LIMA, Peru, MARCH 19, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The archbishop of Lima has called a Eucharistic and Marian conference in celebration of the Year for Priests and the Eucharistic vocation of the priesthood.Read the rest of the Zenit article here.
Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, archbishop of Lima, announced Wednesday the May 29-June 6 event.
The Cardinal Newman Society has launched a tour of the Vatican’s Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit which includes a stop at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Minnesota at Morris, the academic home of a biology professor who displayed his desecration of a Host on his web site.
According to a letter from Father Benedict Groeschel published in the Cardinal Newman Society newsletter, the exhibition at the University of Minnesota at Morris (UMM) was accompanied by an evening of Eucharistic Adoration, Bible study, a Communion service, and Sunday Mass...
1. For thy salvation, God the Father sends His beloved Son down from heaven.
2. For thy salvation the Holy Spirit changes bread and wine into the true body and blood of Christ.
3. For thy sake the Son of God comes down from heaven and conceals Himself under the form of the sacred host.
4. He even abases Himself to such an extent as to be present in the minutest particle of the sacred host.
5. For thy salvation He renews the saving mystery of the incarnation.
6. For thy salvation He is born anew into the world in a mystic manner whenever holy Mass is celebrated.
7. For thy salvation He performs upon the altar the same acts of worship that He performed when on earth.
8. For thy salvation He renews His bitter passion in order that thou mayest participate in it.
9. For thy salvation He mystically renews His death, and sacrifices for Thee His precious life.
10. For thy salvation He sheds His blood in a mystic manner, and offers it up for thee to the Divine Majesty.
11. With this precious blood He sprinkles thy soul and purifies it from every stain.
12. For thee Christ offers Himself as a true burnt offering, and renders to the Godhead the supreme honor, which is its due.
13. By offering this act of worship to God thou dost make reparation for the glory, which thou hast failed to give Him.
14. For thee Christ offers Himself to God as a sacrifice of praise, thus atoning for thy omissions in praising His holy name.
15. By offering to God this oblation, which Christ offers thou givest Him greater praise than do the holy angels.
16. For thee Christ offers Himself as a perfect sacrifice of thanksgiving, making compensation for all failures on thy part to render thanks.
17. By offering to God Christ's act of thanksgiving thou dost make ample acknowledgment of all the benefits He had bestowed on thee.
18. For thee Christ offers Himself as the all-powerful victim, reconciling thee to the God Whom thou hast offended.
19. He pardons thee all thy venial sins, provided thou art firmly resolved to forsake them.
20. He also makes reparation for many of thy sins of omission, when thou didst leave undone the good thou mightest have done.
21. He removes many of the imperfections attached to thy good deeds.
22. He forgives thee the sins, unknown or forgotten, which thou hast never mentioned in confession.
23. He offers Himself as a victim to make satisfaction for a part at least of thy debts and transgressions.
24. Each time thou hearest Mass thou canst do more to pay the penalty due to thy sins than by the severest work of penance.
25. Christ places to thy credit a portion of His merits, which thou mayest offer to God the Father in expiation of thy offenses.
26. For thee Christ offers Himself as the most efficacious peace offering, interceding for thee as earnestly as He interceded for His enemies on the cross.
27. His precious blood pleads for thee in words as countless as the drops, which issued from His sacred veins.
28. Each of the adorable wounds His sacred body bore is a voice calling aloud for mercy for thee.
29. For the sake of this propitiatory victim the petitions proffered during Mass will be granted far sooner than those that are proffered at other times.
30. Never canst thou pray so well as whilst present at Mass.
31. This is so because Christ unites His prayers to thine, and offers them to His heavenly Father.
32. He aquaints Him with thy needs and the dangers to which thou art exposed, and makes thy eternal salvation His particular concern.
33. The angels also, who are present, plead for thee, and present thy poor prayers before the throne of God.
34. On thy behalf the priest says Mass by virtue of which the evil enemy will not be suffered to approach thee.
35. For thee and for thy everlasting salvation he says Mass, and offers that holy sacrifice to God Almighty.
36. When thou hearest Mass, thou art thyself in spirit a priest, empowered by Christ to offer the Mass both for thyself and others.
