God With Us

   The Eucharistic Jesus is the true Emmanuel, "God with us (Matt. 1:23)." The Eucharistic Jesus is here with us as a brother, as a friend, as spouse of our souls.  He wishes to enter within us to be our Food for eternal life, our love, our support. He wants to make us part of His mystical Body in which He would redeem us and save us, and take us into the kingdom of Heaven to settle us in an everlasting bliss of love.
   With the Eucharist, God has truly given us everything. St. Augustine exclaimed: "Although God is all-powerful, He is unable to give more; though supremely wise, He knows not how to give more; though vastly rich, He has not more to give."

NAS Letter, Jesus, Our Eucharistic Love

Fr. Stefano M. Manelli, F.F.I.

Next Nocturnal Adoration: Friday, January 6, 2012

Jesus Loves us Individually

   "Jesus, Who loves each one of us in particular, gives Himself to each one. Love that is general little moves us, but we cannot resist a love that is shown to us personally. That God loved the world is very beautiful; but that He loves me, myself, tells me so, and to convince me, gives Himself to me, that is the triumph of His love. For Jesus comes for me; I might say He comes for me alone. I am the object of this mystery of infinite power and love, which is being enacted on the holy altar; for it aims at me, and is perfected in me. O love, what shall I give in return? That I, poor creature that I am, should occupy thus the thought of Jesus Christ! That I should be the goal of His love! Oh, live and reign in me, my God. I will not that You should have loved me in vain."  Holy Communion by St. Peter Julian Eymard

National NAS Letter

Next Nocturnal Adoration: Friday, December 2, 2011

The Real Presence

  “Ah! if we had the eyes of angels with which to see Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is here present on this altar, and who is looking at us, how we should love Him! We should never more wish to part from Him. We should wish to remain always at His feet; it would be a foretaste of Heaven: all else would become insipid to us. But see, it is faith we want. We are poor blind people; we have a mist before our eyes. Faith alone can dispel this mist. Presently, my children, when I shall hold Our Lord in my hands, when the good God blesses you, ask Him then to open the eyes of your heart; say to Him like the blind man of Jericho, "O Lord, make me to see!" (Matt. 2:29-34, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43) If you say to Him sincerely, "Make me to see!" you will certainly obtain what you desire, because He wishes nothing but your happiness. He has His hands full of graces, seeking to whom to distribute them; alas! and no one will have them.”   St. John Vianney, Patron Saint of Priests

National NAS Letter

Next Nocturnal Adoration: Friday, November 4, 2011

Rest From Worldly Cares

   "As often as you can during the day, recall your mind to the presence of God…. Consider what God is doing, what you are doing. You will always find God’s eyes fixed on you in unchangeable love. Our hearts should each day seek a resting-place on Calvary or near our Lord, in order to retire there to rest from worldly cares and to find strength against temptation. Remember frequently to retire into the solitude of your heart, even while you are externally occupied in business or society. This mental solitude need not be hindered even though many people may be around you, for they surround your body not your heart, which should remain alone in the presence of God. As David said, “My eyes are ever looking at the Lord (Ps. 25:15).” We are rarely so taken up in our exchanges with others as to be unable from time to time to move our hearts into solitude with God."

Saint Francis de Sales

Next Nocturnal Adoration:  Friday, October 14, 2011

Jesus, Living Head of the Church

  Jesus loves us so much that He wills to remain with us until the end of time. Therefore, He abides with us in the Blessed Sacrament as the Companion of our earthly pilgrimage, as the Food of our souls, but He also remains with us in the Church as our Guide, our Shepherd, and our Teacher.
   Jesus is the living Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22, 5:23); it is always He who rules her invisibly by His Spirit, the Holy Spirit. He sustains and vivifies her unceasingly, gives her life, and distributes graces to each of her members “according to the measure of His gift (Eph. 4:7, Rom. 12:6-8, 1 Cor. 12:7-11).” The Church lives by Christ alone; she is holy with His holiness, she is the Mother of souls through her union with Him.
   Even as it is through the Eucharist that we unite ourselves to Jesus and are nourished with His Immaculate Flesh, so it is through His Church that guided and ruled by Him, we are vivified by His grace and nourished by His doctrine.
                                                                                                                                                                               National NAS Letter

Next Nocturnal Adoration:  Friday, September 9, 2011

Gift of Infinite Value

“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.” (John 3:16)

Consider that the Eternal Father, in giving us His Son for a Redeemer… could not have given us stronger motives for hope and love to inspire us with confidence, and to draw us near to love Him.

