Sunday After Corpus Christi

Holy Communion

Preparation. - This day's Gospel speaks of the great banquet to which Jesus invites us, which is nothing else than holy Communion. Let us consider its precious effects, first, for our souls, and secondly, for even our bodies, and let us thereby be filled with the desire of being always united to Jesus, so that we may realize in ourselves His promise: "He that eateth Me, the same shall live by Me" (John 6. 58), that is, by My spirit, My sentiments, My doctrine and My grace.

I. The Effects Of Holy Communion In Our Souls.

Unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, itself remaineth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit" (John 12. 24, 25). The grain of wheat is no other than our Saviour, who by His death became "the corn of the elect"; and what fruits does it not most abundantly bear in the adorable Eucharist! The material bread, the bread of the body becomes a part of the substance of him who eats it; not so with the Eucharistic Bread. Being more powerful than we, it transforms us into itself, by an unheard-of wonder; and, being nobel, heavenly and divine, it elevates us, detaches us from every thing earthly, and causes us to participate in Christ's nobility, wisdom and holiness. Thenceforth His thoughts, intentions, light and sentiments penetrate us as the sun's rays penetrate crystal. His holy inclinations, imparted to our heart, enable us, like Him, to love the interior life, the life of faith and grace, which sanctifies our intentions, directs our undertakings, regulates our speech and conduct, renders us modest in our demeanor, respectful towards God, meek and charitable towards our neighbor.

Such is the heavenly perfume given out by holy souls after holy Communion, and which clings to them even long after the disappearance of the sacred species. When St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi was still a child, she would, on the day her mother communicated, follow her every where, saying to her: "Mother, you have the odor of Jesus Christ."

There is nothing astonishing in this, for if there exists between loving friends a mysterious understanding and sympathy which, notwithstanding the distance separating them, brings them nearer to each other, how much more is this the case between the Redeemer and the souls that receive Him under the sacramental species, and thereby contract with Him ties of friendship and spiritual affinity, ties stronger than those that are merely natural! "He who receives holy Communion," says St. Alphonsus, "is in the Heart of Jesus, and Jesus is in his heart; this union is not one of mere affection, but is real and true."

And, O adorable Saviour, what a source of benefits is not this mystical union for us! How solicitously Thou protectest and defendest us, and loadest us with graces, especially on the days when we partake e of Thy divine Banquet! Thou has said, that the soul which receives Thee should live by Thy Spirit; hence do not permit me to be governed by a sensual and natural life, by my passions and their instincts; but enable me always to act through principles of faith, through motives of virtue, especially in obeying my superiors, who are Thy representatives; of charity towards my neighbor, Thy living image; of conformity to Thy will, contained for me in my duties and in all the events that concern me and often exercise my patience; "He who eateth Me, the same shall live by Me."

II. The Effects Of Holy Communion In Our Bodies.

The Eucharistic food, according to St. Thomas, acts not only  on our souls, but also on our bodies in two ways; indirectly, by increasing in us charity and thus diminishing concupiscence; and directly, inasmuch as our body comes in contact with the sacred  species, which nourish us miraculously, as if they were real substances. St. Cyril of Alexandria says, that the Eucharist sometimes cures the sick and preserves from corporal death. the father of St. Gregory of Naziance, exhausted by a long and painful fever and on the very verge of death, was suddenly cured by receiving holy Communion on Easter Sunday. Many similar facts are related by reliable authors.

"O wonderful and hidden grace," exclaims the author of the Imitation; "it is at times so strong in this Sacrament, that by the fulness of devotion, which it produces, not only our soul, but also our body finds therein fresh strength." How many saints have miraculously lived on no other food than the Eucharist! Bl Nicholas de Flue used no other food for twenty-two years.

These Miraculous facts are well calculated to reanimate our confidence in the all-powerful virtue of this Sacrament, especially in the assaults of the flesh and sensual desires. How fervently and confidently should we not invoke it in every danger! If you are no longer frequently beset with feelings of anger, envy , lust and other vices, give thanks to the body of Jesus Christ.

Moreover, when we receive Him, He places in us seeds of immortality, for He says,"Him that eateth My flesh ... I will raise up at the last day" (John 6. 55). In fact, the union we contract with Christ's glorious body in the Eucharist, will merit for us the happiness of rising again as His elect. Were we to understand the value of the Eucharistic Banquet, we would go to Jesus, as a sick person to his physician, as a thirsty deer to a cool spring, as a famished beggar to a good meal; we would ask Him for an alms as a needy person from a generous benefactor, as a creature from its Creator, as an indigent and grieving soul from her sovereign Benefactor and beloved Consoler.

"O Jesus in the sacred Host, Thou art a remedy for the sick," let us say with St. Bernard; "Thou impartest  strength to the weak and joy to the strong, Thou curest our languors and preservest our health. Through Thee, he who receives Thee becomes meek and patient in affliction, courageous in labor, ardent in loving Thee, watchful over himself, ready to obey and grateful for Thy benefits." O Mary, my Mother, enable me to receive and taste these precious fruits in holy Communion, that my whole conduct may be thereby sanctified.