Eucharistic Reflection - Reverence - An Absolute Necessity

(Photo©Michael Seagriff)

“The Apostolate of Mary consisted also in the silent but very convincing sermon of outward reverence. This type of preaching suits everybody. A soul desirous of making the Eucharist known and loved will apply herself to it with great care in union with Mary.

How modest and reverent in the divine presence of Jesus was the attitude of Mary, the perfect adorer! All penetrated with faith and absorbed in the presence of Jesus, she acted like the angels before the divine Majesty.

Reverence in church, especially in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, must be also our chief exterior virtue. This respect is the solemn profession of our faith and, at the same time, a grace of piety and fervor; for God punishes irreverences committed in His sanctuary with a weakening of faith and a withdrawal of graces of devotion.

Let us, therefore, be very severe on the matter of reverence in worship. Let our bearing be dignified, our attitude religious; let us observe a strict silence, an absolute recollection of the senses. In church our attention must be for Jesus Christ only; friends must be as if they were not. Jesus is everything: the attention of the court centers on the king; he is the only one honored. At the sight of this profound and religious reverence, the worldly-minded will at least be forced to say: ‘There is something great here!’ The weak, the lukewarm will be ashamed of their tepidity and will pay due homage to Jesus Christ; good example is the royal lesson of wisdom and the most fruitful apostolate.”

(From In Light of the Monstrance  by St. Peter Julian Eymard)