OUR LADY OF THE EUCHARIST

 

Mary remains ever the path that leads to Christ.  Every encounter with her can only result in an encounter with Christ Himself,” said Pope Paul VI. True devotion to Mary therefore can only lead to a greater devotion to Christ’s Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. The Mystery of Mary—her life, her work in God’s providential plan on earth and in heaven – is closely intertwined with the mystery of her Son and His Church.

 

First of all, we must make clear that Mary is entirely the work of God, that she is God’s willing instrument in His Divine plan of Salvation, that her will is completely attuned to God’s will, that she does not act for herself, but only for Him and His plans for us. Therefore, whenever she appears to people such as at Lourdes and Fatima, it is really God’s action, using Mary as His holy instrument. Nor can we emphasize enough the closeness of Mary to her Son.

 

While they were on earth, Mary was the close companion and confidant of Jesus.  What wonderful spiritual talks they must have had together. Never were two persons so close, not only by nature but also in the spirit. If an ordinary mother is so close to her children, how can we begin to describe the warm relationship between Mary and her Son who was also her Maker. If members of a family bear a close resemblance in their faces and features and even mannerisms, is it not natural that Mary and Jesus should have similar features that were known by their family members and neighbors?

 

Pope Pius XII spoke of this when he said: “A ray of beauty from God shines in His mother’s eyes. Do you not think that Jesus’ countenance, that countenance, which the angels adore, must have reproduced in some way the lines of Mary’s countenance? For every son’s countenance mirrors his mother’s.”

 

Also speaking of the close relationship between Mary and her Son, St. Pius X said that “if, then, it is impossible to separate what God has united, it is also certain you cannot find Jesus except with Mary and through Mary. With reason the saints called her a “living Monstrance.” She hastens to show us Jesus, the way of salvation.

 

Since Mary is God’s unique creation, and since she is the model of the Church and had greater faith than any other person, she therefore believed more firmly than any one else that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. What love she must have poured forth in devotion to her Son’s presence in the Eucharist. Mary therefore is our model in adoring and praising Christ in the Eucharist.

 

In the sacrifice of Calvary, Mary had an active part. She stood near her crucified Son, suffering deeply. With a motherly heart she was closely associated with His sacrifice, immolating herself with Him, offering up herself to the Father with her Son. Every Eucharist, which is the same sacrifice as Calvary, “is a memorial of that sacrifice as Calvary, “ is a memorial of that sacrifice and that Passover that restored life to the world,” said Pope John Paul II. “Every Mass puts us in intimate communion with her, the Mother, whose sacrifice “becomes present,” just as the sacrifice of her Son becomes present at the words of consecration.”

 

In probing deeper into the close relationship of Mary and her Son in the Eucharist, we must recall that Jesus took His flesh and blood from Mary, His natural mother. “The flesh of Jesus is the flesh of Mary,” wrote St. Augustine,” and however much it is exalted in the glory of the Resurrection, nevertheless the nature of His flesh derived from Mary remained and still remains the same.” In the order of nature, each person was formed and knit in his/her mother’s womb, partaking in the mother’s flesh and blood in the wonderful plan of creation. Christ also who was truly human as well as God, was formed in the womb of Mary.

 

It is a fact that Mary leads us ever closer to her Son in the Eucharist. Look around the world at the various shrines to Our Lady, and you will also find intense devotion to Christ in the Eucharist. I have been privileged to visit her shrine in such places as Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe, Knock, the shrine of the Miraculous Medal in Paris, Betania, Venezuela. All of these places have a great devotion to the Eucharist. You cannot separate Mary from her Son.

 

Lourdes is probably the well-known shrine of Mary. Here many celebrations of the Eucharist are held every day, as well as an afternoon blessing of the sick with the monstrance, as well as a special Adoration Chapel where pilgrims can spend time with their Eucharistic Lord in adoration and prayer.

 

At Lourdes there has always been this close relationship of Mary and the Eucharist.  More than 80 years ago, St. Pius X said that “in this place of devotion to the Mother of God, a singular and ardent devotion to Jesus Christ has sprung up. Even the miraculous healing which at first took place before the statue of the Virgin, now take place more frequently during the procession of the Blessed Sacrament.”

 

“The special glory of the sanctuary of Lourdes,” he continued, “is to be found in the fact that people from all parts of the world are drawn by Mary to adore Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, so that this sanctuary, at one the center of devotion to Mary and the throne of the mystery of the Holy Eucharist, would seem to surpass in glory all others in the Catholic world.” Down through the history of the Church, there has been much devotion to Christ in the Eucharist and to Mary. Pope Pius XII recalled that missionaries from Spain stressed a three-fold love “which has resisted all storm:” Love of the Blessed Eucharist, of the Holy Mother of God, and of the Sovereign Pontiff. Thank God in our day that devotion to Mary is again spreading, as well as adoration of Christ in the Eucharist!  In the Philippines, almost all the parishes have special Eucharistic Adoration apart from their Masses. And in North America more and more parishes are introducing part or full-time Eucharistic adoration.

 

We are living in an upside down world, a post –Christian era, when our traditional beliefs are often forgotten or rejected. What is needed is a return to God who is our source of life, our hope for a better world. The answer is through devotion to Mary and the Eucharist, a tried and proven way to peace and happiness.

 

- By Alfred De Manche

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St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Copyright © 2002 Saint Michael Center for the Blessed Virgin Mary

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