Jesus in the Eucharist, Chapter XIII - Holy Communion

"God," says the Royal Prophet, "hath made a remembrance of His wonderful works, being a merciful and gracious Lord; He hath given food to them that fear Him" (Psalm 110:4,5). The Blessed Eucharist is the summary of all the wonders wrought by God. It surpasses all the works of the creation, for under the appearances of bread and wine Jesus Christ is really present as God and man. The Eucharist surpasses the works of the Redemption, for it is not only a sacrifice equal to and identical with that of the Cross, since it is its repetition, continuation, perpetuation and application, but it is also the food of our souls, uniting us most intimately with Him and rendering us " partakers of the divine nature" itself, says Saint Peter (I Peter 1:2). It is, indeed, the "remembrance "of all that God has done for us.

The Eucharist is the most excellent gift that God can bestow upon us. The excellence of a gift depends, first, on the dignity of the giver. In the Eucharist Jesus Christ Himself is the Giver. How greatly should we appreciate even the least gift from such a Giver! Secondly, the excellence of a gift depends on the gift itself. The Eucharist is so great a gift, that none greater, or even so great, can be found, for the Eucharist is Jesus Christ Himself; and although He is almighty, He cannot bestow a greater gift than Himself. Thirdly, the excellence of a gift depends on the affection that prompts the gift. Does not our divine Savior Himself say: "Greater love than this no man hath, than that he lay down his life for his friends?" (John 15:13) But Jesus Christ has not only manifested this greater love for us who were His enemies, for we were all sinners, by dying for us the most ignominious death on the cross; but He loved us so tenderly, that He died thus, in order to be able to give us His own flesh and blood as the food of our souls, and thereby most intimately and inseparably unite Himself with us, for there is no union more close and inseparable than that of our food and ourselves. Finally, the excellence of a gift depends on its wonderful effects. The intimate union of our soul with Jesus Christ in Holy Communion renders us, as we have seen, "partakers of the divine nature." Hence we become thereby en lightened in the mysteries of our holy religion, as were the two disciples going to Emmaus on the day of the resurrection; it bestows on us heavenly joys, purifies us of the stains of human weakness and frailty, arms and strengthens us to combat our passions, and renders us generous in the service of God, as we can learn from the example of the early Christians and martyrs; finally, it strengthens us in the practice of virtue and secures to us eternal life.

What excess of goodness and love does not the Son of God manifest in Holy Communion for us, poor, frail and sinful creatures! He comes to dwell in us, that we also may dwell in Him. "He that eats My flesh and drinks My blood, abides in Me and I in him." This is not intended as a transitory visit on His part, for He intends it as a permanent visit, as an inseparable union, just as the union between our body and its food admits of no separation, for such is the prayer Jesus addresses to His heavenly Father: "That they may be one as We are one; I in them, and Thou in Me." (John 17:22,23)

Why this intimate union between Jesus and us? That by living in us, He may become our spiritual life and sanctify and strengthen us; that He may kindle divine love in us together with zeal for the divine glory, and that we may have the pledge of a glorious resurrection and eternal life. "He that eats My flesh and drinks My blood, hath everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day " (John 6:55). How many favors may we not expect from Jesus Christ, who gives Himself to us in Holy Communion, in order to enrich us with His gifts and to promote the work of our salvation! How wonderful the effects of Holy Communion in so many virgins, so many penitents, so many martyrs, so many confessors of the faith, who practiced heroic virtue, overcame the fiercest assaults of their own passions, of the world and of the evil spirits, who performed great austerities, and underwent the most cruel torments human ingenuity ever devised, in order to remain faithful to God until death! Why do we not find in the various sects, as in the Catholic Church, individuals heroically devoting themselves to a life of poverty, chastity and obedience, in order to serve, for the love of God, the poor, the aged, the orphans, and to care for those afflicted with every kind of contagious and repulsive diseases, even leprosy, and for the outcasts of society, and performing all these works of Christian charity with as great care and tenderness, as if they performed them for Jesus Christ Himself? Whence do these devoted religious and missionaries derive their strength, their heroic charity? From frequent Holy Communion, which unites them most intimately with our divine Savior, and imparts His very life to them, and enables them to say with Saint Paul: "I live, not I, but Christ lives in me " (Galatians 2:20). How ardently we should long for Holy Communion, the greatest treasure Jesus has left us on earth! What do not men undertake to acquire wealth, learning, influence, office, fame and to enjoy pleasures! But in Holy Communion we have something infinitely greater, better and more precious! How eagerly we should profit by every opportunity of receiving Holy Communion! Magdalen, being told that Jesus called her, "arose at once" and went to Him (John 11:29). Zacheus, when Jesus called him down from the tree he had climbed, saying to him: "It behooves Me to stay this day at thy house," came down at once "and he received Him with joy" (Luke 19:6). Our divine Savior calls every one of us, as He did Magdalen and Zacheus: "Come eat My bread and drink the wine which I have mingled for you" (Proverbs 9:5). "I am the bread of life. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever" (John 6:48,52).

