Do This in Memory of Me: Mysticism

By: Laura Worhacz

​ “Oh, wonderful moment in which all else is forgotten, in which we no longer desire anything else, not even heaven—for we possess it already, we have Jesus and Mary”.
Saint Peter Julian Eymard (Eymard Library, Volume 7 page 70)

Dearest Eucharistic Family,

Jean Gerson (1363-1429 Catholic Dictionary) explains mysticism as “knowledge of God arrived at through the embrace of unifying love.” Where do we find this? It seems to live inside ourselves; all we need to do is awaken our souls. Within the cry of our humanity, there is a seeking and a longing for love. God our Father has made all things perfect. He gave us Jesus and Mary. Contemplation is found in surrender, a handing over of our will to God. Obedience to our prayer life should be guarded with a shield of prominence. Set time aside, especially silent time, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46). He who created us loves us and hopes to be with us. Discipline to our prayer that streams out of our longing for love will keep us in union with the divine. Mysticism is an indwelling of security found in the awareness of the true presence of God, nurtured by our response.

Saint Peter Julian reminds us in the above excerpt that we already possess heaven now in Jesus and Mary, God’s gift to us. The reception of Holy Communion nourishes our contemplation. Tomorrow is October 13th; this day in 1917, over 80,000 people witnessed The MIRACLE OF THE SUN, also known as the MIRACLE OF FATIMA. At the gathering, many conversions of the heart were impacted, many physical healings occurred, many souls rose to the heights of heaven. Our Lady appeared for five months, thus five first Saturdays she hoped for us to share in. We were asked to make “Communions of Reparation”, moreover in the Paschal Sacrifice, these may be possessed daily, communions of love. Pray for Our Lady’s final words at Fatima to echo inside of us, “IN THE END MY IMMACULATE HEART WILL TRIUMPH”. Mary’s earthly life can be for us an example of mysticism. Mary listened to the voice of God and so it was heard. Mary acted on the Word of God and her mystic union with her Father was lived out in her charity, thus her deeds were mystical. Jesus, through Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, will keep our “knowledge of God, arrived at through the embrace of unifying love."

The First Saturday devotion is like a five-month novena. Write down the specific intention you are praying for, and recall it every first Saturday for five months. Receive Holy Communion on the first Saturday of the month (you may offer your Sunday Communion for your first Saturday intention if you cannot get to Mass on Saturday for a just reason). Go to confession eight days before or after first Saturday. Meditate on the mysteries of the holy Rosary for 15 minutes (take a few minutes before each mystery to ponder the life of Christ and apply it to your own life) or meditate for 15 minutes at one time.
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We share in the mission to make the love of God known in the Eucharist (part of the mission statement for the Associates of the Blessed Sacrament).