The Rosary and the Eucharist

The Rosary is a marvellous fresco in 20 pictures, telling the story of salvation.

It is presented for our meditation in this order : Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous.

These are 4 Phases in the Life of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary.

They teach us that God entered into history, making himself a Man who had a family, who suffered crucifixion for our salvation, who rose from the dead, and who shows us the way to heaven where he has prepared a place for us.

It shows how Mother Mary worked beside Jesus Christ in Life, Death, and Glory as well as in his Public Ministry.

The Rosary is a Prayer. But above all, it is a vivid example to arouse our generosity and draw us to Heaven.

When we come to the Eucharist, we come to Bethlehem for the Eucharist is the continuation of Christ's Incarnation on Earth. This is the theme of the Joyful Mysteries.

When we come to the Eucharist, we come to Calvary for here Jesus Christ makes present again His perfect sacrifice on the Cross and continues to immolate himself for love of us.

The Eucharist is the Fruit of Our Lord's Passion. This is the Theme of the Sorrowful Mysteries.

When we come to the Eucharist, we come to the Resurrection, for this is where Our Risen Saviour dwells !!

He is the Lamb on the throne, who shepherds us. The Eucharist is a foretaste of Heaven and a foreshadowing of the future glory that awaits us, where we will love God with God's very own love.

This is the theme of the Glorious Mysteries.

Finally, When we come to the Eucharist, We come to the Royal Banquet where Jesus Christ gives of himself freely to us Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

This is the Theme of the Luminous Mysteries.

Credits and References :

1) CEM
    Eucharistic Marian Centres Booklet
    The Rosary
    Page 9

2) Come to Me in the Blessed Sacrament
     By Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament
     Pages 269-270
     Year 2003




 

The Value of Praying the Rosary in front of the Blessed Sacrament

When we pray the Rosary, in front of the Blessed Sacrament we love Jesus Christ with the Heart of Mary.

When we pray the Rosary in front of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, we offer to Jesus Christ the perfect worship of Mary.

We unite our love for Jesus Christ to the perfect love and praise of Mary.

Jesus Christ receives our "Holy Hour" because no matter how weak our love Mother Mary encloses us in her heart and Jesus Christ accepts our hour with Him as coming directly from the Heart of His very own Mother.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary, repairs and makes up for what is missing in our very own hearts.

The 20 Mysteries of the Holy Rosary are centred around one central mystery of our faith ---- "The Holy Eucharist", where the work of our redemption is accomplished.

The Holy Eucharist continues and makes present all 20 mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

Credits and References :

Come to Me in the Blessed Sacrament
By Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament
Page 268
Year 2003

Take Courage It is I -- Do not be Afraid

The same Jesus Christ, who walked across the water and stretched out his hand to save a drowning Peter reaches out in the Blessed Sacrament to strengthen the weak and comfort the afflicted.

Even if you think, that you are the worst person in the world you are that much more welcome to come to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. He often said, that he came not for the well, but for the sick because the well do not need a Physician.

Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament is the "DIVINE PHYSICIAN" of our Soul. The farther away you think you are from God the more Jesus Christ wants you to come to him in the Blessed Sacrament.

He said a number of times that he came not for the self- righteous but for sinners.

The Greater Our Need and Desperation, the more clearly we should see Jesus Christ calling us to himself in the Blessed Sacrament. From the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus Christ says to us now what he said to Saint Peter a long time ago.

"Take Courage, It is I". Do Not be Afraid.

It is really the Jesus who loves you and who died for you who is truly present in the most Blessed Sacrament. We have nothing whatsoever to fear.

We should not let our sins keep us from coming to Him, because he is full of "Infinite Mercy".

We should not let the fact that we cannot pray well or have a busy schedule keep us from coming to Him because spending Time with Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament is the Best and Greatest Time that we will ever spend on earth.

Credits and References :

Come to Me in the Blessed Sacrament
By Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament

Some Interesting Stuff

Dear Friends in Jesus and Mary,

Many of you may be aware that I have a solid devotion to the Blessed Sacrament as well as to Our Lady under the title of Help of Christians.

Here are two articles one on a Pope who was a Pope of the Eucharist.

The other article is on a Motto of Mine called "To Jesus Through Mary".

Please read them slowly meditating on the pearls of advice in these 2 articles.

1) Pope Saint Pius X Pope of the Holy Eucharist

Read the whole article here

http://www.ecatholic2000.com/cts/untitled-416.shtml#_Toc349936081

2)  To Jesus Through Mary

Read the whole article here

http://www.ecatholic2000.com/cts/untitled-672.shtml#_Toc349936337


 

A Mother and the Blessed Sacrament

Introduction :

Mrs Mary Vaughan was an English Catholic born in England in the early years of 1800.

They must have had a Chapel at Home.

