We celebrate this weekend in a special way as five of our Faith Formation students will be making their First Holy Communion. For them it is a time of great joy and wonderment as the Lord of life and salvation comes into their body and soul through the Holy Eucharist – the true and real body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ in this Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Out of love for us, Jesus Christ fulfills all the Old Testament covenants at the Last Supper, “Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, „Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on be-half of many for the forgiveness of sins…‟ Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” Cf. Mt. 26:26-30.
St. Mother Teresa and Eucharistic Adoration
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 min-utes to adore the Lord, who is reserved in the taberna-cle for spontaneous prayer, but especially 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 everlast-ingly more glorious and beautiful in Heaven, and will help bring about everlasting peace on earth.”
“Nowhere on earth are we more welcomed or loved than by Jesus in the Eucharist.”
“When you look at the crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you. When you look at the Sacred Host you understand how much Jesus loves you now. This is why we need Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in every Parish throughout the entire world.”
“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 ten-der 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 suffering humanity to the healing, sus-taining 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.”
“Let us adore Jesus in our hearts, who spent 30 years out of 33 in silence; who began his public life by spending 40 days in silence; who often retired alone to spend the night on a mountain in silence. He who spoke with authority, now spends his earthly life in silence. Let us adore Jesus in the eucharistic silence.”
What a joy to have Jesus Christ present to us! He is the Son of God and the Son of Mary who changes bread and wine into his very divine presence so that we might adore him and be fed by him! Let us continue to pray for our parish as we continue to grow in our love and devotion of Jesus Christ present to us in the Holy Eucharist.
Peace in Christ, Fr. Thomas McCabe