octnovdec16.htm

“I want to encourage everyone to visit–if possible, every day–especially amid life’s difficulties, the Blessed Sacrament of the infinite love of Christ and His mercy, preserved in our churches, and often abandoned,

to speak filially with Him, to listen to Him in silence, and to peacefully entrust yourself to Him”

(Pope Francis, Message for Eucharistic Congress, held September 15 - 18, 2016, in Genoa, Italy).

During these tumultuous and troubled times, the earth is filled with the darkness of conflict and war, violence and unrest, natural disasters, scandals, uncertainty, divisions, and chaos. Let us keep our eyes fixed on the Way, the Truth and the Light—Jesus Eucharistic, Savior, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Messiah, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace!

“Jesus Christ is truly Emmanuel, God-with-us from his Incarnation until the end of time. And he is this in a particular intense and hidden way in the mystery of his continual presence in the Eucharist. What vital strength, what consolation, what firm hope is discovered in contemplating the mystery of the Eucharist! It is God-with-us that enables us to share his life and impels us to go out to evangelize the world, to sanctify it!” (St. John Paul II).

Christmas Reflections

“Advent is here. What a marvelous time in which to renew your desire, your nostalgia, your real longing for Christ to come—for him to come every day to your soul in the Eucharist. The Church encourages us: Ecce veniet!—

He is about to arrive!” (St. Josemaria Escriva)

“Although Mary and Joseph were living more than 100 miles away in Nazareth, when the time came for Jesus to be born, divine providence arranged that they had to travel to Bethlehem, a little town whose name means ‘House of Bread.’ And he was placed in a manger—the trough from which animals eat. (In fact the very word ‘manger’ means ‘to eat’ in French.) And there, at the very start of his earthly life, he presents himself in ways that hint at his plan for his continual real presence on earth through the centuries as the Bread of Life. Small, helpless, vulnerable then as now, our faith marvels at a God who is so great that he can make himself so small.

“Christmas is a time to renew our commitment to Eucharistic adoration. When we adore Jesus in the Eucharist we are uniting ourselves with those shepherds and magi, when they, too, bowed low before an immense mystery cloaked in tininess. And just as they were in the presence of the King of Heaven, so are we.” (milesjesu.com)

“Eucharistic adoration is the greatest of actions. To adore is to share the life of Mary on earth when she adored the Word Incarnate in her virginal womb, when she adored Him in the Crib.” (St. Peter Julian Eymard)

“When we worship you in the form of bread... we always see you as an adult. But every year at Christmas, you reveal yourself to us as a child born in a crib. We stand in silent amazement . . . In silent adoration we stand before the mystery, like Mary when the shepherd came and told her what they had seen and heard: ‘She kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Chiara Lubich, foundress of the Focolare movement)

“A Savior has been born to us! Come, let us fix our gaze on the crib and adore Him! . . . Let us be renovated and redeemed by the mercy of the infant who delivers us from the powers of darkness unto the salvation of his great love. O God and Infant, save us! Shepherd us safely home!” “They came with gifts—and adored, and so great was the dignity of the babe, so powerful was the light of these eyes that shone like celestial suns, that they could not help but cry out: 'Emmanuel: God is with us.’” “To each and everyone He comes as if He had never come before in His own sweet way, He the Child who is born . . . Jesus the Savior, He Emmanuel, He, Christ as Christ’s Mass on Christmas—Merry Christmas!!” (Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen)

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Carmelite Nun, Patroness of Missionaries, (1873-1897), France—Oct. 1
St. Thérèse visited Jesus, and spent time before His Real Presence each day, throughout her life. Of her childhood Thérèse writes “Every afternoon I went for a little walk with papa. Together we would visit the Blessed Sacrament, each day visiting a new church.” While the other children spent their afternoons talking with their teachers, little Thérèse spent many hours conversing with the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus in the chapel. She knew that is was only His Living and True Heart that could fulfill her desires. In her words, He was her “only Friend.”

