift of Himself in the sacrament
which is the memorial of His passion tells us that the success of our lives is
found in our participation in the trinitarian life offered to us truly and
definitively in Him. The celebration and worship of the Eucharist enable
us to draw near to God’s love and to persevere in that love until we are united
with the Lord whom we love. The offering of our lives, our fellowship
with the whole community of believers and our solidarity with all men and women
are essential aspects of that logiké latreía, spiritual worship, holy and
pleasing to God (cf. Rom 12:1), which transforms every aspect of our human
existence, to the glory of God. I therefore ask all pastors to spare no
effort in promoting an authentically eucharistic Christian spirituality.
Priests, deacons and all those who carry out a eucharistic ministry should
always be able to find in this service, exercized with care and constant
preparation, the strength and inspiration needed for their personal and communal
path of sanctification. I exhort the lay faithful, and families in
particular, to find ever anew in the sacrament of Christ’s love the energy
needed to make their lives an authentic sign of the presence of the risen Lord.
I ask all consecrated men and women to show by their eucharistic lives the
splendour and the beauty of belonging totally to the Lord” (Pope Benedict XVI,
Sacramentum Caritatis, 94).
“This Blood ... is the price of salvation ... the token of Divine Love.” “This
is a devotion which derives from what we have in Holy Scripture.” You have
redeemed us, Lord, with your Blood! ... This is a fundamental devotion which
embraces all others; it is the basis, the supporting structure, the essence of
Catholic piety ... Devotion to the Most Precious Blood: this is the weapon for
the times” (St. Gaspar Del Bufalo, Founder of the Missionaries of the Most
Precious Blood).
“They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”
(Rev 7:14b).
“I want to dedicate my entire existence to adoration of the Precious Blood. The
Blood of the Lamb flows in abundance. Let us open our poor and destitute hearts,
that it may flood them with its life-giving streams.” “The Blood . . . nothing
can resist its power. The soul that drinks it worthily will glow brighter than
fire . . . . The Blood enkindles the heart with seraphic love.” “We can ask and
expect everything of the Precious Blood’s power and efficacy” (Mother Catherine
Aurelia, Foundress of the Sisters of the Precious Blood).
START PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION IN YOUR PARISH TODAY!
St. Elizabeth (Isabel), Wife, Mother, Queen of Portugal,
(1271-1336)—Feast, July 4
A life of heroic prayer, virtue and charity to the poor while centered on the
Eucharist were the hallmarks of her life. Elizabeth suffered much in her
marriage before her husband’s conversion from his licentious life. She once had
to go to a battle field to stop her husband and son from fighting and establish
peace between them! Upon her husband’s death she took the habit of the Third
Order of St. Francis and established a convent of Poor Clares. Her life was a
very holy one modeled after her great Aunt St. Elizabeth of Hungary.
Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, Patron of World Youth Days, Italy
(1901-1925)—Feast, July 4
“The Eucharistic Christ was his sovereign Lord, whom he never ceased to adore,”
wrote Luciana Frassati, Pier Giorgio Frassati’s sister, of her brother who spent
many hours adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and encouraging others to
adore Him. Bl. Pier was also devoted to the Holy Rosary. He led a life of the
beatitudes, serving the poor and sick, with a pure and generous heart. He was a
popular youth, who loved sports and encouraged his friends to be holy.
St. Maria Goretti, Patroness of Youth & Children of Mary, Italy
(1890-1902)—July 6
“The Holy Eucharist is the perfect expression of the love of Jesus Christ for
man” (St. Maria).
St. Benedict, Priest, Founder of the Benedictines, Italy
(c.480-547)—Feast, July 11
Benedict is a very great Saint who worked numerous miracles, including raising
the dead. His was a life of prayer and work, he taught his monks to pray always.
He is known as the Father of Western monasticism.Benedict’s great love was Jesus
in the Eucharist whom he received just before he died. His twin sister
Scholastica is also a Saint. They are both buried in the church of St. John the
Baptist at Monte Cassino. The blessed medal of St. Benedict is one of the most
powerful medals of the church. It possesses wonderful power for those who wear
it with proper devotion and trust in the Holy Cross and the intercession of the
holy father St. Benedict.
Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin, North America (1656-1680)—Feast, July 14
“Every day Bl. Kateri woke up early and ran through the woods to get to the
chapel, even in the deep snow of winter. She made the journey quickly, because
she was going to see her best friend Jesus in the Sacred Host, where He waited
for her in the tabernacle. When she reached the doors of His house, she would
wait outside in the cold until the priest came to open them for morning prayer”
(Stories of the Eucharist).
