Category Archives: Eucharist

Carmelite Saints, Eucharist, Featured, Incorruptible, Mystics, patron saints

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi, Feast Day May 25

St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi

The Feast Day of St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazi is celebrated on May 25. She is the patron saint of the sick and against sexual temptation. She was a Carmelite nun, virgin, mystic and incorruptible

St. Mary Magdalene was born on April 2, 1607 into a noble family in Florence, Italy. She was baptized with the name Catrina Lucrezia de’ Pazzi.

At the age of 8, Catrina became a student at San Giovannia. The nuns prepared her for her first communion which she received when she was 10 years old. Soon…she made a vow of virginity, knowing she did not desire to marry.

Catrina enjoyed a life of prayer and penance. She especially enjoyed the meditations of St. Augustine and the Lord ‘s Passion by Loarto.

When Catrina was 16, she chose to enter the Carmelite Community of Santa Maria. She was led to this decision because they offerred daily Holy Communion, which was rare during this time.

As a novice, Catrina took the name Mary Magdalene de Pazzi. After a year, she became very ill and was near death. On the Feast of the Trinity, she was allowed to make her profession of vows in the chapel. Immediately, she experienced an ecstasy which lasted two hours. For the following 40 days she experienced ecstasy after receiving communion. She was given a sense of union with God and many insights about divine teachings. During the ecstacies the nuns recorded what she said and did. This resulted in five volumes of books about her life. They are referred to as The Life and Works of St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi.

Mary Magdalene experienced both spiritual ecstasies and dryness with internal suffering. Throughout her life she had a strong devotion to the crown of thorns which Jesus wore during the crucifixion. She joyfully offered her suffering to God.

Mary Magdalene became the novice mistress and the the superior of the Community. She died on May 25, 1607 of natural causes after suffering a painfull illness for three years. Many miracles occurred following her death.

St. Mary Magdalene was beatified on 1626 by Pope Urban III. She was canonized by Pope Clement X on April 28, 1669.

The incorruptable body of St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi lies preserved in a glass coffin within the Carmelite Monastery of Santa Maria degli. Angel in Florence.

Prayer of Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi

Come, Holy Spirit. May the union of the Father and the will of the Son…Come to us. You, Spirit of truth, are the reward of the saints, the refreshment of souls, light in darkness, the riches of the poor, the treasures of lovers, the satisfaction of the hungry, the consolation of the pilgrim Church; You are he whom all treasures are contained.

Come, You who, desending into Mary, caused the Word to take flesh; effect in us by grace what you accomplished in her by grace and nature.

Come, You who are the nourishment of all chaste thoughts, the fountain of all clemency, the summit of all purity.

Come, and take away from us all that hinders us from being absorbed in You.

Eucharist, Faith, Featured

Twenty-Five Quotes about the Eucharist from the Saints

The Sacrament of the Eucharist was instituted during Holy Week on Holy Thursday.

The Catholic Church has always believed in the Real Presence of the Jesus in the Eucharist.

As we contemplate the many things that happened during the last week of Jesus life, let’s take time to reflect on the quotes of the saints over the years on the meaning of the Eucharist.

1. There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us.

St. John Vianncy

2. When we have been to Holy Communion, the balm of love envelopes the soul as the flower envelopes the bee.

St. John Vianney

St. John Vianney
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3. The Eucharist bathes the tormented soul in light and love, then the soul appreciates these words, ‘Come all you who are sick, I will restore your health.

St. Bernedette Soubirouse

St. Bernedette Soubirouse

4. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.

St. John Paul II

St. John Paul II

5. It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do so without the Holy Mass.

St. Padre Pio

St. Padre Pio

6. Receive Communion often, very often…there you have the sole remedy, if you want to be cured. Jesus did not put this attraction in your heart for nothing.

S. Therese of Lisieux

7. The Eucharist is a fire that inflames us.

St. John Damascene

St. John Damascene

8. The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white host.

St. Fulton Sheen

St. Bishop Fulton Sheen

9. When you look at the crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you. When you look at the Sacred Host, you understand how much Jesus loves you NOW.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

Bl. Teresa of Calcutta
U.S. Stamp
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10. O sublime humility! O humble sublimity! That the Lord of the whole universe, God and Son of God, should humble Himself like this and hide under the form of a little bread for our salvation.

