Visit 24 Jesus Eucharistic The Blessed Virgin Mary

I. Mary was the first adorer of Jesus Christ. She was the first tabernacle of the Most High.

II. " Without Mary we shall not reach Jesus; for she is His paradise of delights and those who would know the intimate secrets of His divine love and the hidden virtues of His divinity mus* study them in the transparent mirror of the Immaculate Heart of Mary."—Peru Eymard.

III. Always unite yourself with Mary in adoration and imitate her-manner. How fondly she dwelt on the incidents in the life of her divine Son; how fervently she compassionated His sufferings. She is the model of all adorers of the Blessed Sacrament.

CONSIDERATIONS.
"It does not follow," writes Pdre Eymard, " because it is our special office to honor the Eucharist that we should lessen our devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Far from it. He would be truly displeasing to Jesus, who should say: ‘ The Eucharist is enough for me; I do not need Mary.’ Where do we find Jesus upon earth? Is it not in the arms of Mary? Is it not she who has given us the Blessed Eucharist? It was her acquiescence in the Incarnation of the Son of God—the Divine Word—that began the great mystery of reparation to God and of the union with us that Jesus accomplished during His mortal life, and that He continues in the Eucharist. dddThe more we love the Eucharist, the more we shall love Mary. We love what our friend loves, and where is creature so loved by God, mother so tenderly loved by son, as Mary was by Jesus? If we owe reverence to Jesus, we owe it to Mary also. If we adore Him, we must honor her, and to correspond to, as well as to enter fully into, the graces of our vocation, we owe to Mary a special devotion as to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. When we honor Our Lord on the cross, we pray to Our Lady of Sorrows; in the life at Nazareth, it is Our Lady of the Hidden Life who is our model. What was the occupation of Mary in the Cenaculum? She was in almost constant adoration She was the model and queen and mother of all adorers; she was, in a word, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. dddJesus eft her, so to say, fifteen years or more on earth after His ascension in order that we might learn from her how to adore and serve Him perfectly. Oh, how beautiful must have been those years spent in adoration! ddd"At Bethlehem, Mary was first to adore her divine Son lying in the manger. After her came St. Joseph and the shepherds and kings, but it was Mary who first laid this train of fire, the fire of divine love that should encircle the earth. She continued to adore Him in His hidden life, in His apostolic life, and in His suffering life on Calvary. Study the character of Mary's adoration. She adores Him in all the states of His life, and not in a sterile and monotonous adoration. She adores Him poor at Bethlehem, toiling at Nazareth, and later, teaching and-converting sinners. She has adored Him upon Calvary and suffered with Him. Her love follows all the sentiments of Our Lord, which were known and divined by her, and into which her sympathetic love made tier enter in entire conformity. ddd"To you, also, adorers of the Blessed Sacra ment, I say, adore always, but vary your adoration as Mary varied hers. Enter into and revive all these mysteries in the Eucharist. Without this, you will fall into routine, and if your adoration is not regulated ami varied by some new thought or motive, you will become weary and stupid in your prayers. ddd" It was thus Mary recalled, on the anniversaries of these mysteries that had been accomplished before her eyes, their circumstances, their lessons, and their graces. She reminded Jesus by them of His great love for us. We do not always speak to a friend of the present, we recall pleasing souvenirs of the past and we contemplate the future. The Eucharist is the compendium of all these mysteries, and renews their graces and their love. "Mary had such a love for the Blessed Sacrament that she could scarcely bear to