As Catholics, we believe that, at the Mass, the bread and wine offered by the priest become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, which we receive in Holy Communion. After Mass has ended, however, the Body and Blood remain, and the Sacred Host is reserved in the tabernacle of every Catholic Church (while the Precious Blood is consumed rather than reserved).
This octave of the Feast of Corpus Christi (the eight days following the feast, which is followed the next day by the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) is a perfect time to turn our minds to the contemplation of this mystery as we were advised by the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at the beginning of his pontificate.
The Holy Father pointed out that spending time in prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle is necessary for spiritual growth: "In modern life, so often noisy and dispersive, it is more than ever important to recover the capacity for inner silence and prayer. Eucharistic adoration enables this to happen..."
Why is it so important? Pope Benedict explained that "the Eucharist is like a beating heart giving life to the mystical Body of Christ that is the Church, which is a social organisation entirely founded on bond with Christ...
Without the Eucharist the Church would simply cease to exist." The enemies of the Church understand this better, perhaps, than many Catholics. That is why atheists and even other Christians despite the believe in the Eucharist and claim that Eucharist is a mere “cracker” focusing their fury on the Host.
In their own twisted way, they acknowledge the power of the Eucharist to transform the lives of believers. Would that all Catholics were as certain of that power!
One way to become convinced of the transformative power of Christ's Body and Blood is to follow Pope Benedict's advice and try to spend some time in Eucharistic adoration. But even if we cannot drop into a church for a few minutes during the week, we can turn our thoughts to the Eucharist each day by making an Act of Spiritual Communion.
I have been thinking a great deal about my experience at Reconciliation this past Saturday. I felt an intense and unexplainable urge to go and confess my sins when I woke up that morning. I try to go every six weeks or so, but this was no routine visit to the priest for me. I needed to unburden myself of the numerous venial sins I had committed since I last participated in this Sacrament.
Purest Gold: God's Refining Fire in our Lives »
After salvation, many young Christians wonder if there's anything more to their newfound faith than just the security blanket of "being a Christian." Time and time again, God shows himself as a "refiner," and our lives are as gold. God started leading me in this study to understand what He was doing in my life, as well as in the lives of others.
Picking up my pen to write this column, I couldn’t imagine how time flies. Since the last publication of this column I have gone through a lot, especially the loss of my dear mother to whom I dedicate this article. Not only her, but seems I lost a whole generation of my close family.
How to Achieve Business Excellence »
“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before Kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” Proverbs 22:29
Spiritual Development for our Youth »
Most of us youth in today's fast moving world are easily thrown off by difficulties and worries.
The theme of conversion is a thread that runs all through Lent, but conversion takes on different aspects throughout the phases of Lent. The first two and a half weeks focused on the interior turning of hearts; the liturgy urges the faithful to reflect and examine consciences thoroughly.
Saint Josephine Bakhita »
Feast Day: February 8
Patron Saint Of: Sudan
Saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita was born around 1869 in the village of Olgossa in the Darfur region of Sudan. She was a member of the Daju people and her uncle was a tribal chief. Due to her family lineage, she grew up happy and relatively prosperous, saying that as a child, she did not know suffering.
Catholics Must Fast More Intensely This Lent»
The Norbertine Canons of St. Michael's Abbey have created this digital Lenten retreat so that you can journey through this holy season alongside them. If you want to have one of your best Lenten seasons yet, join us in our Lenten Program "The Great Fast" - https://theabbotscircle.com/the-great-fast-join
When Your Faith Is Put to the Test - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon»
Friends, we come now to the Second Sunday of Lent, and we’re on both dangerous and very holy ground with the first reading from the twenty-second chapter of Genesis. The ancient Israelites referred to it as the “Akedah,” which means the “binding”: Abraham binds and is ready to sacrifice Isaac at God’s command.
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