Do This in Memory of Me: Make Ready

By: Laura Catherine Worhacz

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“The Spirit of Advent has an echo in Communion. The Blessed Virgin, with the Word made flesh in her womb, is a clear image of Communion.” (Saint Peter Julian Eymard - note from a retreat for the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament)  

​Dearest Eucharistic Family,  

We are blessed to live in our Church's pattern of prayer. Advent is a special opportunity for us to find the Christ-child within, and just as Mary carried Him, we carry Him in our reception of the Eucharist.   

The coming of Christ, His second coming, His imminent nearing to us, glorifies God’s will in our lives as we surrender to the preparation of our souls for the salvation of our existence.   

The word "Advent" comes from the Latin word "adventus", which means "coming". (Catholic Dictionary)  

After an 85-day stay in the hospital with my husband, I am still trying to process the trauma of his illness, the suddenness of suffering, and the changes our lives have endured since we are home. I had no idea that God would have me learn wound care twice daily to sustain the healing process of my husband’s recovery. In submission to the task, there have been so many blessings. The image of suffering before my eyes constantly keeps the soul in the beating heart of God.  

Every morning on the way out of Mass, I kiss the hand of a statue of Saint Francis, precisely at the point of the stigmata on his hand. The open wound is a holy reminder of Christ’s suffering. To care for, to love, to cherish seems the perfect way to prepare for the coming of Christ. Jesus is already near to us in Communion, our participation in His love brightens His light in our lives.   

We look to the stars, to the heavens, to the clouds there is the mystery of the veil between God and humanity, love unites us.   

I believe in my heart that the rearrangement of my life in caretaking of my husband is for the glorification of the Sacrament of our Marriage. It is in sickness and in health that our promise was made 37 years ago.   

In the Eucharist, we have everything we need to prepare and to live in joyful hope.   

We have Mary to emulate and the rosary to chat with her about the mystery of Christ. I was thinking recently about how blessed it is to know the power of the rosary. It is through praying day in and day out the life of Jesus Christ that we are prepared for the Cross and His Resurrection in IT. By this prayer, we are made strong, put together, and grounded in faith. God Our Father arranges everything perfectly. Our participation in the Eucharist and by our prayer, whatever comes to us will be held in Jesus’ love for us.   

The season of Advent glorifies Our Father as we love one another. We think of our loved ones and pray for the perfect gift to give. Kissing their wounds, bandaging the pains of others, and living in divine understanding is an awesome gift. In the forgiveness of sins we have received from Jesus, He held nothing back from loving us.   

As we prepare the way of the LORD, may we surrender to the open wound of humanity. The perfect gift of love reveals heaven to the world. Many have not encountered Christ; many have not found the Christ child within themselves. They may only meet Jesus through our lives.   

“A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’” (Luke 3:4)  

How will we be remembered? Will we leave the perfect gift under the tree on Christmas?  

“The basic idea, the purpose of Advent, is the birth of our Lord, in the [present] world the manifestation of it to everyone. His dwelling place is no longer the stable, but human bodies. While preparing for Advent, let us give him new birth in ourselves and experience Jesus coming to us as at Bethlehem, with this difference that there was more suffering and poverty there, while here there will be more love.” (Saint Peter Julian Eymard, note from a retreat for the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament)
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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