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel—July 16 Hail, Flower of Carmel! Hail ever
Immaculate Queen!
Our Blessed Mother asks us to wear the scapular, be chaste, and pray the rosary
daily!
Sts. Anne and Joachim, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Feast, July
26
Novena Prayer: Glorious Saints Anne and Joachim, filled with compassion for
those who invoke thee, and with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with
the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at thy feet and humbly beg of thee to
take the present affair which I recommend to thee under thy special protection.
Vouchsafe to recommend it to thy daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and lay it
before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Cease not
to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all obtain for me the
grace, of one day, beholding my God, face to face, and with thee and Mary and
all the Saints, praising and blessing Him for all eternity. Good Sts. Anne
and Joachim, parents of her who is our Life, our Sweetness and our Hope, pray to
her for us, and obtain our request. (3 times) Sts. Anne & Joachim, pray for us,
to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament!
St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest, Founder of Jesuits, Spain
(1491-1556)—Feast, July 31
St. Ignatius was a great mystic, who spent hours in prayer before the Blessed
Sacrament, and was sometimes seen praying with his face aglow “Oh my God! Oh my
Lord! Oh that men knew Thee!” He saw visions of the Holy Trinity during Mass.
St. Ignatius wrote the Spiritual Exercises to help us grow closer to God
in the spiritual life. “Of the gifts of grace which the soul receives in the
Eucharist, one must be counted among the highest; the Eucharist does not allow
the soul to remain long in sin or to persist in it obstinately” (St. Ignatius of
Loyola).
St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor, Italy (1696-1787)—Feast, Aug.
1
Jesus in the Holy Eucharist is “present on our altars as on a throne of love and
mercy, to dispense graces and there to show us the love which he bears for us by
being pleased to dwell night and day hidden in our midst” (St. Alphonsus Liguori).
St. Peter Julian Eymard, Priest of the Eucharist, France
(1811-1868)—Feast, Aug. 2
“Does it not already mean a great deal to us to know that our friend is at our
side, that He is really there? Look at the Sacred Host; you are sure He is
there” (St. Peter Julian Eymard).
St. John Vianney, Cure of Ars, Patron of Priests, France
(1786-1859)—Feast, Aug. 4
“When we are before the Blessed Sacrament, let us open our heart; our good God
will open His. We shall go to Him; He will come to us; the one to ask, the other
to receive. It will be like a breath from one to the other” (St. John Vianney).
St. Dominic, Priest, Preacher, Founder of Dominicans, Spain
(1170-1221)—Feast, Aug. 8
“Every night, after his friars had gone to bed, St. Dominic would go to the
church, and there, near the Lord, spend the long exacting hours of the night in
prayer where he found interior consolation, solace, secret joys, ineffable
delights, which our Lord poured out from His enchanting Heart in this holy
Sacrament of love” (Hidden Treasure, Louis Kaczmarek).
St. Teresa Benedicta, Carmelite Nun & Martyr, Germany
(1891-1942)—Feast, Aug. 9
“If we visit our Eucharistic God and seek His counsel in all our problems, if we
let ourselves be purified by the sanctifying power that flows from the altar, if
we offer ourselves to the Lord in this sacrifice and receive Him into our souls
in Holy Communion, then we cannot but be drawn ever more deeply into the current
of the divine life” -St. Teresa Benedicta, Edith Stein
St. Clare of Assisi, Foundress of Poor Clare Nuns, Italy
(1193-1253)—Feast, Aug. 11
St. Clare led her Sisters in a life centered on receiving and adoring the
Eucharist, in communion with the poor and in union with Jesus, their spouse.
“Happy, indeed, is she to whom it is given to drink at this sacred banquet so
that she might cling with her whole heart to Him whose beauty all the blessed
hosts of heaven unceasingly admire” (St. Clare).
St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe, Priest, Martyr, Poland, (1894-1941)—Feast,
Aug. 14
“Your heart was not satisfied that I should be nourished only with a memory of
your infinite love. You remained in this vale of tears in the most holy and
singularly miraculous Sacrament.”
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven—August 15
She reigns, who held within her womb the word made flesh, God’s son made hers!
(Hymn).
