“Cultivating a passionate love for the Eucharistic Lord and choosing to live for Christ!”

(Based on Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ)

“I would like to say the Mass!”

These were the passionate words of Archbishop Dominic Tang,
the archbishop of Canton who was imprisoned in China for 22
years…
… for his faith and loyalty to the Church and papacy.

Of these 22 years, seven years were in solitary confinement
This solitary confinement cell was not large enough to stand
up nor to lie down and stretch your legs fully.

One day, Archbishop Tang was surprised with the news that he
could leave his solitary confinement cell for a few hours to do
whatever he wanted.

His persecutors wondered what he would ask for…
… But without any hesitation, Archbishop Tang, expressed his
deep longing that had been suppressed for 22 years: “I would like
to say Mass!”

On this Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus, we are exhorted
to cultivate a passionate love for the Eucharistic Lord…
… just like Archbishop Tang, and to choose to live for Christ!

Our Christian Life celebrates God, who is Emmanuel – With us,
God!

And this Emmanuel God, fulfils His promise, by dwelling in
the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.

On this Feast of the Corpus Christi, it is apt and meaningful to
realize the worth and greatness of this Most Beautiful Treasure
that God is gifting to Humanity.

As human beings, we all engage ourselves in many social
gatherings, events, occasions etc.

And for all of that, we do make
a lot of planning, preparations and arrangements.

The Holy Mass is the re-enactment of the Sacrifice of Jesus on
Calvary, in memory of the Holy Institution at the Last Supper.

It is a momentous and splendid Divine Occasion and Event!

But often, this great event is accorded very little preparation.

No wonder, for some people, the Mass often seems boring and
sadly, considered a useless ritual!

Very often, just before Holy Mass or just before entering the
Church…
… we engage ourselves in very casual talks, in making fun
… and in being filled with worldly attractions and other external
distractions.

The Holy Eucharist is basically oriented toward four aspects
(a) Adoration and Worship of God
(b) To give thanks for His gifts and graces
(c) To ask remission of our sins
(d) To offer our petitions to the Lord.

At every Holy Eucharist, we need to become aware of these
aspects.

We need to think:
Is my heart and mind really ready to embrace
the Awesome Moments of the Lord’s Life – His Passion, His Death
and His Resurrection, which is celebrated at Mass?

The Lord of the Universe descends on the Altar and is ready
to dwell in our little hearts!

I need to realize the gravity of this
Moment and prepare my heart to receive this Divine Saviour!

Do I take time to read and reflect on the Readings of the Mass
beforehand?
Do I make a genuine examination of Conscience and truly
repent, to receive God’s Mercy?

Do I become aware that, at Holy Mass, I am at Mount Calvary,
along with our Blessed Mother, and ready to offer my life, along
with Jesus, for the Salvation of the world?

St. Francis de Sales says, “When you have received Him, stir up
your heart to do Him homage; speak to Him about your spiritual
life, gazing upon Him in your soul where He is present for your
happiness!
… welcome Him as warmly as possible, and behave outwardly in
such a way that your actions may give proof to all of His Presence.”

This Feast is a Feast for all the days of the year.

The Lord is present in the Blessed Sacraments in our Chapels
and our Churches… all the days – inviting us to experience His
Love!
Let’s delight in this love story, Venerable Fulton Sheen says,
“The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white
Host!”

Let this Feast help us to make practical resolutions…
… so that we can love the Lord in the Eucharist
… and thus, in turn, become
a Eucharist in this our broken and fragmented world.

We need to reflect and examine:

Can I make extra efforts to prepare for the Holy Mass and also
be aware of the Presence of the Lord, after Holy Mass?

Is it possible for me to spend daily some time, with the Lord,
in the Blessed Sacrament? For those of us, where physically, it is
not possible to be with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, can I
spare some time to be with the Lord, in prayer and devotion, in
whichever place possible…?

Can I show an extra devotion to the Lord, especially when
we pass before some Chapels or Churches, and become a living
witness to God’s infinite love in the Eucharist?

Can I see the Broken Body and the Blood of the Lord, in the
broken lives of the people in my life – my family, my workplace,
my community, my church, my society, my nation, my world?

Can I spread the Devotion of the Blessed Eucharist to other
peoples, especially to lukewarm and tepid Catholics, that all
may know and realize, the Presence of the mighty Treasure of
Grace, Power and Love, in this Beloved Sacrament?

St Francis de Sales says, “We must visit Jesus in the Blessed
Sacrament a hundred thousand times a day!”

Let us pray: “Make me Your bread to nourish the hungry; make
me your wine to quench your thirst; and make me Your comfort
to all those who cry, Amen!”

May Blessed Mamma, the Mother of the Holy Eucharist, help
us to radiate, the Love of Christ to all people!

Happy Feast of the Most Holy Eucharist!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY – THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY – THE EFFECTS OF THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY – The unity and indissolubility of marriage

The love of the spouses requires, of its very nature, the unity and indissolubility of the spouses’ community of persons, which embraces their entire life: “so they are no longer two, but one flesh.”
They “are called to grow continually in their communion through day-to-day fidelity to their marriage promise of total mutual self-giving.”
This human communion is confirmed, purified, and completed by communion in Jesus Christ, given through the sacrament of Matrimony.

It is deepened by lives of the common faith and by the Eucharist received together. (CCC # 1644)