“Our body is a cenacle, a monstrance: through its crystal the world should see God.” — St. Gianna Beretta Molla
The monstrance, the gilded vessel used at adoration, derives its name from the Latin monstrare. Monstrare is connected to the word demonstrate, meaning to show or explain. The monstrance is the vessel which shows the Eucharist. It points to Christ. St. Faustina Kowalska says: “Not only are we to receive and adore the Eucharist, we must live the Eucharist. We are to let the rays of mercy from the monstrance pass through us and go out through all the world.” To be a saint, to desire holiness, to increase in Christian charity, we must become little monstrances, bearing Christ to every soul!
LET US PRAY
Lord Jesus, may the rays of your love and mercy shine forth from my heart. May my life be modeled after yours, that people see you in me. May I always point to you. Amen.
PRAYER TO THE EUCHARIST
O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption. Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
-Collect for the Feast of Corpus Christi, composed by St. Thomas Aquinas