The fire of divine charity

The following excerpt is taken from “Eucharistic Gems: Daily Wisdom on the Blessed Sacrament” by Father Donald Calloway, MIC. This is one of many Eucharistic reflections that will be published by Catholic San Francisco magazine as part of the U.S. Catholic Church’s Eucharistic Revival (eucharisticrevival.org) that began on June 19, 2022, on the feast of Corpus Christi, and continues through Pentecost 2025.

“Eucharistic Gems” is a collection of 366 timeless quotes on the Eucharist from popes, saints, blesseds, venerables and servants of God. This excerpt is from daily quotes for the month of April.

April 19

“In her daily preparation for Calvary, Mary experienced a kind of ‘anticipated Eucharist’ — one might say a ‘spiritual communion’ — of desire and of oblation, which would culminate in her union with her Son in His passion and then find expression after Easter by her partaking in the Eucharist which the apostles celebrated as the memorial of that passion.” -Pope St. John Paul II

April 20

“This what I pray for, long for: to be made wholly one with you, to withdraw my heart from all created things, and through holy Communion learn more to delight in heavenly and eternal things. -Thomas À Kempis

April 21

“Thank you for the good gift of this your holy body and blood, which I desire to receive, as a cleansing from sin, and for the defense against it. Lord, I acknowledge that I am far from worthy to approach and touch this sacrament; but I trust that mercy which caused you to lay down your life for sinners that they might be justified, and because you gave yourself willingly as a holy sacrifice to the Father.” -St. Anselm of Canterbury

April 22

“The Eucharist is something more than simply receiving Christ. It supposes that we satisfy His hunger. Christ invites us. ‘Come to me.’ Christ hungers for souls.”

-St. Teresa of Calcutta

April 23

“Do not injure Jesus, my child, for the coldness of men, the ingratitude of souls and the solitude of the tabernacle still wound Him with bitter disappointment.”

-Blessed Concepción Cabrera de Armida

April 24

“In this most admirable sacrament, which is the chief means whereby men are engrafted on the divine nature, men also find the most efficacious help toward progress in every kind of virtue.” -Pope Leo XIII

April 25

“And as they were eating, He took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’ And He took a chalice, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’” -Mark 14:22-25

April 26

“O my Jesus, I understand the meaning of ‘host,’ the meaning of sacrifice. I desire to be before your majesty a living host, that is, a living sacrifice that daily burns in Your honor. When my strength begins to fail, it is holy Communion that will sustain me and give me strength.”

-St. Faustina Kowalska

April 27

“Happier than those who lived during His mortal life, when He was only in one place, we find Jesus Christ today in every corner of the world, in the Blessed Sacrament.” -St. John Vianney

April 28

“Always remember that the more you allow Mary to act in your Communion, the more Jesus will be glorified.”

-St. Louis de Montfort

April 29

“Oh sweet blood, you strip us of selfish sensual love that weakens those who wear it, and you clothe us in the fire of divine charity.” -St. Catherine of Siena

April 30

“The bread itself and the wine are made over into the body and blood of God.”

-St. John Damascene

View more from Eucharistic Gems by visiting: https://shopmercy.org/eucharistic-gems-daily-wisdom-on-the-blessed-sacrament.html