St. Francis Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi

Public Domain Image

11. The saints all their lives long were like men rejoicing at a feast.

St. Athanatius

St. Athanasius of Alexandra

12. The Lord comes into us Sacramentally in order to live there Spiritually.

St. Peter Julian Eymard

St. Peter Julian Eymard
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13. If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.

St. Lydia

9St. Lydia of Thyatira
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14. In the Blessed Sacrament a heavenly school is open to me, with the best teacher one can possibly imagine…Jesus Christ himself!

St. John XXIII

St. John XXIII
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15. If angels could be jealous of me, they would be so for this reason; Holy Communion.

St. Maximilian Kolbe

St. Maximilian Kolbe
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16. The Eucharist is the food of eternal life.

St.Therese of Lisieux

St. Therese of Lisieux

17. We do not go to communion because we are good. We go to communion to become good.

St. John Bosco

18. The Eucharist is a never ending sacrifice. It is the Sacrament of love, the Supreme love, the act of love.

St. Katherine Drexel

St. Katherin Drexel

19. Ask Jesus to make you a saint. After all, only He can do that. Go to confession regularly and to communion as often as you can.

St. Dominic Savio

20. At Communion we ought to ask for the remedy of the vice to which we feel ourselves inclined.

St. Philip Neri

St. Philip Neri
Public Domain

21. I understand that each time we contemplate with desire and devotion the Host in which is hidden Christ’s Eucharistic Body, we increase our merits in heaven and secure special joys to be ours later on the beatific vision of God.

St. Gertrude the Great

St. Gertrude the Great

22. The Eucharist is the Sacrament of love. It signifies love,it produces love.

St. Thomas Aquinas

23. From the Eucharist comes the strength to live the christian life and to share that life with others

St. John paul II

24. Father, I am hungry. For the love of God give this soul her food in the Eucharist!

St. Catherine of Siena

St. Catherine of Siena

25. Jesus is my great friend and the Eucharist is my highway to heaven!

St. Carlos Acutis

Eucharist, Heaven, Pope Leo XIV, Quotes of Saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Carlo Acutis

The Feast Day of Carlo is celebrated on October 12.  Carlo Acutis was born on May 3, 1991  in London to Italian parents who working there.   He was raised in Milan, Italy.  Carlo died at the age of 15 in Manza, Italy of leukemia on October 12, 2006.

St. Carlo Acutis was beatified by Pope Francis in 2020 and Canonized by Pope Leo XIV on Sept. 7, 2025.  He is considered the first millennial saint and the patron saint of the internet.

At a young age of 11, Carlo became very interested in Eucharistic Miracles.   He visited the birthplace of many of the saints and sites of the Eucharistic miracles.  His passion for the Eucharist led him to use his skills as a coder to build a website cataloging over 150 Miracles.  He listed them by country and date.   His site is still active at Carlo Acutis La dlinea del tempo di Carlo Acutis

St. Carlos was known for being very generous.  He helped the poor and defended students in his school from bullies.  He enjoyed helping the elderly and disabled.    His passion for his faith inspired his parents to become active in their faith.  They enrolled in a theology class so they could answer questions which came up.

At the age of 14, Carlo fell ill.  At first, they believed he had the flu; however he was diagnosed with acute Myeloid Leukemia.  Afte r suffering from a cerebral hemorrhage, he went into a coma and died on October 12.

Initially buried in Ternengo his body was reburied in January 2007 in Assisi because of his devotion to St. Francis of Assisi.

St. Carlo is credited with two miracles.  The healing of a Brazilian boy born with a malformed pancreas was healed after prayers of intercession to Blessed Carlo in 2020.  The second miracle occurred in Costa Rico then a woman was healed in 2024 after suffering a serious head injury.  Prayers of intercession were prayed at St. Acutis’s tomb after which she was healed.   These miracles led to the canonization of St. Carlo in 2025 by Pope Leo XIV.

Eucharist, Heaven, Pope Leo XIV, Quotes of Saints, Saint of the Day

Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Carlo Acutis

The Feast Day of Carlo is celebrated on October 12.  Carlo Acutis was born on May 3, 1991  in London to Italian parents who working there.   He was raised in Milan, Italy.  Carlo died at the age of 15 in Manza, Italy of leukemia on October 12, 2006.

