The Gift of the Eucharist

     The Eucharist is a very important part of the Catholic Faith. Through the New Testament, Jesus Christ teaches many of his most compelling enlightenments through the way of meals, the most important being the Eucharist. The Eucharist is essential in our faith because it is what brings all Catholics together in the Mass to share in the body and blood of Christ. We can relate this to sharing a meal with our families. When you sit around the table with your family, you are able to grow closer with others and be present with the community of people you are around. Much like a meal, Catholics come together in the holy sacrament of the Mass through the gift of the Eucharist to share in communion the body and blood of Christ. We come together to be present at the time of the Mass, especially when the bread and wine is presented and turned into the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the consecration. 

      During the Mass, it can sometimes be hard to concentrate. I find my mind wandering during the Mass from time to time. God understands that we are all human and can get distracted, even during Mass. In order to stay centered and be present in the sacrament of the Mass, we must take time to reflect on the importance of the Eucharist. Mother Teresa shares a few key words on how important the Eucharist is in our everyday lives. Mother Teresa says “We cannot separate our lives from the Eucharist; the moment we do, something breaks. People ask, ‘Where do the sisters get the joy and the energy to do what they are doing?’ The Eucharist involves more than just receiving; it also involves satisfying the hunger of Christ.” Though we can get distracted and sometimes can forget how important the Eucharist is, we must always try to center ourselves back.

    Take just 10 minutes a day to reflect on the fact that Jesus Christ came down to this Earth, knowing that he would die a painful, excruciating death, so that we would be able to enter into Heaven and also be able to receive his body and blood through the sacrament of Mass. When I find myself forgetting the importance of the Eucharist, I take a few seconds to recenter myself by praying to Blessed Imelda Lambertini who is the patron saint of the Eucharist. We should take at least 10 minutes a day to recognize the importance of the Eucharist and the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made in order that all people have the ability to receive the gift of the Eucharist through the sacrament of the Mass.