11 April 2013 “Adoremus in Aeternum Sanctissimum Sacramentum” “Let us adore for all eternity the Most Blessed Sacrament.” (Rev FX Lasance, “The New Missal for Every Day”, 1925, p132*) ‘This is my Body ...’ “The immolation of Jesus took place hidden under the appearances of the bread. He is now there, with his Flesh and with his Blood, with his Soul and with his Divinity. He is the same as on the day that Thomas placed his fingers in His glorious Wounds. “And yet, on so many occasions, you saunter by, giving not even a hint of a greeting out of simple good manners that you would give to any person you knew when you met him. “You have much less faith than Thomas!” Ref: Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 684 The visit to the Blessed Sacrament Eucharistic piety “should be centred above all on the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, which perpetuates the pouring out of His love on the Cross. But it has a logical prolongation in the adoration of Christ in this divine Sacrament, in the Visit to the Blessed Sacrament, in prayer beside the Tabernacle, as well as in those exercises of devotion, personal and private. “... Jesus waits for us in this Sacrament of Love. Let us not be mean with our time when it comes to going to meet him in adoration, in contemplation that is filled with faith, and disposed to make reparation for the grave faults and crimes of the world.” (John Paul II, “Address”, 31 October 1982) Jesus is in the nearest Tabernacle; maybe just a few miles away or perhaps a few yards only. How easy it is to understand the ancient custom of daily visits to the divine tabernacles! (Pius XII, “Mediator Dei”, 20 November 1947) There Jesus has been awaiting us for the past 20 centuries (Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 537); we can be together with him like Mary, the sister of Lazarus, she who chose the better part (Cf Lk 10:42), in that house in Bethany. Jesus is awaiting our visit; in a way, a return of his visit to us in Holy Communion; and “a proof of gratitude, an expression of love, an acknowledgement of the Lord’s presence.” (Paul VI, “Mysterium Fidei”, 3 September 1965) A continuation of our act of thanksgiving for the previous Communion and a preparation for the next. In front of the tabernacle, we can accurately say in all truth: God is here! In the presence of this mystery of faith the only attitude should be that of adoration: “... O hidden God, devoutly I adore You” (“Adoro te devote” by St Thomas in “Handbook of Prayers”, edited by Fr Charles Belmonte & Fr James Socias, 1988, pp214-5); of respect and astonishment; and, simultaneously, of unlimited confidence. Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:319-20 Our Lady — “The love of our Mother will be the breath that kindles into a living flame the embers of virtue that are hidden under the ashes of your indifference.” (Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 492) — “When you see yourself with a dry heart, without knowing what to say, go with confidence to the Virgin Mary. Say to her, ‘My Mother Immaculate, intercede for me’. “If you invoke her with faith, she will make you taste in the midst of your dryness the proximity of God.” Ref: Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 695) — “Before, by yourself, you couldn’t. Now, you’ve turned to our Lady, and with her, how easy!” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 513) Joy — “The cheerfulness you should have is not the kind we might call physiological — like that of a healthy animal. Rather, it is the supernatural happiness that comes from the abandonment of everything, including yourself, into the loving arms of our Father God.” (Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 659) Presence of God “Make it a habit to raise your heart to God, in acts of thanksgiving, many times a day. Because he gives you this and that ... Because someone has despised you ... Because you don’t have what you need, or because you do have it. “And because he made his Mother, who is also your Mother, so beautiful. Because he created the sun and the moon and this animal or that plant. Because he made that man eloquent and you left slow of speech. ... “Thank him for everything, because everything is good.” Ref: Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 504 • On this day a blind man is said to have recovered his sight in the Church of Our Lady of Montserrat, in the year 1538. — Balinghain or. Calend. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of Montserrat (cure of a blind man, Spain). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • “Nuestra Señora de Montserrat”. Spain. Restoration of sight to a blind man. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Fourviere, France. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • “Notre Dame de Fourviere”. France. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)