She found time rather "Made Time" to sit before the Blessed Sacrament and pray for her Family and Dear Ones and for Vocations among children and specially among her children.

She was splendidly blessed. Of her 13 Children, Five Daughters entered the Convent and Six of her Eight Sons became Priests.

Of these, Three became Bishops.

One was the Auxiliary Bishop of Salsford, another was Archbishop of Sydney, Australia, The Third and the eldest Herbert Vaughan was the great Cardinal Archbishop of Westminister -- Builder of Westminister Cathedral and founder of 2 Religious Orders.

Cardinal Vaughan stated that he owed his vocation to the priesthood to his Mother's Prayers before the Holy Eucharist where Jesus Christ is present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

At the young age of 21, he wrote "During the day my mother often prayed before the Blessed Sacrament. Every Morning before breakfast, she was in the Chapel for half an hour or more.

After Breakfast, An Hour in the morning was always spent in meditation before the Holy Eucharist in the Chapel.

I do not remember, ever seeing her looking anywhere except at the Blessed Sacrament or into her Book during these visits.

Even to this day, I am struck with my sweet mother's ardent devotion and immense love for the Blessed Sacrament.

Conclusion : May God Give us such Mothers like Mrs Mary Vaughan who had a solid devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament where He is really and substantially present.

Credits and References :

A Mother, Lover of the Divine Host
By Father Cajetan Lobo S.D.B.
Don Bosco's Madonna, Mumbai
November 1986

The Message of the Rosary Parts 1-3

The Message of the Rosary Part - 1

The Glorious Mysteries :

 

The Glorious Mysteries give us a preview, so to say, and a foretaste of the glory that awaits us in the life to come, which eye has not seen and ear has not heard and the human heart has not experienced. For this reason they most powerfully stimulate Christian fervour and perseverance. Now, and not only in heaven, must we rise in a spiritual sense with Christ from the death of sin and walk in newness of life; now our thoughts and desires must dwell in heaven and delight in the company of angels and saints; now we must prepare our body for its glorified life by giving unstintingly of our physical strength to the service of God. I

 

In the light of these mysteries we recognize the important role which bodily pain and hardship plays in the Christian way of the cross and we learn to mortify the body with all its evil inclinations now so that it may live eternally. Not only in heaven but now must Mary be our Queen in whose service we glory and the imitation of whose virtues we make the ambition of our lives. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit these mysteries convey invincible courage, patience, peace and joy. The Holy Spirit has made us His temples and dwells in us now, so that full of the Holy Spirit we shall rise in glory on the day of resurrection.

 

Read the whole article here

http://www.ecatholic2000.com/cts/untitled-577.shtml#_Toc349936242

The Message of the Rosary Part-- 2

THE REASON WHY :

 

Many Catholics, especially intelligent and well-meaning friends of the liturgical revival, seem puzzled by the fact that in the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima the rosary played such a prominent part. Is not the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass more important? Holy Mass is the unbloody re-enactment of the Sacrifice of our salvation, the centre of divine worship, the source of grace from which we hope for a renewal of the world in Christ. Why was not more frequent attendance at Holy Mass urged by our blessed Mother? Yet, it is certain that any request or recommendation coming from our blessed Mother cannot but be the best. Mary, as the Spouse of the Holy Spirit, the Mother of the Saviour and the Mediatrix of all Graces, has no more ardent desire than to lead us to a fuller appreciation of the mysteries of our redemption, to a more abundant participation in their life-giving grace. If she attaches so much importance to the rosary, the reason can only be that the rosary is the most practical means to bring about these happy results. The rosary will lead us to the altar of sacrifice, to Holy Mass and Holy Communion, to a more intimate union with Jesus and a profounder grasp of the spirit of the Church.

 

Asking for the recitation of the rosary, Our Lady of Fatima asks for an intelligent, understanding recitation, and that calls for reflection on the prayers that compose it, the Sign of the Cross, the Creed, the Our Father and Hail Mary, the Glory be, prayers which are, so to say, a compendium of the doctrines of our holy Faith. Their frequent, thoughtful repetition cannot but fix them more deeply in our minds and help applying them to our lives. To these prayers are added the mysteries which recall the principal events in the life of Jesus and Mary; they are so to say beautiful lamps, white and crimson and gold, illuminating our road to heaven. Meditation on these mysteries is necessary for the proper recitation of the rosary. Our Lady of Fatima requests it particularly for the observance of the five first Saturdays. It is evidently her wish that we become familiar with the contents of these mysteries; learn their beautiful lesson for our own lives and their practical significance for the world at large.

 

To secure a speedier and more general fulfilment of this wish of our blessed Mother the following reflections have been written. They may be used as instructions or readings, especially on the occasion of the five first Saturdays.

