Consecration to the Guardian Angel
We Draw Our Strength from the Holy Eucharist
1. At every Mass, Christ’s redemptive graces are made present and communicated to mankind. How do we open ourselves to these graces?
2. Pope Benedict tells us in the Sacramentum Caritatis that it is not the Eucharistic food that is changed into us, but rather we who are mysteriously transformed by it. Christ nourishes us by uniting us to Himself; He draws us into Himself. What does this mean to you, and what will you do to be more aware of this each time you receive Holy Communion?
3. Jesus could not have commanded us to love one another as He loved us on the cross, a demand clearly beyond our human capacity, had He not given us the Holy Eucharist as the principal source of our strength. How can we help others become aware of their need for the Eucharist? Give an example of your being strengthened by the Eucharist.
4. The Cure of Ars once taught his parishioners, “All the prayers of the Mass are a preparation for Communion; and all the life of a Christian ought to be a preparation for that great action. We ought to labor to deserve to receive Our Lord every day.” Pope Benedict says it’s impossible to separate the life we live outside Mass from participation in Mass. What are some practical ways we can prepare for a fruitful participation at Mass?
5. When the Mass begins we should be aware that with every word and gesture of the Mass, beginning with the sign of the cross, there is a hidden grace God wants to bestow on us. At the moment of Consecration, the sacrifice of Jesus becomes present and we are taken to the foot of the cross. By faith, we know we are there at the very moment the soldiers were crucifying Jesus. We join the angels in their adoration of our crucified Lord. How do we become aware of these hidden graces?
6. St. Mother Teresa said, “When you look at the Crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the Sacred Host, you understand how much Jesus loves you now.” What are some ways to strive toward carrying Him from one Holy Communion to the next, from one hour to the next?
