Venerable Pope Pius XII (1939 to 1958)
Quotes On The Importance Of Eucharistic Adoration
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April 26, 1935 - Cardinal Pacelli (before he became
Pope Pius XII) Speech In Lourdes France
- "The Sacred Heart of Jesus clearly revealed to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque the overwhelming sadness caused to him by the ingratitude of those who are consecrated to him most intimately. Let us ask him in earnest prayer to have pity on them at last. May those Eucharistic days, devoted to perpetual adoration, be also days of expiation and ardent prayer for sacrilegious priests!"
Feb. 25, 1951 - Pope Pius XII Radio Message
for the First Eucharistic Congress of the Gold Coast (Source: Vatican
website -
www.vatican.va)
- "Today you are professing your faith especially in the Holy Eucharist,
— sacrament most holy, sacrament divine — and you offer it the homage of your
adoration."
- "As the Sacred Host is raised on high in Mass or lifted aloft in
jewelled ostensorium to bless you, your hearts cry out with the apostle
Thomas: my Lord, my God...."
- "Guatemala enjoys the distinguished privilege of continuous and successive adoration of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament exposed in its churches." (English translation)
Nov. 20, 1947 - Pope Pius XII Encyclical "Mediator
Dei" (Source: Vatican website -
www.vatican.va)
- 130. "The Sacred Councils teach that it is the Church's
tradition right from the beginning, to worship "with the same adoration the
Word Incarnate as well as His own flesh,"...
- 131. "It is on this doctrinal basis that the cult of
adoring the Eucharist was founded and gradually developed as something
distinct from the sacrifice of the Mass. The reservation of the sacred
species for the sick and those in danger of death introduced the
praiseworthy custom of adoring the blessed Sacrament which is reserved in
our churches. This practice of adoration, in fact, is based on strong and
solid reasons. For the Eucharist is at once a sacrifice and a sacrament; but
it differs from the other sacraments in this that it not only produces
grace, but contains in a permanent manner the Author of grace Himself."
- 131. "When, therefore, the Church bids us adore Christ
hidden behind the eucharistic veils and pray to Him for spiritual and
temporal favors, of which we ever stand in need, she manifests living faith
in her divine Spouse who is present beneath these veils, she professes her
gratitude to Him and she enjoys the intimacy of His friendship."
- 132. "Now, the Church in the course of centuries has introduced
various forms of this worship which are ever increasing in beauty and
helpfulness: as, for example, visits of devotion to the tabernacles, even
every day;...and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament publicly exposed."
- 133. "These exercises of piety have brought a wonderful
increase in faith and supernatural life to the Church militant upon earth
and they are reechoed to a certain extent by the Church triumphant in heaven
which sings continually a hymn of praise to God and to the Lamb "who was
slain." Wherefore, the Church not merely approves these pious
practices, which in the course of centuries have spread everywhere
throughout the world, but makes them her own, as it were, and by her
authority commends them."
- 129. "It is no wonder, then, that the Church, even from the
beginning, adored the body of Christ under the appearance of bread; this is
evident from the very rites of the august sacrifice, which prescribe that the
sacred ministers should adore the most holy sacrament by genuflecting or by
profoundly bowing their heads."
- 135. "For excellent and of great benefit is that custom
which makes the priest raise aloft the Bread of Angels before congregations
with heads bowed down in adoration...."
- 136. "Let your churches be the house of God where all who
enter to implore blessings rejoice in obtaining whatever they ask and find
there heavenly consolation."
- 176. "Above all, do not allow - as some do, who are
deceived under the pretext of restoring the liturgy or who idly claim that
only liturgical rites are of any real value and dignity - that churches be
closed during the hours not appointed for public functions, as has already
happened in some places: where the adoration of the august sacrament and
visits to our Lord in the tabernacles are neglected...."
- 174. "The chief of these are: meditation on spiritual
things, diligent examination of conscience, enclosed retreats, visits to the
blessed sacrament...."
- 150. "All should come to our churches and there be taught the truth of the Catholic faith, sing the praises of God, be enriched with benediction of the blessed sacrament given by the priest and be strengthened with help from heaven against the adversities of this life."
April 19, 1953 - Pope Pius XII Radio Message
for the National Eucharistic Congress of Australia (Source: Vatican
website -
www.vatican.va)
- "One hundred and fifty years ago the first Holy Mass was offered on your
shores; and one can well imagine the deeply felt emotions of the
sacrament-hungry exiles, when they were at last granted their most prized
privilege to bow in adoration before the divine Victim of Golgotha raised
oft in the hands of their priest."
- "The Eucharistic Christ is a living, loving reality in our very midst....
Really present on our altars, in our tabernacles, present in the hearts and
homes of all who are one with Him by grace divine, He offers us personally
His love, and pleads for ours."
- "O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all
thanksgiving be every moment thine!"
- "The Blessed Eucharist is for Its adorers an
inexhaustible source of light and strength. Those who, especially in the
silent hours of the night, gather together in adoration with the Angels and
render to the Lamb, who was immolated, the thanksgiving due to Him, draw
abundantly for themselves and for all the Church waters from the fountains
of the Savior."
May 15, 1956 - Pope Pius XII Encyclical
"Haurietis Aquas" (Source: Vatican website -
www.vatican.va)
- 122. "No one really ever has a proper understanding of Christ crucified to whom the inner mysteries of His Heart have not been made known.... Nor will it be easy to understand the strength of the love which moved Christ to give Himself to us as our spiritual food save by fostering in a special way the devotion to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus...."