April is the Month of the Holy Eucharist, Part 2

As of Septuagesima (in the trad Liturgical Calendar), we have entered “The Cycle of Easter:  The Mystery of the Redemption,” which remains until next Advent.  This Cycle contains:  Septuagesima, Lent, Passiontide, Easter or Paschal Time and Time After Pentecost.  We are still in Easter Time, a time of great joy, after the penance of Lent, when we rejoice that +++ “It is Finished” +++ and we have so great a Resurrected Savior.

Indeed He is Risen!

We have the Month of the Holy Eucharist, Divine Mercy celebrated this month, and a deeply concerning war going on.  It seems a theme of reparation and mercy is in order right now.  We also have the Major Rogation Day or Greater Rogations on the 25th.  This is an historical day of penance, similar to the Ember Days.  Here are some great links for you to peruse…

Apostolate of Eucharistic Adoration:  Eucharistic Reparation

EWTN UK:  7 Powerful Ways to Make Reparation for the Blasphemies Against Our Lord in the Eucharist

Bishop Schneider’s Crusade of Eucharistic Reparation

From I Am Jesus website:

“Pope Pius VII granted an indulgence to everyone who, with contrition for his sins and with devotion, says the following Act of Reparation to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament…Pope Pius VII, who was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 14 March 1800, to his death in 1823. He reigned during the time of dramatic conflicts with Napoleon, and his spiritual leadership was instrumental in restoring the Church. Immediately upon becoming Pope, he bravely left the safety of Venice for Rome which was still occupied by Napoleon’s army, to face whatever persecution might arise. His papacy brought about the restoration of the Church after the armies of the French Revolution had devastated the papacy under Pius VI. Written at a time when the Church was under attack, Pope Pius VII wrote this beautiful Act of Reparation Prayer for the laity.”

Act of Reparation by Pope Pius VII

Jesus, my God, my Saviour, true God and true Man, with that most profound homage with which the faith itself inspires me, I adore and love Thee with my whole heart, enclosed in the most august Sacrament of the Altar, in reparation for all the acts of irreverence, profanation, and sacrilege, which I may ever have been so unhappy as to have committed, as well as for all such like acts that ever have been done, or which may be done, though God forbid they should be, in ages yet to come.

I adore Thee, therefore, my God, not indeed as Thou deservest, nor as much as I am bound to adore, but as far as I am able; and I would that I could adore Thee with all the perfection of which all reasonable persons are capable. Meantime I purpose now and ever to adore Thee, not only for those Catholics who adore Thee not, and love Thee not, but also in the stead of, and for the conversion of all heretics, schismatics, impious atheists, blasphemers, impostors, Mahometans, Jews, and idolaters.

Jesus, my God, mayest Thou be ever known, adored, loved, and praised every moment, in the most holy and divine Sacrament. I adore Thee every moment, O living Bread of Heaven, Great Sacrament! Jesus, Heart of Mary, I pray Thee send Thy blessing on my soul. Holiest Jesus! Loving Saviour! I give Thee my heart. May all know, adore, and praise every moment, always, the most holy and divine Sacrament.

AMEN.

Notable feasts coming up…

25th-Saint Mark, Evangelist / Major Rogation Day (prayer and penance)

28th-Saint Louis de Montfort

29th-Saint Catherine of Siena, one of 4 women Doctors of the Church

30th-Pope Saint Pius V / Saint Catherine of Siena (trad)

*** Prepper Challenge for the Spring ***

With current events in mind, it’s the same as it was for March, let's make it this season's challenge...Make a plan!

“15 Points Preparedness Worksheet”

“Biblical Support for Preparedness”

~ Noah was the original prepper ~

April is the Month of the Most Holy Eucharist

[Please note corrections relating to April 25th and notes on the Octave of Easter. And we somehow forgot the 7 Sorrows feast.]

In the traditional Liturgical Year, we begin April in Lent, move through Passiontide and the Easter Triduum, and end in Paschal Time (also known as Eastertide).  This is all a snippet of the “Cycle of Easter:  The Mystery of the Redemption,” which extends until Advent.  We will see our collective meditation upon the Redemption pass from penance and Our Lord’s Passion, to the glory of the Resurrection, foretelling our own Resurrection of soul and body after death.  After the sorrowful Holy Week, we enter into what the New Marian Missal calls “a time of uninterrupted joy and feasts.”  Eastertide includes the Octave of Easter (originally consecrated to the newly baptized), the Ascension of Our Lord and Pentecost.  The Paschal Candle, lit on the evening of Holy Saturday, shines until Ascension Thursday, representing the Resurrected Lord upon earth.

Take note of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady on the 11th. There are a number of devotions for this feast.

