THE REAL PRESENCE

CHRIST IN THE EUCHARIST

The Eucharistic Priest
Table of Contents and Introduction

Reflections on the Blessed Eucharist as the Center and Inspiration of the Sacerdotal Life

FOREWORD

A few years ago, on the occasion of a solemn Eucharistic Congress held at Siena, the author was asked by the Archbishop of that town, Msgr. Prosper Scaccia, to give a conference to the clergy of his archdiocese on the relations of the Blessed Eucharist with the Catholic priesthood. The subject was one of special attraction for him and he set himself to study it with so much greater care, because it does not seem to have ever been treated in a scientific form before. On examination, it was found to offer a very ample field for consideration, so that the author was obliged to limit his conference to a succinct enumeration of the headings such as are given at the end of this book.

However, the methodical unfolding of this subject, while it went to show what a wealth of instructive considerations the point in question, if amply developed, might afford, suggested the idea, by many put forth in the form of a wish, that a special work should be composed, clearly stating and illustrating the relations of the August Sacrament of the Altar with the Catholic priesthood.

In very truth, this study was, for the author, a real revelation, so clearly did it bring home to him the fact that the Blessed Eucharist, with which the priestly character is in some way identified, is, of its nature, a center of sacerdotal life. To this center the noblest thoughts of the priest's mind and the best affections of his heart should be made to converge in such a way that his whole life be, as it were, irradiated by the splendor of the consecrated Host.

The subject has a twofold aspect. The first regards the personal relations of the priest with the Blessed Eucharist; the second, the display of sacerdotal activity in reference to this August Sacrament of love. The first point will form the object of the present volume.

In another volume the author may, with the help of God, treat of the manifestations of priestly zeal in view of the Blessed Eucharist.

As regards the present volume, the author has thought it proper, when speaking of the sacrifice of the Mass, to introduce what he considers to be the true theological notion concerning the essence of that sacrifice, its distinction from the Last Supper and its identification with the sacrifice of the cross. Much has been written in various senses on thin subject of late and we thought it proper.

As the writing of this book was for the author a work of love and a source of many precious consolations, so he entertains the hope that it will help his brethren in the priesthood, especially the newly ordained ones, to ever keep alive in their hearts the flame of sincere and loving devotion to the Most Blessed Eucharist.

May every, sacerdotal heart be as a golden thurible from which there ascends to the throne of Jesus Christ, our Eucharistic King, the incense of holy affections together with the homage of deep faith and heartfelt gratitude.

