MARY AND THE EUCHARIST
2. The Sacrament of Mary.
The Holy Eucharist could thus be named. In the other sacraments She has no share but in this She has it and a most important one too. The flesh of Jesus, says St. Thomas, is but the virginal flesh of Mary. It is She, therefore, who provided the matter necessary for the sacrament. The Virgin with Her fiat brought the Son of God from the bosom of the Father to Her own immaculate bosom. The priest at the Consecration works a similar miracle and into his hands the Son of God, already the Son of Mary, descends. The words of the priest are, therefore, like an echo of the words of Mary. Their prodigious operation is just like the continuation of the wonders of Nazareth. Rightly has it been said that the Eucharist is the continuation of the work of Mary.
Mary's greatest concern was that of loving and adoring Jesus as Her Son and Her God. Jesus became a child in order to draw us with His charm and love to the love of God.But, in fact, how many came to know and love that Divine Child? Mary was the model of the souls enkindled with the love of Jesus. She loved Him with such an immense intensity. Now, in the Eucharist, Jesus becomes the bread and food of men. What for? Again, in order to capture our love. He annihilated Himself when He became a man. More effectively so, He annihilates Himself when becoming our bread. But in this annihilation He scarcely finds any real love and true affection except that of His Mother. She alone with all Her love is capable of compensating this humiliating annihilation. When you love Jesus in the Eucharist, think that you are continuing that poem of love which Mary began at Bethlehem. Now as then, most men neither love Him, nor care to thank Him for what He has done for us. Now also, as then, somebody should volunteer to make up for this ingratitude. Of old it was Mary. Now it must be you with Her.
[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]
The Holy Eucharist could thus be named. In the other sacraments She has no share but in this She has it and a most important one too. The flesh of Jesus, says St. Thomas, is but the virginal flesh of Mary. It is She, therefore, who provided the matter necessary for the sacrament. The Virgin with Her fiat brought the Son of God from the bosom of the Father to Her own immaculate bosom. The priest at the Consecration works a similar miracle and into his hands the Son of God, already the Son of Mary, descends. The words of the priest are, therefore, like an echo of the words of Mary. Their prodigious operation is just like the continuation of the wonders of Nazareth. Rightly has it been said that the Eucharist is the continuation of the work of Mary.
Mary's greatest concern was that of loving and adoring Jesus as Her Son and Her God. Jesus became a child in order to draw us with His charm and love to the love of God.But, in fact, how many came to know and love that Divine Child? Mary was the model of the souls enkindled with the love of Jesus. She loved Him with such an immense intensity. Now, in the Eucharist, Jesus becomes the bread and food of men. What for? Again, in order to capture our love. He annihilated Himself when He became a man. More effectively so, He annihilates Himself when becoming our bread. But in this annihilation He scarcely finds any real love and true affection except that of His Mother. She alone with all Her love is capable of compensating this humiliating annihilation. When you love Jesus in the Eucharist, think that you are continuing that poem of love which Mary began at Bethlehem. Now as then, most men neither love Him, nor care to thank Him for what He has done for us. Now also, as then, somebody should volunteer to make up for this ingratitude. Of old it was Mary. Now it must be you with Her.
[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]
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