THE STATIONS OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST - & - Meditation on the Stations of the Cross together with the Stations of the Eucharist

The Stations of the Holy Eucharist 

The Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration in Hanceville, Alabama (formerly led by EWTN founder Mother Angelica), are strong promoters of this devotion and have developed beautiful meditations for each station. They explain the purpose of this devotion on their website.

https://www.holyhillcross.com/STATIONS%20OF%20THE%20EUCHARIST.htm

 

                                                                                                                       

FROM PROMISE TO FULFILLMENT

 

The purpose of the Stations of the Eucharist is to help the faithful deepen both their understanding and appreciation of the Source and Summit of our faith: The Most Holy Eucharist, especially during 2005, THE YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST, and, for all ages. Through the whole of salvation history, God, our Father has prepared His people for the Gift of His Beloved Son, and also for the Gift of His Real Presence in the Most Holy Eucharist.  Throughout the Old Testament, the Eucharist was prefigured.  And in the New Testament, these shadows give way to Reality.

 

 

 

~Opening Prayer~

 

Lord, open my mind and heart to the treasures of Your Truth as revealed in the Doctrine of the Real Presence. Grant that my eyes may see through faith’s vision, the wonders of Your Love in the Most Holy Eucharist. As I meditate on the mystery of Your Hidden Presence, I entreat You to increase my faith, enkindle my hope, and deepen my love for You, my Eucharistic King. Amen.

 

At each Station of the Eucharist, pray:  “O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine. All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.”

 

 

 

1. MELCHIZEDEK, THE KlNG OF SALEM:

FORESHADOWING OF A EUCHARISTIC PRIESTHOOD

 

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine.

All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

 

 

 

"The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind,

'You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.'

(Psalm 110:4)

 

Jesus, King of Peace, Your priesthood was foreshadowed by the priesthood of Melchizedek. Like him, You made an offering of bread and wine, but the bread and wine You offered to the Father was transubstantiated into Your own Flesh and Blood. You, Yourself, were both the Priest and the Victim. Plant within our hearts a deep respect and love for all priests. Following Abraham’s example when he sought the blessing of Melchizedek, grant us the humility ever to seek the blessing of Your ordained ministers, for it is from their hands that we are fed with the Food of Everlasting Life.

 

Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, pray  for us!

 

 

 

2. THE JEWISH PASSOVER: THE PASCHAL LAMB:

 PREFIGUREMENT OF THE EUCHARISTIC SACRIFICE

 

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine.

All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

 

 

“Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts

and the lintel of the houses in which they eat them… It is the Lord’s

Passover.  And when I see the blood, I will pass over you , and no

plague shall fall upon  you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”

(Exodus 12:7, 11, 13)

 

Lord, the Chosen People of old would put the blood of the Passover lamb on  their doorposts.  Being people of the New Covenant, You give us Your very Blood to drink and thus protect us from all evil. At the Last Supper in the course of the Passover meal, You instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. You, Yourself, are the Lamb of Sacrifice, Who takes away the sins of the world. Increase our gratitude for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and grant that through the worthy reception of Holy Communion, we may be delivered, like the Israelites of old, from all slavery to sin.

 

Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, pray  for us!

 

 

 

3. THE MANNA: PREFIGUREMENT OF

THE EUCHARIST, THE NEW MANNA

 

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine.

All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

 

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Behold, I will

rain down bread from heaven for you."'

(Exodus 16:4)

 

Lord, Your Chosen People were sustained with manna for forty years in the desert. The Church, the new Israel, is now on pilgrimage to the Eternal Promised Land and Her members are sustained with the new Manna, the Most Holy Eucharist. Again, You have rained down Bread for Your Chosen People. Grant that all who eat of this new Manna may never die. Increase our hunger for the Eucharist, for without such Food it is difficult to persevere in the life of grace.

 

Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, pray  for us!

 

 

 

4. THE OLD TEMPLE: PREFIGUREMENT OF THE

EUCHARIST, GOD DWELLING AMONG MEN

 

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine.

All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

 

 

 

“The glory of the Lord filled the House of God...Then Solomon said:

'The Lord has said that He would dwell in thick darkness. I have

 built thee an exalted house, a place for thee to dwell in for ever

—But will God dwell indeed with man on the earth?”

(2Chromcles 5:14; 6:1, 2, 18)

 

Lord, truly You were with Your Chosen People in the Old Testament. But Your Presence among us in the Most Blessed Sacrament far surpasses anything that Solomon would have even dared to imagine. Your glory fills every Temple, no matter how humble, so long as Your Sacramental Presence abides there.  Thank You for dwelling among men in the Most Blessed Sacrament to the consummation of the ages.