A. H. M. LEPICIER, O.S.M.
Archbishop of Tarsus.

CONTENTS

• DEDICATION
  
  
• FOREWORD

PART I

MOTIVES FOR WHICH A PRIEST
SHOULD FOSTER IN HIMSELF
A EUCHARISTIC LIFE

Chapter I

The Sacerdotal Vocation Intimately Connected With the Blessed Eucharist

1. Incomparable Dignity of the Catholic Priesthood.
   
   
2. Power of the Priest over the Body of Christ.
   
   
3. The Sacerdotal Vocation Comes from God.
   
   
4. Vocation to the Priesthood, the Work of the Holy Ghost.
   
   
5. Choice Gifts of the Holy Ghost.
   
   
6. The Catholic Priesthood not Hereditary.
   
   
7. The Thought of the Eucharist, the Beginning of the Sacerdotal Vocation.
   
   
8. The Blessed Eucharist, the Comfort of the Young Levite.
   
   
9. Exterior Difficulties in Reaching the Goal of the Priesthood: on the Part of the Candidate's Family.
   
   
10. Want of Means.
    
    
11. Timely Helps in Devotion to the Most Blessed Eucharist.
    
    
12. Interior Difficulties: Temptations.
    
    
13. Discouragement.
    
    
14. Da Robur, Fer Auxilium.
    
    
15. The Priest the Consecrator of the Body of Christ.
    
    
16. How a Priest Should Be Adorned with Sanctity.
    
    
17. The Blessed Eucharist, the Center of the Sacerdotal Life.
    
    
18. The Difference between the Catholic Priesthood and the Office of Minister in the Protestant Church.

Chapter II

The Sacerdotal Ministry Centered Round the Blessed Eucharist

1. The Priest, Mediator between God and the People.
   
   
2. Four kinds of Works Proper to the Sacerdotal Ministry.
   
   
3. The Preaching of the Word of God.
   
   
4. The Preaching of Christ in Catholic Schools and Colleges.
   
   
5. The Study of the Holy Gospels.
   
   
6. Preaching Should Be Inspired by a Lively Faith and Devotion to the Blessed Eucharist.
   
   
7. Eucharistic Preaching.
   
   
8. The Thought of the Holy Eucharist in Catholic Preaching.
   
   
9. The Holy Scripture and the Eucharist.
   
   
10. Religious Instruction.
    
    
11. The Blessed Eucharist, the End and Center of All the Other Sacraments.
    
    
12. Worthy Administration of the Sacrament of Penance.
    
    
13. Respect for the Liberty of Penitents.
    
    
14. Words of Sacerdotal Charity.
    
    
15. Spiritual Assistance of the Dying.
    
    
16. Zeal with Which the Eucharistic Priest Assists the Dying.
    
    
17. Cruel Piety.
    
    
18. True Charity toward the Dying.

Chapter III

The Blessed Eucharist, Source of Fervor and Consolation for the Priest

1. Figures of the Blessed Eucharist in the Old Testament.
   
   
2. Fourfold Effect Produced by the Blessed Eucharist in Him Who Receives It Worthily.
   
   
3. Fervor of Devotion, and Spiritual Consolation.
   
   
4. Damage Wrought in the Soul by Tepidity.
   
   
5. Harm Which Tepidity Produces in the Priest.
   
   
6. The Eucharist Life, a Constant Source of Fervor.
   
   
7. Faith, Purity of Life and Submission to the Will of God.
   
   
8. The Desire of Honors, a Danger for the Spiritual Life of the Priest.
   
   
9. The Eucharistic Priest Shuns Honors and Dignities.
   
   
10. The Blessed Eucharist, a Source of Lasting Consolation for the Priest.
    
    
11. Timely Helps Bestowed on the Priest by the Blessed Eucharist.
    
    
12. This Life, a Valley of Tears.
    
    
13. Painful Contradictions Lightened by Devotion to the Blessed Eucharist.
    
    
14. Ingratitude, Opposition, Calumnies and Persecutions.
    
    
15. The Blessed Eucharist, Comfort of the Priest.
    
    
16. Time of Great Pains and Afflictions.
    
    
17. God's Sweet Providence.
    
    
18. Pius VI and the Blessed Eucharist.
    
    
19. Pius IX and the Mysterious Pyx.
    
    
20. The Blessed Sacrament, Sure Refuge of the Priest.

PART II

MEANS BY WHICH A PRIEST CAN CULTIVATE
IN HIMSELF A EUCHARISTIC LIFE

Chapter I

Necessity for a Priest to Be Well Versed in Eucharistic Theology

1. A Lively Faith, the Principle and Foundation of the Eucharistic Life.
   
   
2. Infused Knowledge, an Extraordinary Means of Increasing Our Faith.
   
   
3. St. Paschal Baylon.
   
   
4. St. Juliana of Mount Cornillon.
   
   
5. St. Thomas Aquinas, the Singer of the Blessed Eucharist.
   
   
6. The Seraphic Doctor, St. Bonaventure.
   
   
7. The Study of Sacred Theology.
   
   
8. The Reading of Eucharistic Books.
   
   
9. Eucharistic Literature.
   
   
10. Want of Theological Exactness in Some Eucharistic Writings.
    
    
11. Errors Regarding the Nature of the Blessed Eucharist.
    
    
12. Errors Regarding the Effects of the Blessed Eucharist.
    
    
13. Baneful Presumption.
    
    
14. Threefold Advantage Drawn from a Deep Study of Eucharistic Theology.
    
    
15. The Eucharistic Priest, Careful to Preach Nothing but the Truth.
    
    
16. Errors of Modernism.
    
    
17. Modernism of the Present Time.
    
    
18. The Study of Theology, a Source of Untold Good.

Chapter 11

The Worthy Celebration of Holy Mass, a Source of Sacerdotal Sanctification

1. The Blessed Eucharist, the Origin and Cause of the Sacerdotal Dignity.
   
   
2. The Blessed Eucharist, a True Sacrifice of the New Law.
   
   
3. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is Not, Properly Speaking, the Same as the Last Supper.
   
