COMMEMORATION OF THE MIRACLE
« The Eucharist is not an object; it is a Person. It is the Saviour - Christ himself in the very act of saving us » - (Eucharistic Congress, Seville, 1993, 11 Basic Text)
« On the day of the miracle, you came to us as Master and Lord. You appeared to the Holy Family and you manifested your glory in a blinding light. You came, just as you appeared to the apostles after your resurrection, and with your hand, you showed us your heart as the source of peace and all goodness... » (P.Lemius)
When God makes God’s self known, God can be seen and heard. On the occasion of the miracle, Milady Peychaud did not see but she heard. Father Levinas wrote: “The Word is like a face”. He also said: “the Word comes from on high” and should be received as a revelation. Words have no real existence in themselves. Words gain significance when they are used, pronounced and exchanged with others.
On the 3 February, 1822, Milady Peychaud heard the Lord say to her:
« Honours and the esteem of creatures are like smoke and I am who am and there is only I who am. Their friendship is like dust and I am who am and there is only I who am. Richness and pleasures are but mud and I am who am and there is only I who am. »
« I am » in the Scriptures means “God saves”; it is one of God’s names.
The Eucharistic Miracle of 3 February 1822 plunges us into the mystery of salvation. The Jesus who blesses is the God who saves. To listen to the Lord is to walk in the light of his Word; it is to choose life!
The Father’s gift has been given to us through Jesus who blesses us, our prayer also comes through him. Jesus’ word fills our lives and we can offer ourselves with him to the Father. As we commemorate the event of the past, Jesus’ words, heard by Milady Peychaud, can give us direction for our present and open up the future for us.
In the miraculous benediction of 3 February 1822, it is the Lord Jesus who speaks to us and calls for a response from us, a response of praise. His appearance cannot be adequately described since it is beyond all human discourse. “It cannot be described but it should never be discounted”. (J.L Marion)
« It would be beyond us to try to explain the reasons for this miracle and the details surrounding it; It is not for us to try to fathom God’s plans; we should revere them even when we are not able to grasp them fully. » (P.B.Noailles)
 “To commemorate is to go progressively deeper into the mystery of the event one commemorates”, writes Marcel Jousse. This demands contemplation. To commemorate the miracle of the 3 February 1822 is to respond to the giver of gifts; it means to praise God by loving God, by thanking God and doing God’s will. Our praise comes from the gratitude we feel in our hearts towards the Lord who has showered us with gifts beyond all our expectations.
We praise you God Alone! You spoke through the burning bush; you gave the same message during your appearance on the 3 February: I am who am and there is only I who am! We believe in you and we proclaim that all is vanity that you alone are being, power, wisdom, love and infinite perfection. We praise you, God Alone (P.Lemius).
The Eucharistic Miracle invites us to value what we have received in all simplicity and humility, joy and love. We give thanks and confess our radical dependence on God Alone. This dependence, which leads us to thanksgiving, is at the heart of all our Holy Family celebrations.
When God acts, God’s actions are always and forever. They are eternally present and each moment speaks of God’s favour and God’s passing. Each moment is filled with God’s grace, given to us in all its richness. The Lord came to bless the spiritual family of Pierre Bienvenu Noailles and gift it with happiness and peace, to encourage it to go forward and to witness that communion is possible.
« We are your family, your heritage, continue to bless us! You blessed us with the miraculous benediction...you have never ceased to bless us and this blessing has brought an abundance of graces and miracles into our lives... » (P.Lemius)
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