 

Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, pray  for us!

 

 

 

5. ELIJAH AND THE HEARTH CAKES:

PREFIGUREMENT OF THE EUCHARIST,

FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY

 

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine.

All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

 

 

 

"And the angel of the Lord came again a second time, and touched him, and

 said, ‘Arise and eat, else the journey will journey will be too great for you.'

And he arose, and ate and drank, and went in strength of that  food

 for forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God."

(1 Kings 19:1-8)

 

Lord, Your angel fed the Prophet Elijah and in this food we see a prefigurement of the Eucharist. As pilgrims traveling towards that Eternal Life which is the true Mount of God, we are in need of the strength Your Sacrament provides. Without this nourishment, we would never have the vigor to climb so steep a mountain, we would faint with weariness; we would die of hunger; for without You, Lord, we can do nothing!

 

Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, pray  for us!

 

 

 

6. BETHLEHEM, THE HOUSE OF BREAD:

BIRTHPLACE OF THE BREAD OF LIFE

 

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine.

All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

 

 

 

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be

among the clans of Judah,  from you shall come forth

 for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin

 is from of old,  from ancient days."

(Micah 5:2)

 

Lord, You are the Word made Flesh and You dwell among us to this very day. How fitting it is that You chose to be born in Bethlehem, "the House of Bread." Your Holy Mother wrapped You in swaddling bands and laid You in the manger, a feeding trough, for there was no room for You in the Inn. Even as a Babe, You revealed that You truly are the Bread of Life. Each Tabernacle is another Bethlehem for us. We find You there and welcome You with joy to the Inn of our hearts.

 

Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, pray  for us!

 

 

 

 

7. THE WEDDING FEAST AT CANA:

WATER TO WINE, WINE TO BLOOD

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine.

All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

Cana, place of Jesus' first miracle  - https://youtu.be/06R9-XwtudY  18 Jan 2022

 

 

 

"'Jesus said to them, 'Fill the jars with water.'  And they filled them up to the

brim...the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine...and said to him,

 'Every man serves the good wine first...but you have kept the good wine until now."'

(John 2:7,9,10)

 

Lord, in the Wedding Feast at Cana, we see Your power over the elements of nature as You turned water into wine in answer to Your Mother's request. This miracle is like ointment to our wounded faith, for possessing the power to change water into wine, You also possess the power to change wine into Your Blood. O Wonderful Reality! In this Your first public miracle, You are already enlarging Your disciples' hearts to accept the changing of wine into Your Precious Blood. Enlarge our hearts and turn the water of our unbelief into the wine of childlike faith!

 

Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, pray  for us!

 

 

 

 

8. MULTIPLICATION OF THE LOAVES:

THE EUCHARIST, FOOD FOR THE MULTITUDES

 

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine.

All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

 

 

 

“And taking the five loaves and two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed,

 and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples to set before  the people,

 and he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were

satisfied. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men."

(Mark 6:41'-42, 44)

 

This miracle, Lord, among all of Your miracles is so markedly Eucharistic, as we see You say the blessing, break the bread, and distribute it through Your disciples to the multitude. Five loaves among five thousand men. This prefigures Your feeding (through the hands of Your priests) the countless faithful with the Bread of Life, the Most Holy Eucharist. So long as there is the Mass, there is the Eucharist, and the multitudes are fed. Not only do You feed us, but You satisfy us. Grant that we may always be satisfied with You alone.

 

Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, pray  for us!

 

 

 

 

9. THE BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE:

JESUS, THE BREAD OF LIFE

 

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine.

All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

 

 

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.

I am the Bread of Life. Your fathers ate manna in the

wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes

 down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die."

(John 6:41-50)

 

Lord, of all the foreshadowings given to us, Your Bread of Life discourse is the most explicit. The shadows were falling away as the reality of Holy Thursday approached. Your words assuage all doubts. Your words cannot deceive. When the eyes fail to see and the senses fail to fathom, faith listens to Your words and puts therein all trust. This discourse was not a parable — it was a glimpse into Your Heart, which could not bear to leave us orphans. My God, teach us to be grateful for so great a Gift!

 

Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, pray  for  us!

 

 

 

 

10. THE LAST SUPPER:

PROMISES FULFILLED

 

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine.

All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

 

 

"And He took bread, and when He had given thanks He

broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My Body."

