The Miracle of the Eucharist

Miracles are all around us: small ones, big ones, ones recognized by the Catholic Church. We only need eyes of faith to see it and it is necessary that we do. 

You come to me and unite Yourself intimately to me under the form of nourishment. Your Blood now runs in mine, Your Soul, Incarnate God, compenetrates mine, giving courage and support. What miracles! Who would have ever imagined such! (St. Maximilian Kolbe).

In the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus gives us a beautiful miracle: the gift of Himself. It is called transubstantiation when the bread and wine offered by the priest at the Sacrifice of the Mass become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Although the host appears to be only bread, the substance changes. The real presence of Christ is there in the Eucharist. It is a sacrifice and a miracle at the same time and we should have a disposition of a grateful heart ready to adore and receive this Blessed Sacrament which closely unites us to Jesus Himself. 

We should receive this sacrament with the utmost reverence.  Kneeling, bowing, and the Sign of the Cross are all signs of reverence. We can either receive the Eucharist in the palm of our hands and immediately consume or on the tongue and swallow. 

We should only receive the Eucharist if we are worthy or in other words the state of grace. If we have any mortal sin on our soul we absolutely must go to confession before receiving Jesus or else we commit the sin of sacrilege. 

Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.’ And likewise, the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you (Luke Chapter 22 :19, 20 ).

Eucharistic Prayers

Upon the altar at every Mass, the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross is represented. As the priest speaks the words of Consecration and the host is elevated, I say to Jesus, “Do with me what You will.” That way I am saying yes to Jesus. I am saying yes to His will and whatever comes with it: hardship, work, joy, tears. Like Saint Francis of Assisi, I long to be God’s instrument. 

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

Where there is hatred,let me sow charity;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is error, truth;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light; and Where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

And it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life. Amen 

Spiritual Nourishment

Furthermore, the Eucharist is spiritual nourishment for our souls. We become strengthened by grace and ultimately become more like Jesus Christ. This is found in Sacred Scripture. 

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. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in Him.’(John 6: 53-56).

There also have been Eucharistic miracles. One miracle was in Lanciano, Italy in the eighth century. In this miracle, the bread and wine have become visibly the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. It is kept in a sealed receptacle and can still be seen today. The power of God is shown by this. 

I think it is also very important to note that the Eucharist has infinite value. When we offer up all our crosses and heart’s intentions and unite them to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass it is a powerful prayer. God wants us to ask and offer up all we can because God is a Supreme Being who is all good and sincerely wants to answer all our prayers one way or another.  

In the end, we should come to realize that Jesus gave us this miraculous gift of Himself hidden under the form of bread and wine. If we have eyes of faith, we will experience a piece of Heaven in this life. As Saint John Vianney said, “If we really understood the Mass we would die of joy.”