Do This in Memory of Me: Awaken my soul

By: Laura Worhacz

“The priest, then, has duties to fulfill toward this tender Mother. He ought to be second to none in the honor he renders her, the tender love that is due her. He should most zealously make her known and loved. As for us if we love the Eucharist, if we desire to have It served, preached, loved by all, let us incessantly beg of Jesus, through Mary, to give us holy priests, apostolic workers, faithful adorers. The glory of the Blessed Sacrament and the salvation of the world are at stake.” (St. Peter Julian Eymard, Eymard Library Volume 7, page 142)

Dearest Eucharistic Family,

Awaken our souls. Hoping your summer has allowed you some time to re-evaluate your spiritual journey. In looking at my own, the gratitude of holy men that have guided my path to salvation was prominent. Also thinking of St. Mary Magdalene and the intense desire she had to respond to Jesus' attentiveness to her. She longed to give her whole life to Jesus for the great love He offered her through the forgiveness of her sins. Blessed by holy priests, who like St. Peter Julian reminds us in the above excerpt, teach us to love Jesus Eucharistic. “If we desire to have It served, preached, loved by all, let us incessantly beg of Jesus, through Mary, to give us holy priests, apostolic workers, faithful adorers.” Mary Magdalene would cling to Jesus, follow Jesus, adore Jesus, and serve Jesus in return for His mercy. Mary has chosen the better part; she chose to love and let the service she rendered flow from this love. “I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. (Lk: 7 47)

Spiritual companionship is ineffable and offered to us in the Sacraments. St. John Mary Vianney and St. Peter Julian Eymardembraced the gift of spiritual friendship as they guided one another. St. John, twenty years his senior, encouraged St. Peter Julian in his holiness to found the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Along with a close union to Our Lady and prayer before Jesus Eucharistic, the reality of this inspiration was made real on May 13th, 1856. The Priest who was confessor to priests and now their great patron, St. John Mary Vianney, would offer his confessions to St. Peter Julian. How we need one another.

We attribute the awakening of our souls to the love of God. We attend to this love in serving our spouse, children, family, friends, and communities nourished by the life of the Eucharist. I will be taking some more time throughout the summer to remember in my heart spiritual friendships, people, places and even things that have raised my soul to the eternal. May we, like Mary, remain close to the Eucharistic Lord and His holy mother all the days of our life. May we forever cherish our loved ones, spiritual companions, and guides. May we keep our souls awakened as we serve one another in the love of God found in the Eucharist.

“The glory of the Blessed Sacrament and the salvation of the world are at stake.” St. Peter Julian

Please recite the following prayer remembering your consecration promise:

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
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Blessed are you, Mary exalted daughter of Sion!
You are highly favoured and full of grace, for the spirit of God descended upon you.
We magnify the Lord and rejoice with you for the gift of the Word made flesh, bread of life and cup of joy.
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, our model of prayer in the cenacle, pray for us that we may become what we receive, the body of Christ your son. Amen.