St. Carlo Acutis was beatified by Pope Francis in 2020 and Canonized by Pope Leo XIV on Sept. 7, 2025.  He is considered the first millennial saint and the patron saint of the internet.

At a young age of 11, Carlo became very interested in Eucharistic Miracles.   He visited the birthplace of many of the saints and sites of the Eucharistic miracles.  His passion for the Eucharist led him to use his skills as a coder to build a website cataloging over 150 Miracles.  He listed them by country and date.   His site is still active at Carlo Acutis La dlinea del tempo di Carlo Acutis

St. Carlos was known for being very generous.  He helped the poor and defended students in his school from bullies.  He enjoyed helping the elderly and disabled.    His passion for his faith inspired his parents to become active in their faith.  They enrolled in a theology class so they could answer questions which came up.

At the age of 14, Carlo fell ill.  At first, they believed he had the flu; however he was diagnosed with acute Myeloid Leukemia.  Afte r suffering from a cerebral hemorrhage, he went into a coma and died on October 12.

Initially buried in Ternengo his body was reburied in January 2007 in Assisi because of his devotion to St. Francis of Assisi.

St. Carlo is credited with two miracles.  The healing of a Brazilian boy born with a malformed pancreas was healed after prayers of intercession to Blessed Carlo in 2020.  The second miracle occurred in Costa Rico then a woman was healed in 2024 after suffering a serious head injury.  Prayers of intercession were prayed at St. Acutis’s tomb after which she was healed.   These miracles led to the canonization of St. Carlo in 2025 by Pope Leo XIV.

Dominican, Eucharist, Faith, Poetry, Prayer, Spirituality

Five Famous Hymns Written by St. Thomas Aquinas



St Thmas Aquinas-cr-01 Public Domain Image

St. Thomas was was born in Sicily in the year 1225. He died in 1274. The Feast Day of St. Thomas Aquinas is celebrated on Jan. 28. He is considered the patron saint of students and universities.

At the age of five he was placed in the care of the Benedictines of Monte Casino.

He became a Dominican priest against his families wishes. His brothers followed careers in the military. In an attempt to end his desires to become a Dominican, his brothers hired a prostitute to seduce him. According to legend, two angels appeared to Thomas to strengthen him and increase his determination to remain celibate. He thus became known as the “Angelic Doctor”.

St. Thomas studied at Cologne under St. Albert the Great. He was called “the dumb-ox” because he was so shy and quiet. He was also of a very large stature. Actually, he was quite brilliant, eventually being declared a Doctor of the Church.

After becoming a priest he was sent to Paris. In Paris he became a friend of the King, St. Louis, dining with him frequently. He was asked to teach at the age of 22. He has published many writings. The most well known are Summa Theologica and Summa Contra Gentiles.  He also wrote Hymns of Adoration which are well known today.  The belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is very evident in his hymns of praise and adoration.

His well known hymns are the following:

1. Panis Angelicus (Bread of Angels)  sung by Andre Bocelli

2. Adore te Devote (Humbly I adore thee)…Gregorian Chant

3. O Salutaris hostia (O saving victim)   Gregorian Chant

4. Pange Lingua Corperis (Now, my tongue, the mystery telling)  Gregorian Chant

5. Tantum Ergo Sacramentum (Come Adore)…sung by Daughters of Mary

 

St. Thomas Aquinas Public Domain Image
St. Thomas Aquinas

Panis Angelicus (Bread of Angels)

Holy and living bread,

Wondrous food from heaven sent,

God’s sacrifice foretold,

now in our hands we hold.

Sign and reality, challenge for us to be

Humble servants to all the poor.

God, Holy Three in One,

through this off’ring of your Son

All now on earth can see what we are called to be:

Hope for a world in need, signs that love can succeed

Where true justice and peace endure.

St. Thomas Aquinas Public Domain Image
St. Thomas Aquinas

O Salutaris Hostia ( O Saving Victim)

O saving Victim, open wide

The gate of heav’n to us below,

Our foes press on from ev’ry side;

Your aid supply your strength bestow.

To your great name be endless praise,

Immortal Godhead, One in Three;

O grant us endless length of days

In our true native land with thee.