Respect Life Sunday—Oct. 2
“If people spent an hour a week in Eucharistic Adoration a week, abortion would be ended.” (St. Mother Teresa)

St. Theodore Guerin, Foundress of the Sisters of Providence, (1798-1856), France—Oct. 3

“If we truly knew how to appreciate it [the Holy Eucharist], it alone would fortify and sustain us.” Mother Theodore founded the Sisters of St. Mary of the Woods, IN, and the first Catholic women’s liberal arts college in the U.S.

St. Francis of Assisi, Deacon, Franciscan Founder, Stigmatist (c. 1181-1226), Italy—Oct. 4

“Let everyone be struck with fear, the whole world tremble, and the heavens exult when Christ, the Son of the living God, is present on the altar in the hands of a priest! O wonderful loftiness and stupendous dignity! O sublime humility! O humble sublimity! The Lord of the universe, God and the Son of God, so humbles Himself that He hides Himself for our salvation under and ordinary piece of bread! See the humility of God, brothers, and pour out your hearts before Him! Humble yourselves that you may be exalted by Him! Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves, that He Who gives Himself totally to you may receive you totally!” (St. Francis of Assisi)

Bl. Marie-Rose Durocher, Founder, Srs. of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, (1811-1849), Canada—Oct. 6
When asked for advice, Bl. Marie-Rose pointed to Jesus Eucharistic and Our Lady: “Ask Our Lady to help you. Ask her to entreat her Son to let you know what you should do.” Bl. Marie Rose spent many hours in adoration.

Our Lady of the Rosary—Oct. 7

“‘Give me an army saying the Rosary and I will conquer the world!,’ said Pope St. Pius X! ‘Give me one million families praying the Rosary and the world is saved,’ said Pope Pius IX! And if ‘an army’ or ‘one million families’ prayed the Rosary before the Blessed Sacrament, to Him who said ‘ask and it shall be given to you!’(Lk 11:9). (From The Eucharist & The Rosary: The Power to Change the World, available through us)

Anniversary of Our Lady’s Apparition at Fatima and the Miracle of the Sun (1917)—Oct. 13
“The patient in the first case was a man in Lisbon, Portugal, who suffered from Parkinson’s …. His wife pleaded with him repeatedly to go to another Marian Shrine like Lourdes …. One day, in mockery, because he knew that, like himself, his attending physician did not believe in miracles, he said to his wife in the doctor’s presence: ‘I’ll go if he does.’ It occurred to the doctor that a trip to the church at Fatima might cheer his patient, or at least it would be a temporary distraction, so he surprised the ill man by saying: ‘All right, let’s go.’ The day they arrived at the shrine was the 13^th of the month so there was a large crowd of pilgrims. The non-believing doctor and his non-believing patient were among the first in the rows of invalids. I (the writer of this book) was just as close to them as possible, carrying the canopy over the Holy Eucharist as It was raised by the priest to bless the patient. The man suddenly pushed himself up in his wheel chair. Tremblingly he began to move and feel his legs. Then, over and over he pleaded to those around him: ‘I am not dreaming, am I? I am not dreaming?’ The doctor’s mouth fell open in amazement and he slowly sank to his knees. Tears began to roll down his cheeks. ‘This was not for you,’ he exclaimed through sobs. ‘This was for me’” (The World’s Greatest Secret).

St. Teresa of Avila, Carmelite Nun, Reformer, Mystic, (1515-1582), Spain—Oct. 15
“Approaching the Sacrament would at once make me feel so well, both in soul and in body, that I was astounded. I would feel as if all the darkness in my soul had suddenly been dispersed and the sun had come out and shown me the stupidity of the things I had been saying and doing. At other times, if the Lord spoke only one word to me…‘Be not troubled: have no fear’” (St. Teresa of Avila).…one word completely cured me.”

Sts. Isaac Jogues (1607-1646), John de Brebeuf, & Companions, Jesuit Martyrs, France—Oct. 19

“The only external sign of our holy religion that we have is the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. To its marvels we must open the eyes of our faith without the aid of any sensible mark of grandeur, like the Magi of old in the stable. It seems, moreover, that God supplies what we lack and rewards us with grace for having transported the Holy Sacrament beyond so many seas and having found an abode for it in these poor cabins” (St. John de Brebeuf).

