thebodyandblood

Pope John Paul II’s 1997

World Youth Day Homily

"…Christ is present in the Eucharist, in the sacrament of His death and resurrection. …the Eucharist is the Sacrament of the Love which conquers death. It is the …pure Gift of Love for the reconciliation of all humanity. It is the gift of the Real Presence of Jesus, the Redeemer, in the bread which is His Body given up for us, in the wine which is His Blood poured out for all. Thanks to the Eucharist, constantly renewed among all peoples of the world, Christ continues to build His church: He brings us together in praise and thanksgiving for salvation, in the communion which only infinite love can forge. Our worldwide gathering now takes on its fullest meaning, through the celebration of the Mass. …Christ is now answering your own question and the questions of all those who seek the Living God. He answers by offering an invitation:

This is My Body, take It and eat.

REASONS FOR THE HOLY MASS

There are four reasons for which the Holy Mass is offered, and every time you assist in Mass, you should try to recall these four purposes:

To give supreme honor and glory to God;

To thank Him for all His benefits;

To obtain pardon for our sins;

To gain all other graces and blessings we need through

Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Savior.

"The culmination of the Mass is not the consecration, but Communion." - St. Maximilian Kolbe

Holy Communion is the shortest and the safest way to Heaven.

St. Pius X

"If we but paused for a moment to consider attentively what takes place in this Sacrament, I am sure that the thought of Christ's love for us would transform the coldness of our hearts into a fire of love and gratitude."

St. Angela of Foligno

PREPARATION FOR THE EUCHARIST

Holy Spirit, You who reveal Jesus to us, help us to discover

Him in His Eucharistic presence; beneath the veil of the Host,

show us the powerful and generous Christ of the Gospels; let

us see the Good Shepherd who knows each one of us, watches

over us and calls us by name; allow us to listen to the

incomparable Master who presents His doctrine and wishes to

enlighten us in all things; let us touch the Saviour whose contact heals, and transforms bodies and souls; let us recognize this friend, happy to live with us and share our human existence; allow us to recognize the victim of Calvary who spares nothing of the gift of Himself to obtain for us pardon and holiness.

Give us a profound attachment to Jesus in the Eucharist; that His

ardent desire to remain among us be met by our readiness to welcome Him.

Holy Virgin, you who knew how to look at Jesus and penetrate the most

profound depths of His person:

Teach us to look at Him, to look at Him at length and quietly, in the tabernacle

where He is present.

Teach us to listen in silence to the words which He speaks to us and to

establish an intimate dialogue with Him.

Let us see the marvels which He desires to work in the depths of our souls.

Teach us to appreciate His closeness to us and the immeasurable friendship He

shows us.

Help us to respond to His love with all the fire of our being, and like you, to

immerse ourselves in a loving gaze fixed on Him.

St. Theresa the Little Flower said:

"Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you - for you alone?

He burns with the desire to come into your heart...don't listen to the demon, laugh at him, and go without fear to receive the Jesus of peace and love...

"Receive Communion often, very often...there you have the sole remedy, if you want to be cured. Jesus has not put this attraction in your heart for nothing..."

"The guest of our soul knows our misery; He comes to find an empty tent within us—that is all He asks."

The Last Supper lasted about three hours. It was the passion of His Love…That Bread was so expensive!…Let us therefore eat this Bread; It is ours, our Lord bought It for us and paid for It Himself. He gives It to us; we have but to take It. What an honor! What love!

St. Peter Eymard

"In the Blessed Sacrament a heavenly school is open to me, with the best teacher one can possibly imagine, Jesus Christ himself" (Pope John XXIII).

Sister Paula Maresca, the foundress of the convent of St. Catherine of Siena, saw a vision Our Lord holding up two ciboria (the vessel which contains the Sacred Hosts) and saying, "In this golden ciborium I put your Sacramental Communions. In this silver ciborium I put your Spiritual Communions. Both ciboria are quite pleasing to Me."

One of the most admirable effects of Holy Communion is to preserve souls from falling, and to help those who fall from weakness to rise again. Therefore, it is much more profitable to approach the divine Sacrament frequently with love, respect, and confidence…

St. Ignatius Loyola

“Endeavor not to miss any Holy Communion. We can scarcely give our enemy, the devil, greater joy than when we withdraw from Jesus, Who takes away the power the enemy has over us.”

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque)

"A spiritual communion acts on the soul as blowing does on a cinder-covered fire which was about to go out. Whenever you feel your love of God growing cold, quickly make a spiritual communion." The Cure' of Ars

An Act of Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I long for You in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though You have already come, I embrace You and unite myself entirely to You; never permit me to be separated from You.

St. Alphonsus Liguori

“All those who desire to advance in the love of Jesus Christ are exhorted to make a spiritual communion at least once in every visit that they pay to the Most Blessed Sacrament, and at every Mass that they hear” St. Alphonsus Liguori

"...Make as many Spiritual Communions as possible, to supply for the many Sacramental Communions which are not made. One every quarter of an hour is not enough. Make them shorter, but more numerous."

Our Lord to Sr. Benigna Consolata

DAILY OFFERING

Padre Pio’s “Sursum Corda”

O My Jesus, I intend to assist in spirit at every holy Mass which today shall be offered to the Glory of Thy Divine Name. I beseech Thee, O My Lord, to purify my soul from every sin by Thy most Precious Blood and to forgive me the punishment I have deserved. Through the infinite merit of these holy Sacrifices, grant eternal happiness to the poor souls in purgatory and mercy to every living soul.

From Bishop Sheen’s Prayer Book

Jesus said, “I am the one that invites you to come to Me. I have asked you to do so. I will supply what is wanting in you. Come and receive Me and give Me your heart.”

You go to Christ in Communion that He might sanctify you and unite you to His Most Sacred Heart, that you may receive new grace and that the flame of His love will enter your heart.

Dear Jesus, I am about to receive you into my soul; I am a sick person needing the Physician of life, I am blind seeking the Light of eternal splendor. Please help.

Dear Jesus, I implore your divine assistance for me and my loved ones.

REMEMBER: We call the trials and disappointments of life “crosses.” That means we consider them redemptive.

Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him take up his cross and follow Me.” When we do this, we help Jesus in His work for good on earth.

Our Lord is walking through the world in disguise: He might be a tramp, a neighbor, a child, someone in trouble. When we help that person, we help Christ.

Jesus, help us help others.

The Short Way to Heaven

Holy Communion is the shortest and surest way to Heaven. There are others, Innocence for instance, but that is for little children; Penance, but we are afraid of it; A generous endurance of the trials of life, but when they approach us we weep and pray to be delivered.

Once for all, beloved children, the surest, easiest, shortest way is by the Holy Eucharist. -Plus X.

Holy Communion is the shortest and surest way to Heaven. There are others, Innocence for instance, but that is for little children; Penance, but we are afraid of it; A generous endurance of the trials of life, but when they approach us we weep and pray to be delivered. Once for all, beloved children, the surest, easiest, shortest way is by the Holy Eucharist.

-Plus X.