leparate herself from it; she lived in the Blessed Sacrament and passed days and nights before the altar. She must certainly have lent herself to the needs of the apostles and the faithful who sought her aid, but her love for her hidden God shone out upon her countenance and communicated this ardor to those, who approached her.’’ dddOn May 1, 1868, being at St. Maurice, a little country house which he had taken, far away from the noise and bustle of Paris, to be, as he expressed it, " a little paradise for such of the members of the Adoration as Our Lord called to a more contemplative life," Father Eymard.opened the exercises for the month of Mary. He wound up a beautiful allocution on our duties towards this good Mother by the following words: "Well, let us honor Marvel under the title of ‘ Our Lady of the Most Holy Sacrament.’ Yes, let us say, with confidence and love, ‘ Our Lady of the Most Holy Sacrament, Mother and Model for all adorers, pray for us who have recourse to you 1 ’ " The good father was radiant; his voice trembled with emotion. He felt as if he had been able thus to pay a debt of gratitude to her who had first led him to the tabernacle, and who had sustained and encouraged him with such maternal solicitude in the first foundation of his society. ddd" Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament—it is only a new name for an, ancient truth," he would say. " We revere, with reason, all the mysteries in the life of the Mother of God. Contemplative and domestic souls have found an example in her existence in Nazareth; broken hearts, consolation in Our Lady of Dolors; great sacrifices, strength with her at the foot of the cross. Well, Mary lived fifteen years after the ascension of her divine Son. How did she spend those weary days of exile? What fresh grace may be gathered from this important part of her life? The Book of Acts seems to tell us clearly enough. The first Christians, it is there said, lived in union and peace, in the most ardent charity, sighing for martyrdom, and, to prepare themselves worthily for it, persevering in the ‘breaking of bread’—perseverantes in communicalione fractions .panis (Acts ii. 42). ddd"Living on and by the Eucharist, gathering round the tabernacle to pray and sing spiritua1 canticles—such was the distinctive character of the primitive Church as recorded by St. I/uke; such also was the resume of the last years of the Blessed Virgin, who found in the adorable Host the blessed Fruit of her womb, and in the life of union with Our Lord in His tabernacle, the happy times of Bethlehem and Nazareth. Yes, it was Mary, above all others, who persevered in the breaking of bread.’ dddEucharistic souls, who wish to live only for the Blessed Sacrament, who have made the Eucharist your centre and His service your only work, Mary is your model, her life your grace. Only persevere with her in the ‘ breaking of bread.’ . . . Our Lord," he continued, having given us Mary for our Mother, we must honor and love her as her children. But to enter into the spirit of our vocation, and make all tend towards that one end, we must study and strive to imitate the life of Mary in the upper chamber, and her devotion to the service—love of the Blessed Sacrament. Mary stood on the mount of Calvary to die there with Jesus. She redescended with the beloved disciple, the son of her adoption, and recommenced her maternity at the feet of the sacred Host. Oh! do not fear, if you are the elect of the Blessed Eucharist; it is to Mary that you owe it. It is she who has led you by the hand to Our Savior’s feet. Put yourself under her direction; and to become faithful servants of your King, Jesus, be devout children to Mary, who is the Mother of Our Lord’s servants. She is the only perfect imitator of the virtues of her divine Son. She has the secret of His love. Her great mission is to form Jesus in us. It is a mother’s part to train and educate her children. dddIt seems as if, when He was dying, Jesus said to Mary, ‘I bequeath into your hands the fruit of My redemption, the salvation of men, the service of the sacrament of My love.. Form, for Me, adorers in spirit and in truth, who shall serve Me and adore Me as you have done.’ In your communications with Jesus, therefore, think of Mary. Try to speak as she would have done; imitate her habits; act as she did; share in her love and in her sufferings, and in all Mary will say to you, ‘What can I do for the better serving of Jesus, for the greater glory of Jesus?’ The life of Mary in the cenaculum should be the type of yours. Throw yourself on your knees by her side; adore with her. Who can doubt that Mary spent the greater part of her days and nights before the tabernacle? There was her Jesus, her Son, her God. What a profound, interior, intimate adoration was hers I Everything in Mary lost itself, and was absorbed in her Son. A current of grace united the heart of Jesus in the Host with the heart of Mary the adorer. Two flames mingled in one fire—a fire of glory and of love. God was perfectly adored by His Mother, who was His creation. . . . What a joy to Jesus when He received that homage from His divine Mother! How happy He must have felt at having for her consolation left her His sacramental presence believe that Ho would have instituted the Blessed Eucharist for Mary only. . . . ddd"When you go to holy communion," added Father Eymard, " strive to unite yourself to her wishes, and go to communion with her faith and love. Is it not the custom for mothers to adorn and beautify, even with their own ornaments, the child who is about to be led to the nuptial altar? At Cana did not Mary spare the confusion of the newly married couple, and throw the cloak of her Son’s powe" over their indigence? Oh 1 yes, the best prepara tion for holy communion is that which is made by Mary; and Jesus will come to you far more willingly if He sees in you the faithful imitatorn of His Holy Mother. Mary, in the supper-room, must likewise have looked after all things necessary for the holy sacrifice. Can we not fancy her making the linen with holy, skilful hands? When you, too, are working for the worship of the Eucharist, unite your intention to the joy of your Mother working for her Son in His sacramental presence as formerly she worked for Him as an infant. This thought will make you happy. ddd. . . The intimate knowledge of Our Lord which belonged io the Blessed Virgin, more penetrating than that of seraphim or cherubim, gave her a perieer acquaintance with the heart of Jesus; an_ therefore she understood, better than any human or angelic creature, the immensity of the gift ol the Eucharist. She knew all the sacrifices of Jesus, and the struggles it had cost His soul when He instituted this Divine Sacrament; just as she knew His anguish in the Garden of Olives. She foresaw all that her divine Son would have to drink of ignominy and outrage in order to perpetuate His presence in the midst of ungrateful men. When Jesus, before the Last Supper, announced to Mary that the hour was come for the triumph of His love; that He was about to institute the Adorable Sacrament, by means of which all Christians throughout all countries could partake of the happiness of union with Him, and become in holy communion one with their Savior and their God,—Mary adored in deepest gratitude. . . . She consented to put off the hour of her reward and to remain on earth, to guard and serve the Blessed Eucharist, and to teach other Christians to guard, to love, and to adore this Sacrament of Love. What a mother I What a model! Happy were the disciples who could adore beside Mary, and learn from her august mouth how to serve their Savior Jesus! " dddThis is the last tribute of Father Eymard to the glory of the Blessed Eucharist. Mary hastened tn crown the devoted child who had inscribed the name of "Our Lady of the Blessed Sacra* ment," at the close of his life, on the altar dedicated to her.—From Life of Pebe Eymabd. 0 Mary! teach us how to live the- life of adoration. Teach us how to find, as you did, all graces and all mysteries in the Eucharist. Remember,

