Note on the title [1]
Jesus the Victim
146. Celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice. In the Eucharist Jesus is victim, food and friend. Our three loves are: Mass, Communion and Visits to the Blessed Sacrament. I would like you to meditate more intensely on this mystery of love. The Eucharist is indeed a mystery of faith and a ministry of love!
In the celebration of the Holy Mass Jesus becomes a victim for us and for our sins (Cf. I John 2,2). Every day and several times a day He sacrifices Himself for us. Mass does not just represent the sacrifice of the Cross – it renews it: the same victim and the same purpose. The way in which the sacrifice is accomplished may differ. On Calvary the sacrifice was bloody but the Mass does not. It is beautiful to think that each time we celebrate or participate in the Mass we are once again on
Calvary at the foot of the Cross with Our Lady and St. John. Jesus said: “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22,19) and St. Thomas defined the Eucharistic Celebration as a memorial of the Passion of the Lord. St. Paul says the same thing: “Each time you eat this bread or drink this cup you announce the death of the Lord until He comes again” (I Corinthians 11,26). Compared to the Mass martyrdom itself is not much because martyrdom is the sacrifice a man makes to God of his own life whereas in the Mass the Son of God sacrifices His own body and blood for mankind.
By celebrating the Eucharist we render God the honor He is due; we ask pardon for our offences; we thank Him for the gifts He has given us and we seek the grace we need.
147. The most beautiful moment of our life. Certainly it is evident how important Mass is. But what respect do we show it? What happiness do we experience when we celebrate or participate in it? Mass is the most beautiful moment of our lives. One Mass alone would make whoever celebrates it happy. If we had to prepare for fifteen or twenty years for one celebration – how happy we would be! It is its own reward. Oh how happy we are to celebrate the Eucharist. At times like Christmas we can celebrate Mass three times – what a delight. One is preparation for the next – what joy! If we only understood what one more Mass means.
The priest who celebrates the Eucharist must offer himself in a pure and holy oblation with all his strength and enthusiasm. At every Mass we commemorate the sacrifice Jesus made of Himself to the Father we must ask to sacrifice ourselves with Him. You must be burnt-offerings – yes, burnt offerings.
Each time a priest celebrates or participates in Mass it must be an extraordinary, new and joyful event as the day the Lord Jesus came down in the womb of the Virgin and became man. Prepare yourselves well to celebrate the Eucharist; be holy and practice virtue with a vital spirit of faith. When you celebrate Mass think of what you are saying and what you are doing. If everything you do is worth doing well how much more the celebration of Mass. I always tell new priest you will celebrate Mass every day but do not rush it. I have extracted ideas from St. Alphonsus’s pamphlet “La Messa Strapazzata” and synthesized them into thirty meditations – one for each day of the month. I read one every morning and I find it helpful in preparing for Mass. After Mass we must make a decent thanksgiving.
After so many years of priesthood I am happy to confess that I do not remember ever celebrating the Mass poorly; I say this without vanity – but with holy pride. I have always done ceremonies well and I find this comforting. In spite of my many problems but I have always striven to celebrate Mass well. When I genuflect I go right down to the floor – in spite of my age.
What I said about the priest who celebrates Mass is equally valid for all those who participate in the celebration. This is the greatest of devotions. We must admire and commit ourselves to understanding the great mystery we celebrate. St. Alphonsus wrote: “So many make long journeys to visit this or that sanctuary – for me the greatest of all sanctuaries is the tabernacle.” He was speaking about visits to the Blessed Sacrament; the same thing could be said and even more appropriately about the Eucharistic celebration. The Mass reassumes all our private prayers because it is not we who pray but Jesus who prays for us.
How should we participate in the celebration of Mass? First of all by renewing our faith: we must have a vital faith and an ardent charity as if we were standing on Calvary itself. We must bear in mind that this is a renewal of the sacrifice of the Cross and we must pray that our participation in it will bear fruit. We must let our heart speak words of praise to the Lord – if we speak from the heart we need no words. We must trust His mercy and offer ourselves to Him. We must thank Him for all He has given us. When we participate in the Mass we must concentrate on Jesus’ sacrifice to the Father and pray that we might offer ourselves along with Him. We must be eager to take part in the Mass.
Participating spiritually in all Eucharistic celebrations throughout the world is an excellent idea. “My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord Almighty” (Malachi 1,11). We can share spiritually in so very many Masses!
