What is the “Eucharistic Apostleship of Prayer?”

The Eucharistic Apostleship is a religious association of faithful, who above all else seek to love the Lord, Jesus Christ, uniquely present among us, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, in the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist – to worship and to adore Him, thus encouraging others to a greater Eucharistic devotion.

What is the goal?

• To strive every day to grow spiritually in Christian perfection, holiness and love.

• To daily offer to God our prayers, our work, actions, thoughts and trials, thereby becoming faithful and docile instruments in His hands, to be used for the greater unity of the Church, the building-up of the Body of Christ and the growth of God’s Kingdom upon earth.

• To gain a deeper understanding of the Divine Liturgy, to experience it more profoundly, in union with the unceasing Liturgy of Heaven.

• With every Holy Communion, to be more deeply united to God, One in the Holy Trinity.
• To pray for the conversion and salvation of souls.

What are the duties of a member?

In reality, there is only one aim and obligation for all members – to strive daily for greater Christian perfection, and ever greater communion with God. By cooperating with God’s grace, this desire and struggle will become manifest through the following practices of Christian life.

1. THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST

• Divine Liturgy
To participate in the Divine Liturgy every Sunday, Holy Days, and if possible, even on weekdays.

• Word of God
To hunger for the Word of God, to read the Holy Scriptures often, listening attentively to the Word and being open to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit.

• Holy Communion
To prepare appropriately for Holy Communion, partaking of the Holy Gifts often, and remembering to give sincere and heartfelt thanks for all graces received.

• Profound Reverence for the Holy Gifts
To foster a deep love and devotion to Jesus, present among us in the mystery of the Holy Gifts, reserved upon the altar of every church.
 

2. HOLY REPENTANCE

• Confession
To approach the Mystery of Repentance (Confession) on a monthly basis, with appropriate preparation.

• Penance and Reparation
To fulfill the penances assigned in confession; but also, to live every day in the spirit of penance, offering personal sacrifices in reparation for the sins of the world, striving to fulfill all duties to the best of one’s ability.
 

3. DAILY PRAYER

• Liturgical and Private Prayer
To nurture a love for liturgical services, the hours, various prayers, Akathists, Psalms, etc. With consistent and persistent prayer, to grow in one’s personal relationship with God.

• Morning Prayers
To begin each day with morning prayer according to a personally set rule of prayer.

• Morning Offering
With a short daily prayer of offering, to unite one’s will with the will of God, personal intentions with God’s intentions.

O Jesus, through the heart of Your most pure Mother, the ever-virgin Mary, I offer to You all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day, in union with the Holy Offering of the Divine Liturgy. I offer them for all the intentions of Your most merciful and loving heart: for the salvation of souls, reparation for sin and the union of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of the Holy Father, for the intentions of our Patriarch (Major Archbishop) and all our Bishops. Amen.

• Prayer of the Most Holy Name ( Jesus Prayer)
To daily recite the prayer of the Most Holy Name of Jesus (the Jesus Prayer), “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us” (or “have mercy on me” )- while alone, travelling, at home or at work. To persistently ask the Lord God for an ever greater gift of personal repentance and conversion. “And it shall be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21, Rom 10:13). “And there is salvation on no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12)

• Devotion to Mary and the Rosary
To foster a personal devotion to Mary, the Mother of God; to strive to pray the Rosary daily (five decades), alone, as a family or in a group, with appropriate daily meditations.

• Silent Prayer
To devout time for silent prayer, without words. To sit in the presence of God and to contemplate Him with love. This silent prayer can be combined with morning or evening prayers, or with any other prayer time during the day.

• Evening Prayers
Before going to bed, to recite the evening prayers. While reflecting upon the day that has passed, to repent of any sins committed, to ask for God’s forgiveness, and to thank God for all blessings received.

4. FASTING

• Liturgical Fast Days
To follow the prescribed liturgical fasts of the Church, to fast on Fridays, and if possible, also on Wednesdays. To alwasy combine fasting with prayer and almsgiving.

• Eucharistic Fast
Prior to the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, to prepare spiritually with a Eucharistic Fast. With the aid of both prayer and fasting, to consciously break with any worldly attachments, to renew one’s desire for an ever great love for God, with every Holy Communion.

5. CHARITY

• Acts of Mercy
Personal acts of mercy and kindness – assistance to those who are in need, the sick and the suffering … out love for Jesus and with an open and sincere heart.