"Once you understand the Eucharist, you can never leave the Church." Archbishop Fulton Sheen. I saw this wonderful quote from Fulton Sheen last night and was struck by the truth of it.
From Our Catholic Prayers.com speaking about the events at Akita: "In this first message, Our Lady asked Sister Agnes to pray this prayer composed by John Ito, the Bishop of Niigata, Japan, for the Handmaids of the Eucharist, the name of her order. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Truly present in the Holy Eucharist, I consecrate my body and soul to be entirely one with Your Heart, being sacrificed at every instant on all the altars of the world and giving praise to the Father, pleading for the coming of His Kingdom. Please receive this humble offering of myself. Use me as You will for the glory of the Father and the salvation of souls. Most Holy Mother of God, never let me be separated from Your Divine Son. Please defend and protect me as Your special child. Amen. She made it a point to revise the original prayer with a crucial one word addition, the word TRULY to describe our Lord’s presence in the Holy Eucharist. We need to know this now more than ever! Tragically only about a third of U.S. Catholics believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is really and truly present in the Eucharist. It should come as no surprise that Mary should have entreated Sister Agnes, and by extension all of us to stay close to our Lord (with help from herself as well!). Contrary to much popular belief, both in and out of the church, Jesus is indeed the way, the truth and the life, as He Himself said (John 14:6). He is the true vine and we, fallen humanity, as His branches can do nothing without Him (John 15:5). And as Our Lady reminded Sister Agnes, He is indeed truly present in the Eucharist, body, blood, soul and divinity and is Not a symbol! As such He wishes for us to partake of much needed graces to do His will and be strengthened to resist sinful inclinations when we recieve Him in Holy Communion."
From a feature on the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City website about Blessed Alexandrina da Costa: "Beginning on Good Friday, March 7, 1942, she received no nourishment except the Holy Eucharist for 13 years and seven months until her death. Medical doctors remained hostile and suspicious, running various tests on Alexandrina, ultimately declaring the phenomenon as “scientifically inexplicable.” Jesus himself gave an explanation to her in prayer, telling her: “You are living by the Eucharist alone because I want to prove to the world the power of the Eucharist and the power of my life in souls.” Jesus reassured her about his presence in the Eucharist, “Keep me company in the Blessed Sacrament. I remain in the tabernacle night and day, waiting to give my love and grace to all who would visit me. But so few come. I am so abandoned, so lonely, so offended … Many… do not believe in my existence; they do not believe that I live in the tabernacle. They curse me. Others believe, but do not love me and do not visit me; they live as if I were not there … You have chosen to love me in the tabernacles where you can contemplate me, not with the eyes of the body, but those of the soul. I am truly present there as in heaven, body, blood, soul and divinity.” Alexandrina requested to be buried facing the tabernacle of the church, stating, “In life I always desired to be united to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to look at the tabernacle at all times that I was able; after my death I want to continue contemplating, always having my eyes constantly on our Eucharistic Lord.” Blessed Alexandrina da Costa, pray for us.
From Totus Tuus page: "In every Holy Mass, there is one sacred moment that rises above all others — the Consecration. When the priest, acting in the person of Christ, says the words: “This is My Body… This is My Blood…” —the bread and wine are no longer bread and wine. They become the true Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the very heart of the Mass. A miracle of love happening right before our eyes. Let us always approach this holy moment with deep reverence, silence, and awe. The King of Heaven is truly present." https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CxJkANH81/
Front cover photograph: Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) Celebrating a Mass in Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome during his 75th birthday, April 19, 2002
From MaryPyleLife.com: Padre Pio's love for the Eucharist: "Padre Pio, also known as Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, was a beloved Italian Capuchin friar renowned for his holiness, mystical experiences, and profound devotion to the Eucharist. Throughout his life, the Eucharist held a central place in Padre Pio’s spiritual journey, serving as a source of solace, strength, and communion with the divine. At the heart of Padre Pio’s devotion to the Eucharist was his unwavering belief in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the consecrated host. For Padre Pio, the Eucharist was not merely a symbolic representation but a tangible manifestation of Christ’s body, blood, soul, and divinity—a miraculous gift bestowed upon the faithful to nourish and sustain their souls. Padre Pio’s celebration of Mass was characterized by profound reverence, humility, and piety. He approached the altar with a deep sense of awe and gratitude, fully aware of the sacredness of the moment and the immense privilege of serving as a conduit for God’s grace. During the Mass, Padre Pio would often enter into states of ecstasy, experiencing mystical visions and encounters with the divine that transcended earthly comprehension. For Padre Pio, the celebration of Mass was not simply a ritualistic duty but a profound act of love and sacrifice, through which he offered himself entirely to God and united his sufferings with those of Christ on the cross. His deep understanding of the mystery of the Eucharist imbued his celebration of Mass with a profound sense of joy, reverence, and devotion, inspiring countless souls to draw closer to God through the sacrament. In addition to his devotion to the Eucharist in the celebration of Mass, Padre Pio also had a profound reverence for the sacrament of confession, recognizing it as a sacred encounter with the mercy and forgiveness of God. He spent countless hours in the confessional, offering spiritual guidance, counsel, and absolution to penitents seeking reconciliation and healing. Padre Pio’s love for the Eucharist extended beyond the walls of the church, permeating every aspect of his life and ministry. He encouraged the faithful to frequent the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and confession, as sources of grace and strength for their spiritual journey. His example of unwavering faith, humility, and devotion continues to inspire millions of Catholics around the world to deepen their own relationship with the Eucharist and embrace the transformative power of Christ’s presence in their lives."
