Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament

The Eucharist is the beating heart of the Church. The documents and teachings of the Catholic Church refer to it as the source and summit of the Christian life. It is the fount of what the Church teaches, proclaims, and does. And everything that the Church does is directed toward it.

The Eucharist fosters communion with God and our brethren. We are gathered to listen to the living Word of God in the Scriptures. We are nourished by the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The Eucharist gives us a foretaste of the heavenly and eternal liturgy in heaven.

Veneration of the Eucharist is not only confined to the liturgical celebration of it. The Eucharist is also revered outside the celebration. Churches and oratories have the Eucharist reserved either in a tabernacle or a monstrance. The faithful can visit, worship, and offer holy hour adoration prayers. These prayers are meant to help us meditate and pray before the True Presence, Jesus Christ in the most Blessed Sacrament.

Prayer to the Blessed Sacrament

Lord Jesus Christ, true God, and true man, on the eve before You suffered and died for my salvation, You desired to remain with us. Hence, You instituted the Sacrament of Your most holy Body and Blood in the Eucharist. Thank You for this wonderful gift! Thank You for remaining with us. Thank You for this perpetual remembrance of Your unfathomable love.

You are here before me. You are truly here in the form of the Sacred Host. I believe, my Lord and God, that You are present here now. Lord and Creator, I adore You. I worship You in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Allow me to see You through the eyes of faith and confidence. Because of Your inexhaustible love for all, You remain in this Sacrament day and night. You stay here, calling and waiting for us to visit, pray, and spend some moments in awe of Your divine presence.

Most loving Jesus, I place myself in Your presence. I lay down all my fears and worries. I offer You everything that I went through today. Stay with me, dear Lord. Stay with me and never let me be separated from Your love. I adore You, Jesus, with all of my being. I am heartily sorry for offending Your limitless goodness so many times. I strive to never again offend You in the future with Your grace.

Thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, for this Sacrament of the Eucharist. Through it, we are given a glimpse of heaven and a foretaste of the eternal worship in heaven. Before You, I am nothing. I am humbled before Your holy presence, but at the same time, I am assured of Your mercy and love. I give You thanks for all the blessings I have received, especially for giving me Yourself in this Sacrament. May You be worshipped and adored in the Blessed Sacrament throughout the world.

You who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

Short prayer before the Blessed Sacrament

My Lord and my God, I firmly believe that You are present in the holiest Sacrament of the altar. I love You above everything. I desire to remain in Your love. Stay with me each moment of my life. I desire to worship You in this Sacrament all throughout my days. You who lives forever and ever. Amen.

The Word of God

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Revelation 5:13 NRSVUE

Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30 NRSVUE

Blessed Sacrament prayer to Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Apostle of the Eucharist

Most faithful Saint Peter Julian Eymard, lover of God and the Holy Eucharist, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you have discovered the gift of love in the Eucharist which sustains and nourishes all of us. You were chosen to serve as a Eucharistic priest by God’s grace. To spread awareness of and love for the Eucharist on earth was your task. Thank you for your shining example of fervent devotion to and untiring love for the Eucharist.

Saint Peter Julian Eymard, you endured all of life’s difficulties during your lifetime. We humbly implore you to assist us by making supplications to the Lord. You accepted the will of the Father for you, full of love, faith, and hope. We experience our fair share of difficulties. We occasionally sway under the cross. Assist us to have faith, help us to trust in God, and help us to accept His will for us through your intercession.

Saint Peter Julian Eymard, you never failed to remember people in need despite giving so much of yourself. Please help us to keep in mind the needs of our brethren. You understood what society required. You were mindful of the needy throughout your mission. You were not indifferent to the sick and the dying. Help us to be aware of those who are less fortunate among us, to remember those who are ill at home or in the hospital, and to care for the lonely and the dying. Motivate us to spread the word about the power of the Eucharist and to re-establish God’s Kingdom by transforming our society into a paradise.

I ask that through your intercession and in response to your example, people would be moved to honor and participate with the Lord Jesus Christ in the celebration of the Eucharist and that those who have strayed will once more experience complete joy in His Presence.

Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Apostle of the Eucharist, pray for us. Amen.

Further reflection

On the night before He fulfilled His selfless sacrifice for the redemption of all, the Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist. He desired us to remember Him as we partake of His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. He willed to remain with us through this most venerable Sacrament.

True to His name, the Lord Jesus Christ is truly the Immanuel – the God with us. He never abandons us. He never forsakes us. This is proven through the Eucharist, the most treasured possession of the Church. We are continually guided and nourished by Christ in our journey toward holiness and goodness.

We might be busy with our day-to-day lives. Today, Christ asks us to set aside maybe a few minutes to visit Him and spend a few moments in silence with Him. Tell Him how our day has been and what we will do for the rest of the day. Relate to Him how we feel, our frustrations, aches, small victories, and accomplishments. Speak to Him as our friend and brother. He listens. He never fails to understand. Be embraced by His loving and calming presence in the Blessed Sacrament.