By Judie Brown
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the Holy Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” It continues, “The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the people of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God’s action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit.”
In this sacrament of the Catholic Church we experience the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. When we humbly receive Him, we are blessed in a sacred way with the reality of His love for each of us. This is why we strive to not only be worthy but to help others understand the great blessing it contains for mere mortal human beings.
Catholic Church law, known as canon law, contains Canon 915, which states: “Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.”
The meaning of these words is clear. This law stands as a truth and a witness to the inviolability of this sacrament, even though in our present state many Catholic teachers in our world literally refuse to acknowledge it or to teach the truth about why protecting Christ from sacrilege is a fundamental requirement of being Catholic. Is it any wonder then that so many spiritual wounds affect the very heart of the people of God?
Bishop Thomas Paprocki once explained, “Some bishops and pastors have determined never to enforce the canons on Holy Communion, while others have chosen to do so properly. It is not that the law is different in various dioceses but that some have chosen to ignore the law.”
This is a tragic reality, and for many of us it is the source of immense sorrow. As a woman who has a family composed of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, I often wonder what in the world our young ones will face in a future where the real presence of Christ is a debate point instead of a truth to be celebrated, honored, and revered.
As if he were reading my mind, Pope Leo defined authentic peace in these words, “It is a peace that is unarmed—that is, not based on fear, threats, or weapons; and disarming, because it is capable of dissolving conflicts, opening hearts, and generating trust, empathy, and hope. It is not enough to invoke peace; it must be embodied in a lifestyle that rejects all forms of violence, visible or structural.”
That definition of peace commences from an understanding that the source of all peace is of course Christ Himself. And what better way for us to live the life defined by His Holiness than to be devoted first and foremost to the Eucharist. For as Saint Pius X said, “The devotion to the Eucharist is the most noble because it has God as its object; it is the most profitable for salvation, because it gives us the Author of Grace; it is the sweetest, because the Lord is sweetness itself.”
In a world devoted to Christ in the Eucharist, there would be no need to virtue signal, a hypocritical practice of the first order. Rather, everyone would recognize the divine gift of theological virtues and practice them without apology.
Soon-to-be-saint Carlo Acutis was known during his brief lifetime for many things, including his devotion to the Eucharist. He once said, “The more Eucharist we receive, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on earth we will have a foretaste of heaven.” And he assured us, “By standing before the Eucharistic Christ, we become holy.”
Carlo is but one example of the gifts of grace that flow from the body of Christ in the Eucharist, gifts that are indeed out of this world.
Thank you, Jesus!