(Luke 22:19)

 

Here we are, Lord, at the pinnacle of the Eucharistic mystery, on the very eve of Your Passion.  This Passover would not be like any other, for the Old Covenant was about to pass away. The New and everlasting Covenant was about to be instituted. O Blessed Fulfiller of Promises! With the Apostles, we listen to Your words. They are the words of a Friend, of a Brother, of a Priest. But most of all, they are the words of the Incarnate Word, the well-beloved Son of the Eternal Father. With what affectionate love did You say the sacred words of consecration, the very words that have echoed through the centuries from the lips of Your priests: 'This is My Body. This is My Blood."

 

Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, pray for us!

 

 

 

 

11. THE ROAD TO EMMAUS: JESUS, RECOGNIZED

IN THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

 

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine.

All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

 

 

“When He was at table with them, He took the bread and

blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were

 opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished out of their sight."

(Luke 24:30-31)

 

Lord, when You walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, You listened to all they had to say. Besieged by their own worries and disappointment, they did not recognize You as the One of Whom they spoke. They did not recognize You until "the Breaking of the Bread." Their eyes were then opened, but You had vanished from their sight. In the Holy Eucharist, though not visible to our bodily sight, we recognize You in "the Breaking of the Bread." As we listen in silent adoration, our hearts — like those of Your disciples — burn within us. And we repeat to You now the disciples’ plea and bid You to stay with us; for it is nearly evening. Stay with us, Lord, and may we always be with You.

 

Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, pray  for us!

 

 

 

 

12.  THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB:

THE EUCHARIST IS THE PLEDGE OF ETERNAL LIFE

 

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine.

All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

 

 

"Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory,

 for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and

His Bride has made herself ready.......

Blessed are those who are admitted to the

marriage supper of the Lamb."

(Revelation 19:7, 9)

 

Lord, in the Holy Eucharist, Your reign over the hearts of men has truly begun. Each Holy Communion can be compared to the marriage of the Lamb with the soul. Yet Your Presence is veiled and we look forward with blessed hope to that day when we shall see You as You are. We anticipate that day when You will say to us: Come blessed of My Father, enter into the joy of the Lord. In Holy Communion, You give us a foretaste of the joy that will be ours in the Kingdom. We ask that You continue to increase our desire for union with You at the Eternal Wedding Feast of Heaven.

 

Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, pray for us!

 

 

~Closing Prayer~

 

Lord, thank You for revealing Yourself to mankind, for sacrificing Yourself for our salvation, and for remaining with us in the Most Holy Eucharist. You are the Maker, the Fulfiller, and the Fulfillment of the Promise: "I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this Bread, he will live forever; and the Bread which I shall give for the life of the world is My Flesh." (John 6:51)  Make of me a true apostle of the Eucharist.  During my time of adoration, fill my heart with Your grace and light that I may shine with Your own radiance in the world and thus lead many souls to the Eucharistic Throne of Your Mercy. Deepen my understanding of the Sacrament of our Salvation, that I may courageously defend You, even to the shedding of my blood.

 

 

May the Heart of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament

be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at

 every moment, in all the Tabernacles of the world, even

until the end of time.  Amen.

 

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And From the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word:

A MEDITATION ON THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS VS. THE STATIONS OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST

https://franciscanmissionaries.com/a-meditation-on-the-stations-of-the-cross-vs-the-stations-of-the-holy-eucharist/#:~:text=The%20purpose%20of%20the%20Stations,Blessed%20Sacrament%20in%20Hanceville%2C%20AL.

The purpose of the Stations of the Holy Eucharist is to help the faithful deepen both their understanding and appreciation of the Source and Summit of our Faith: The Most Holy Eucharist. The original stations of the holy Eucharist are located at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, AL.
 
The First Station
In the first station of the cross, Jesus is condemned to death. The high priest sends Jesus to Pilate because he cannot put someone to death. Jesus is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. He freely lays down His life for all people past, present, and future. Jesus is priest and victim.

In the first Eucharistic station we see the high priest Melchizedek make an offering of bread and wine to Abram. In the future, Jesus will take the substance of bread and wine and change it into His body and blood. We are able to receive the body and blood of Jesus every day if want. Jesus will give us the strength to take up our cross daily and follow Him into Heaven.

The Second Station
In the second station of the cross Jesus carries His cross. He submitted to be struck down and did not open His mouth. He was led to the slaughter, like a sheep that is dumb before the shearers.

In the second Eucharistic station we think of the Paschal lamb. The Israelite people are commanded by the Lord to offer a special sacrificial lamb for the Passover. Over a thousand years later, St. John the Baptist would proclaim, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Jesus is the sacrificial lamb. We are all able to eat His flesh and drink His blood at every Holy Mass.