Every Catholic is obliged to receive Holy Communion at least once a year and that during the Easter season. He who neglects to fulfill this obligation, not only is guilty of mortal sin, but is even liable to be excluded from membership of the Church, and to be no longer considered as a Catholic. On the other hand, a good, practical and fervent Catholic, who is zealous for his salvation and really clearly loves God, will go to Holy Communion as often as he can. Let us bear in mind that it is the will of Jesus Christ Himself, that we should frequently receive Holy Communion, for He says: "If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever. Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eats My flesh and drinks My blood, hath everlasting life" (John 6:52,54,55). Mark the present tense our Lord uses. He does not say: "If any man has eaten," nor "Except you have eaten," nor "He that hath eaten," but He uses the present tense, "If any man eat," etc., to denote a habit, the habitual or frequent receiving of Holy Communion, and it is to such a habit that He promises life everlasting, or salvation.

The early Christians understood this well. Whenever it was possible, they were wont to receive Holy Communion every day. The great Council of Trent expresses the wish that priests should celebrate Mass every day, that the faithful should, if possible, daily assist at Mass, and receive Holy Communion whenever they assist at this most holy Sacrifice, that is, every day, if possible. All the Fathers of the Church recommend and urge all the faithful, whatever be their state of life, to receive Holy Communion frequently, or even daily. Saint John Chrysostom expects every one to receive Holy Communion whenever he assists at Mass. Saint Jerome says that it is a real happiness for him to be able to testify, that in Rome and in Spain the faithful were accustomed to receive Holy Communion daily. Saint Augustine, in his explanation of the "Our Father" says: "Holy Communion is the 'daily bread' we pray God to 'give us this day', that is, every day. Know, therefore," he concludes, "that it behooves you daily to receive Holy Communion. Live, then, so as to be worthy to receive Jesus Christ every day."

Frequent and even daily Communion is the ardent wish of Jesus Christ and His Church for all those who can possibly receive it daily. Therefore, our late Pope, the saintly Pius X approved on 20 December 1905, a decree of the Sacred Congregation of the Council concerning daily Holy Communion, in which we read the following passages:

"1. Frequent and daily Communion, being most earnestly desired by Christ our Lord and by the Catholic Church, should be accessible to all the faithful, of whatever rank or condition of life, so that no one who is in the state of grace, and who approaches the Holy Table with an upright and devout intention, can be lawfully hindered therefrom.

"2. A right intention is had by him who goes to Holy Communion, not out of routine, or vain glory, or human respect, but in order to please God, or to be more closely united to Him by charity, and to make use of this divine remedy to oppose to his weakness and defects.

"3. Although it is far more expedient that those who frequently or daily receive Holy Communion, should be free from venial sins, especially from those that are fully deliberate, and also from affection to such sins, nevertheless, it suffices that they be free from mortal sin, and be resolved never more to commit mortal sin; if they are thus sincerely resolved, daily communicants cannot but gradually get rid of their venial sins and of all affection for the same.

"4. The communicants should be careful to make a serious preparation for Holy Communion, and, after Holy Communion, a suitable thanksgiving according to each one's strength, circumstances and duties.

"5. Each one should ask his confessor's advice concerning frequent and daily Communion."

So long as the early Christians were faithful in the practice of daily Communion, they were fervent in the service of God and models of virtue. Their daily Holy Communion enabled them cheerfully to overcome temptation, to bear every trial, to make every sacrifice, and to undergo torments and even death for their holy faith. But when, in the course of time, they gradually became remiss in this holy practice, their fervor also relaxed, and they grew cold and indifferent in the service of God, and began to live like the pagans around them.

Our own interest requires frequent Holy Communion on our part, for we are weak, spiritually in firm and helpless of ourselves, often sorely tempted. There is no better means of acquiring spiritual health and strength, than to partake daily, if possible, or at least frequently, of the Bread of Angels, the Bread of the strong, for we thereby participate in the power, in the virtues of the Son of God; for then we shall live, like Saint Paul, by the life of Jesus: "I live now not I, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).

On the other hand, he who never or but seldom receives Holy Communion, is spiritually weak, and grows daily weaker and weaker, and may apply these words of the psalmist to himself: "I am smitten as grass, and my heart is withered, because I forgot (neglected) to eat my bread" (Psalm 101:5). He easily yields to temptations, for he has not the strength to resist and overcome them, because he fails to feed his soul with the fortifying "living Bread from heaven." Hence he soon becomes the slave of some evil habit, which gradually grows into a second nature and leads him to perdition!

To conclude, "He that loves Jesus Christ much," says Saint Augustine, "eats often of the Bread of life, and he that eats often of it, loves Jesus Christ daily more and more."

- text taken from Jesus in the Eucharist, by Father Ferreol Girardey, C.Ss.R.