I believe it is important to emphasize that, by departing from sacramental unity, Protestant churches have lost a focal point in worship that directly points to the centrality of Christ present among us at the altar. Some of these denominations have placed excessive emphasis on the pulpit, to the extent that the authority of the pastor becomes closely identified with the authority of Christ. As a result, a moral scandal involving their leaders can become a serious blow to the faith of those who are attached to them. We face a similar risk whenever we tie our faith too closely to particular leaders within our own Church. However, because the priest acts in persona Christi, the sacrament of the Eucharist remains something majestic and glorious in itself, unaffected by whatever impact the moral conduct of priests may have on the Church and the world. Many will be guilty concerning the Body and Blood of the Lord. Yet Christ in the Eucharist will always be waiting for those who seek Him with a sincere heart, as Savior and Spiritual Nourishment, even though the world—and a great many of the Church’s leaders—lies under the power of the Evil One.
"In 18th-century Italy, little Gerard Majella was too young to receive Holy Communion according to the customs of his time. One day, after being gently turned away from the altar rail by the priest, the heartbroken boy sat weeping in the back of the church, his soul burning with love for Jesus in the Eucharist. That very night, the Archangel Michael appeared in Gerard’s bedroom—carrying a consecrated Host from the church! The mighty angel placed the Blessed Sacrament directly on the young boy’s tongue, granting him the First Holy Communion he so deeply desired. This beautiful Eucharistic miracle was just the beginning. Gerard grew up to become a Redemptorist lay brother, known as the “Wonder Worker” for his countless miracles, profound humility, and powerful intercession — especially for expectant mothers (he is their patron saint). A powerful reminder of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and how Heaven itself responds to a pure heart’s longing for God. St. Gerard Majella teaches us that no barrier — not age, not rules, not distance — can separate a soul that hungers for Christ. His life shows us the tender love of God who comes to meet us where we are."
"On her deathbed in 1341, 71-year-old St. Juliana suffered from severe, constant vomiting. It became physically impossible for her to safely receive Viaticum — the final Holy Communion. Heartbroken and longing for union with her Lord, she begged the attending priest, “Please spread a corporal over my chest and place the Sacred Host directly above my heart.” Moved by her faith, the priest complied. Almost instantly, as the Host rested upon the linen corporal over her heart, it vanished completely from sight. St. Juliana whispered words of love to her Savior and passed peacefully into eternal life moments later. When her religious sisters prepared her body for burial, they discovered an astonishing miracle: the perfect outline of a consecrated Host, with a clear image of the Crucifix inside it, miraculously branded or imprinted into her skin exactly where the Eucharist had been placed. Some accounts describe rays of light surrounding the image, symbolizing how the Eucharist had truly entered and transformed her heart. A beautiful marble statue in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome captures this sacred moment. This powerful sign reminds us of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ — Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity — in the Holy Eucharist. Even when physical reception seemed impossible, Our Lord found a way to unite Himself intimately with His beloved daughter. It echoes the words of Jesus: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him” (John 6:56). St. Juliana Falconieri, Pray for us!"
Jesus said to Alexandrina: "You are living by the Eucharist alone because I want to prove to the world the power of the Eucharist and the power of my life in souls."
"The Eucharist is a "mystery of faith" par excellence: "the sum and summary of our faith." The Church's faith is essentially a eucharistic faith, and it is especially nourished at the table of the Eucharist. Faith and the sacraments are two complementary aspects of ecclesial life. Awakened by the preaching of God's word, faith is nourished and grows in the grace-filled encounter with the Risen Lord which takes place in the sacraments: "faith is expressed in the rite, while the rite reinforces and strengthens faith." For this reason, the Sacrament of the Altar is always at the heart of the Church's life: "thanks to the Eucharist, the Church is reborn ever anew!" Pope Benedict XVI - From Sacramentum Caritatis (2007), Apostolic Exhortation on the Eucharist As the Source and Summit of the Church's Life and Mission.
I heard a great sermon yesterday about Eucharistic awareness. Jesus in the tabernacle. In bed last night before I went to sleep I was able to spiritually go to Jesus in the 2 tabernacles in my village and in 5 tabernacles in nearby villages and towns. He did promise 'I will be with you until the end of time'. This may be a reference to his Eucharistic presence throughout the world.
