by Friar Jim Van Vurst, O.F. M.

Q U I C K S C A N

What is the Sacrament of the Eucharist?
When did the belief in the Eucharist begin?
An interesting question

Readers reflect on Friar Jack’s musings

What is the Sacrament of the Eucharist?

In one simple, profound statement, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (quoting the Vatican II document Lumen Gentium) says it all: “The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC, # 1324). In other words, the Eucharist is the beginning and the end of Christian life. One easy way to understand that truth is to ask ourselves: “What would I feel like if I could never receive the Eucharist again?” The very thought can send chills down our religious spines, and with good reason. We believe that when we receive the host in our hands or on our tongues, we are receiving the whole Jesus—body and blood, soul and divinity. We receive our savior, our Lord, and astoundingly, our brother. To think we could not receive Jesus would be frightening!

We say the Eucharist is Jesus. Once I received a one-and-a-half page single-spaced typed letter from a man named Frank who wanted to prove by Scripture and by logic that the host could not be Jesus. He went on and on with one premise after another until, at the end, he seemed to pound his fist and say: “So you see, that host and wine CAN’T be Jesus.” I could have answered him with another page and half of Scripture and “proofs” defending our belief. But in the end, I simply said, “But Frank, don’t you see, it’s not a matter of human logic; it’s a matter of faith.” In the end, all the arguments will never convince anyone. Ultimately, it is simply taking Jesus at his word. “This is my body, this is my blood” (Lk 22: 17-20; John 6:52-58).

When did belief in the Eucharist begin?

This has been the belief of Church and its members from the very beginning (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 10:16-17). At last year’s Easter Vigil over 150,000 people in the U.S. alone entered the Church. For the first time they believed that what they were going to receive in their First Holy Communion was Jesus himself, the bread of life. One lady told me, “And to think, Father, I almost missed this in my life.”

It is this faith which has motivated people to walk miles to church and has caused people to risk their lives, smuggling the Eucharist into Nazi concentration camps and Siberian work camps. It is the reason parish churches throughout the whole world celebrate Mass and provide Eucharist each and every day without exception. It is the reason why those who are sick hunger for Eucharist, and why people consider it a privilege to bring Eucharist to hospitals and nursing home patients. The Eucharist is the “bread of life” even at the moment of death. The last Communion a person receives before death is called “Holy Viaticum,” which means “food for the journey” home to God.

If you ever want to see happy faces, just watch the faces of parents who witness their child make their First Communion; they are ecstatically happy, proud, and so very grateful that their own child has received their Lord and Savior for the first of many times.

An interesting question

Every once in a while you may be shocked to hear someone charge(or maybe even wonder yourself) that if Catholics really believe what they say, they are like cannibals—eating Jesus. Actually, this has been an accusation against the faith from the very beginning of Christianity. No, cannibalism is not involved here at all. Common sense would tell us that. People would naturally be revolted by that thought. Eucharist is Jesus, just as we say, but it is Jesus with his glorified body present both in heaven and on earth wherever there is Eucharist. We do not eat “pieces of Jesus’ flesh.” Each of us receives the whole Jesus, which means that as we look around Church at Communion time, we are indeed the Body of Christ, united as brothers and sisters in a way that is most profound. We are more than just gathered as individuals in church. We are family.

But there is one final point I want to make. Sometimes you hear the questions: “Are you saved? Have you received Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior?” Actually, one can’t get closer to Jesus than by receiving him, body and blood, soul and divinity, in the Eucharist. Remember that when the eucharistic minister places the host in your hand or on your tongue and you say, “Amen,” that word means “Yes, I believe.” Each time you receive Communion, you are saying, “Yes, Jesus, I believe it is you. I receive you into my heart as my Lord and Savior.” We are so blessed with this sacrament of sacraments, Jesus himself.

Read “The Feast of St. Francis and the Year of the Eucharist.”

Friar Jack’s Inbox

Readers respond to "Friar Jack’s Christmas Message."

Dear Friar Jack: Just thought you might be interested in this little tidbit regarding the feeding of the birds on Christmas. My local SFO (Secular Franciscan Order) fraternity, Lady Clare, in Kokomo, IN, annually distributes little bags of bird seed after the Christmas Eve Masses, along with a note about how Francis wanted all the birds to be fed on Christmas Day. We have done this enough times that it would be missed if we decided not to do it. Pax et bonum, during this holiday season and always! Linda, SFO, Minister, Lady Clare Fraternity

Dear Linda: Thanks for this practical example of hwo to make the spirit of St. Francis come alive today! Friar Jack

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