37. By offering this holy sacrifice thou dost present to the Blessed Trinity the most acceptable of all oblations.
38. Thou dost offer an oblation precious indeed, of greater value than all things in heaven and earth.
39. Thou dost offer an oblation precious indeed, for it is none other than God himself.
40. By this sacrifice thou dost honor God, as He alone is worthy to be honored.
41. By this sacrifice thou dost give infinite satisfaction to the most Holy Trinity.
42. Thou mayest present this glorious oblation as thine own gift, for Christ Himself gave it unto thee.
43. When thou hearest Mass aright, thou dost perform an act of highest worship.
44. By hearing Mass thou dost pay the most profound reverence, the most loyal homage, to the sacred humanity of Our Lord.
45. It is the best means whereby to venerate the passion of Christ, and obtain a share in its fruits.
46. It is also the best means of venerating the Blessed Mother of God, and increasing her joy.
47. By hearing Mass thou canst give greater honor to the angels and saints than by reciting many prayers.
48. By hearing Mass devoutly thou canst also enrich thy soul more than by aught else in the world.
49. For in this act thou dost perform a good work of the highest value.
50. It is a signal exercise of pure faith, which will receive a great reward.
51. When thou dost bow down before the sacred host and the sacred chalice, thou dost perform a supreme act of adoration.
52. For each time thou dost gaze reverently upon the sacred host thou wilt receive recompense from heaven.
53. Each time thou dost smite thy breast with compunction some of thy sins are remitted to thee.
54. If thou hearest Mass in a state of mortal sin, God offers thee the grace of conversion.
55. If thou hearest Mass in a state of grace, God gives thee an augmentation of grace.
56. In holy Mass thou dost spiritually eat the flesh of Christ, and drink His blood.
57. Thou art privileged to behold with thine eyes Christ hidden under the sacramental veil, and to be beheld by Him.
58. Thou dost receive the priest's benediction, which is confirmed by Christ in heaven.
59. Through thy diligence in hearing Mass thou wilt also obtain corporal and temporal blessings.
60. Furthermore, thou wilt be preserved from many misfortunes that would otherwise befall thee.
61. Thou wilt also be strengthened against temptations which would otherwise have vanquished thee.
62. Holy Mass will also be to thee a means of obtaining the grace of a holy death.
63. The love thou hast shown for Holy Mass wilt secure for thee the special succor of angels and saints in thy last moments.
64. The remembrance of the Masses heard in thy lifetime will be a sweet solace to thee in the hour of death, and inspire thee with confidence in the divine mercy.
65. They will not be forgotten when thou dost stand before the strict Judge and will incline Him to show thee favor.
66. Thou needest not fear a long and terrible purgatory if thou hast already to a great extent atoned for thy sins by frequently assisting at Holy Mass.
67. One Mass devoutly heard will do more to mitigate the pains of purgatory than any act of penance, however difficult of performance.
68. One Mass in thy lifetime will be of greater service to thee than many said for thee after death.
69. Thou wilt attain a high place in heaven, which will be thine to all eternity.
70. Thy felicity in Heaven will, moreover, be increased by every Mass thou hearest on earth.
71. No prayers offered for thy friends will be as efficacious as a single Mass heard and offered on their behalf.
72. Thou canst amply recompense all thy benefactors by hearing Mass for their intention.
73. The best help, the greatest consolation, thou canst afford the afflicted, the sick, the dying, is to hear Mass for them.
74. By this same means thou canst even obtain for sinners the grace of conversion.
75. Thou canst also earn for all faithful Christians saving and salutary graces.
76. For the suffering souls in purgatory thou canst procure abundant refreshment.
77. And if it is not within thy power to have Mass said for thy departed friends thou canst by devout assistance at the holy sacrifice release them from the tormenting flames.
"Jesus is with us always in the Blessed Sacrament. Let us make sure that we recognize Him and love Him before it is too late. Daily say the Rosary and if possible attend daily Mass and receive Christ in Holy Communion."From the NAS (Nocturnal Adoration Society) Letter January 2008
As a parish priest, Father Pedro Maldonado Lucero, of Sacramento, Mexico was an advocate of all-night Eucharistic Adoration vigils and of Marian associations. He also instilled int eh people fidelity to the pope.
Early in 1937, while kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament during a holy hour, Father Maldonado prayed that at the time of his death, he would be able to receive Viaticum.
On Ash Wednesday, February 10, 1937, shortly after Father Maldonado had celebrated Mass, soldiers of Mexico's anti-Catholic government arrested him and forced him to walk barefoot all the way to the town where they were taking him. During this ordeal, he recited the rosary. After reaching the town, Father Maldonado was beaten over the head with a rifle butt to the point that his left eye was dislodged.
