#speakingoftheeucharist

[anastpaul]

Quote/s of the Day – 14 January -Speaking of the Holy Eucharist from the Fathers of the Church

“Calling her children about her, she [the Church] nourishes them with holy milk, that is, with the Infant Word… The Word is everything to a child – both Father and Mother, both Instructor and Nurse. “EAT MY FLESH,” He says, “AND DRINK MY BLOOD.” The Lord supplies us with these intimate nutriments. He delivers over His Flesh and pours out His Blood and nothing is lacking for the growth of His children. O incredible mystery!” (Instructor of Children 1:6:42,1,3)

St Clement of Alexandria (c 150-216) Church Father

“The flesh feeds on THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, so that the SOUL TOO may fatten on God.” (Resurrection of the Dead 8:3)

“The Sacrament of the Eucharist, which the Lord commanded to be taken at meal times and by all, we take even before daybreak in congregations… … We take anxious care lest something of our Cup or Bread should fall upon the ground…” (The Crown 3:3-4)

Tertullian (c 155-250) Church Father

“You see how the ALTARS are no longer sprinkled with the blood of oxen but consecrated BY THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST.” (Homilies on Joshua 2:1)

“You are accustomed to take part in the divine mysteries, so you know how, when you have received THE BODY OF THE LORD, you reverently exercise every care lest a particle of it fall and lest anything of the consecrated gift perish…. how is it that you think neglecting the word of God a lesser crime than neglecting HIS BODY?” (Homilies on Exodus 13:3)

Origen (c 185-254) Church Father

“If Christ Jesus, our Lord and God, is Himself the High Priest of God the Father; and if He offered HIMSELF as a SACRIFICE to the Father and if He commanded that this be done in commemoration of Himself – then certainly the priest, who imitates that which Christ did, TRULY FUNCTIONS IN PLACE OF CHRIST.” (Letters 63:14)

St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200-258) Church Father

(via AnaStpaul – Breathing Catholic)

[anastpaul]

Quote/s of the Day – 4 February – 5th Sunday of Year B

“Speaking of the Eucharist/the Holy Mass”

“When Mass is being celebrated, the sanctuary is filled, with countless angels, who adore the divine victim, immolated on the altar.”

St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father & Doctor of the Church

“The Holy Mass would be of greater profit, if people had it offered in their lifetime, rather than having it celebrated for the relief of their souls, after death.”

Pope Benedict XV (1854-1922)

“One merits more, by devoutly assisting at a Holy Mass, than by distributing, all of his goods to the poor and travelling, all over the world, on pilgrimage.”

St Bernard if Clairvaux (1090-1153) Doctor of the Church

“The celebration of Holy Mass has the same value as the Death of Jesus on the Cross.”

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Doctor of the Church

“When you have received Him, stir up your heart to do Him homage, speak to Him about your spiritual life, gazing upon Him in your soul, where He is present, for your happiness, welcome Him as warmly as possible and behave outwardly, in such a way, that your actions, may give proof to all, of His Presence.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Church

“If someone said to us, “At such an hour a dead person is to be raised to life, ” we should run very quickly to see it.   But is not the Consecration, which changes bread and wine into the Body and Blood of God, a much greater miracle than to raise a dead person to life?   We ought always to devote at least a quarter of an hour to preparing ourselves to hear Mass well.   We ought to annihilate ourselves before God, after the example of His profound annihilation in the Sacrament of the Eucharist and we should make our examination of conscience, for we must be in a state of grace. to be able to assist properly at Mass.   If we knew the value of the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, or rather, if we had faith, we should be much more zealous to assist at it.”

St John Vianney (1786-1859)

(via AnaStpaul – Breathing Catholic)