Can you imagine Jesus visiting your home unexpectedly? That seemed to happen in today’s Gospel when Jesus visited Martha and Mary, whose brother was Lazarus. Martha realized the physical needs of Jesus and diligently at-tended to them. But Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and at-tended to his emotional, relational and spiritual needs, by adoring him, that is to say, listening to him speak about his ministry and mission of love, truth and salvation.
This is what Eucharistic Adoration is all about. Listening to the Lord Jesus speak to your heart from his heart, about his love and joy for you, his plans and inspirations, his forgiveness and ministry, and his ways of helping you grow in your spiritual life, and service of others. The response to Jesus by St. Mary is a great example of Eucharistic Adoration, whereby we place ourselves at the foot of Jesus who is really, truly and sacramentally present to us in the Holy Eucharist reserved in the tabernacle, or seen exposed on the altar in the monstrance (from the Latin word ― monstrare‖, which means to show, which is the root for ―demonstrate.‖)
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997) founded the ―Missionaries of Charity‖ and is known for her saintly witness and care of the poorest of the poor throughout the world. She would not open a Missionary House for the Poor unless it had an Adoration Chapel in it. She emphasized Adoration and prayer for her sisters so they could see and serve Christ in the poor, much like seeing the hum-bled and vulnerable Christ in the Holy Eucharist, where he is divinely and truly present to us.
Mother Teresa’s religious congregation, which was established in 1950, now has two branches, the active and the contemplative, which can be symbolized by Sts. Martha and Mary, respectively. The contemplative members pray about 7 hours daily; whereas the active members pray about 3 hours daily, besides their apostolic work. They share the same goal: to serve Jesus Christ in the poorest of the poor for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
Here are some of St. Mother Teresa’s quotes about the centrality of Eucharistic Adoration for all the members of her congregation, contemplative and active, as well as for us:
“Every Holy Hour we make so pleases the Heart of Jesus that it will be recorded in Heaven and retold for all eternity.” (Of course, if you have only 10 minutes to adore the Lord, who is reserved in the tabernacle for the sick and dying, God will reward you.)
“The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time you will spend on earth. Each moment that you spend with Jesus will deepen your union with Him and make your soul everlastingly more glorious and beautiful in Heaven, and will help bring about everlasting peace on earth.”
“What will convert America and save the world? My answer is prayer. What we need is for every parish to come before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in Holy Hours of prayer.”
“To be alone with Jesus in adoration and intimate union with Him is the greatest gift of love – the tender love of our Father in heaven.”
“Our hours of adoration will be special hours of reparation for sins, and intercession for the needs of the whole world, exposing the sin-sick and suffer-ing humanity to the healing, sustaining and transforming rays of Jesus, radiating from the Eucharist.”
“Our lives must be woven around the Eucharist…fix your eyes on Him who is the light; bring your hearts close to his divine heart; ask Him to grant you the grace of knowing Him, the love of loving Him, the courage to serve Him. Seek him fervently.”
St. Mother Teresa is one example of a life made holy by Jesus in the holy Eucharist, as well as the millennial saint, Blessed Carlo Acutis, age 15 (deceased 2006), who will be highlighted during our Catholic Vacation Bible Camp at Holy Trinity, July 25-27.
Carlo was a young but advanced techy with regard computers, and he was able to put together a wonderful web-site about Eucharistic Miracles. Just type in Carlo Acutis and enjoy his inspiring work.
Carlo Acutis: “By standing before the Eucharistic Christ, we become holy.”
“When we face the sun we get a tan… but when we stand before Jesus in the Eucharist we become saints.”
It is so fortunate that we have many regular opportunities to participate in Eucharistic Adoration throughout the week (unless otherwise noted) here at our Holy Trinity Parish among our three churches:
Mondays, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM at St. Mary. Please call Mary Majerus at (651) 764-2725 to sign up for regular or intermittent times you can adore at this site.
Wednesdays, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM at Holy Trinity. Please call Regina Poncelet at (651) 764-9238 to sign up for regular or intermittent times you can adore at this site.
Thursdays, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM at St. Columbkill. Please call Sara McNamara at the Holy Trinity Parish office at (651) 923-4472 on Mondays to sign up for regular or intermittent times you can adore at this site.
Peace in the Eucharistic Lord,
Fr. Thomas McCabe