The Holy Eucharist

by Linda Olsen

The Holy Eucharist

I used to play Mass with my childhood neighbor Rosie. She had old wooden desks in her basement from when the catholic school of our parish closed, and we often used them to pretend we were in church. Tiny oyster crackers served as the communion wafer (Ritz were too large to fit on our tongues) and we took turns proceeding reverently forward from the desk, hands in prayer form, to receive the host. We were of First Communion age and eager to practice receiving the Eucharist that we saw our parents receive each Sunday. I knew then that the Eucharist was special, but unfortunately, despite years of faith formation education with the Baltimore Catechism and decades of watching the consecration during Mass, I never really got the whole true meaning of the Eucharistic, the living body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As Jesus himself says “I am the living bread…Whoever eats this bread will live forever...Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” (Jn 6:51, 57) These powerful words are what make us Eucharistic people within our Holy Church. The Eucharist is therefore the summit of our faith and our relationship with God our Father. Jesus is still in our midst through the Holy Eucharist to give us strength by feeding us with his body and blood. The Eucharist keeps us alive as children of God redeemed by the blood of Christ shared on the cross. The Eucharist not only commemorates the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, but it continues to make present that unique sacrifice of our Lord for the salvation of the entire humanity. How wonderful is our Lord to live with us through the mystery of the Holy Eucharist!

Indeed, “under the consecrated species of bread and wine, Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1413). Likewise, The Council of Trent teaches that the Eucharist contains “the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (CCC, #1376) The Eucharist is the mystery of our faith, and by having such faith we are united with Christ and enter into communion with him. This communion requires us to take active part in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and to be in good standing in order to receive the body and blood of Christ.

Unfortunately, I am embarrassed to admit that sometimes I attend Mass as a passive spectator. I repeat the prayers and receive the host, but my actions are not always worthy of taking the living Lord Jesus into my soul. He must at times be so disappointed in me. Christ gave of Himself at the Last Supper so that I could be forever alive and united with Him and for this I should be filled with great adoration and gratitude each time I approach the altar. To reverently receive the Lord, I must prepare for the holy moment before receiving the sacrament. As was encouraged by St. Augustine: “Let no one eat Christ’s flesh before he first worships it…” Furthermore, I must remain in deep relationship following communion as well. As written by St. Mary Magdalene di Pazzi: “The minutes that follow Communion are the most precious we have in our lives.”

There is a relationship between how I receive the Eucharist and how fruitful are the graces I receive from it. The more deeply I unite myself with Jesus, the more fruitful my reception will be. In addition to receiving the sacrament at the altar, we can also be in spiritual communion with God throughout the day in order to be showered in his bounteous blessings and love. As noted by St. Faustina: “...My heart is a living tabernacle in which the living Host is reserved. I have never sought God in some far-off place, but within myself….” (Diary, 1302)

I had no idea that the oyster cracker Mass re-enactments of years ago would lead to this, a mature understanding and awareness that in the host is God Himself, who transforms and lives within me. Communion with God is an incredibly sacred blessing. May I never take this Grace for granted.

Linda Olsen, Rectory Receptionist