Jesus living bread
148. Come and eat my bread. In the Blessed Sacrament Jesus is food: “I am the bread of life” (John 6,48). This is why He lives in our midst. He repeats: “Come, eat my bread” (Proverbs 8,5) which is the bread of life. You who receive Communion must thank the Lord for your intimate participation in the sacrifice.
You must recognize the immense love Jesus has for us. Food is converted into the flesh of the one who eats it; Jesus said: “He who eats me will live through me” (John 6,57). He has shown His love by giving Himself entirely to us. How can we respond to that great a love? by returning that love and giving ourselves to Him without reservation. St. Teresa said: “One Communion well received is enough to make a soul a saint.” After so many Communions how is it that we are not yet saints and still have the same defects? We will always have defects but we can bring Jesus the sincere desire and effort to improve. We must not forego receiving Communion because of flaws or some little sin. You need not be a saint to receive Communion – in fact we receive Communion in order to become saints.
149. You have called me and here I am! We do not receive Communion out of habit or for human considerations – we receive Communion to express our desire for God and to grow in grace. This is the attitude we should have at Communion: the right intention, good will and fervor. If you fetch water with a cup you have only a cupful. If you fetch water with a bucket you will have a bucketful. This is how it is with Communion. We must strive to overcome our habitual faults. In the past the
Blessed Sacrament was not even reserved in seminaries and Communion was only once a week on Sunday. Even in my own lifetime Communion was not an every day practice. For my part I would be happy if you went to Communion twice a day – if that were allowed … When you pray the words “Give us this day our daily bread” in the Lord’s Prayer ask to receive Communion worthily.
To enjoy the abundant fruits of Holy Communion it is not only necessary to be in a state of grace, we must be free of venial sins, we must make careful preparation and appropriate thanksgiving. Let us take to heart the words of the prophet: “If you could split the heavens and come down!” (Isaiah 63,19). Let us imitate Haman who boasted about his invitation to dine with the king: “tomorrow I am invited by the King” (Esther 5,12). He was happy to dine with the king and we should be overjoyed at being invited to the divine banquet at which the Lord will share Himself with us – He will become our food. Let us imagine the Lord speaking to us as He did to Zacchaeus: “Come down forthwith, this day I will stay at your house” (Luke 19,5). The Lord wants to come into us and we should desire the same thing. With Samuel we can repeat: “You have called me and here I am” (I Samuel 3,6). Our life must be Eucharistic. Our mind and heart must be continually focused on the Blessed Sacrament: not just before and after Communion or during our visits to the Blessed Sacrament but all day long – when we study and when we work.
We receive Jesus, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity – as alive as He is in heaven. Let us approach Him with humility; let us look into our heart and be humbled by our defects; let us tell Him our desires. The Lord only asks for love – one who does not love the Lord cannot expect love. Let us speak to Him as a friend and tell Him what is in our heart. While looking at the consecrated host we must hear Him saying: It is indeed me, Jesus. Let us adore and thank Him for His many gifts: His call and our less than perfect response. Let us give ourselves totally to Him: heart, will, etc. Let us ask material and spiritual favors for ourselves and others; let us make acts of reparation and consolation. Then our Communions will be fervent. We will live our lives wholly with Jesus. Everything will begin and end with Him. Let us immerse ourselves in this spirit of faith: let us spiritualize ourselves! How happy we will be if we stay united to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. He will be our happiness in this life and our reward in the next.
Jesus: God with us
150. As a friend. Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is our friend – therefore let us treat Him as such. He loves us and we love Him. Try to understand the mystery of His love for us: as our friend He receives us with affection – with eagerness – every time we visit Him. We must respond to this kindness by frequent, eager visits even if they are brief. We must enter His presence with faith and love, happy to be permitted this intimacy. Have faith and realize that He is there – make respectful genuflections and avoid all distractions. When you leave Church remain spiritually united to Him. Friends are always united. How happy you will be if you are constantly united to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. He will teach you all virtue and will light in you the fire He brought to earth and that through you He wants to spread. What happy missionaries you will be if you are filled with this love. Jesus will be your support, your comfort, your everything.
Our Congregation must prepare missionaries who are in love with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Yes, be in love with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. This must be our primary devotion. If He is present nothing else is needed: at His feet all is clear, all is in order. Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the center around which we revolve. He is the center from which all grace in the Congregation flows. Jesus in the tabernacle governs this house and all our mission communities.