“In giving us His Son,” says St. Augustine, “He could give us nothing more. He desires that we should avail ourselves of this immense gift in order to gain for ourselves eternal salvation and every grace that we want. In Jesus we find all that we can desire; we find light, strength, peace, confidence, love and eternal glory; for Jesus Christ is the gift Who contains all the gifts that we can seek for or desire.”

National NAS Letter

Next Nocturnal Adoration:  Friday, August 5, 2011

Were Not Our Hearts Burning? Luke 24:13-32

   The disciples on the road to Emmaus were met by Jesus, but they “were prevented from recognizing Him (Lk 24:15-16).” Prior to being present to the Divinity they were confused and the disciples said to Him, “we were hoping that He would be the one to redeem Israel (Lk 24:21).” As Jesus began to explain to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures (Lk 24:27), the veil of darkness and confusion lifted and their minds were opened to the Scriptures. In the blessing and breaking of the bread “their eyes were opened and they recognized Him (Lk 24:31).” Their hearts were inflamed and they perceived the Lord. “Were not our hearts burning within us while He spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us (Lk 24:32)?”
   This increase of revelation is repeated in our visits to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament through our cooperation with grace. Our minds are opened to eternal truths and our hearts are inflamed with the love of Christ.

Adapted from National NAS Letter

Next Nocturnal Adoration:  Friday, July 8, 2011

Fire that Inflames the Heart

   "The fire on the altar shall be kept burning (Lev. 6:12).” St. Gregory says that the altars of God are our hearts where He desires that the fire of His Divine love should always be burning; and therefore the Eternal Father, not satisified with having given us His Son Jesus Christ, to save us by His death and resurrection, also gave us the Holy Spirit that He might dwell in our souls and keep them constantly on fire with His love.
   Jesus Himself declared that He had come into the world to inflame our hearts with this holy fire, and that He desired nothing more than to see it kindled, "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! (Luke. 12:49)".

 National NAS Letter

Next Nocturnal Adoration:  Friday, June 3, 2011

Trust in Divine Mercy

   Let souls who are striving for perfection particularly adore My mercy, because the abundance of graces which I grant them flows from My mercy. I desire that these souls distinguish themselves by boundless trust in My mercy. I Myself will attend to the sanctification of such souls. I will provide them with everything they will need to attain sanctity. The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is -- trust.
   The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive. Souls that trust boundlessly are a great comfort to Me, because I pour all the treasures of My graces into them. I rejoice that they ask for much, because it is My desire to give much, very much. On the other hand, I am sad when souls ask for little, when they narrow their hearts. (Diary of St. Maria Faustina #1578)

National NAS Letter

Next Nocturnal Adoration:  Friday, May 6, 2011

Jesus, Fountain of Peace

Consider a fountain of grace that we have in Jesus Christ: The fountain of Peace and Consolation in our tribulations, “call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you (Ps. 50:15).” The peace that God gives to the souls who love Him is not the peace of the world, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you (John 14:27).” The peace which God bestows exceeds all the pleasures of the senses, it is the peace “which surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:7).” Blessed are they who long for this Divine fountain.

Adapted from NAS Letter

Next Nocturnal Adoration:  Friday, April 1, 2011

Truth Has Spoken

    Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man, of one substance, majesty, and power with the Father… You are God, and God is truth. You said of Yourself, "I am the Truth (Jn. 14:6)." You also said, "This is My Body (Matt. 26:26, Mk. 14:22, Lk. 22:19, 1 Cor. 11:24)." Truth has spoken.
    On Your word we believe. Our presence here tonight is the practical expression of that belief, and our answer to Your presence. It is our commitment of faith in Your presence. Confirm and strengthen that faith.

Office of the Blessed Sacrament

Next Nocturnal Adoration:  Friday, March 4, 2011