Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) "Now the closer we want to draw to God and the more we want to practice virtue, the more struggles we expect. Consequently, we ought to store up more strength so as not to be overcome. Well, the Eucharist alone will supply you with the needed strength for all these struggles of the Christian Life." (St. Peter Julian Eymard from In The Light of the Monstrance )

(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...

“The soul that loves the Eucharist must likewise attend to the interests of this adorable Sacrament. The first of these interests, the most dear to Jesus, is the priesthood. Through the priests, the Blessed Sacrament is given us, comes into us; through them, Jesus receives the sacramental life which He consecrates to the glory of his Father; through them, He is glorified more than He can be by the faithful, even the most pious. He has given them all His rights and His power. If we love the Eucharist, if we wish to see it served, preached, adored by all, let us without ceasing ask Jesus through Mary for holy priests, apostolic laborers, faithful adorers; on such do the glory of the Blessed Sacrament and the salvation of the world depend.” (From In Light of the Monstrance   by St. Peter Julian Eymard)