July 20

"It is through the sacraments and the exercise of the virtues that the sacred nature and organic structure of the priestly community is brought into operation... Taking part in the Eucharistic sacrifice, which is the fount and apex of the whole Christian life, they offer the Divine Victim to God, and offer themselves along with It. Thus both by reason of the offering and through Holy Communion all take part in this liturgical service, not indeed, all in the same way but each in that way which is proper to himself. Strengthened in Holy Communion by the Body of Christ, they then manifest in a concrete way that unity of the people of God which is suitably signified and wondrously brought about by this most august sacrament.

-Lumen Gentium, No. 11

July 19

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

-2 Corinthians 3:18

July 18

"Can you not spend one hour with me?"

-Matthew 26:40

July 17

"In our inner life it is the Eucharist above all which expresses our personal union with Jesus... The more perfectly we become assimilated to Christ in the Eucharist the more perfect will be our unity in him."

-Canon Jacques Leclercq

July 16

"Jesus, transform me, miserable and sinful as I am, into your own self..."

-St. Faustina Kowalska

July 15

"The priest says 'Let us give thanks to the Lord.' Certainly we ought to give thanks to God for having invited us, unworthy as we are, to so great a gift; for God having reconciled us to Himself when we were His enemies; for having made us His adopted sons by the Spirit."

-St. Cyril of Alexandria (350 AD)

July 14

"How sweet the [Eucharistic] presence of Jesus to the longing, harassed soul! It is instant peace, and balm to every wound."

-St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

July 13

"The assembly should prepare itself to encounter its Lord and to become 'a people well disposed.' The preparation of hearts is the joint work of the Holy Spirit and the assembly, especially of its ministers. The grace of the Holy Spirit seeks to awaken faith, conversion of heart, and adherence to the Father's will. These dispositions are the precondition both for the reception of other graces conferred in the celebration itself and the fruits of new life which the celebration is intended to produce afterward."

-Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1098

July 12

"O fortunate witnesses to whom the Blessed God, to confound my disbelief, has wished to reveal Himself in this Most Blessed Sacrament and to render Himself visible to our eyes. Come, brethren, and marvel at our God so close to us. Behold the Flesh and Blood of our most beloved Christ."

-Brasilian Monk in 700 A.D. who witnessed the miracle of Lanciano

July 11

"The Blessed Sacrament is the first and supreme object of our worship.

We must preserve in the depths of our hearts a constant uninterrupted adoration of this precious pledge of Divine Love."

-St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier