“All for the Eucharist; nothing for me.” So wrote St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in her own blood, upon her entry into the cloister. This holy nun’s words describe how every Catholic must live: always and everywhere completely for our Eucharistic Lord.
For the sake of the Eucharist, we go to daily Holy Mass; for the sake of the Eucharist, we go frequently to Confession, Adoration, pray the Rosary, etc. For the sake of the Eucharist, we fast and do penance. For the sake of the Eucharist, we do our duties. For the sake of the Eucharist, we seek to become evermore Eucharistic. Even when it is physically impossible for us to do something we would like to do, such as go to Holy Mass on a given day, we offer up this suffering as God’s will, for the sake of the Eucharist.
Because the Eucharist is God Himself, Love Himself, we, by becoming progressively more in love with Him, become continually more “all things to all men,” hungering in our hearts for the salvation of the whole world (1 Cor 9:22). “Truly, in the Eucharist, [Christ] shows us a love which goes ‘to the end’ (cf. Jn 13:1), a love which knows no measure” (Eccelesia de Eucharistia 1).
Indeed, although all the sacraments will cease at the end of time, the Eucharist, in a sense, will never cease. For even though the sacramental species will pass away, He Who is the Eucharist will never cease. The essence of the union between God and the soul in Heaven is identical to the union between God and the soul in the Eucharist, with the sole difference that the heavenly union will be unmediated by sacramental veils. Thus, the Eucharist is truly our Heaven-on-earth.
Yet, despite the greatness of this Sacrament, most people do not love the Eucharist, because they believe It only ordinary bread and wine. The often-cited Pew Research Center study revealed that only about 28% of Catholics believe that Christ is really, truly, and substantially present in Holy Communion, while only 63% of those who attend Holy Mass weekly or more believe in the Real Presence. We need to increase our Eucharistic Love.
People learn from what they see, meaning that our behavior at Holy Mass, our behavior towards the Most Blessed Sacrament, either supports or betrays our belief in the Real Presence. Sadly, some common practices today not only give the sense that the Eucharist is bread and wine, but also constitute occasions for physical desecration of our Lord.
Therefore, both clergy and laity alike can practice/encourage small, but concrete, practices, which are themselves great acts of love for the Most Holy Eucharist, and which promote an ever-greater love for Him.
Patens can be used at every Mass. Not infrequently, particles of the Host fall from the priest’s fingers during the distribution of Holy Communion, even though “as much is contained under either species as under both; for Christ whole and entire is under the species of bread, and under any part whatsoever of that species; likewise the whole (Christ) is under the species of wine, and under the parts thereof” (Council of Trent: Session XIII, Ch. 3). Using a paten greatly decreases the chances of such accidental desecration. Even if a priest does not have a server, he can either hold the ciborium and a paten in the same hand (if he uses a chalice-style ciborium) or use the ciborium as a paten (if he uses a bowl-like ciborium).
Priests should purify thoroughly all the sacred vessels. Any visible particles left in ciboria, chalices, etc., are our Lord, and therefore must not be desecrated. Even if a priest has poor eyesight, perhaps a server, sacristan, etc. could carefully inspect the sacred vessels after Holy Mass and notify the priest if he needs to purify any of them.
If a host falls on the ground, the area must be properly and reverently purified. The host should be picked up, a cloth placed over the area where the Host fell, water poured over the entire area covered by the cloth, and the cloth then used to wipe up the area. Then, the cloth should be accordingly disposed of.
If you receive our Lord under the species of wine, do not wipe off your face. Christ is present, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, even in every drop of the Precious Blood, for the Body and Blood of the risen Christ cannot be separated anymore. If some of our Lord is on one’s lip, for example, he or she can lick it off, etc., but should not wipe it off, lest this action desecrate the Eucharist.
Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion should purify their hands after distribution. Just as the priest purifies his hands after touching the most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, so extraordinary ministers must do the same, lest particles left on their hands fall to the ground.
Those who receive Holy Communion on the hand must check for particles. Not infrequently will a particle or two of the Sacred Host remain on someone’s hand, even after they have received the entire Host. That particle is Christ, whole and entire, meaning that the communicant must ensure that he or she consumes every particle on his or her hand.
For those in the positions to enforce these measures, may they do so. For those in positions to encourage their pastors, lay friends, etc., to do these things, may they do so. Perhaps priests could even preach about the importance of utilizing these practices. After all, the “excellent way” consists entirely in love—whether large or small, everything must be done with total love (1 Cor 12:31). Let us, then, live as perpetual lovers, adorers, and disciples of the Eucharist, living every moment of our lives for our Lord present under the sacred species.
