As we celebrate our children’s First Holy Communion this month, all of us have an opportunity to reflect upon our relationship to the Eucharist. Two things are helpful for us to consider in this regard: devotion and piety. Devotion is a certain ardor of affection in the things of God, usually a sensible affection. Piety is a gift of the Holy Spirit, which inspires in us a religious disposition – it is the perfection of the virtue of religion, by which we give God what He deserves: our worship. Piety prompts us to worship God and revere Holy Things, and devotion makes us want to express that worship in an affectionate, reverent way.
The Eucharist should be the central focus of our piety and devotion because this Sacrament is Jesus Christ, the Son of God; it is the holiest Thing in Heaven and on Earth! In fact, the Eucharist is holiness incarnate because It is God incarnate. How we act towards the Eucharist is how we act towards God. If we love the Eucharist, if we honor the Eucharist, we love and honor God. Our disposition towards the Eucharist says a lot about our disposition towards God, which is why it is important to behave in a pious, devoted manner towards this Sacrament. Here are five ways that we can express piety and increase our devotion to the Eucharist:
- Always receive the Eucharist while in the state of grace. God and sin cannot dwell in communion together. This means that if we are conscious of grave sin, in ordinary circumstances we should make a good, sacramental confession before receiving Holy Communion. Remember: Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days, but they are not obliged to receive Holy Communion.
- Receive the Eucharist reverently. Approach as if you are approaching God, receive as if you are receiving God, consume as if you are consuming God…because you are. The Eucharist isn’t just ordinary food, it is the Bread of Heaven, so we shouldn’t treat It like It is ordinary, but treat It like it is the holiest thing we will ever receive…because It is.
- Spend time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. In Heaven, we will spend eternal life adoring God. If we don’t like spending time adoring God now, chances are we won’t want to do it for eternity. Adoration prepares our hearts for Heaven, and increases our ardor for God in this sacrament. In adoration, His Heart of love enflames our hearts to love.
- Behave reverently in the presence of the Eucharist. When entering and exiting the Church, always genuflect towards the Tabernacle (or bow, if physically unable to genuflect); maintain quiet in the church out of respect for others who are speaking to Our Lord; dress modestly and appropriately – how we dress in church expresses something about our reverence for the Eucharist.
- Make a good thanksgiving after receiving Holy Communion. Spend a little time after Communion and Mass in thanksgiving before leaving. As St. Teresa said about those precious moments after receiving the Eucharist: “After Communion let us not waste so good an opportunity to do business with God. As a rule, His Divine Majesty does not pay badly for his lodging, if He gets a good reception.” This Sacrament is the treasury of all grace – so be receptive to those treasures!
The more we conform our lives to Jesus in the Eucharist, the more deeply His holiness will root itself in our lives. Holiness leads to happiness, and the Lord has given us Himself in this Sacrament in order to make us holy, in order to make us happy. If we have Him, we have everything we need to be peaceful, joyful Christian people. In this month of May, let us also ask our Blessed Mother to help us love her Son more devotedly in the Eucharist. She is the best teacher in this regard. 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