When the soldiers discovered that he was carrying a pyx containing the Blessed Sacrament, one of them ordered him to consume it, saying" Eat this, this your last communion!"
Thus Father Maldonado's prayer for Viaticum was answered. After further bloody beatings, Father Maldonado died from his injuries on February 11, 1937.
A Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament and to embrace Him lovingly, as if you had actually received Him when it is not in your power to receive Him sacamentally.-The Catechism in Examples by Rev. D. Chisholm
Spiritual Communion is the reserve of Eucharistic Life and Love always available for lovers of the Eucharistic Jesus. By means of spiritual Communion, the loving desires of the soul that wants to be united with Jesus, its dear Bridegroom, are satisfied. Spiritual Communion is a union of love between the soul and Jesus in the Host. This union is spiritual but nonetheless real, more real than the union between the soul and the body., 'because the soul lives more where it loves than where it lives,"says St. John of the Cross - Jesus Our Eucharistic Love by Fr. Stefan M. Manelli.
When you place a Eucharistic spark in a soul, you have implanted therein a divine seed of life and of all the virtues which is self-sufficient.- St. Peter Julian Eynard
Our Savior has instituted the most august sacrament of the Eucharist, which contains His flesh and blood in their reality, so that whoever eats of it shall live forever. Therefore, whoever turns to it frequently and devoutly so effectively builds up his soul's health that it is almost impossible for him to be poisoned by evil affection of any kind.- St. Francis de Sales.
Yesterday, on approaching the Most Blessed Sacrament, I felt myself burning and I had to withdraw. I am astounded that so many who receive Jesus are not reduced to ashes.- St. Gemma Galgani
As the bread, which comes from the earth, on receiving the invocation of God, is no longer common bread but Eucharist, and is then both earthly and heavenly; so our bodies, after partaking of the Eucharist, are no longer corruptible, having the hope of the eternal resurrection. - St. Irenaeus
Surely such a stroke of love should be enough to awaken anyone from the slumber of indifference. Let such a one reflect upon this Mystery and say to himseelf: 'It is God Almighty who will come down upon the altar at the words of consecration; I shall hold Him in my hands, and converse with Him, and receive Him into my breast."- St. John of Avila
As a woman, compelled by natural affection, hastens to feed her babe from her overflowing breast, so also Christ ever nourishes with His Blood those whom He regenerates.- St. John Chrysostom
If as often as the Lord's blood is shed, it is poured fourth for the remission of sins, I ought to receive it always, so that my sins may always be forgiven. I who am always committing sin ought always to have a remedy.- St. Ambrose
Many mothers there are who after the pains of childbirth give their children to strangers to nurse. But Christ could not endure that His children should be fed by others. He nourishes us Himself with his own blood and in all ways makes us one with Himself.- St. John Chrysostom
Jesus Christ found a way by which He could ascend into Heaven and yet remain on the earth. He instituted the adorable Sacrament of the Eucharist so that He might stay with us and be the Food our soul; that He might stay with us and be our Companion.- St. John Vianney
The proper effect of the Eucharist is the transformation of man into God.- St. Thomas Aquinas
Let us suppose that the last day has come and that our doctrine of the Eucharist turns out to be false and absurd. If our Lord now asks us reproachfully: "Why did ye believe thus of my Sacrament? Why did ye adore the Host? may we not safely answer him: "yea, Lord, if we were wrong in this, it was you who deceived us. We heard your word, This is my Body, and was it a crime for us to believe you? We were confirmed in our mistake by a hundred signs and wonders which could have had you only for their author. Your Church with one voice cried out to us that we were right and in believing as we did we but followed in the footsteps of all your saints and holy ones."- St. Robert Bellarmine
We are now in the presence of the infinite majesty of God, who was once pleased, for love of us, to come down from heaven and become Man on earth, and to die on a cross to save us; and is now in the Blessed Sacrament, to listen to our prayers and grant us the graces we ask of him.Act of Spiritual Communion
I adore you, O Jesus, true God and true Man, here present in the Holy Eucharist, humbly kneeling before you and united in spirit with all the faithful on earth and all the blessed in heaven. In deepest gratitude for so great a blessing, I love you, my Jesus, with my whole heart, for you are all perfect and all worthy of love.
Give me grace nevermore in any way to offend you, and grant that, being refreshed by your Eucharistic presence here on earth, I may be found worthy to come to the enjoyment with Mary of your eternal and ever-blessed presence in heaven. Amen.
