Before leaving us Jesus said that He
would not leave us as orphans and He also said that He would be with us always
even until the end of time. Therefore, in the context of the Last Supper, Jesus
celebrated the first Mass and left us the greatest “Gift” He could have
possibly left us. This “Gift” was the
“Gift” of His very self in Holy Communion.
In every Mass celebrated throughout
the world until the end of time, Jesus descends to be with us--- Emmanuel, “God with us”. He is with us in Holy Communion. As food
nourishes the body, so Holy Communion truly nourishes the soul. The specific sacramental grace and effect of
Holy Communion is nourishment and strengthening of the soul.
Finally, the mature fruit of
receiving Holy Communion with proper faith, devotion, fervor and love is nothing
less than eternal life--- to be with the angels and saints and the Trinity
forever in heaven. This was the great
promise of Jesus: “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever eats my Body and drinks my Blood will have
everlasting life and I will raise Him
up on the last day.” Heaven is opened to those who open their hearts with
love to Jesus, the Bread of life, who comes into our souls in Holy Communion
Following are ten suggestions on how all
of us can strive to become indeed Eucharistic souls. Why not read these, meditate upon them and
implement them in our lives. What the world needs today more than ever are
truly Eucharistic souls!
2.
EUCHARISTIC VISITS. As a priest and Religious, we have a great
blessing: Jesus living under the same roof as us in the Tabernacle in the small
chapel. Therefore, short Eucharistic
visits are easy! Still lay-people should
make an effort to visit the Eucharistic Lord in the Blessed Sacrament when they
have the opportunity. Even a short visit
of five minutes done with deep faith and ardent love is a gesture that warms the
Eucharistic Heart of Jesus and He in turn will warm your heart for your effort
and attention. Here is a short poem I
learned as a child: “Whenever I see a church I stop to make a visit, so that when I die,
the Lord will not say, who is it?” Let us get to know the Lord Jesus who we will
be loving and adoring for all eternity!
3.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNIONS. It is not
always possible to receive Jesus in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Various factors could impede us from daily
Holy Communion, but nothing at all can prevent us from making Spiritual
Communions. These can be made as often
as one likes and in any time and place! How?
One could make a spontaneous prayer or the following: “Jesus, I cannot receive you now
sacramentally in Holy Communion, but come now spiritually into my soul.” Amen. This short but fervent prayer--- like bellows
over a fire—can fan the flame of love in our hearts toward the Eucharistic
Lord. The Apostolic Exhortation of Pope
Benedict XVI, “Sacramentum Caritatis” strongly encourages this practice, as well as
the great Doctor of the Church, whose love for the Eucharistic Lord was
boundless--- St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori.
4.
THE PRACTICE OF THE HOLY HOUR. Even better than a short visit to the
Eucharistic Lord is a longer one! Why
not get into the habit of making the daily Holy Hour. One of the greatest modern proponents in
propagating this practice was the great Venerable Archbishop Fulton J.
Sheen. This man of God who wrote 66
books, became one of the first and greatest tele-radio Evangelists, was the
head of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, as well as Archbishop, was
tenaciously faithful to his daily Holy Hour. Despite his many obligations, the
great and saintly Archbishop would always find time to spend with his Eucharistic
Lord, God and Savior. It was Sheen that
coined the term, “The Hour of Power.”
5.
THE FOUR ENDS OF THE MASS:
A.C.T.S… In prayer call to mind the
four specific ends of Holy Mass: Adoration(A), Contrition (C), Thanksgiving
(T), Supplication (S). Take advantage of
the short acronym--- A.C.T.S.—to memorize these most important ends of
Mass. Related to the making of the Holy
Hour as well as in entering into the sublime reality of Holy Mass these four
sentiments can be of incalculable value! Saint Ignatius reminds us in Principle
and Foundation of our primary duty in life and in eternity: “Man is created to praise and reverence His
Creator…” (Spiritual Exercises #23).
6.
ADORN AND EMBELLISH THE BEAUTY OF GOD’S
SANCTUARY. The Curé of Ars, Saint John
Marie Vianney, was a saint that lived
extreme poverty and mortification. Early in his priesthood he would boil a pot
of potatoes for the week and eat two a day!
That was his humble diet. He would sleep on the floor and even scourge
himself for the conversion of sinners and reparation for their sins. His
poverty was extreme to say the least. However, with respect to his little
church the vestments, chalice, sanctuary, chasubles, and overall adornment the
Curé of Ars was extravagant. He would
spend exorbitant amounts of money for the Lord’s House. He would say, “For the Lord the best!”
