We begin with a quote from Saint Peter Julian Eymard on Holy Communion.

“I do not understand how one can keep oneself pure in the world without Communion. The result is that hardly any progress is made. Some pious persons say: “I do not need [Holy Communion] often; I feel at peace.” Yes, too much so; this dead calm forebodes a storm! Oh! Do not admire your little virtues; have no faith in your peace; do not place so much confidence in yourself; have an eye to advancement, and for that [receive Holy Communion] often.

Alas, there are some who have the opportunity to [receive Holy Communion] but who excuse themselves from doing so under the pretext of fatigue, of discomfort, of lack of devotion. That is one of the devil’s tricks; listen to him once and he will weary you with the same pretext every day.

To act in that manner is to be impolite towards our Lord, to do Him a wrong, to be rude to Him. We shall be asked to render an account of an omitted Communion as of the talent buried by the wicked steward of the Gospel.

Come often to strengthen yourself at the Holy Table, from which you will receive a strong and fruitful life. May this life grow in you until God changes it into a life of eternal happiness!”

As we come to the end of this spiritual exercise, we are faced with a decision. Do we persist in the practices of daily mental prayer, devotion to Our Lady, mortification, frequent Holy Communion, Confession, and Eucharistic Adoration, or do we fall back into a life of dissipation, distraction, and worldliness? We hear today that all of us will need to render an account for the times we have omitted Holy Communion and missed daily Mass without good reason. Let us take this to heart. The Holy Eucharist must become the beginning and end of all that we do. Without frequent Holy Communion and Eucharistic Adoration, we will advance but a little in our love of God and in our love of neighbor for the sake of God. We must cling to the Holy Eucharist. The survival of the Catholic Church in America and the salvation of our eternal soul depends entirely on it.

Primers For This Week

(suggested but optional)

1. The Holy Rosary
2. Mental Prayer and Spiritual Reading
3. The Spiritual and Psychological Value of Frequent Confession
4. Daily Examen and Predominant Passion
5. Mortification and Fasting

Readings For This Week

1. Motivation for Promoting Eucharistic Adoration
2. Mary, Mother of God, Mother of the Holy Eucharist
3. The Sacred Heart is the Holy Eucharist

Discussion Questions

1. What is the importance of Eucharistic Adoration in a world whose present age is overflowing with sin? Are you committed to becoming an apostle of the Real Presence to this generation?
2. In prayer recently, what is a specific way the Holy Spirit has called you to relinquish your own will and submit it to the Father’s will?
3. Like Mary, are you committed to frequent Holy Communion and a life of Eucharistic Adoration in order to strengthen your own faith in the Real Presence? 
4. What mortifications have you employed to combat your attachments and predominant vice in order to grow in the spiritual poverty necessary for humility?
5. Over the last two months, what changes have you seen in your ability to practice patient charity with others? Where are you still resisting amendment of your life in this regard?
6. How does your understanding of Jesus as love, loving, and loving with human feeling affect how you relate to Him in prayer?
7. Why can we say that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the Holy Eucharist?
8. How can you practice devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist?
9. Do you plan to continue with the spiritual practices and the rule of life that this spiritual exercise has helped you build?