The Third Station
In the third station Jesus falls the first time. We are all weak human beings. We will fall many times. Jesus shows us that we must get up. He will always give us the strength to get up.

In the third Eucharistic station God gives manna to the Israelite people after they fall. They complained against God and Moses because they had no food. This manna God gave them is a foreshadowing of the body and blood of Jesus that we receive in Holy Communion. Jesus gives us the strength to get up after we fall when we eat His flesh and blood.

The Fourth Station
In the fourth station Jesus meets His mother as He carries His cross. Mary carried Jesus in her womb for nine months. Jesus gave each one of us to Mary as her adopted children. She helped Jesus carry His cross and she will help each one of us carry our crosses to the very end.

In the fourth Eucharistic station we think about the temple built by Solomon. Jesus says, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” He is talking about His body the temple of God. When we receive Holy Communion Jesus dwells in us. Our bodies are temples of God. The Blessed Mother was the first person to hold Jesus in her body. Now we can be like our adopted mother and have Jesus dwelling in us when we receive Holy Communion.

The Fifth Station
In the fifth station Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus bear His cross. God does not need us, but we need God. Jesus let Simon help Him, but it was Jesus who was teaching Simon how to take up his cross and follow Him.

In the fifth Eucharistic station Elijah is fleeing for his Life. He gives us not caring if he is killed. An angel brings him hearth cakes and water. With this food he travels forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. When we receive the Holy Eucharist at Mass we are given the strength to take up our cross and follow Jesus all the way to Heaven.
 
The Sixth Station
In the sixth station Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. Jesus says when you do it to the least of my brothers you do it to me. We must be there to comfort and wipe away the tears of those who suffer.

In the sixth Eucharistic station we think of Bethlehem. It means the house of bread. The Blessed Mother wipes the face of baby Jesus. Mary shows us how to take care of Jesus. Jesus takes bread and wine and changes it into His body and blood. When we receive Jesus in Holy Communion we are in union with His passion, death, and resurrection. Jesus sacrificed Himself for us and showed us how to do the same.

The Seventh Station
In the seventh station Jesus falls the second time. He shows us how we must get up no matter how many times we fall.

In the seventh Eucharistic station Jesus changes water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana. The husband and wife fail to have enough wine for all their guests. The Blessed Mother sees this and asked Jesus to help them. Jesus works His first miracle by changing water into wine. In every Holy Mass Jesus works a miracle. He changes wine and bread into His body and blood. Jesus gives us His flesh and blood to eat so we are able to get up and carry our cross after Him.

The Eighth Station
In the eighth station Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem. Jesus told them do not weep for Him but weep for yourselves and your children. Jesus shows them His love by His comforting words.

In the eighth Eucharistic station we think of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. The people are hungry to Jesus multiples bread and fish. At every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass Jesus multiplies Himself to feed all His children. Jesus is always there to comfort us in our time of need.

The Ninth Station
In the ninth station Jesus falls the third time. We will fall many times in our lives but we can get up with the help of Jesus.

In the ninth Eucharistic station we think of the bread of life discourse. You need to read John 6:25-71. Jesus said I am the living bread that came down from Heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is My flesh for the life on the world. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has life everlasting. Many of His disciples left. Jesus said to the twelve, will you also go away. He did not change His teaching about the Holy Eucharist even though it is hard to accept. When we eat His flesh and drink His blood we receive the strength to get up no matter how many times we fall.

The Tenth Station
In the tenth station Jesus is stripped of His garments. Jesus is God man and yet He freely allows Himself to be stripped. See the humility of Jesus.

In the tenth Eucharistic station we think of the Last Supper. At the Last Supper Jesus shows His twelve apostles how they are to be the servants of others. Jesus washes their feet and tells them they must do the same. Jesus then gives them His body and blood to eat and drink. He knows they cannot be the servants of others on their own strength.

The Eleventh Station
In the eleventh station Jesus is nailed to the cross. Two criminals were nailed with Him. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing.” God forgives us many times because we have a hard time seeing the truth.

In the eleventh Eucharistic station we think about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus shows the two disciples how He must suffer, die and rise again using Old Testament scriptures. They did not come to understand until the breaking of the bread. The more time we spend adoring Jesus in the most Holy Eucharist. The more we will understand how much Jesus loves us, and how He loves to forgive us. Jesus knows how weak we are and He will strengthen us with His body and blood.

The Twelfth Station
In the twelfth station Jesus dies on the cross. Afterwards a soldier stabbed His side with a lance, and at once there was a flow of blood and water.