151. Willingly in His presence. Let us make our visits to the Blessed Sacrament with faith and devotion. Let us remain willingly in His presence. Even in the missions you will continue to visit Jesus in the chapels and bring your thoughts and feelings to Him day and night. He will be your center. How pleased I am that through us God is multiplying the number of tabernacles in the world. So many new tabernacles! They are the focus of love for us and mercy for the people. How blest we are to have already so many in our missions. I believe, nay I am convinced, that they bring down blessings on those lands.
Only the Lord can truly comfort us if we seek Him out – He is the source of all consolation. We may tell Him anything and He will listen, He will comfort us in our suffering and help us bear up. Visits to the Blessed Sacrament keep our faith alive. I want you to be so attached to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament that you cannot live without Him. When it is time to make a visit you are happy and eager; never regret whatever job may be interrupted.
If the Lord granted us the grace of daily adoration – day and night – like the Blessed Sacrament Fathers we would be happy. May we one day have perpetual adoration! Many congregations already practice this. I certainly want there to be continual adoration from the moment of my death until I am buried. Remember this when you are in the missions. The more time we pass in front of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament – the more time we want to spend there. Conversation with Him is never boring. During your visits speak to Jesus but let Him speak too. Remain with Him as you would with a friend. If you are devoted to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament you cannot fail to be holy missionaries.
152. Make the Lord our own. When it is impossible to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament just think He is present in a church somewhere and distance means nothing to Him. This is not just fantasy. How beautiful it is to make a spiritual tour of churches – there are so many! Throughout the day repeat ejaculations in honor of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament: they are like so many rays of light that start with Him and return to Him. Thinking of Jesus is always helpful. This is the whole idea – know how to live your faith in practice. I would like to lead all of you to real devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. I would like your eyes so fixed and intent that you are able to see Him in the tabernacle. This is not impossible if you have faith.
I so much want you to be filled with Our Lord … Whoever loves the Lord is never bored, is never lonely … Make the Lord our own! I want you to foster a genuine love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament – a love that continues when you are no longer in church, a love that is present in all places and at all times. I find it so pleasing when the tabernacle veil has an image of the pelican on it. We are linked to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and we are nourished by His blood.
It gives me great pleasure that my room faces the Blessed Sacrament – great pleasure indeed. I can see Him easily. There is a direct connection from my bed – I cannot just see Him, I can speak to Him! This is enormously helpful especially when we are suffering.
153. Especially in mission. If we spend day and night before the Blessed Sacrament are we wasting time? A missionary who believes he is doing is duty with constant travel and activity is making a big mistake. No, we must be devotees of the Blessed Sacrament! I want you to be devotees of the Blessed Sacrament (“Sacramentini”) – loving sons and daughters of Jesus in the Eucharist. All Christians should delight in this designation – children of the Blessed Sacrament – but especially priests and religious and missionaries even more so. Even though you are members of an active community you can and should be devotees of the Blessed Sacrament; you can and should practice recollection in the cloister of your own heart.
When suffering and difficulty arise in the missions bring them to Jesus and make them so many acts of love; if you are close to Him you will overcome all setbacks. Be devotees of the Blessed Sacrament: this is my hope for you, this is what I want you to become. Devotees not just of Our Lady, the Consolata, but of the Blessed Sacrament as well. It is not enough to work – you must pray and make reparation as well. Find your roots in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament within you and in the tabernacle. Let Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament be your counselor, comfort and aid especially when you are in the missions. Whenever you endure misfortune or sin have recourse to the Blessed Sacrament.
Visits to the Blessed Sacrament will be your greatest comfort in the missions. Never neglect this practice once you are in mission – make a visit every day of the year. We must be devotees of the Blessed Sacrament both here and in the missions. Devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is allimportant. You will experience this in the missions. I want this to be the devotion of our Congregation.
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[1] As is apparent from various of his insights and statements Allamano’s concept of the Eucharist was typical of the spirituality of his era. It focused on affection and the “real presence” of Jesus. The Post-Council renewal has shifted emphasis to the unity of the Eucharist: the celebration of the Mass, Communion and the Real Presence are inseparable. In the Mass, the proclamation of the Word and the community gathered around the altar have received greater emphasis. Allamano was certainly aware of these elements but he usually spoke of them in other contexts. In these pages we present his teaching with only slight changes in language. For example instead of “say Mass” we use “celebrate Mass” and instead of “assist at Mass” we have “celebrate or participate in Mass.” In spite of his terminology Allamano was convinced of the need for active engagement in the Eucharistic celebration.