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Proper reception of the Holy Eucharist
One of the greatest acts of love Our Lord could ever perform was to bequeath to us this august sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. At that instance during Mass when the priest pronounces the words of consecration: “This is My Body” and “This is My Blood,” a conversion takes place which surpasses all laws of nature. The whole substance of the bread is changed into the whole substance of the Body of Christ and the whole substance of the wine into the whole substance of His Blood, while the accidents or species (i.e. size, shape, color, taste, smell) remain unchanged. This double consecration is known as transubstantiation and constitutes Catholic dogma, that is, a truth revealed by God and therefore must be believed. The Church obliges the faithful to receive the Eucharist at least once a year. However, wise and vigilant are the faithful who receive this Food of the angels regularly, if not daily, especially in these days of darkness when literally all hell is loosed upon earth going about seeking whom they may devour (1 Peter 5.8). Just like the human body, the soul needs daily nourishment or it will break down and then become easy prey for the evil one. There is no better defense system or Divine weapon than this Heavenly Manna, especially against temptations of the flesh: “Holy Communion is the remedy whereby we are delivered from daily faults and preserved from mortal sins" (Council of Trent). Naturally, one must be free of serious sin to receive and the better disposed one is, the more enriching and blessed is this union with Jesus. The manner in which one receives is vital to the integrity of this holy Sacrament, and so, Our Lady and Our Lord have given and stressed the following three directives for the proper reception of Holy Communion: • from the consecrated hands of a priest (no deacons or extraordinary ministers) • on the tongue (no communion in the hand or communicating from the chalice) • kneeling (infirmity excuses)
Nothing less than the traditional discipline—observed for centuries until the late 1960s—is acceptable to Heaven. Let us always conduct ourselves in a way that reflects our ardent devotion and faith in the Real Presence, so others will see in us a reminder of this sublime truth and a worthy example to imitate.
Heaven
Speaks Today--Holy
Eucharist |