Amen

St. Thomas Aquinas Public Domain Image
St. Thomas Aquinas

Zion, to thy Savior; singing

Zion, To Thy Savior Singing
Zion, to Thy Savior singing,

To thy Prince and Shepherd bringing,
Sweetest hymns of love and praise,
Thou wilt never reach the measure
Of His worth, by all the treasure
Of thy most ecstatic lays.

Of all wonders that can thrill thee,
And, with adoration fill thee,
What than this can greater be,
That Himself to thee He giveth?
He that eateth ever liveth,
For the Bread of Life is He.

Fill thy lips to overflowing
With sweet praise, His mercy showing
Who this heav’nly table spread:
On this day so glad and holy,
To each longing spirit lowly
Giveth He the living Bread.

Here the King hath spread His table,
Whereon eyes of faith are able
Christ our Passover to trace:
Shadows of the law are going,
Light and life and truth inflowing,
Night to day is giving place.

Lo, this angels’ food descending
Heavenly love is hither sending,
Hungry lips on earth to feed:
So the paschal lamb was given,
So the manna came from Heaven,
Isaac was His type indeed.

O Good Shepherd, Bread life giving,
Us, Thy grace and life receiving,
Feed and shelter evermore;
Thou on earth our weakness guiding,
We in Heaven with Thee abiding,
With all saints will Thee adore.

 

St. Thomas Aquinas Public Domain Image
St. Thomas Aquinas

Adore te Devote (Humbly I adore thee)

Humbly I adore thee, Verity unseen,
who thy glory hiddest ‘neath these shadows mean;
low, to thee surrendered, my whole heart is bowed,
tranced as it beholds thee, shrined within the cloud.

Taste and touch and vision to discern thee fail;
faith, that comes by hearing, pierces through the veil.
I believe whate’re the Son of God hath told;
what the Truth hath spoken, that for truth I hold.

O memorial wondrous of the Lord’s own death;
living Bread that givest all thy creatures breath,
grant my spirit ever by thy life may live,
to my taste thy sweetness never failing give.

Jesus, whom now hidden, I by faith behold,
what my soul doth long for, that thy word foretold:
face to face thy splendor, I at last shall see,
in the glorious vision, blessed Lord, of thee.

St. Thomas Aquinas Public Domain Image
St. Thomas Aquinas

 
Tantum Ergo Sacramentum (Come Adore)

Come adore this wondrous presence,

Bow to Christ the source of grace.

Here is kept the ancient promise

of God’s earthly dwelling place.

Sight is blind before God’s glory,

Faith alone may see his face.

Glory be to God the Father,

Praise to his co-equal Son.

Adoration to the Spirit,

Bond of love, in God-head one.

Blest be God by all creation

Joyously while ages run.


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Eucharist, Faith, Prayer, Spirituality

Catholics Nourished by Living Bread



Monstrance Body and Blood of Jesus Christ
Monstrance
Body and Blood of Jesus Christ

At the center of the Catholic faith is its’ belief in the Eucharist. Jesus Himself said:

“I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6, 35).

In John 6.53 He states,

“Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day, for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.”

The church has always interpreted this statement to be literally true. How is this possible? All things are possible with God!!

In the Old Testament, God rained down manna from the sky to feed the Israelites in the desert for forty years. The Eucharist is modern day manna. Our faith is nourished and kept alive by living bread… the body and blood of Jesus Christ. St. Paul teaches us that the church is the Body of Christ. In I Corinthians 12-13 St. Paul states:

“For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”

The Saints in the early church all professed a belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.   Justyn Martyr (100-165) was one of the first to try to explain this belief.

Next Sunday, we celebrate Corpus Christi (The Body of Christ). It is important for us to reflect on how Jesus came to nourish us, not only by scripture but by being true food for us.

Through God all things are possible. When we read the bread of life discourse (John 6), we need to ask ourselves, do we truly believe what Jesus tells us, or like the disciples who turn away do we pick and choose the teachings of Jesus we want to believe.

To quote St. Augustine ((354-430),

“If you believe what you like in the gospel, and reject what you don’t like, it’s not the gospel you believe, but yourself.”

To be true disciples of Jesus, we must get to know Him, to love Him and let ourselves be fed by Him.