26 July, Antonio, Cardinal Bacci: Meditations For Each Day

Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament

1. Anyone who loves Jesus sincerely in the Sacrament of the Eucharist must experience a pang of regret whenever he enters a church and sees that the spaces surrounding the tabernacle are empty. Here and there a few people may be praying before statues of Our Lady and of the Saints, but too often there is nobody to worship Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Only the dim light of the tabernacle lamp seems to be attempting to compensate in some small way for the ingratitude of men. Yet here is no mere image, but the real living Jesus Who loves us and longs to shower His gifts upon us.

We are poor, and He is rich; we are weak, and He is strong. We are sinners and He wishes us to kneel repentant at His feet so that He may forgive us. We are bent beneath the weight of our cross which seems too heavy for us to bear, and He desires to lighten it by His grace. We are weary and worried and unable to find a friend who will fully understand and comfort us. But if we go to Jesus we shall find a Friend and Comforter. “Come to me,” He says to us, “all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Mt. 11:28-30) Let us kneel before Jesus in the tabernacle and confide to Him our worries, sorrows and desires. He will understand and enlighten us; He will strengthen our wavering resolution and inspire in our hearts the divine love which makes it easy to sacrifice ourselves for His sake.

2. In many dioceses and parishes there exist associations of devout people who take it in turns to pray before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. There ought to be some such association everywhere, because everyone who has a sincere love for the Holy Eucharist should feel the need of spending some time in adoration and in conversation with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

The Saints often spent days and nights in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. What about you? Even if you are not members of a Eucharistic association, you should put aside some time every day for a visit to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. There you will find the strength to put your good resolutions into effect. You will find consolation in your troubles and rest for your soul.

3. Life today is fast and mechanical, a mad race for profit and pleasure. Cars speed along the roads; the footpaths are paced by people with anxious faces; theatres, cinemas and sports grounds are crowded with people searching for the illusion of happiness. But what of the churches? Apart from a few hours on Sundays, they are usually almost completely deserted.

Nevertheless, the churches are the only places where peace is to be found, for in each is the home of Jesus, really present and on fire with love for men.

Let us go and kneel before the tabernacle. Let us pray for ourselves, for our forgetful and ungrateful brothers who are plunged in sin, who have lost the light of faith and the purifying flame of love. Let us offer ourselves as living lamps of sacrifice for the salvation of our fellow-men and for the triumph of the Church.