Promoting Belief in and Reverence for our Eucharistic Lord
Bishop Joseph N. Perry
Father Rodger Fleming
(St. Alphonsus Liguori from Visits to the Most Holy Sacrament)
Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
St. Therese of Lisieux
Sister Briege McKenna
In 1978, the late St. John Paul II urged all parishes throughout the world to institute Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. Five years later, he reminded all Catholics in his encyclical, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, that the Eucharist is the greatest gift Jesus left His Church.
As Catholics, we believe that JESUS is really, truly and substantially present in the Eucharist – just as when He walked on this earth. He is present in our tabernacles. He is present in our Adoration Chapels and He is present in the Sacred Host when it is placed on our tongue. There could be no more appropriate time then today to reflect on the significance of the Eucharist and our response to this great gift.
Have you ever loved someone so much that you could hardly wait to hear from them, to speak with them and to see them – only to have that person not love you in return? How often have you looked forward to a visit from a close friend or family member only to have that person spend little or no time talking to you? I dare say all of us sometime in our lifetimes have had such experiences. How hurt we felt when we were ignored and not loved in return.
Imagine How God – WHO IS LOVE – WHO LOVES US MORE THAN WORDS CAN DESCRIBE – feels when we fail to demonstrate our love for Him? He waits here hour after hour, day after day, 168 hours a week, just to hear our voices and to see our faces.
Come. Visit Him. Speak to Him! He especially wants us to spend time in His Presence when we are hurting, dealing with pain and suffering, fear and anxiety
Too often we try to deal with these problems alone. We forget that Jesus told us:
COME AND BRING YOUR BURDENS TO ME AND I WILL REFRESH YOU
So this weekend would you prayerfully consider doing the following: resolve to spend more time before Mass and after receiving Communion talking to Jesus; make a visit before the Blessed Sacrament sometime between now and next Sunday; ask Jesus to increase your belief and reverence in and for His Real Presence; and consider committing to an hour of Adoration each week.
(From A Pastoral Letter on Adoration of the Most Holy Eucharist by Bishop James Conley)
I Thirst for Your Love! 