Monthly Devotion: The Most Blessed Sacrament

"The Church draws her life from the Eucharist. This truth does not simply express a daily experience of faith, but recapitulates the heart of the mystery of the Church. In a variety of ways she joyfully experiences the constant fulfillment of the promise: “Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20), but in the Holy Eucharist, through the changing of bread and wine into the body and blood of the Lord, she rejoices in this presence with unique intensity. " - Ecclesia de Eucharistia (Pope St. John Paul II)

The month of April is dedicated to the Most Holy Eucharist, as Holy Week typically falls during this month. God's timing is always perfect, and it is during this month - coincidentally - that He asks the majority of the world to be in His presence spiritually. 

In our souls, we feel His absence; we yearn to have Him near us, to fortify and sanctify us. We desire to give Him the honor, reverence, and love He deserves. Perhaps, God has allowed this time of His absence, so that we may increase in our devotion and faith in the Real, True Presence of God in the Most Blessed Sacrament - that we may hunger for Him all the more and never take for granted of having His Body and Blood within us. In essence, that we may recognize we really do need Him. 

During this month, we pray your faith may grow in Jesus' Real Presence in the Most Blessed Sacrament, and that the day may come soon when you can joyfully receive Him again at the foot of the altar. 

O Sacrament Most Holy, o Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine!

​Litany of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy, Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us, Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us,
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, . . .
God, the Holy Spirit, . . . .
Holy Trinity, One God, . . . .
O Living Bread, Who from Heaven descended, . . .
Hidden God and Savior, . . . .
Grain of the elect, . . .
Vine sprouting forth virgins, . . .
Wholesome Bread and delicacy of kings, . . .
Perpetual sacrifice, . . .
Clean oblation, . . .
Lamb without spot, . . .
Most pure feast, . . .
Food of Angels, . . .
Hidden manna, . . .
Memorial of God's wonders, . . .
Super substantial Bread, . . .
Word made flesh, dwelling in us, . . .
Holy Victim, . . .

O Cup of blessing, . . .
O Mystery of faith, . . .
O Most high and venerable Sacrament, . . .
O Most holy of all sacrifices, . . .
O True propitiatory Sacrifice for the living and the dead, . . .
O Heavenly antidote, by which we are preserved from sin, . . .
O stupendous miracle above all others, . . .
O most holy Commemoration of the Passion of Christ, . . .
O Gift transcending all abundance, . . .
O extraordinary memorial of Divine love, . . .
O affluence of Divine largess, . . .
O most holy and august mystery, . . .

Medicine of immortality,  . . .
Awesome and life-giving Sacrament,  . . .
Unbloody Sacrifice,  . . .
Food and guest,  . . .
Sweetest banquet at which the Angels serve, . . .
Bond of love,  . . .
Offering and oblation, . . .
Spiritual sweetness tasted in its own fountain,  . . .
Refreshment of holy souls,  . . .
Viaticum of those dying in the Lord,  . . .
Pledge of future glory,  . . .

Be merciful, spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord.
From the unworthy reception of Thy Body and Blood, deliver us, O Lord.
From passions of the flesh, . . .
From the concupiscence of the eyes, . . .
From pride, . . .
From every occasion of sin, . . .
Through that desire, with which Thou desiredst to eat the Passover with Thy disciples, . . .
Through that profound humility with which Thou didst wash Thy disciples' feet, . . .
Through that most ardent love, with which Thou instituted this Divine Sacrament, . . .
Through the most precious Blood, which Thou hast left for us upon the altar, . . .
Through those Five Wounds of Thy most holy Body, which was given up for us, . . .

Sinners we are, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst graciously preserve and augment the faith, reverence, and devotion in us towards this admirable Sacrament, . . .
That Thou wouldst graciously lead us through the true confession of . . .
our sins to a frequent reception of the Eucharist, . . .
That Thou wouldst graciously free us from every heresy, falsehood, and blindness of the heart, . . .
That Thou wouldst graciously impart to us the Heavenly and precious fruits of this most Holy Sacrament, . . .
That Thou wouldst graciously protect and strengthen us in our hour of death with this Heavenly Viaticum, . . .

​O Son of God, we beseech Thee, hear us.
Lamb of God, Who taketh away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who taketh away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who taketh away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord.

Christ, hear us, Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us, Christ, graciously hear us.

Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy, Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.

Pray 1 Our Father and 1 Hail Mary 
V. Thou didst furnish them with Bread from Heaven, Alleluia.
R. Having in it every delight.

Let us pray: O God, Who under a marvelous Sacrament has left us a memorial of Thy Passion; grant us; we beseech Thee; so to venerate the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood, that we may ever perceive within us the fruit of Thy Redemption. Thou, Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.