Q. What do I do during the elevation of the Body and Blood of Jesus at the consecration of the Mass?
A. An intriguing question. There can be as many answers as there are people who are tuned in to the sacredness and the depth of the consecration of the Eucharist. As you know, we as Catholics truly understand that ordinary bread and wine become the very Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the hands of the priest at Mass.
I know some priests and laity have a practice of either very quietly reciting or silently praying a meditation, an oration, a Scripture passage or some other exalted tribute to Jesus at this very moment. I also see some people will strike their breast three times in the ancient Christian symbol of humility and unworthiness before our God and Lord at this moment in the Mass. Still other people will bow their heads in a sign of reverence for Jesus in the Eucharist.
Thus, whatever acceptable act of reverence you choose to include in your participation at Mass would certainly be appropriate and very noteworthy. Thanks for your question.
If I may add to this subject...You may have read of a recent Pew Research Center survey that reported that most Catholics do not believe that the Eucharist is the Very Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. According to the survey, nearly seven in 10 Catholics said they believe the Eucharist is not the actual Body and Blood of Jesus, but rather is a symbol of or is representative of Jesus’ Body and Blood. If that survey has any degree of accuracy, the statistic is troubling. To believe that the Eucharist is only a symbol or representative of Jesus’ Body and Blood is directly contrary to Catholic Church teaching.
I encourage those who struggle to believe the Eucharist is the Very Body and Blood of Jesus to read the following Scripture passages: Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 13:26, Acts 2:42, Acts 2:46-47, Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17. The most conclusive passage of Scripture regarding Jesus’ very presence in the Eucharist is John Chapter 6. It is very clear in this chapter that Jesus is not speaking metaphorically or figuratively, but literally. Considerate reading of John Chapter 6 is certainly worth the time.
I put a caveat on the survey because I do not know the demographic base that was used, what questions were asked of participants, and what options were given for answers. Bottom line, we Catholics truly believe the Eucharist is Jesus’ Very Body and Blood.
If anyone has difficulties with this belief, again I strongly encourage you to read John Chapter 6, read paragraphs 1322-1419 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (a full, historical, Scripturally-based, rich explanation of the Catholic understanding of the Eucharist), or have a discussion with your parish priest.
This question was answered by a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
