INTRODUCTION
The Church has historically noted the month of April for increased devotion to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. At the Last Supper, Jesus gave us His greatest gift, His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity to share at every Mass, every day, everywhere in the world!
O Sacrament Most Holy,
O Sacrament Divine,
All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine Amen
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
1323 At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet ‘in which Christ is consumed,
SCRIPTURE
The word of God is so powerful that whatever he commands is carried out. When he says, “Let there be light” Genesis 1:3, at creation, light suddenly appears. At his word, the sun, moon, and stars are brought into existence. The power of that divine word is also in Jesus.
When Jesus took bread and said, “This is my body”, and took wine and said, “This is my blood” Matthew 26:26-28. These sacred words bring about what he says. Jesus is truly present body and blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist.
When receiving Jesus in the Eucharist is not possible, the next best thing is to visit him in Church where he resides calling to us to come stay with me.
HOLY HOUR
of Eucharistic Adoration
Christ is present in the Most Blessed Sacrament to manifest his great love for us. Christ, the God-Man, is truly present in his divinity as well as his humanity, body and soul before me. This Holy Hour may be broken down into 15 minute segments with different types of prayers, Adoration, Thanksgiving, Petition, and Contrition.
ADORATION
Think of the marvel of this great reality: Christ, the God-Man, is truly present in his divinity as well as his humanity, body and soul. Consider who he is as God…the Creator; God-Man: our Redeemer, our Savior, our Lord and King. Push your thoughts to search out the meaning of these truths and let your soul rest in the wonder of his loving presence here— Be quiet and listen, as God speaks to your heart.
PRAYER OF ADORATION
Lord, thank you for this hour of Eucharistic devotion. I adore you as the infinite and Holy One of God. You and the Father are one and you promised that one day we will be one in You. May Your Holy Spirit be with me. Send Him constantly… I thank you for this precious gift of faith. Amen.
THANKSGIVING
The next 15 minutes may be devoted to THANKSGIVING. Let words of thanksgiving rise up in your soul, or just simply give thanks to God for his presence here in such a remarkable way. Read or recall one of your favorite Scripture passages. Imagine you are present and hear it direct from Jesus, what do you say to Jesus? Take time to recall and thank God for other special blessings. Thank him for his love for you, for his unfailing help in trials and difficulties. Do you really believe God loves you? Think about it till you can really say that in sincerity and heartfelt conviction: that God does love you!
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Thank you, Father, for having created me. Thank you for my family. Thank you for being with us in all our joys and sorrows, for your comfort in our sadness, your companionship in our loneliness. Thank you for friends, for health and for grace. May I live this and every day conscious of all that has been given to me. Everything I receive is pure gift. Help me to be a grateful giver to others.
PETITION
Dedicate the next 15 minutes to PETITION. First of all, ask Jesus here present in the Holy Eucharist for the grace he wants most for you: the great blessing of redemption and eternal salvation….for you, for each member of your family, your friends, people of you neighborhood and parish, for all mankind.
Pray for conversions. Pray for particular people, those who are away from the Church and the Sacraments. Pray for the sick and lonely, the discouraged, our youth, the unborn, our country, its leaders.
Pray for vocations to complete the work of Christ. Pray for the grace to know the will of God always in my own life. Pray for peace, God’s peace God’s wholeness in the hearts of all that we all be one!
PRAYER OF PETITION
O my God, give yourself to me. Behold I love you…if my love is too weak a thing, grant me to love you more strongly. I cannot measure my love, but let my soul hasten to your embrace… This I know that it is not good for me when you are not with me. Everything in this world that is not you is mere rubbish. Amen.
CONTRITION
Dedicate the last 15 minutes of the Holy Hour to CONTRITION. A look into one’s own conscience first, for where we sin and where we need to ask for pardon and mercy…A look into the conscience of the world at large…the demeaning of others, insults and injuries inflicted around the globe, sins against life and the world we live in…are we good stewards of our planet…do we welcome the stranger…feed the hungry…care for the sick….. treat others as we wish to be treated…
PRAYER OF CONTRITION
O Lord, forgive me my sins; the sins of my youth, the sins of my age, the sins of my soul, the sins of my body… the sins that I know, the sins I have concealed so long and which are now hidden from my memory. I am truly sorry for every sin, mortal and venial. I know my sins have wounded Thy tender Heart; O my Savior, let me be freed from the bonds of evil… O my Jesus, forget and forgive what I have been.. Amen.
I am reminded how much need I am of God’s mercy. So often I have walked away from God but He never gave up, sought me, and called me back into His embrace.
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
APRIL 16, 2023
PRAISE THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD;
HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER
PSALM 136:1