Summer 2012 - The Mill Hill Missionaries

Summer 2012 Advocate:Layout 1 19/07/2012 12:14 Page 6Reflections on the Eucharist[Editors note: I expect that some of ourreaders will attend the Eucharistic Congressin Dublin this year from the 10th tothe 17th of June, while many may not beable to make the journey. We can all participatein our own way, wherever we are.We can take time to reflect on the Eucharistand what it means to us in our own lives.My hope is that the following Reflectionswill help you to do this. Please try to findsome quiet time to read them slowly andprayerfully. Take time - do not rush. Youmay want to read some of them a few timesand let the phrases touch you and sink intoyour mind and heart.Ask God to help you to come closer toJesus in the Eucharist and to be alwaysaware of his presence in your heart andlife. You may like to use the ‘EucharisticCongress Prayer’ given on the previouspage.]❒ ❒ ❒“The Eucharist is the centre, the sourceand summit of our lives as Christians…The Eucharist should lead us to exclaim, asdid the apostles after encountering Christrisen from the dead: ‘We have seen theLord’ … The presence, warmth and lightof Christ should remain with us and shineforth in our entire lives. Communion withChrist helps us to ‘see’ the signs of the Divinepresence in the world and to ‘manifest’it to all whom we encounter”.- The Year of the Eucharist, 26.❒ ❒ ❒“We are called not only to meditate onand contemplate the mystery of Christ’slove. We are called to take part in it. It isthe mystery of the Holy Eucharist, the centreof our worship of Christ’s merciful love… We contemplate and enter into the loveof the Lord Jesus: his compassionate kindnessto everyone during his earthly life; hispredilection for children, the sick, the afflicted.Let us contemplate his infinite love,that of the eternal Son, who leads us to thevery mystery of God”.- Basilica of the Sacred Heart inMontmartre, Paris.❒ ❒ ❒“The truth of our union with Jesus Christin the Eucharist is tested by whether or notwe love our fellow men and women; it istested by how we treat others, especiallyour families; husbands and wives, childrenand parents, brothers and sisters. It is testedby whether or not we try to be reconciled5