Do This in Memory of Me: Guard the Sacred

​By Laura Catherine Worhacz  

“The Life of Faith and the Life of the Senses
 
In order to show in all its brilliance the life of the faithful, and to strike the mind through its contrast with the life of the worldly, it would be good to make the parallel between these two lives: 1° the life of faith and 2° the life of the senses, by showing the difference in their principles, their opposite hopes and fruits. This instruction can really be striking, but the principles must be clearly stated, without exaggerating anything. When describing the worldly life, be careful not to be too brilliant, too charming, but, on the contrary, we need bloody words for disorder, crushing words for the reasons of the worldly, keen words for the lazy; but, finally, we must lift up and say: God doesn’t ask you more care and suffering; change your objective and you will become saints.” (Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Personal Notes)
 

Dearest Eucharistic Family,
 
Our faith is a mystery in God’s magnificent love. Jesus suffered for the failure of our humanity. He took on our sins and loved us to His death. Jesus forgives beyond human understanding. When I read the above reflection from my spiritual father, Saint Peter Julian, I think of what is most striking in contrast to the contrast of the worldly to the spiritual and what my own life looks like in comparison to the two! 
 
When we love like Jesus, forgive like Jesus, and find understanding in the fullness of the GIFT of the Holy Spirit, we can see the worldly way dissipate, and the Kingdom of Heaven found. In the Gospel of John: 6:16-21, Jesus is walking on water. He does not want us to be afraid. 
 
By the power of the Eucharist, we are capable of sharing Christ’s love, His healing, and His blessing to preserve the sacredness of life. It is easy to become overwhelmed with all the world brings. Parents’ responsibilities to support their families and the many challenges the needs of our day bring to us in education and future guidance are taxing. By grace, we have been saved! By grace, we live, move, and find our being in God, who loves us. 
 
In the above reflection, Saint Peter Julian suggests changing our objective. If we find our subjective preferences a new way of living, the gift to guard all that is sacred in our lives, our loved one’s lives, and the good of the whole world will be easier found. For us to spend time in the Sacred Presence of the Eucharist, we see things through the light of heaven. Most importantly, we may receive Christ daily to be transformed and conform our wills more closely to Our Father’s plan. 
 
What more can we do to let others know the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand? 
 
Jesus is moved to pity at the sight of the crowds who are like sheep without a shepherd (Mt 9:36), and he sends out the twelve disciples to make the proclamation with which his ministry began, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 10:7).
 
What more can we do to guard the sacredness of life?
 
What more can we do to guard the sacredness of family life, our children’s innocence, and the protection of the unborn?  
 
In our Eucharistic lives, in all our imperfections, God’s grace is waiting for us to unite in a dynamism of love. Jesus wants us to walk on water with Him to be raised out of the despair of the worldly way where there is no hope in the sufferings of the present day. As Easter people, we never forget the Institution of the Holy Eucharist given to us on Holy Thursday; we never forget Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday in its Octave. As we journey to the Ascension and Pentecost, may we be immersed in the daily Liturgy scripture readings, inspired to take action like those in the Acts of the Apostles, and be motivated to heal in the Holy name of Jesus Christ Our Lord.  
 
Mary, Mother of God, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Saint Joseph, Saint Peter Julian, with all of God’s angels and saints, pray with us, and please hear our prayer.

Laura Catherine Worhacz

Laura Catherine Worhacz is a Lay Associate of the Blessed Sacrament and author of Consecration to Jesus Through Our Lady of The Blessed Sacrament. She is also the Director of Mothers of The Blessed Sacrament. She lives in Trinity, FL with her husband and their two daughters.