Therefore, whatever we can do to
embellish and beautify the church—which is the sanctuary of the living God---
like the Curé of Ars and many others saints let us be overflowing in generosity
and extravagance. We should never forget that the Church indeed is the Mystical
Body of Christ. Due reverence should be paid!
7.
READING. Good spiritual reading indeed can enhance
our love for the most Holy Eucharist.
Highly to be encouraged are two forms of reading: doctrinal and
devotional. Doctrine without devotion can produce dryness of heart; devotion
without doctrine, on the other hand, can lead to overly pious
sentimentality. We must nourish both the
head and the heart! Writings on the topic of the Most Holy Eucharist are
limitless—both in the realm of doctrine and devotion. Therefore, we will limit
our suggestions to a few. In the realm of doctrine, in this Year of Faith, Pope
Benedict XVI emeritus suggested that we read the documents of Vatican II. The pearl of great price would be “Sacrosanctum Concilium”—the document
specifically explaining the Most Holy Eucharist, Holy Mass, and the Liturgy in
general. In addition to this highly to be recommended is the Post-Synodal
Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Benedict XVI “Sacramentum Caritatis”. This spiritual
masterpiece summarizes clearly and succinctly the challenges in the modern
world to knowing the Liturgy, loving it and living it out to the full! Read it;
it is a must! In the realm of the
devotional, writings on the Eucharist abound.
Therefore, we will suggest just three.
First, “The Diary of St. Faustina:
mercy of God in my soul”—book VI (#’s 1804-1826). Though just a few
numbers, they are dense in content explaining how this great modern saint would
prepare her soul to receive Jesus in Holy Communion. All of us can profit immensely by this brief
reading, rather, prayerful meditation!
Second, “The Imitation of Christ” by
Thomas Kempis. This spiritual
masterpiece is one of the greatest classics in the history of Christianity. The
work is divided into four books and the last is dedicated exclusively to
the Holy Sacrament of the Altar and on
how to receive Holy Communion fervently. Finally, St Peter Julian Eymard, an
ardent Apostle of the Most Holy Eucharist, has written a true library of short
devotional books on the Holy Eucharist, manifesting different aspects of the
Church’s greatest treasure. Holy Mass,
Holy Communion, Mary and the Holy Eucharist, Preparation, and thanksgiving---
each of these specific topics are woven into a short book that if read and
meditated with attention can transform our lives!
8.
HOLY MASS AND HOLY COMMUNION. Needless to say, the greatest practice we
can undertake on our part is to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass,
participate fully, actively and consciously and receive Holy Communion with
ever greater love. It should be our aim that in every Mass and Holy Communion
we should receive Our Lord and Savior with greater love!
9.
DAILY MASS AND HOLY COMMUNION. It is
interesting that in the Lord’s prayer---the Our Father—we say “Give us this day our daily bread”. Why not give this segment of the most widespread prayer in the world a Eucharistic
interpretation! Our body must be
nourished on a daily basis; otherwise we get weak and sick! Our soul prevails over our body in importance. Should we not aim at daily Communion and
implement our Lord’s prayer “Eucharistically”—“Give us this day our daily Bread!”
The greatest action the human person can carry out in this life is to
receive Jesus “The Bread of Life” in Holy Communion with lively faith, frequency,
and with fiery love! Why not start
today!
10. EUCHARISTIC
SOUL—MISSIONARY OF THE EUCHARIST.
There is an intimate connection between
the Mystery of the Annunciation and the Visitation. In the Annunciation Mary receives Jesus into
her Immaculate Heart. This could be considered Mary’s first Communion. As a response to this fire-burst of love in
the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of God, without any delay, Mary takes off in
haste to bring Jesus to others, her aged cousin, St. Elizabeth who was pregnant
with St. John the Baptist. Interpretation!
Like Mary, after we have received Jesus into our hearts in Holy
Communion, we should be sparked with apostolic zeal to bring Jesus to others
and to bring others to Jesus. The
Eucharist should transform us into living “Eucharistic magnets”—magnets that
attract others to Jesus and His Mystical Body, the Church. In the words of St. Paul, this should happen
to us: “No longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” Or if you like, in the prayer of thanksgiving
after Mass of Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman: “Let them look up and see no longer me but you Jesus.”
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