Eucharistic Devotions 2025 - Opening Mass

 As we open our weekend of Eucharistic Devotions, we celebrate a votive mass for the Most Holy Eucharist to honor God for the gift of the Eucharist. The Scriptures of the mass also help us to enter into what God is doing in our midst.

The Book of Proverbs tells us that “Wisdom has built her house… she has spread her table.” 

As a parish, we have wisely been preparing for this weekend. The work of preparation—placing flowers, lighting candles, adorning the altar—echoes the words of Scripture: Wisdom has indeed set her table, and now she invites us to come, to eat, to drink, to receive the Lord’s gift of life. People of God wisely set the table of our hearts for the Lord to come and dine.

In the Psalm we find another image of food. The Lord is my shepherd…he leads me to restful waters… You spread the table before me…he refreshes my soul.

We recognize that it is the Lord who draws us to these hours of adoration. And for those who take part in them, they will be restful and refreshing. In the hours of silence, and in our recitation of the liturgy of the hours—we allow our souls to breathe, we lay down our burdens and concerns and longings of the heart, and allow the Lord, Our Shepherd, to refresh us. The hours of prayer we give to the Lord are not empty time; they are refreshment for the heart.

Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus reveals the heart of this weekend: “I am the bread of life. Whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” What we honor and adore is not a mere symbol or memory—it is Jesus himself, living and present, giving us his Body and Blood. This devotion is meant to deepen our faith: faith that the Eucharist is truly Christ; faith that to receive him is to receive eternal life; faith that his flesh given for the world is our hope of salvation.

So let us enter this weekend with grateful hearts. Let us sit at the table Wisdom has prepared, let us rest beside the waters that refresh the soul, and let us believe ever more deeply in the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, present in the Eucharist for us for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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In union with Christ, who offers himself as living bread, we offer our prayers of petition:

For the Church, nourished by the Eucharist: that she may always proclaim with joy the presence of Christ in our midst. 

For peace in our world: that the Body of Christ may unite all peoples in justice, reconciliation, and harmony. 

For our parish community as we begin this weekend of Eucharistic Devotions: that our time of prayer may deepen our love for the Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament. 

For all who hunger and thirst—in body or in spirit: that they may be satisfied by Christ, who is the Bread of Life. 

For the sick, the lonely, and those carrying heavy burdens: that their souls may be refreshed by the Shepherd who leads us beside restful waters. 

For our beloved dead, who were nourished at the Eucharistic table on earth: that they may now share in the banquet of eternal life.

For the prayers we offer in the silence of our hearts, and for…for whom this mass is offered.

Loving Father, you feed us with the Body and Blood of your Son, the living bread from heaven. Hear our prayers, and grant us the grace always to remain close to Him, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.