Our Lady of the Most Holy Sacrament, that thou art the Mother and model of all the adorers of the Eucharistic God. Teach us to know, to love, and to imitate Jesus more and more.

St. Joseph, pray for us, that like thee, we may die in the arms of Jesus and Mary.


PRAYER TO THE HOLY GHOST
0 Holy Ghost, Thou Teacher and Sanctifier, Who givest light and strength to my soul, bless me that I may be more faithful to Jesus, my Savior and my God, Who is hidden in the Blessed Sacrament, and that I may love Him more and more. In the light of the tabernacle I ask of Thee, 0 Holy Spirit, to fill my heart with pure desire for Jesus, the Living Bread. Give me grace to adore Him with the zeal and humble ven­eration of the holy angels; grant that His will may be done on earth as it is in heaven, and that His will be done in my soul. Help me to thank Him for all His gifts, and, most of all, for Himself. By this Holy Sacrament He strengthens souls on earth, gives rest to souls in purgatory, and gladdens souls in heaven. He is the hidden manna, promised by Himself to all who overcome them­selves and love Him. May I taste the sweetness of Jesus! Set up more and more Thy kingdom in my soul, that I may keep my body under and bring it to subjection, lest I should be a castaway from Jesus and from Thee.

SPIRTUAL COMMUNION
0 Jesus, my Savior, Who art truly present in the Blessed Sacrament for the nourishment of our souls! since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally, I humbly and earnestly beseech Thee to re­fresh me spiritually. I love Thee above all things and I desire to possess Thee within my soul. Come into my mind to illumine it with the light of heaven; come into my heart to enkindle therein the fire of Thy love. Unite me so intimately with Thee, that it may be no more I that live, but Thou that livest and reigneth in me forever.



FRUIT OF THE VISIT.
I. Behold Christ seated in thy heart as a Fountain of living water, pouring forth the streams of His Spirit on thy dry and thirsty soul: regard thyself as another Samaritan, asking Him more and more, Lord, give me this water, that I may not thirst (Is. xliv. 3; John iv. 15).

II. Desire out of love to seek for Him eagerly; that so, through thy desire for virtue and heavenly things, thou mayest always pine away with thirst, and never be delighted with any of the things of this world.

III. Ask of thy Lord the virtue of " Humility: " He sendeth forth the springs in the valleys, and through the midst of the mountains the waters shall pass; He resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble (Ps. ciii. 10; 1 Pet. v. 5).

Aspiration.
" With joy ye shall draw water out of the Savior’s fountains " (Is. xii. 3).

EUCHARISTIC GEMS.
"There are theologians who maintain that the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist was instituted principally for the sake of our blessed Lady; it is said that all Jesus did for us He did for her in a more excellent way, as when He redeemed her by prevention in the Immaculate Conception. He is said to have loved her more than all else together, and the Blessed Sacrament is the crowning act of His love. ddd"According to some revelations of the saints, our blessed Lady was either present at the institution of the Blessed Sacrament, or was at least communicated by Our Lord. . . . There are some theologians who assert that all through the remaining fifteen years of her life the sacramental species invariably remained in her incorrupt, so that she was a living tabernacle of her Son, as she had been before His birth. It is very commonly said that our blessed Lady combined in herself, besides her own special prerogatives, all the marvellous gifts of the saints of whom she is the Queen, and thus there would be no difficulty in conceding to her what some of those saints have enjoyed—viz., the incorruption of the sacramental species from communion to communion?’— Father Faber’s " Blessed Sacrament." dddSpeaking of our blessed Lady and the Holy Eucharist, John of Avila says: " To these two exercises, the one of charity towards hex1 neighbor, and the other of compassion for Jesus Christ, her Son and her God, she added a third—viz., to receive the sacred body of her blessed Son, consecrated by the words He ordained. Mass was said for her by her blessed son and chaplain, the Evangelist St. John: and he communicated, and she communicated; and happy was he who merited to be the acolyte, and to serve that Mass, and to hold the communion-cloth for Our Lady when she received Our Lord. With what reverence must not this most holy soul, who, when sne looked upon herself, did net reckon herself worthy the morsel of bread which was her nourishment, or to tread the ground upon which she walked—with what reverence, what gratitude and love, must she not have received the body of her most holy Son, since as man He was one flesh with her, and as God she was one spirit with Him. dddThe Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady.
0 holy Food and. blessed,
Supercelestial feast,
In which the God-Man .truly
The Victim is and Priest.
0 Food, the strength of martyrs,
The glory of the meek ;
The fortitude of children,
The armor of the weak;
The life of all creation,
Of being without end;
The circle and the centre,
To which all beings tend.
0 Food, the soul restoring
Through God's humanity
Through union with His body.
Soul and divinity.
Before Thine earthly footstool
The seraph casts Ins crown,
And Michael and his angels
In lowly fear bow down.
What then the glorious Mother—
Her reverence, who may tell,
Who gave Thee that pure body,
Which conquered death and hell 1
All through those years of waiting,
When she was left alone,
Her heart was still Thy dwelling.
Her soul was still Thy Throne.
For never did the species
Within her heart decay :
In sacramental union
Thou wert with her always.
O ever-glorious Mother,
0 woman ever-blest I
Flesh of thy flesh He feeds Thee,
Soul by His soul possessed.
Through Thee to Hod be glory
On every altar given,
Where dwells the Food of Angels
By all in earth and heaven.
—E. M. Shapcote