Q. How can I increase my devotion to the Eucharist?
Editor’s Note: The Register posed this question to Father Michael Morin, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Lincoln.
A. This question is reminiscent of the man who pleaded to Jesus on behalf of his possessed son. Jesus chides him for his lack of faith, and he has a response we all may echo: “I do believe, help my unbelief!” (Mk. 9:24)
Devotion to the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is at the core of our life of faith as disciples. By “faith” we mean that mysterious place in our hearts where we meet God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church begins its definition of faith by telling us, “Faith is man’s response to God” (#26). To increase your devotion to the Eucharist you must quicken your faith. You must rev up your response to God, who is touching you in your inmost spirit.
Of course, our response begins with understanding as best we can what Jesus gives us. Clearly, he gave us his body and blood in the Passover meal and in his sacrifice on the cross. And he teaches us, “The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world…. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” (Jn. 6:51,54) The Jerusalem Catechesis of the fourth century says it best: “Since Christ himself has declared the bread to be his body, who can have any further doubt? Since he himself has said quite categorically, ‘This is my blood,’ who would dare to question it and say that it is not his blood?” The meal you and I share at our parish church on Sundays is the very same Jesus Christ in the flesh.
On this subject, to understand leads to action. If I wanted to know if you really loved your spouse, I would look to see how you treat him or her. Just so, Jesus in the Eucharist. Seeing to it when you enter a church that your genuflection acknowledges you are in the presence of your Lord and King of all Creation; to arrive for Mass in a timely manner in order to be well prepared before the celebration begins; to participate in the prayers of worship as best you can; when you come forward to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, to make a throne of your hands on which to receive and to firmly declare your belief with a firm response of “Amen”; to recognize the intimate Communion you have with your Lord after you have consumed; to express your thankfulness after Mass by lingering behind for a few moments.
In addition to Sunday Mass, there is no better way for a disciple to increase devotion to Our Lord than by attending daily Mass. If it can be worked into your day’s schedule, there is no better way for you to spend your time.
Second to being in actual physical communion with our Lord in the Eucharist during the celebration of Mass, another effective way to increase devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist is to visit him in churches where he resides in the tabernacle, just to be with him in prayer. As one theologian expressed it:
“Two people sitting silently side by side… much in love with each other, are not unaware of how much can be expressed when nothing appears to be expressed. There is in daily life a type of activity that transcends mere actions, and every true Christian is aware of how often the ‘passive’ approach of prayer has been instrumental in solving a problem or providing for a need that no amount of frenetic activity had been able to achieve.” (O’Connor, “The Hidden Manna”)
Maybe your daily travels lead you by a church. It is simple enough for you just to stop and be with Our Lord. Or perhaps your parish has a Perpetual Adoration program, and an open hour is available for you to take. On the feast of Corpus Christi this June 19, many churches will be having an outdoor Eucharistic procession. Why don’t you join? Take a walk in your neighborhood with Our Lord Jesus.
Because of the upcoming Eucharistic Revival your question is timely. Now is a good opportunity to look at the relationship you have with our Lord Jesus in the Eucharist and make the effort to increase devotion to him. Perhaps you may come to better understand the truth as St. John Vianney teaches:
“Our Lord said: “Whatsoever you shall ask of my Father in my name, he will give it to you.” We should never have thought of asking God for his own Son. But what man could not have imagined, God has done. What man could not utter nor conceive, and what he could never have dared to desire – that, God in his love has uttered, conceived, and executed. Should we ever have dared suggested to God that he should make his Son die for us, that he should give us his Flesh to eat and his blood to drink? If all that were not true, then man would have been able to imagine things that God could not do. He would have gone further than God in the inventions of Love… That is impossible.”
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.