Pope St. John Paul II, Apostle of the Eucharist, (1920-2005), Poland—Oct. 22

“Visit the Lord in that ‘heart to heart’ contact that is Eucharistic Adoration. Day after day, you will receive new energy to help you to bring comfort to the suffering and peace to the world.” “United with the angels and saints of the heavenly Church, let us adore the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.”

St. Jude Thaddeus, Apostle, Martyr, Patron of Impossible Cases, (d. 67), Galilee—Oct. 28
St. Jude tirelessly prayed and preached that all may have a personal relationship with Jesus Eucharistic.

“Before the tabernacle great saints have communed with God upon the heights which we may never reach; there, too, sinners have come, and touched by the grace that goes out from Him, found the contrite and humbled heart which He will never despise. Think of the millions of the faithful who day by day come into the house of God to pray. Think of the religious to whom this very presence is as the air they breathe, the very life and sustenance of their souls. No one shall ever know all that this adorable sacrament is for human souls, raising all our hearts to that one Heart which is the center and source of grace and love.” (Fr. Francis Aloysius Spencer)

All Souls Day—Nov. 2
“Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.” Our Lord told St. Gertrude the Great that this prayer would release 1000 souls from purgatory every time it is said. The prayer was extended to include living sinners as well. (The Chaplet of St. Gertrude prayer card is available through us.)

St. Martin de Porres, Patron of South America, Surgeon, Miracle Worker, (1579-1639), Peru—Nov. 3
“St. Martin, lover of the Holy Eucharist, St. Martin, devoted to our Blessed Mother, St. Martin, spiritual patron of Americans, pray for us” (From the Litany of St. Martin de Porres).

St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop, Patron of Catechists, (1538-1584), Italy—Nov. 4
“I was considering the love which the Lord Jesus has shown to us, in willing to let himself become food for us and in willing to die for love of us….It is a stupendous thing that a miserable being, a vile creature, should be so important before God, should be so highly regarded by him, so much so that he would humble himself for our salvation ” (St. Charles Borromeo).

St. Martin of Tours, Patron of Soldiers, (316-397) Italy—Nov. 11
Martin converted when, as a soldier, he saw a beggar and gave him half of his cloak. The beggar was Christ, who inspired St. Martin to become Catholic and enter the monastic life. His love for the True Presence was so great that he became a defender of the faith and worked miracles. Pray for our troops and veterans!

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Wife, Mother, 3rd Order Franciscan, (1207-1231)—Nov. 17

As a child, St. Elizabeth spent hours in Eucharistic Adoration. St. Elizabeth was devoted to the sick and poor. Empowered by Jesus, her Eucharistic love, she built a hospital and fed hundreds daily!

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, Religious Missionary, (1769-1852) France, Nov. 18
St. Rose spent hours before the Blessed Sacrament in adoration. Sometimes she kept vigil 6 to 8 hours a night before the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus. St. Rose founded the Society of the Sacred Heart.

Feast of Christ the King—Nov. 20

Lay people must join priests so that together we point to the Lamb, Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, as the answer to all the ills of the Church and human society. From the Lamb flows the river, crystal clear, which provides the healing and the medicine for all the nations (Rev 22:1-2). The Lamb on the throne will shepherd us and lead us to springs of life-giving water (Rev 7:17). The lamp is the Lamb whose light casts out the darkness (Rev 21:22-24). Those in authority fight against the Lamb, but the Lamb is victorious because He is “Lord of lords and King of kings” (Rev 17:14). The war against the Lamb is the terrible indifference toward Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. (Excerpt from our A-5 pamphlet, available through us)

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Nov. 21
Mary gave her life to God as a child when she was brought to the temple by her parents, Anne and Joachim.

St. Catherine Laboure, Religious Mystic, Miraculous Medal Visionary, (1806-1876), France—Nov. 28
“Whenever I go to the chapel, I put myself in the presence of our good Lord, and I say to him, ‘Lord, I am here. Tell me what you would have me to do’ . . . . And then, I tell God everything that is in my heart. I tell him about my pains and my joys, and then I listen. If you listen, God will also speak to you” (St. Catherine).

