The greatest and most sublime action
that the human person can do while living is to receive Holy Communion, in the
state of grace, in a most worthy manner. The angels in heaven experience a holy
envy for us mortals on earth: we can receive Holy Communion, whereas they
cannot!
DISPOSITIVE GRACE. A key concept in sacramental theology is
that of “Dispositive grace”. This means
in simple jargon: you get what you are open to receiving. The more fully open a door is the easier it
is to get into the door without bumping into it our stubbing our toe. So with the reception of God’s grace in the
sacraments, especially in the reception of the greatest of all of the
Sacraments, the most Holy Eucharist.
VARIOUS MANNERS OF RECEPTION. One could receive Holy Communion unworthily; we
all have freedom and can abuse our freedom.
This you can read very clearly in an episode in the life of St. Paul in
the Church of Corinth. The rich were neglecting the poor, eating and drinking
in excess and then proceeding to celebrate the Mass/ Meal of the Lord. Then they would receive the Lord’s Body
unworthily, to their own damage and possible condemnation. (Read I Corinthians
11). Others can receive Holy Communion in the state of grace but distracted
during the whole course of the Mass. Graces are receive in such a soul, but in
less abundance. Then there is the
well-disposed soul who arrives early for Mass, participates fully and receives the
Holy Eucharist with deep faith, love and devotion—graces in such a soul go
beyond limit.
This being the case we would like to
offer five short suggestions or advice to make the best and most fervent Holy
Communions in our life. Indeed if this is the most important gesture in our
life then we should make a concerted effort to make it the best!
FIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR RECEPTION OF
HOLY COMMUNION IN THE SACRIFCE OF HOLY MASS.
1.
CONFESSION AND HOLY COMMUNION. There is an intimate relationship between the
reception of the Sacrament of Confession or Reconciliation and the reception of
Holy Communion. The specific sacramental
grace of Confession is healing; the specific sacramental grace of Holy
Communion is nourishment. A worthy reception
of the Sacrament of Confession cleanses, purifies, enlightens and sanctifies
the soul disposing it to receive the Eucharist with a better and more fervent
disposition. If you like here is an
analogy! A dirty window is finally
cleaned using WINDEX and a dry newspaper; the window has not been cleaned for
five years. The curtains are opened at
noon and the light of the midday sun streams into the room in full
abundance. The clearer and more pure
and transparent the window, the more abundant the light. So it is with the
soul. A dirty, dark and opaque soul resists the light or receives the light
only partially. Whereas a pure soul captures the Light, Jesus the Light of the
world in utter brilliance!
2.
FIRST, LAST, AND ONLY HOLY
COMMUNION. Strive to avoid at all costs
the ever-prevalent danger of receiving Holy Communion in a mechanical, perfunctory,
routine, flippant, and nonchalant fashion.
The real danger of easy access and availability of Daily Mass and Holy
Communion is to simply take the Lord for granted. In many sacristies,
especially in convents of nuns or retreat Houses there is a sign, better yet a “Warning-sign”
with the following words: “Priest, man of God, say this Mass as if it
were your first Mass, last Mass and only Mass.” This should be our approach and attitude of
we are in the habit of receiving Holy Communion frequently maybe even on a
daily basis—to receive Holy Communion every time as if it were our first Holy
Communion, last Holy Communion and only Holy Communion! Indeed how much more fervent would our
reception of Holy Communion be!!!
3.
OFFERTORY/ THE COMMON PRIESTHOOD OF
THE FAITHFUL. Vatican II points out that
there are two forms of the priesthood: the ministerial priesthood (those who
have the Sacrament of Holy Orders), and the common priesthood of the faithful—those
who are baptized into Christ Jesus. The
lay-faithful are exhorted to live out their common priesthood by offering themselves
to Jesus, in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, with the celebrating priest. All
the faithful should offer at least one personal intention in every Mass;
however they could offer hundreds or even thousands of intentions. Actually,
the more we offer the more we will receive, the more the world will receive. Jesus told us: “Ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”(Mt. 7:7) We
receive little because we trust little and ask for little. The sky is the
limits! Get into the habit of coming before
Holy Mass has started and offer yourself, your heart with countless
intentions. The more we ask, the more
pleased God is and the more we will receive!
4.
RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION WITH OUR LADY. The
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta teaches us a very beautiful prayer to Mary
and Jesus. The essence of the prayer is the following: “Mary give me your most pure and Immaculate
Heart so that I can receive and love more ardently the Heart of Jesus.” This prayer can easily be applied to the
reception of Holy Communion. Before
receiving Holy Communion, beg Mary Immaculate to give you her most pure,
fervent and loving heart so that you can receive her Son Jesus with burning
love in Holy Communion. The fruits of
your Holy Communions will start to skyrocket!
5.
THANKSGIVING AFTER RECEIVING JESUS IN
HOLY COMMUNION. It would be totally rude
and out of place if you were to be invited to a meal or banquet in a
family-home and you were to gobble down the food voraciously, rush out the back
door without even saying “Thank you”, for the meal! This would be simply
uncivilized! This can happen after the
reception of Holy Communion. We receive Holy Communion and rush out the door of
the Church as if our pants were on fire!
Rude? You bet you! It is recorded in the life of the holy and
saintly priest Saint Phillip Neri that he noticed a sad phenomenon! For several
days in a row right after Holy Communion he noticed a man rushing out the door
without a moment of thanksgiving. Neri had an idea. The following day after this man had received
Holy Communion Father Phillip actually followed him out into the streets of
Rome, following two altar servers who were carrying lighted candles. Startled,
the man turned around and saw the two altar servers with their candles lighted
and lifted on high, with the priest dressed in Liturgical vestments following
him most reverently. St. Phillip
explained to the man that he thought he would do a Eucharistic procession
through the streets of Rome. This man who had Jesus in his heart right after
Holy Communion was the living monstrance and tabernacle of the Eucharistic
Jesus. Understanding the message, from
that day on the man would stay after Mass to render the Eucharistic Lord a worthy
thanksgiving. Therefore, after receiving
Jesus at Mass in Holy Communion let us spend some time afterward thanking,
praising, adoring, worshipping and loving the Eucharistic Lord. Indeed these
are the most important and precious moments in the life of man on earth!
