This Eucharistic Prayer Companion is designed to help you spend thirty minutes to an hour in meditation and silent prayer with Jesus during Eucharistic adoration. Even if you cannot be physically present in a church or adoration chapel with the Blessed Sacrament, you can unite yourself spiritually to Jesus in the Eucharist as you spend this time in prayer.
WORK OF MERCY: Forgive Injuries
THE GRACE I SEEK: to trust that Jesus is with me and is transforming my life even in my suffering
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.
Pause for a few moments, and allow yourself to become aware of Jesus’ gift of himself in the Eucharist. Realize that, at this very moment, the Lord of Life is gazing upon you with great love. Allow yourself to receive his loving gaze. You are his beloved child. Rest in his loving gaze.
Thank Jesus for the gift of himself in the Eucharist.
ASK FOR THE GRACE: Jesus, help me to trust you even when I am suffering.
Read slowly, 3–4 times. Allow the words of Scripture to wash over your mind and heart. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you through this passage.
“The LORD God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.” (Isaiah 50:7)
Allow yourself to sit with these questions for a while, being attentive to how the Lord is speaking in your heart.
Identify an area of your life where you feel shame or humiliation. Give this to the Lord, and ask how he wants to take away your disgrace. How does he want to be your “help” in the midst of this suffering, just as Isaiah says?
Read slowly, 3–4 times. Again, allow the words of Scripture to wash over your mind and heart. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you in a personal way through this passage.
“When the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel.’” (John 12:12–13)
Coming into Jerusalem, Jesus was met with enthusiasm by those who would soon petition for his death. However, he wholeheartedly forgave them all on the Cross. Identify one person in your life whom Jesus is inviting you to forgive. Offer this person to the Lord in a concrete way, asking for the grace to unite your pain with his own pain on the Cross.
Remain in silence with the Lord. Allow him to speak in the silence, in your heart. Receive his presence. If it helps, write down what you sense the Lord communicating to you during this time of prayer.
Almighty ever-living God, who as an example of humility for the human race to follow caused our Savior to take flesh and submit to the Cross, graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering and so merit a share in his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect, Palm Sunday)
At every Mass, Jesus offers himself to the Father for us. We can always join our own offerings with Jesus at Mass. This Sunday, offer your desire to unite your humiliations and pain with the Lord’s in his sacrifice on the Cross.
Many saints and spiritual writers have encouraged an examination of your day, each day, as a central part of the spiritual life. It is not only a way to see how the Holy Spirit is moving in your life and how well (or not so well!) you are responding, but it is also a beautiful opportunity to forgive those who may have hurt you in some way. Try working an examen into your daily routine, and make it a way to forgive any hurts or injuries others may have inflicted on you throughout the day so you can live in greater freedom and peace.
Would you like to print a copy of this resource to bring with you to the chapel for prayer? Click here to download the Eucharistic Meditations for the Lenten Season in English or Spanish.
