The Eucharistic Heart of Jesus: Missa “Sciens Jesus”
On 9 November 1921, Pope Benedict XV instituted the feast of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus to be celebrated on the Thursday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart with a Proper Mass and Office. The feast continues to be celebrated in some places and by some communities, notably by the Redemptorists who maintain it in their Proper Calendar. In instituting the feast, Pope Benedict XV wrote:
The chief reason of this feast is to commemorate the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the mystery of the Eucharist. By this means the Church wishes more and more to excite the faithful to approach this sacred mystery with confidence, and to inflame their hearts with that divine charity which consumed the Sacred Heart of Jesus when in His infinite love He instituted the Most Holy Eucharist, wherein the Divine Heart guards and loves them by living with them, as they live and abide in Him. For in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist He offers and gives Himself to us as victim, companion, nourishment, viaticum, and pledge of our future glory.
Even to the Consummation of the World
The adorable mystery of the Eucharist sums up, contains, and communicates to us the entire mystery of Christ: His incarnation, life, passion, death, resurrection, and ascension, and outpouring of the Holy Spirit. If you seek the open Side of the glorious ascended Christ, you will find it in the Eucharist. If you seek the pierced Heart of Christ, beating with love for the Father and with mercy for sinners, you will find it in the Eucharist. The Communion Antiphon of the Mass of the feast is meant to be repeated and treasured. It is, at once, a promise and an invitation: “Behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world” (Mt 28:20).
INTROIT John 13. 12
Hear O Lord, my voice with which I have cried to Thee: be Thou my helper, forsake me not, nor do Thou despise me, O God, my Saviour. Ps. The Lord is my light, and my salvation, whom shall I fear? V. Glory be to the Father.
COLLECT
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast poured forth the riches of Thy love for men in instituting the Sacrament of the Eucharist: help us, we beseech Thee, to love Thy most loving Heart and ever to make worthy use of so great a Sacrament: Who livest and reignest.
EPISTLE Ephesians 3. 8-12, 14-19
Lesson from the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians. Brethren: To me, the least of all the Saints, is given the grace, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ: and to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God, Who created all things: that the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places through the Church, according to the eternal purpose which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord: in Whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him. For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom all paternity in Heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened by His Spirit with might unto the inward man, that Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts: that being rooted and grounded in charity, you may be able to comprehend with all the Saints, what is the breadth and length, and height and depth: to know also the charity of Christ which surpasseth all knowledge. That you may be filled unto all the fullness of God.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Isaiah 12:6
Exult and praise, O habitation of Sion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. Make His works known among the people.
Alleluia, alleluia. V. What is his good and what is his beautiful thing, but the corn of the elect, and wine springing forth virgins? Alleluia.
GOSPEL Luke 22. 15-20
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: With desire I have desired to eat this pasch with you, before I suffer. For I say to you that from this time I will not eat it, till it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And having taken the chalice, He gave thanks and said: Take and divide among you. For I say to you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, till the kingdom of God come. And taking bread, He gave thanks and brake and gave to them, saying: This is My Body, which is given for you. Do this for a commemoration of Me. In like manner, the chalice also, after He had supped, saying: this is the chalice, the new testament in My Blood, which shall be shed for you.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 30:20
O how great is the multitude of Thy sweetness, O Lord, which Thou hast hidden for them that fear Thee. Alleluia.
SECRET
Guard us, O Lord, who offer Thine own burnt-offering to Thee: and that our hearts may be prepared more fervently for it, kindle them with the fire of Thy divine love: Who livest and reignest.
PREFACE of the Sacred Heart
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks to Thee, holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God: through Christ our Lord, Who the day before He was sacrificed on the altar of the cross, desiring to pour out upon men the riches of His love, brought forth from the treasury of His Heart the mystery of the Eucharist. In this mystery the faith of believers is fed, their hope increased, their charity strengthened, and they receive the pledge of future glory. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Matthew 28:20
Behold I am with you all the days, even to the consummation of the world: saith the Lord. Alleluia
POSTCOMMUNION
Filled with the divine gifts of Thy Heart, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus, that we may be made worthy ever to abide in Thy love and to grow therein unto the end: Who livest and reignest. with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. R. Amen.
The Brighton Oratory 