Do This in Memory of Me: Remember My Precious Blood

By: Laura Catherine Worhacz

“May the good Lord grant you good health, good fortune, and his love. Keep on doing good and saving the good souls God has entrusted to you. It is a great grace to work for God. I am well. We are working hard. I have no time to breathe. The more we grow, the more our work and outside obligations increase; but the good Lord sustains us.” 

​Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Paris 1864 

​Dearest Eucharistic Family, 
 
Saint Peter Julian shares his life’s passion in the above excerpt, “It is a great grace to work for God.” I love this statement and believe that each of us reading it can identify with the privilege of living our baptism, our mission in Christ’s Church; “to work for God.” 
 
In today’s Gospel (Matthew 9:14-17), the disciples of John ask Jesus about fasting. Jesus responds by telling them the bridegroom will be taken away and “Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” This passage finds the transformation of the old self into a newness of life.
 
The old self is self-seeking, seeing life through one’s own eyes. The Eucharist holds a new lens for us, one that sees through the eyes of Heaven with wisdom and forgiveness.
 
Fasting becomes a natural way to return the love we have received from Jesus. And when given out of love, it is no longer a hardship to fast but a genuine sacrifice for someone we love, new wine, and a gift of self. Fasting goes beyond food; it is a continual gift of self out of love for Jesus and for one another.
 
In finding Christ’s love, there is a movement in our hearts. A fire is set to be spread abroad. Knowing God died for each of us so personally makes us want to return our love.
​ 
Working for God begins with prayer. 
 
It begins by receiving Jesus Incarnate, our most extraordinary grace this side of Heaven, and our highest form of prayer. The reality of this brought me to daily Communion 23 years ago. The spiritual battle is real; we are blessed to be on the frontline of interceding to bring the Kingdom to the earth. Praying, specifically, fasting with petitions of love. Is it still fasting or simply sacrificing for the love poured out, new wine! 
 
Working for God proceeds in action. 
 
It begins in our homes; everywhere we turn, we will find someone in need. Peter Julian said he had no time to breathe, and this was his marvelous grace. 
 
God finds us, chooses us, and longs to be in us, to live through us. 
 
May God find our commitment to dedicate ourselves to his service. To look at others through the sacred place of their souls. We can evaluate our brothers and sisters by their sacramental grace. Have they been to reconciliation, Holy Communion, or have they received Confirmation? St. Peter Julian speaks of saving good souls. May we join him in this endeavor. 
 
How can we guide them?

We can begin by seeing where they are in the old wine. We are all in need of newness of life. In the Eucharist, the blessings abound, and God guides us to His Holy Will. 
 
Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament was the first to see the new wine, the miracle of God Our Father in her Son, at the wedding feast of Cana. Let us follow her footsteps in loving and serving. Let us guide others in their wedding feast to the Lamb. Let us bring others to find the saving power of God and the love of God found in the Eucharist. 

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” [And] Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom.” (John 2:1-9)

July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Christ. Let us have a passionate remembrance of Jesus’ love for us and live in a perpetual fast with joy until He comes again.

“Have confidence in prayer. It is the unfailing power that God has given us. By means of it, you will obtain the salvation of the dear souls whom God has given you and all your loved ones. “Ask and you shall receive”, our Lord said. I’m not urging you to put aside your old prayers; they are old friends, but Freedom and naturalness of spirit are preferable. Be yourself with the good Lord. However, nourish your spirit with holy thoughts and good reading welcomed like friends. “

​Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Paris 1864

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.