 

In our days, when an appalling ignorance of religion is widespread even among Catholics, when the spirit of the world surges up and down all the avenues of life, when there is so little understanding of the interior life, such general flight from the cross, such tragic forgetfulness of spiritual ideals and values, the rosary, with its mysteries, acts as an ever-present teacher of religion, as an inspiration and driving power for a life of living faith.

 

The rosary, far from interfering with the liturgical worship of the Church becomes its best support, inasmuch as it makes us lovers of Christ, and lovers of Christ will be drawn to the altar of His Eucharistic presence, sacrifice and Communion. As always, so it is true in this case: Through Mary to Jesus.

 

The Joyful Mysteries :

 

These mysteries introduce us into the wise and loving designs of God, according to which the Saviour of men was to enter this world and to be prepared for His tremendous sacrifice of our salvation during the years of His infancy and hidden life. They hold up before us the ideal of the interior life, the life of prayer and holy desire, of intimate communication with God in our hearts and with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, of complete surrender to the dispensations of Divine Providence, of loving faithfulness in humble and lowly duties, of silent endurance in the many unseen trials of the soul that strives after perfection. Whatever may be the external circumstances of a man's life, even though it may be most active, a life of leadership and grand achievement, the spirit of the joyful mysteries is indispensable for it, if it is to be a holy life leading to God, our last end. Intimate contact with God is the hidden power plant that makes external activity fruitful for eternity.

Read the whole article here

http://www.ecatholic2000.com/cts/untitled-578.shtml#_Toc349936243

The Message of the Rosary Part --3

THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES :

 

Whereas in the Joyful Mysteries the sacred writers record at some length the part which Mary played in them, the same writers are silent about her part in the sorrowful mysteries. All that we learn from them is that the Mother of Jesus stood beneath the cross, and that from the cross Jesus recommended her to St. John as his Mother, and St. John to her as her son. But what we know about Mary and her relation to Jesus is sufficient to supply the rest. Mary shared in the sufferings of her Divine Son as no other human person ever did or could have done, and she did it with sentiments of complete submission to the will of God and love for souls.

 

The Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary illustrate the sacrificial character of the Christian life. The crosses of life are manifold, but they can all be reduced to the one or other of the sufferings commemorated in these sorrowful mysteries. In particular they are: Fear, anxiety, disgust experienced with regard to the crosses that actually afflict us or that we see approaching: bodily pain, humiliation, the labours and hardships imposed upon us by our vocational duties, bitterness against those whom we consider the cause of our suffering, the urge to throw off the cross when patience gives out.

The general lesson inculcated by these mysteries is patience, the spirit of penance and love of the cross, and that is the object our Lady of Fatima had in view when she asked for meditation on the mysteries of the rosary.

Read the whole article here

http://www.ecatholic2000.com/cts/untitled-579.shtml#_Toc349936244
 

 

 

Lourdes -- Where Jesus Christ is the Central Attraction

Introduction :

In the Apparitions at the Grotto, Mother Mary led Saint Bernadette to Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist and today intercedes for pilgrims and leads them to Jesus Christ.

At the Grotto in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, a Statue of Mother Mary stands on the right side and the altar for the Holy Eucharist is at the centre, because the Holy Eucharist is the "Centre of Devotion".

The Lourdes Motto is very simple.

"Through Mary to Jesus". Our Blessed Lady asked that a Chapel be built here wherein the "Living Sacrifice of the Mass" be offered up in supplication and atonement.

Devotion to Holy Mass and Frequent Holy Communion are the "Fruits of a Lourdes Pilgrimage".

Every major Marian Shrine is Christ-centred because it is centred around the Holy Eucharist.

Most of the reported miracles that take place at Lourdes, take place not only amidst a bath in those sacred waters but most specially during a Blessing with the Blessed Sacrament.

It is of utmost significance, that there is a Huge Basilica at Lourdes dedicated to Pope Saint Pius -- The Tenth -- The Pope of the Holy Eucharist.

In the Pius The Tenth Basilica the sick, the crippled, and others are daily blessed by the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

The chief form of reparation at Lourdes will always be through the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is infinite reparation for the sins and errors of mankind.

When we come to Mother Mary, she looks upon us with motherly affection and tenderness and directs us to her Son in the Blessed Sacrament who is the Saviour of the World.

Conclusion :

To sum up Lourdes, is a "House of Gold", A Treasure House of grace, a "Tower of Ivory, beaconing the way to sanctity and salvation; a garden in the wilderness ready to enrich our souls and thirsting with the desire of our "Eucharistic Love".

Immaculate Queen of Heaven, Pray for us.

Credits and References :

1) Lourdes
    Page 27
   Newsbits
   Don Bosco's Madonna, Mumbai
   May 2008
   Vol -10, N0-1

2)  Guide to Lourdes
     Special Centenary Edition 1958
     By Rev. Father J.A. Shields Pages 34 and 67
     Published by C.J. Fallon Ltd
     Dublin
     Republic of Ireland