Respice in Faciem Christi Tui

Today, being the First Friday of the month, we had exposition and adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament at the monastery. Saint Gaetano Catanoso used to say: “If we wish to adore the real Face of Jesus, we can find it in the divine Eucharist, where with the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, the Face of Our Lord is hidden under the white veil of the Host”.

As evidenced by the bannerhead, the mission of this blog is to invite its readers to the contemplation of the Holy Face of Christ and, most especially, to the contemplation of His Face hidden in the Eucharist. Eucharistic adoration is a simple form of prayer; simple, however, does not mean easy. If you are like me, you may find yourself at times looking for some simple formula to anchor your heart during adoration.

The following prayer, in the form of a chaplet said on ordinary rosary beads, was inspired by the teachings of Pope John Paul II during the Year of the Eucharist and is based on Sacred Scripture and the Liturgy. For some people this Chaplet of the Eucharistic Face of Christ has become the preferred way of anchoring the heart in the silence of adoration. I would be grateful to know if you find it helpful.
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O sacred banquet in which Christ is received,
the memory of His passion is renewed,
the soul is filled with grace,
and a pledge of future glory is given us, (alleluia).

Before each decade:
My soul is thirsting for God, the strong and living God;
when shall I enter and see the Face of God? (Ps 41:3)

On the Hail Mary beads:
It is Thy Face, O Lord, that I seek;
hide not Thy Face from me. (cf. Ps 26:8-9).

On the Glory be to the Father beads:
Behold, O God our protector,
and look upon the Face of Thy Christ. (Ps 83:10)

In conclusion, three times:
Father, glorify the Face of Thy Son,
that Thy Son may glorify Thee (cf. Jn 17:1).

Collect
O God, in whose only–begotten Son Thy kindness and goodness have appeared, mercifully grant that we, which seek the radiance of His countenance amidst the darkness of this world, may rejoice to find His adorable Face now veiled in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar and, at length, come to contemplate the same Face unveiled in the light of Thy glory in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.