St. Jane Frances, Widow, Mother, Religious, France (1572-1641)—Feast,
Aug. 18
St. Jane Frances de Chantal founded the Visitation Order & 86 monasteries. The
heartbeat of her life was Jesus in Mass & Adoration. She worked tirelessly in
service of the poor & sick.
Pope St. Pius X, Pope of the Eucharist, Italy (1835-1914)—Feast, Aug.
21
Known as “the Pope of the Eucharist,” for his promotion of Eucharistic devotion,
St. Pius X was often found adoring our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, hearing
confessions and caring for the poor. He lowered the age for the reception of
First Holy Communion and fought Jansenism.
The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary—August 22
“In the Cenacle, this August Queen kneels as adoratrix and servant of the Most
Blessed Sacrament” (St. Peter Julian Eymard).
St. Rose of Lima, Patroness of South America (1586-1617)—Feast, Aug. 23
Known for her love of the Eucharist at Mass and Adoration, mystical gifts and
love for the poor.
St. Monica, Wife, Mother of St. Augustine, North Africa
(332-387)—Feast, Aug. 27
St. Augustine’s Mother prayed daily for hours at Mass and united her sufferings
to Jesus Eucharistic for the conversion and soul of her wayward son. He became a
priest & saint!
St. Augustine, Bishop, Doctor of the Church, N. Africa,
(354-430)—Feast, Aug. 28
“Thou art Christ, my holy Father, my tender God, my great King, my good
Shepherd, my one Master, my best Helper, my most Beautiful and my Beloved, my
living Bread” (St. Augustine).
“Realize that you may gain more in a quarter of an hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament
than in all other spiritual practices of the day.” (St. Alphonsus Liguori)
“If we really love the good God, we will find it a joy and happiness to spend
time near Him, to adore Him, and keep company with so good a friend. He is there
in the tabernacle. What is Jesus doing in this sacrament of love? He is loving
us.” (St. John Vianney)
FAITH in the REAL PRESENCE—Fr. Stedman
We come to Thee, dear Lord, like the
Apostles, saying: “Increase our Faith.” Give us a vivid faith, that Thou art
really present in the Blessed Sacrament—a strong and active faith that we may
live by it.
Give us the faith of Thy beloved disciple, John, to recognize
Thee and say: “It is the Lord.” “My God and my All!”
Give us the Faith of Peter to fall on our knees and confess:
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
Give us the faith of Mary Magdalen to fall at Thy Feet,
crying, “Rabboni, Master!”
Give us the faith of the father of the sick boy—that faith
which You rewarded with a miracle when he cried out in tears, “I do believe,
Lord! help my unbelief.”
Give us the faith of all Thy Saints to whom the Blessed
Sacrament was Heaven begun on earth. In every Communion and at every visit,
increase our faith, our love, our humility, our reverence, and all good things
will come to us. Dearest Lord, increase our faith.
The Feast of the Transfiguration—Feast, August 6
“Jesus’ garment of white light at the Transfiguration speaks of our future as
well. In apocalyptic literature, white garments are an expression of heavenly
beings—the garments of angels and of the elect. In this vein the Apocalypse of
John—the Book of Revelation—speaks of the white garments that are worn by those
who have been saved (cf. especially 7:9, 13; 19:14). But it also tells us
something new: The garments of the elect are white because they have washed them
in the blood of the Lamb (cf. Rev 7:14); this means that through Baptism they
have been united with Jesus’ Passion, and his Passion is the purification that
restores to us the original garment lost through our sin (cf. Lk 15:22) . . . .
“‘And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is my
beloved Son; listen to him’” (Mk 9:7). The holy cloud, the shekinah, is the sign
of the presence of God himself. The cloud hovering over the Tent of Meeting
indicated that God was present. Jesus is the holy tent above whom the cloud of
God’s presence now stands and spreads out to ‘overshadow’ the others as well”
(Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict XVI).
Possess Our Hearts—St. Augustine of Hippo
Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us now come to You.
Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with Your selfless Love.
Our hearts are sinful; Lord, cleanse them with Your precious Blood.
Our hearts are weak; Lord, strengthen them with Your joyous Spirit.
Our hearts are empty; Lord, fill them with your Divine Presence.
Lord Jesus, our hearts are Yours; possess them always and only for Yourself.
Amen.
Prayer Requests: Please remember our priests and loved ones, the
sick, suffering , dying,
our needs and intentions in your prayers before the Precious Body and Blood of
Jesus:
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