Texts on the Eucharist
actual presence
In the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist are “truly, really and substantially contained the Body and Blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently the whole of Christ”. “This presence is called real, not exclusively, as if the other presences were not real, but par excellence, because it is substantial, and through it Christ, God and man, becomes fully present.”
Catechism, no. 1374
mystery of faith
Through the consecration of the bread and wine, the change of all the substance of the bread into the substance of the Body of Christ our Lord and of all the substance of the wine into the substance of His Blood is effected; The Catholic Church has rightly and appropriately called this change transubstantiation.”
Catechism, no. 1376
Christ all whole
The Eucharistic presence of Christ begins at the moment of consecration and lasts as long as the Eucharistic species subsist. Christ is fully present in each of the species and fully whole in each of its parts, so that the breaking of the bread does not divide Christ.
Catechism, no. 1377
by faith alone
“The presence of the true Body of Christ and of the true Blood of Christ in that sacrament is not known by the senses, says St. Thomas, but only by faith, which rests on the authority of God. For this reason, commenting the text of St. Luke 22, 19: This is my Body that will be delivered for you, St. Cyril declares: do not wonder if this is true, but rather accept the words of the Lord with faith, because He, who is the Truth, don’t lie”
Catechism, no. 1381
Jesus is present in the Eucharist.
Do not forget that Jesus wanted to remain present, personally and truly, in the Eucharist, an immense mystery, but a sure reality, in order to materialize in an authentic way this individual and salvific love of his!
Saint John Paul II, Rome, March 11, 1979
Christ lives!
This same redemptive sacrifice of Christ is sacramentally actualized in each Mass that is celebrated, perhaps very close to your places of study and work. Therefore, Jesus is not someone who has stopped acting in our history. No! He lives! And he continues to look for each one of us so that we join him every day in the Eucharist, also, if possible, drawing us closer – with a soul in grace, cleansed of all mortal sin – to communion.
Saint John Paul II, Buenos Aires, April 11, 1987
the moment of farewell
How many times in our life have we seen two people who love each other separate!
And at the time of departure, a gesture, a photograph, an object that passes from one hand to another to somehow prolong the presence in the absence. And nothing more. Human love is only capable of these symbols.
As a testimony and as a lesson in love, at the moment of farewell, “Jesus seeing that his time had come to pass from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (Jn. 13, 1).
Thus, when saying goodbye, Our Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man, does not leave his friends a symbol, but the reality of Himself. He goes with the Father, but he remains among us men. He does not leave a single object to evoke the memory of him. Under the species of bread and wine is He, truly present, with his Body and his Blood, his soul and his divinity.
Saint John Paul II in Fortaleza (Brazil), 9-VII-1980
Adore Christ in the Tabernacle
Christ remains in our midst. Not only during Mass, but also afterwards, under the species reserved in the Tabernacle. And the Eucharistic cult extends to the whole day, without being limited to the celebration of the Sacrifice. He is a close God, a God who awaits us, a God who has wanted to stay with us. When one has faith in that real presence, how easy it is to be close to Him, adoring the Love of loves! How easy it is to understand the expressions of love with which throughout the centuries Christians have surrounded the Eucharist!
Saint John Paul II. Lima, 15-VI-1988
examine each other
To respond to this invitation, we must prepare ourselves for this great and holy moment. Saint Paul urges an examination of conscience: “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the chalice of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Examine yourself therefore, each one, and then eat the bread and drink from the chalice
“For whoever eats and drinks without discerning the Body, eats and drinks his own punishment.” Whoever is aware of being in grave sin must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before approaching Communion.
Given the greatness of this sacrament, the faithful can only repeat humbly and with burning faith the words of the Centurion. “Lord, I am not worthy of you entering my house, but one word from you will be enough to heal me.
Catechism no. 1385
never leave the sunday mass
May your fidelity be manifested especially in Sunday and festive liturgical participation: never leave Holy Mass and, if possible, never leave the encounter with Christ in Eucharistic communion.
Saint John Paul II. Velletri (Italy), 8-1X-1980
Blessing with the Blessed
Jesus Christ, before going to Heaven, blesses the men who were with Him. And He continues to bless us when He, present in the Host, letting himself be carried away in the hands of the priest, makes us the sign of the cross.
What does it mean that Jesus blesses me- Bless: say well; and what God says is done. When he blesses, says and does good, he gives his strength, his peace, his grace, his efficacy to what he blesses. It is as if Jesus Christ said: I support what I bless, I will give the strength it needs, I say well of that, count on my grace.
Before and after what is properly the blessing we take the opportunity to adore him, to give him -humanly speaking- a treat; We try to make you comfortable, that you enjoy with us.
worship station
The following is prayed three times, ending with “a spiritual communion”
V: Long live Jesus Sacramentado
A: Long live and be loved by all
Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be. spiritual communion.
I would like to receive you, Lord, with that purity, humility and devotion with which your Most Holy Mother received you, with the spirit and fervor of the saints.
Prayer: Oh God!, that under an admirable Sacrament you left us the memory of your Passion, grant us that in such luck we will venerate the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood, that we constantly experience in ourselves the fruit of your Redemption: You who live and you reign forever and ever.
A: Amen.
Blessing
While Jesus Christ, in the hands of the priest, makes you the sign of the cross, fix your eyes on him, and take the opportunity to adore him, thank him, ask for forgiveness, and ask him to bless whatever you want (also your good wishes, intentions, etc.)
praises of redress
God has blessed us. Now we bless Him. Grateful, we say how good our God is with this collection of compliments that we throw at Him and those He loves the most.
1. Blessed be God.
2. Blessed be his holy name
3. Blessed be Jesus Christ, God and true Man.
4. Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
5. Blessed be his Most Sacred Heart.
6. Blessed be his Most Precious Blood.
7. Blessed be Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.
8. Blessed be the Paraclete Holy Spirit.
9. Blessed be the excellent Mother of God, Holy Mary.
10. Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception.
11. Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
12. Blessed be the name of Mary Virgin and Mother.
13. Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste Husband.
14. Blessed be God in his Angels and in his Saints. Amen.
Eucharistic hymn
I adore you with devotion, hidden God, truly hidden under these appearances. To you my heart submits completely, and totally surrenders when contemplating you.
When judging you, sight, touch, taste are wrong, but hearing is enough to believe firmly; I believe everything that the son of God has said, nothing is truer than this word of truth.
On the cross only divinity was hidden, but humanity is also hidden here; I believe and confess both, and I ask for what that repentant thief asked for.
I do not see the sores as Tomás saw them, but I confess that you are my God: make me believe more and more in you, that I hope in you, that I love you.
Memorial of the death of the Lord! Living bread that gives life to man: grant my soul that it lives from you, and that it always savors your sweetness.
Lord Jesus, good pelican: cleanse me, unclean, with your Blood, from which a single drop can free the entire world from all its crimes.
Jesus, whom I now see hidden, I beg you to fulfill what I so long for: that when I look at your face, no longer hidden, I may be happy seeing your glory. So be it
St Thomas
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