EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (# 27)

A Weekly Pastoral Tool for the YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST

Corpus Christi, Year A

May 29 – June 4, 2005

“Whoever Eats This Bread …”

(+) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(A moment of silence)

SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn may be sung.

WORDS OF POPE JOHN PAUL II

(Cf. “Mission: Bread Broken for the Life of the World”, Message for World Mission Sunday: 23 October 2005)

            In our day human society appears to be shrouded in dark shadows while it is shaken by tragic events and shattered by catastrophic natural disasters. Nevertheless, as “on the night he was betrayed” (I Cor 11:23), also today, Jesus “breaks the bread” (cf. Mt 26:26) for us in our Eucharistic celebrations and offers himself under the sacramental sign of his love for all humankind. This is why I underlined that “the Eucharist is not merely an expression of communion in the Church’s life; it is also a project of solidarity for all humanity” (Mane Nobiscum Domine, n. 27); it is “bread from heaven” which gives eternal life (cf. Jn 6:33) and opens the human heart to a great hope.

            Present in the Eucharist, the same Redeemer who saw the needy crowds and was filled with compassion “because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd” (Mt 9:36), continues through the centuries to show compassion for humanity poor and suffering …

            It is possible to meet the deepest longings of the human heart. Jesus alone can satisfy humanity’s hunger for love and thirst for justice; he alone makes it possible for every human person to share in eternal life: “I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever” (Jn 6:51).

SILENT ADORATION AND PRAYER

OPENING PRAYER

Leader: Let us pray for the willingness to make present in our world

the love of Christ shown to us in the Eucharist.

(Silent prayer)

Lord Jesus Christ,

we worship you living among us

in the sacrament of your body and blood.

May we offer to our Father in heaven

a solemn pledge of undivided love.

May we offer to our brothers and sisters

a life poured out in loving service of that kingdom

where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God forever and ever.

Assembly: Amen.

Part I

JESUS MASTER TRUTH

Listening to the Word

GOSPEL READING: Jn 6:51-58

PERSONAL REFLECTION

(As a tool for personal reflection, please visit the PDDM Website: www.pddm.org // www.pddm.us for BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD [# 27]: A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy. The Biblico-Liturgical Reflections are an aid for a deeper understanding of the Gospel reading.)

SONG: Any Eucharistic hymn or suitable song of praise may be sung.

Part II

JESUS MASTER WAY

Confrontation with the Word

POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART

Leader: The feast of Corpus Christi is an invitation to contemplate with amazement and gratitude the real and substantial presence of the glorified Christ in the living sacrament of his body and blood. Before his wondrous Eucharistic presence, let us examine our hearts:

1.      What is our response to Jesus’ auto-revelation: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever” (Jn 6:51)? What is our response to the gift of the Eucharist offered to us by the Risen Lord Jesus?

2.      How do we value the reality of the Eucharist as a sacrament of our perfect incorporation into Christ and his Mystical Body? Do we realize the concrete implication of the Eucharist as a way of solidarity – as a “sign and instrument” not only of intimate union with God, but also of the unity of the whole human race?

3.      Are we willing to go to the school of Mary, “Woman of the Eucharist” in order to rediscover in all its richness the profound relationship between the Church and the Eucharist? Do we trust that Mary can guide us to a true Eucharistic faith because she herself has a profound relationship with the Eucharist?

PRAYER OF FAITH AND LOVE

(Prayer composed by Blessed Alberione; text of the assembly’s refrain from Prv 9:1,2,5)

Leader: Jesus, eternal Truth, I believe you are really present in the bread and wine. You are here with your body, blood, soul and divinity. I hear your invitation: “I am the living bread descended from heaven”, “take and eat; this is my body”. I believe, Lord and Master, but strengthen my weak faith.

Assembly: Wisdom has built herself a house. She has prepared her table, has brought forth her wine; and she calls to her children: “Come and eat of my bread and drink of my wine. Come to the feast I prepared for you.”

Leader: Jesus Master, you assure me: “I am the Life”, “whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will have eternal life”. In baptism and in the sacrament of reconciliation you have communicated to me this life of yours. Now you nourish it by making yourself my food. Take my heart; detach it from the vain things of the world. With all my heart I love you above all things because you are infinite goodness and eternal happiness.

Assembly: Wisdom has built herself a house. She has prepared her table, has brought forth her wine; and she calls to her children: “Come and eat of my bread and drink of my wine. Come to the feast I prepared for you.”

SONG: Any suitable song may be sung.

Part III

JESUS LIFE

Acting upon the Word

PERSONAL PRAYER

CONTEMPLATING WITH MARY THE FACE OF CHRIST: The Mysteries of Light of the Rosary may be prayed in part or in full.

THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION

Leader: Nourished by the bread of life, we tread the way of solidarity and become intercessors for the needs of today’s world. We therefore turn to God in supplication and say:

(R.) LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

1.      That our Eucharistic celebration may continue to challenge us to love and embrace the poor and vulnerable, and share our bread with the hungry and our resources with the needy; we pray:  (R.)

2.      That the lives of our pastors, missionaries and consecrated persons may truly be “bread broken for the life of the world”; we pray:  (R.)

3.      That Mary, “Woman of the Eucharist”, may help us to extol God’s marvelous intervention on behalf of the poor, hungry and the lowly; we pray:  (R.)

4.      That the Eucharistic Mystery be celebrated, worshipped, contemplated and lived worthily; we pray:  (R.)

5.      That this Year of the Eucharist be an occasion for diocesan and parish communities to commit themselves to respond with fraternal solicitude to the many forms of poverty present in our world; we pray:  (R.)

6.      That we may come to acknowledge and live more fully the reality that the Eucharist is the source and summit of the life of the Church; we pray:  (R.)

(Other prayers may be added.)

THE LORD’S PRAYER

CONCLUDING PRAYER

(By Pope John Paul II)

Leader: We adore you, O wonderful Sacrament of the presence

of the One who loved his own “to the end”.

We thank you, O Lord,

who edifies, gathers together and gives life to the Church.

O divine Eucharist,

flame of Christ’s love that burns on the altar of the world,

make the Church, comforted by you,

even more caring in wiping away the tears of suffering

and in sustaining the efforts of all who yearn for justice and peace.

Assembly: Amen.

FINAL SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or song of praise may be sung.

Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang  PDDM

PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI

SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER

60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314

Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323

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