The 25th is the feast of Saint Mark [correction: not celebrated this year because this is Easter Friday, which takes precedence] and also what we traditionally call the Major Rogation Day [this still applies].  Rogation Days are very similar to the seasonal Ember Days, but of different origin.  It is, it seems, inappropriate to have a day of penance during the Octave of Easter, so keeping the Rogation Day in a spirit of joy would be advisable (pray the Litany of the Saints, see below).  To tie it in with April’s Eucharistic devotion, we might attend Mass or read Saint Mark’s account of the Last Supper, Mark 14:12-26 [Saint Mark would probably appreciate a nod to him].  Here is the definition of “Rogation Days” from Father John Hardon’s book, Modern Catholic Dictionary:

“Prescribed days of prayer and penance in spring. Two sets of rogation days were kept since early Christian times: the Major Rogation on April 25, the Feast of St. Mark; and the Minor Rogations on the last three days before Ascension Thursday. They were instituted to appease divine justice, ask for protection, and invoke God's blessing on the harvest. The Litany of the Saints was [prayed] in procession and the Rogation Mass followed. The feast of St. Mark, as the more ancient, was also called the Greater Litanies; it Christianized a pagan spring festival in honor of the god Robigus. The three other rogation days were adapted in Rome under Pope Leo III (reigned 795-816). (Etym. Latin rogatio, inquiry, request.)”

Divine Mercy Sunday is always one week after Easter and Our Lord Himself asked Saint Faustina to institute a novena, beginning on Good Friday.  You can find the Chaplet and Novena prayers on our Home page or you can print this PDF which includes the lesser-known Litany to the Divine Mercy.  Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament, devoted herself profoundly to the Holy Eucharist and her Chaplet features these words:

“Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Thy dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.”

During this Information Age, it is ironic that so few know and believe the teachings of Holy Church on the Body of Christ.  Holiness starts at home, so instructing those who need help with this is our primary responsibility.  Making reparation for the outrages against the Eucharist is also a wonderful thing.  There are various litanies and prayers-here is one: 

Litany of Reparation to the Blessed Sacrament

Some places have special Eucharistic devotions during Lent.  For instance, the Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY, is honoring the 40 days of Lent with Adoration at 40 different parishes.  The USCCB’s 3-year National Eucharistic Revival continues until June 22nd.  There may be other activities associated with the Jubilee Year of 2025 (more on this holy year in the coming month on the blog).

Wishing you and your families many blessings as we celebrate Easter, the “Solemnity of Solemnities,” and honor the Most Holy Eucharist, that body both broken and resurrected.

Notable feasts of April:

5th-First Saturday

6th to 19th-Passion Sunday and Passiontide (trad)

11th-SEVEN SORROWS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

13th-Palm Sunday

17th-Holy/Maundy Thursday

18th to 20th-EASTER TRIDUUM (traditionally, no meat is eaten on Holy Saturday)

20th to 27th-Octave of Easter, Privileged Octave of the First Order (Easter is of such great importance, that it is given an entire 8 days of celebration)

25th-Greater or Major Rogation Day

27th-Divine Mercy Sunday/Low Sunday (trad)

28th-Saint Louis de Montfort

29th-Saint Catherine of Siena

30th-Saint Catherine of Siena (trad)

HOMESCHOOLING ACTIVITIES FOR APRIL

1)       Create artwork or make a craft celebrating the joy of Easter.

2)      Write a short essay on the Paschal Candle, explaining its symbols and symbolism.

3)      Compose your own prayer to thank Jesus for the gift of Holy Communion. 

April: Month of the Holy Eucharist!

Traditionally, as of Easter Sunday, we are in "Eastertide," "Easter Time," or "Paschal Time."  This extends to the Saturday after Pentecost.  In the New, "Easter Time" begins Easter Sunday and ends on Pentecost.  We continue to contemplate the Mystery of the Redemption.

April is dedicated to the Holy Eucharist (see prayer on Home page).  It is a great time, as the earth comes back to life, to celebrate the Bread of Life.  There are innumerable ways to do this-your imagination is the only limit!  More frequent reception of Holy Communion, Eucharistic prayers and devotions, spiritual reading, a Eucharistic emphasis in catechesis, exercises in reparation to the Real Presence, etc.  Here are some notable feasts of this month (preppers take note that Saint Catherine of Siena in invoked for fire protection!):

4/1-Easter Friday, Solemnity-no penance

4/3-Divine Mercy Sunday/Quasimodo Sunday

4/4-The Annunciation (moved from 3/25 this year)

4/5-Saint Vincent Ferrer, Angel of the Apocalypse

4/10-Saint Ezechiel, Old Testament Patriarch

4/16-Saint Bernadette, Seer of Lourdes

4/25-Saint Mark, Evangelist/The Greater Litanies

4/26-Our Lady of Good Counsel

4/28-Saint Louis de Montfort, Founder Sisters of Divine Wisdom & Missionaries of the Company of Mary

4/29-Saint Catherine of Siena, Patroness of Italy and Fire Protection (New)

4/30-Saint Catherine of Siena (Trad)