In the twelfth Eucharistic station we think about the marriage supper of the lamb. This is the hold sacrifice of the Mass. At Mass we have the representation of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus in an unbloody manner. Jesus died so we can live. We cannot live without food, therefore Jesus gives us His flesh to eat and blood to drink. When we go to the Holy Mass we receive what we need to die to self and rise a new person. When we receive the Eucharist we will have the strength to do the work of God.

The Thirteenth Station
In the thirteenth station Jesus is taken down from the cross. He is laid in His mother’s arms.

If they had a thirteenth Eucharistic station it would be the Blessed Mother receiving Holy Communion. Mary was always there for her son. Jesus the perfect son is always there for His mother. Mary held Jesus is her womb for nine months. After receiving Holy Communion she is able to hold Jesus in her body. Let us be like Mary and hold Jesus in our bodies. Remember our bodies are temples of God.

The Fourteenth Station
In the fourteenth station Jesus is laid in the tomb. Jesus is God man. His human nature can die but His divine nature cannot. Therefore God remained in the tomb three days and then rose from the dead.

If they had a fourteenth Eucharistic station it would be how Jesus is present in each tabernacle in every Catholic Church. We can go visit Jesus whenever we want. Jesus loves to be with you. I pray that you will grow in your love for Him and long to spend time in adoration.

THE STATIONS OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST and THE HOLY MASS

"Over 90% have no idea what the Mass even is ..."

IN YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUNkocjtA4w 

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Pope Francis at Mass: the Devil is behind every persecution

Pope in Santa Marta: The devil persecutes human beings to destroy them - Published on Friday, 1 Jun 2018




Pope Francis at Mass: the Devil is behind every persecution - Published on Friday, 1 Jun 2018



 

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2018-06/pope-santa-marta-homily-devil-persecution.html

 

 

During his homily at Mass on Friday, Pope Francis reflected on how the Devil is the cause of all forms of persecution: from cultural colonization to war, hunger, and slavery.

 

 

Today, said Pope Francis, we are not only witnessing the persecution of Christians, but of every man and woman, "through cultural colonization, war, hunger, and slavery". But the Lord gives us the grace to fight back and to restore the image and likeness of God that is within us.

Persecution is part of Christian life

 

In the first reading, St Peter refers specifically to how the persecution of Christians "broke out…like fire". Pope Francis explained how such persecution is "part of Christian life"…

“Persecution is rather like the ‘air’ that Christians breathe even today. Because even today there are many martyrs, many people who are persecuted for their love of Christ. There are many countries where Christians have no rights. If you wear a cross, you go to jail. And there are people in jail. There are people condemned to death today simply because they are Christians. The number of people killed is higher than the number of early martyrs. It’s higher! But this doesn’t make news. Television newscasts and newspapers don’t cover these things. Meanwhile Christians are being persecuted”. 

Persecution of humanity as the image of God

The Pope went on to say there is another kind of persecution in the world today: the persecution of men and women because they are made in the image and likeness of God.

“The Devil is behind every persecution, both of Christians and all human beings. The Devil tries to destroy the presence of Christ in Christians, and the image of God in men and women. He tried doing this from the very beginning, as we read in the Book of Genesis: he tried to destroy that harmony that the Lord created between man and woman, the harmony that comes from being made in the image and likeness of God. And he succeeded. He managed to do it by using deception, seduction…the weapons he uses. He always does this. But there is a powerful ruthlessness against men and women today: otherwise how to explain this growing wave of destruction towards men and women, and all that is human”.

The Devil as the Father of Persecutions

 

Pope Francis described hunger as an "injustice" that "destroys men and women because they have nothing to eat", even if there is a lot food available in the world. He went on to speak of human exploitation, of different forms of slavery, and recalled how he recently saw a film shot inside a prison where migrants are locked up and tortured to turn them into slaves. This is still happening, he said, "70 years after the Declaration of Human Rights". The Pope also reflected on cultural colonization. This is exactly what the Devil wants, he said, "to destroy human dignity" – and that is why the Devil is behind all forms of persecution.

“Wars can be considered a kind of instrument to destroy people, made in the image of God. But so are the people who make war, who plan war in order to exercise power over others. There are people who promote the arms industry to destroy humanity, to destroy the image of man and woman, physically morally, and culturally… Even if they are not Christians, the Devil persecutes them because they are the image of God. We must not be ingenuous. In the world today, all humans, and not only Christians are being persecuted, because the Father of all persecutions cannot bare that they are the image and likeness of God. So he attacks and destroys that image. It isn’t easy to understand this. We have to pray a lot if we want to understand it”.

 

 

 

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