First Sunday of Advent—Nov. 27:

Advent Prayer: O Jesus, little child, come into my heart on Christmas morn, to wash away my sins and remain there in eternally. O Mary, Mother of my Savior, prepare for Jesus a cradle in my heart. Amen. O Come Let Us Adore Him in The Holy Eucharist!

Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle—Nov. 30
St. Andrew Novena: Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen. (Whoever recites this prayer 15 times a day from St. Andrew’s feast, Nov.30, until Christmas will obtain what is asked.)

St. Francis Xavier, Jesuit Priest, Patron of Missionaries, (1506-1552), Spain—Dec. 3
“St. Francis Xavier found refreshment in the midst of his many labors in India; for he employed his days in toiling for souls, and his nights in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament” (St. Alphonsus Liguori).

St. Nicholas, Bishop, Patron of Children and Russia, (4th century), Myra—Dec. 6
St. Nicholas witnessed to Jesus Eucharistic by his great charity, generosity and love of children, the poor, and sick. Feast of the Immaculate Conception—Dec. 8

God created Our Lady without sin to be the Mother of Jesus. “Holy Virgin, I beg you: enable me to receive Jesus from the Spirit, according to the same process by which you bore Jesus….May I love Jesus in the Spirit in Whom you adored Him as your Lord and looked after Him as your Son” (St. Ildephonsus of Toledo).

St. Juan Diego, Visionary, (1474-1548), Mexico—Dec. 9
After the image of Our Lady was enshrined in the Church that she requested be built for her Son, Juan added on a one room hermitage. He lived a life of holiness through prayer, frequent Communion and sharing the faith.

Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Italy, December 10—Our Lady of Loreto, pray for us!

“You [God] have indeed prepared a tabernacle for Yourself: the Blessed Virgin. Her Immaculate Womb is Your dwelling place, and the inconceivable miracle of Your mercy takes place, O Lord. The Word becomes flesh; God dwells among us, the Word of God, Mercy Incarnate” (St. Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul, 1745).

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Unborn, (Apparition 1531), Mexico—Dec. 12
When Our Lady appeared the worship of gods and human sacrifice were rampant. After a Church was built for her Eucharistic Son, 9 million were converted! Through Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration it can happen again today.

St. Lucy, Virgin, Martyr and Patroness of Eye Patients, (d. 304), Italy—Dec. 13
St. Lucy gave her life to God as a youth. Refusing to marry, St. Lucy was tried for being a Christian. St. Lucy chose death before sin. She lived until she received Holy Communion, though pierced in the heart with a sword!

St. John of the Cross, Carmelite Priest and Doctor, (c. 1542-1591), Spain—Dec. 14

St. John was so devoted to the Holy Eucharist that during Mass he was oblivious to everything else going on around him. His greatest consolation as superior was to have the cell closest to the chapel.

St. Stephen, Deacon, Martyr, Patron of Deacons and Stonemasons, (d. 35)—Dec. 26

St. Stephen is known as the first martyr of the faith and the “praying martyr.” He died on his knees, asking God’s forgiveness for those who killed him, beholding God and declaring the truth of Jesus.

Feast of the Holy Innocents—Dec. 28
“You, Christ’s first fruits,/a flock of tender sacrificial victims,/now play with your palms and crowns/right up by the very altar” (Hymn for the Feast of the Holy Innocents).
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—Dec. 28
“The Eucharist is the link that binds the Christian family together. Take away the Eucharist and you have no brotherliness left” (St. Peter Julian Eymard).

“Jesus Christ is truly Emmanuel, God-with-us from his Incarnation until the end of time. And he is this in a particular intense and hidden way in the mystery of his continual presence in the Eucharist. What vital strength, what consolation, what firm hope is discovered in contemplating the mystery of the Eucharist! It is God-with-us that enables us to share his life and impels us to go out to evangelize the world, to sanctify it!” (St. John Paul II).

We wish everyone a Blessed Christmas Season & a very Happy and Holy New Year!!!

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