Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

One of the most disheartening things for me as a priest is to see or hear disrespect or disregard for our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. The Eucharist is, in so many ways, central to what we believe and who we are as Catholics. Lumen Gentium, the document from the Second Vatican Council, describes the Eucharist as “the source and summit of the Christian life” (LG 11). All the sacraments, all ministry, all service, all charitable works, and all evangelization are bound up with the Eucharist and oriented toward it (cf. CCC 1324). It is fair to say that the Eucharist makes the Church. The Eucharist is Jesus Christ in His entirety – body, blood, soul, and divinity. The Church is the body of Christ formed by its participation in that Eucharistic mystery whereby we become what we receive. Without the Eucharist there is no Church. Without the Eucharist there can be no real connection between us and Jesus and His sacrifice for us. Without the Eucharist we do not participate in the divine life of Jesus.  (Jn 6:53 “Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you.”) 

 

Of particular note for me is when I hear often very faithful and devout Catholics refer to the Precious Blood as wine. Yes, it is true that it is wine that is brought forward at the offertory and water and wine mingled in the chalice. But after the consecration within the Eucharistic Prayer, that wine has substantially become Christ, though with the appearance of wine remaining. To speak of it after that point as wine is theologically and factually incorrect. Yet I consistently have people ask for a “second station of wine” at Communion, or even EMHCs asking each other who will help distribute the “wine” at that Mass. I know these individuals do not intend disrespect to our Lord and that they are serious about their faith and love of God, but there is still a concerning element of perhaps indifference for the Sacred Species; a type of disregard to ensuring that the proper respect is given to Christ present in the Eucharist. It is similar to wanting to ask God for help, but accidently saying ‘Baal’ or ‘Odin’ or some other pagan god instead. It might be well-intentioned, but it is still a drastic downgrade to even accidentally compare the One, True, Creator of All to a powerless, pagan myth. 

 

As we continue in these last few months of the National Eucharistic Revival, let us be more cautious and aware of how we refer to our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. May we always give Him the respect He deserves and hold the Eucharist in highest honor and esteem as our spiritual worship.

 

Peace in Christ,

Father Timothy