Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

I will turn their mourning into joy! (Jeremiah 31:10-13)

Our holy founder, Saint Peter Julian, enlightened the world with a new way of looking at the Eucharist – through the eyes of love. He was not remiss in his prayer, writing, working, and diligently pouring out his very self to be love for others. He writes to the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, Your heart should be constantly ablaze with that fire (love and light), in order to burn before the Holy Eucharist. Your intelligence should bear fruit that can ripen, that you may be like Saint John the Baptist, preparing the way for God.

Jesus is teaching us in today’s Gospel to be attentive and to embrace the Crosses life will bring. With our hope for the fullness of heaven, we will have the constancy of spirit the scriptures profess to us on this day. Saint Jerome, whom we honor today, is a Doctor of our Church. His life was immersed in the living Word of God that manifested the reality of the Eucharist in its universal enrapturement of the scriptures.

Our passion for life is derived from the Incarnation of Christ in us; living and moving to bring forth the love of God is our key to the Kingdom of Heaven. The offering of our daily duties united to the heart of the Eucharist will bring “mourning into joy.” We live for our Passion, Death, and Rising in Christ. Jesus tells us to be attentive to what he tells us; it is his promise. May our love and light be constantly ablaze for the glory of the Lord and all he has done for us.

Let us pray:

Stay with your mother, work with her, and you will work well. May she be your companion and your partner, holding your heart while working herself, and your service will be well accomplished. (Saint Peter Julian Eymard). Amen!