Episode 1207: Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament - Litany - May 13th

Prayer to Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament
O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion the the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may all be made worthy to receive Holy Communion every day.

Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us.

Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus!

Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Prayer Card

History of the Title of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament
Feast Day, May 13

St. Peter Julian Eymard, of France, had a strong devotion to the Holy Eucharist and Our Lady and began his priestly life in the Society of Mary. "But his heart burned with the desire to establish perpetual adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament exposed upon a royal throne and surrounded by a large court of adorers. On February 2, 1851, at the shrine of Fourvière, the most Blessed Virgin had made him understand its necessity. 'All the mysteries of my Son have a religious order of men to honor them. The Eucharist alone has none . . . .' After several years of prudent reflection and interior combat, encouraged by Pope Pius IX, he founded the Congregation of the Most Blessed Sacrament at Paris on May 13, 1856" (St. Peter Julian Eymard: Apostle of the Eucharist Novena, p. 20).

The title of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament was first given to Mary by St. Peter Julian Eymard in May 1868, while speaking to his novices. A few years later he described what her statue should look like: "The Blessed Virgin holds the Infant in her arms; and He holds a chalice in one hand and a Host in the other." He exhorted them to invoke Mary: "Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us who have recourse to thee!"

Later, Pius IX enriched the invocation with indulgences. Twice, St. Pius X did the same. On December 30, 1905, he granted a 300 days indulgence to the faithful who pray: "Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us."

"This title, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, is perhaps the most meaningful of all," said St. Pius X.

In 1921 the Sacred Congregation of Rite authorized the Blessed Sacrament Congregations to celebrate each year, on the 13th of May, a "solemn commemoration of the Blessed Virgin," with the intention of honoring Mary under the title of "Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament." And of course this Feast is still celebrated today with great joy by all the spiritual sons and daughters of St. Peter Julian Eymard.

Pope Bl. John XXIII codified the title of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament when he declared St. Peter Julian Eymard a saint on December 9, 1962, at the end of the last session of the Second Vatican Council.

OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT
On May 13 we celebrate the most recent feast and title given to Our Blessed Mother, that of "Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament." Some believe this title to be prophetic, particularly for our times, and perhaps the greatest honor the church could bestow upon her. Let us ponder some of the reasons why this may be true.

St. Peter Julian Eymard, known as "The Priest of the Eucharist" and "The Apostle of the Eucharist" founded the "Congregation of the Most Blessed Sacrament" at Paris on May 13, 1856. Previous to this he served as a priest for sixteen years in the Society of Mary. He developed a very special love for the Eucharist at a very young age, which was inspired by his Mother's Eucharistic devotion. He also had a tremendous love for Our Lady. During the years of his daily prayer and adoration of our Eucharistic Lord, St. Peter Julian was given the awareness from Our Lady "All the mysteries of my Son have a religious order of men to honor them. The Eucharist alone has none..." With the encouragement of Pius XI, St. Peter Julian Eymard founded the new congregation to first, and foremost, perpetually adore Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament and to spread Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration throughout the world; second, to honor Mary, The Mother of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

"Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament" was the title that St. Peter Julian Eymard gave Our Lady as Mother and model to his new Congregation, his new Eucharistic family. As he stated so often, the Blessed Mother was the first and most perfect adorer of Jesus, the Incarnate Word. Our Lady adored Jesus from the very first moment of conception in her womb. She continued her adoration throughout his earthly life. After Jesus ascended into heaven, according to our early church fathers and theologians, Our Blessed Lady continued to adore and receive Jesus in the Eucharist. St. John the beloved Apostle would have provided the Eucharist for Our Lady, as he cared for her and ministered to her wants. The early church historians write that Our Lady spent most of her days and nights in Adoration of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. In the times of the early church the Eucharist was generally reserved in the homes of Christians. Our Lady's daily communion and adoration united her to Jesus even more closely than during His thirty years with her at Nazareth.

St. John Damascus points out, in his 6th century writings, "the body of Christ in the Holy Eucharist is the very same body born of the Virgin Mary." When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist we receive the Son of Mary. Where we find the Son we find the Mother, in adoration.

Let us consider another May 13 occurrence of great importance. In 1916, preceding the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima, an Angel appeared three times. The first apparition of the Angel to three children, Jacinta, Lucia, and Francisco, frightened them. The Angel said,

"Fear not, I am the Angel of Peace, pray with me: My God, I believe,
I adore, I trust and I love Thee. I beg pardon for those who do not
believe, do not adore, do not trust and do not love Thee."

During the Angel's second apparition the message to the children, in part, was "Pray, pray a great deal! The Heart of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy for you." At the third apparition the Angel, while holding in his hands a chalice surmounted by a Host from which drops of Blood were falling into the chalice then leaving the chalice and Host suspended in the air, prostrated himself on the ground and repeated this prayer three times:

"My God, I believe, I adore, I trust and I love Thee. I beg
pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not
trust and do not love Thee. O Most Holy Trinity, Father,
Son and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee
the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus
Christ, present in all the Tabernacles of the world, in
reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference by
which He is offended, and by the infinite merits of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the
conversion of poor sinners."