Though it is hard to watch, Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ is one of the most powerful artistic depictions of the Passion. I am especially moved by the portrayal of the Blessed Mother and how the actress brought to life both the anguish of Mary in her sorrow, but also her tenderness and love in the midst of her Son's suffering. One of the most moving scenes in the film follows the scouring at the pillar. After Jesus is led away and the raging crowd disbands, Mary approaches the scene of the crime, sorrowfully gazing at the great amount of Jesus’ blood that had been spilt and left to be trampled underfoot. Pontius Pilate’s wife, Claudia, having some veiled sense for the gravity of the tragedy, comes from the praetorium to give Mary a stack of fresh linens for her to collect the blood. Mary receives the gift from Claudia and proceeds to crawl around on her hands and knees to sop up all she can of the remains of her Son. Mary understood that the smallest drop of her Son’s blood was of infinite value, and to leave it behind or neglect properly caring for it would constitute an offense against charity and a woeful expression of ingratitude. Great love and care demands great love and care in return, and Mary offered this to her Son through her care for His Body and Blood.
Even though this scene is an artistic interpretation not found in the Gospel accounts of the Passion, it is nonetheless immensely edifying for me, and it becomes a powerful image for the care with which we should also treat our Lord’s Body and Blood in the Eucharist. In fact, when I purify the vessels at Mass (something often referred to as “washing the dishes”, which always pains me when I hear it) this is the image that comes to my mind: I think of the Blessed Mother collecting the remains of her own Son, so that nothing is left behind to be trampled or disregarded. Every Sacred Particle is infinitely precious and should be treated with the utmost care and devotion because caring for the Eucharist is caring for the Sacrificed Body of our Lord. This is why we have recently brought back the use of the communion patens, which prevent Particles from falling to the floor. Our extraordinary ministers, along with the deacons and priests, have also recently started keeping the fingers they use to administer Holy Communion pinched together until they have been purified so that any Particles on their fingers don’t get scattered throughout the church. This is why Fr. Jacquemin and I encourage individuals to receive on the tongue since this is the safest and most effective way to ensure every Particle of the Sacred Host is consumed by the communicant. Of course, reception in the hand is permitted, and those who choose to receive in this manner would do well to inspect their hands and fingers before touching anything else after they receive, and even to lick them clean in order to make sure there are no Fragments left behind. I know that sounds silly, but He is worth it because He is so Precious. St. Cyril exhorted the early Christians – and this exhortation remains equally valid for us today – to show great care and reverence for the Eucharist: “For tell me, if anyone gave you grains of gold, would you not hold them with all carefulness, being on your guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss? Will you not then much more carefully keep watch, that not a Crumb fall from you of What is more precious than gold and precious stones?” (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, 23:21). Do we believe this? We must if we profess to be Christians. And if we believe it, how do we show it? Through care and devotion to even the smallest Particle of this Precious Gift of Christ’s Body and Blood. Catholics have begun a nationwide Eucharistic Revival in the United States this year, and this revival must begin in each of our own hearts and souls if it is to spark a flame and become a blazing fire of love for the Lord, Who comes to us so humbly and completely in the Most Holy Eucharist.
This next week I will be away on vacation visiting my sister and her family in Washington State. I am looking forward to this time for rest and family, but of course, I take you all with me in prayer. I leave you in Fr. Jacquemin’s capable hands and look forward to returning to you on the 26th. May God bless you in the week ahead and may Mother Mary lead you more deeply into the Sacred and Merciful Heart of Jesus. I remain,
Affectionately yours in Christ,
Fr. Hess.