I believe that you, O Jesus, are in the Most Blessed Sacrament! I love you and desire you! Come into my heart. I embrace you. O never leave me! May the burning and most sweet power of your love, O Lord Jesus Christ, absorb my mind, that I may die through love of your love, who was pleased to die through love of my love. Amen.St Francis of Assisi
When it comes to distinguishing between the Catholic Mass and Protestant services, most non-Christians suffer from similar ignorance. To them, the Mass is the processions, robes, and candles they see in Vatican news clips or movies about the Mafia. However, Episcopal and Lutheran services are equally stately. Nothing in the mere appearance of our rituals helps non-Christians understand, for example, the difference between Catholic and Protestant Communion...
Picture Source: THIS SITESaint Tarcisius, the boy martyr of the Holy Eucharist, is called the Patron Saint of First Communicants.
It was to young Tarcisius that the Blessed Sacrament was entrusted to be carried, as inconspicuously as possible, as Holy Viaticum to imprisoned Christians who had been condemned to death.
One day when Tarcisius refused to show them what he was carrying, a band of pagan Roman ruffians attacked him and beat him with sticks before stoning him to death.
When his assailants turned over Tarcisius' body and searched him, they could find no trace of the Most Blessed Sacrament either in his hands or on his clothing–Christ had miraculously disappeared. Christians took up the body of the young martyr and buried it with great respect in the cemetery of Callistus.
In the fourth century, Pope St. Damasus composed an epitaph for the young martyr's tomb which he had carefully restored and beautified.
The epitaph leaves no doubt that belief in the Real Presence of Our Lord's Body and Blood in the Blessed Sacrament was the same then as it is now.
"Christ's secret gifts by good Tarcisius borne, the mob profanely bade him to display; He rather gave his own limbs to be torn than Christ's celestial to mad dogs betray."
I don't know if you can see it, but in this picture taken a chapel at the Blue Army Shrine, the Precious Blood of Jesus falls from His sacred body into the Chalice. Actually, click on the picture to see it better.The month of July is dedicated to Feast of the Precious Blood of Jesus. This is devoted to the precious blood of Christ which was shed for us at the Calvary, the same blood which coursed through the veins of the Risen God, and the same blood which merits the sanctifying grace for us.Quotable Quote on the Precious Blood of Our Lord
According to the old testament, the prophet Isaiah made a vision of a man treading out of grapes. Of which, the trodder of the wine-press is Christ whose garments has been crimsoned by the blood of redemption. The new testament also mentioned on the blood and water which poured out from the side of Jesus at the scourging chamber. As we commemorate the feast, may the precious blood of our Lord sustain us as we journey to our true home, with Mary and the angels as our companions on the way.
"Jesus said to them, "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.John 6:53-56
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him".
Picture courtesy of Aida Yared and used with permission.6:48. I am the bread of life.
Ego sum panis vitae
6:49. Your fathers did eat manna in the desert: and are dead.
Patres vestri manducaverunt in deserto manna et mortui sunt
6:50. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven: that if any man eat of it, he may not die.
Hic est panis de caelo descendens ut si quis ex ipso manducaverit non moriatur
6:51. I am the living bread which came down from heaven.
Ego sum panis vivus qui de caelo descendi
6:52. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.
Si quis manducaverit ex hoc pane vivet in aeternum et panis quem ego dabo caro mea est pro mundi vita
6:53. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
Litigabant ergo Iudaei ad invicem dicentes quomodo potest hic nobis carnem suam dare ad manducandum
6:54. Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say unto you: except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you.
Dixit ergo eis Iesus amen amen dico vobis nisi manducaveritis carnem Filii hominis et biberitis eius sanguinem non habetis vitam in vobis
6:55. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day.
Qui manducat meam carnem et bibit meum sanguinem habet vitam aeternam et ego resuscitabo eum in novissimo die
6:56. For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed.
Caro enim mea vere est cibus et sanguis meus vere est potus
6:57. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me: and I in him.
Qui manducat meam carnem et bibit meum sanguinem in me manet et ego in illo
6:58. As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me.
Sicut misit me vivens Pater et ego vivo propter Patrem et qui manducat me et ipse vivet propter me
6:59. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna and are dead. He that eateth this bread shall live for ever.
Hic est panis qui de caelo descendit non sicut manducaverunt patres vestri manna et mortui sunt qui manducat hunc panem vivet in aeternum