   
4. The Holy Mass, a Sacrifice Commemorating and Representing the Sacrifice of the Cross.
   
   
5. The Mass, a Sacrifice Identical with the Sacrifice of the Cross.
   
   
6. The Consecration of Both Species, Necessary to the Essence of the Sacrifice of the Mass.
   
   
7. Excellence of the Eucharistic Sacrifice.
   
   
8. The Part of the Blessed Virgin in Offering the Eucharistic Sacrifice.
   
   
9. To the Priest Alone It Pertains to Celebrate Holy Mass.
   
   
10. The High Esteem in Which the Church Holds the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
    
    
11. The Worthy Celebration of the Mass, Principal Source of Sacerdotal Sanctification.
    
    
12. Preparation to Be Made before Celebrating Mass.
    
    
13. Remote Preparation.
    
    
14. Proximate Preparation.
    
    
15. The Liturgical Prayers.
    
    
16. Beauty of the Liturgical Prayers.
    
    
17. "Praeparatio ad Missam".
    
    
18. Acts of Faith, Hope, Charity, Contrition and Desire.
    
    
19. Three Especially Important Moments in the Mass.
    
    
20. The Duty of Thanksgiving after Mass.
    
    
21. Proximate and Remote Thanksgiving.
    
    
22. The Life of a Eucharistic Priest Should Be a Rule of Conduct for the Faithful.
    
    
23. Influence of the Mass on a Priest's Life.

Chapter III

The Habitual Thought of the Blessed Eucharist, a Powerful Means of Sacerdotal Holiness

1. Living Habitually with the Thought of the Blessed Eucharist.
   
   
2. The Furtherance of a Spirit of Interior Life, Object of Our Lord's Mission on Earth.
   
   
3. A Description of the Interior Life.
   
   
4. The Disastrous Consequences of a Lack of Interior Life.
   
   
5. "Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God and His Justice".
   
   
6. Interior Holiness Which Christ Exacts from His Priests.
   
   
7. Continual Thought of the Blessed Eucharist Keeps the Priest's Soul in a State of Fervor.
   
   
8. How a Priest Should Guard Himself against Literature of a Doubtful Nature.
   
   
9. The Eucharistic Priest, Propagator of the Interior Life.
   
   
10. Frequent Spiritual Communion.
    
    
11. Offering of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
    
    
12. Daily Visit to the Blessed Sacrament.
    
    
13. The Recitation of the Divine Office in Union with Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
    
    
14. Means of Keeping Alive in Us the Thought of the Blessed Eucharist.
    
    
15. The Thought of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, a Consolation in Solitude.
    
    
16. Pious Association of Priests-Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament.
    
    
17. Care of the Tabernacle and Altar of the Blessed Sacrament.
    
    
18. We are Indebted to Our Blessed Lady for the Institution of the Blessed Eucharist.
    
    
19. Mary, a Sacerdotal Virgin, and Queen of the Clergy.
    
    
20. Per Mariam ad Jesum.
    
    
21. Conclusion.

Appendix

Hymns in Honor of the Most Blessed Sacrament

•   Pange Lingua
  
  
•   Verbum Supernum
  
  
•   Adoro Te Devote
  
  
•   Lauda Sion
  
  
•   Ave Verum
  
  
•   Anima Christi
  
  
•   Synopsis of the Book
  
  

Copyright © 2005 by Rev. Alexis H. M. Lepicier, O.S.M.