April is the month of the Blessed Sacrament

 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Since the 16th century, the month of April has been especially dedicated by the Church to devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.  In the encyclical Mediator Dei, Pope Pius XII teaches the following concerning this devotion:

"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.  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. . . . 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."

Venerable Pope Pius XII, pray for us.