How do we respond to God’s invitation for us to come to His wedding feast, the Mass? God himself prepares the meal for us, the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus His son - food that gives to us a share in God’s everlasting life. Have we come prepared for this banquet? The Mass is the greatest celebration that we can have on earth and we have a responsibility to come to Mass prepared and willing to be transformed by our union with Christ in the Eucharist.
It is important for us to present ourselves in good conscience before the Lord in Holy Communion. The Church teaches, as she always has, that if we are conscious of grave sin we must refrain from receiving Holy Communion until we have made a good confession. “Presenting oneself to receive Holy Communion should be a conscious decision, based upon a reasoned judgment regarding one’s worthiness to do so, according to the Church’s objective criteria, asking such questions as: “Am I in full communion with the Catholic Church – (meaning do I accept what the Church teaches and try my best to live according to these teachings?)? Am I guilty of grave sin – (for example, have I missed Mass on a Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation?)? Have I prepared myself by fasting for at least an hour?”
"The practice of indiscriminately presenting oneself to receive Holy Communion, merely as a consequence of being present at Mass, is an abuse that must be corrected.” (Redemptionis Sacramentum, nos. 81, 83). This is not meant to scare us away, but to remind us of the tremendous gift we are coming to receive. This is God we are about to receive into our body and soul; have we prepared ourselves appropriately?
Do we come to Mass appropriately dressed? Our dress reflects our recognition of the importance of the Mass. Let’s think. What would we wear if we were going to a wedding banquet with the Pope or the President of the United States? At Mass we are present at the wedding banquet with the God of heaven and earth! Does our dress reflect our belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist?
Receiving the Eucharist at Communion whether on the tongue or in the hand is to be done with the utmost respect and reverence. The Church commands that we make a sign of reverence, such as a bow of the head before approaching to receive Holy Communion. Then, if receiving in the hand, place one hand on top of the other, palms up, so that there is a flat surface on which to place the host. The host is then to be immediately consumed before walking back to your pew; the priest or minister should see you consume the host.
If receiving on the tongue, then stick out your tongue completely so that the host can be easily placed upon it, then close your mouth and consume. In both instances after the priest or minister says, “the Body of Christ” or “the Blood of Christ” (when receiving from the chalice) you are to respond, "Amen". Amen confirms your belief that this truly is the Body of Christ you are receiving. Amen is the appropriate response, not thank you or any other response. The time to give thanks comes after you have consumed the Eucharist and returned to your pew. Here, give thanks to God by making a good thanksgiving prayer from your heart.
The church is God’s house and is to be a place of prayer. Jesus Christ is present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity within the church, and we are called to respect His presence with profound reverence upon entering the church. Before Mass we are called to maintain silence so that all can prayerfully prepare themselves to meet Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Throughout our celebration of the Mass we are to maintain reverential silence and respect, which is to continue after Mass. This means we are to leave the church quietly and not stop to converse inside the Church, so that others may continue to pray in thanksgiving for the gift of the Eucharist.
“Let us also call to mind that each church is God's house where many come to seek peace in prayer and recollection. Reverential quiet should always be observed so as not to disturb others in prayer. We have so many places to gather socially, but so few places removed from the noise of the world for contemplation. In charity, we must keep the Lord's house a quiet place where heart speaks to heart, where burdens are unloaded, tears quietly shed and prayers offered to the One Who alone fully knows us and understands us. Music rehearsals and other preparations should not disturb the prayers of our sisters and brothers. Let us be conscious of the gifts of silence, meditation and reverence as part of the Christian life. These are intended not as restrictions but as paths to greater union with the Eucharistic Christ.” (excerpt from the pastoral letter on the Eucharist by Bishop Matano, former bishop of Burlington).
The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith so it should be the center of our week. All that we do should be ordered to the celebration of the Eucharist. What does this mean for us? Coming to Mass should have priority in our week. How many times have we planned our week and then suddenly realized, oh shoot, I have not remembered Mass. We have scheduled in time for work, sports, meeting friends and family, but have forgotten to give God one hour of our week.
On the night before his crucifixion Christ was in the garden of Gethsemane agonizing about His imminent suffering and death, while his friends slept. He asked them in deep distress, “Could you not even watch one hour with me?” Can we not even give God one hour of our week? Having reflected these past few days on the reality of the Eucharist – the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ - we should make Mass the event in our week with top priority. We should look forward to our meeting with God each week in the Eucharist.
The Eucharist is meant to change us and affect the way we live our lives. Receiving the Eucharist we become one with Jesus Christ. The life of God dwells within us and thus we have the grace to act more Christ-like in our daily lives. Do we cooperate with this grace and allow Christ to act in and through us? Are we patient with our family and friends? Do we take time to help the sick and poor? Are we charitable in thought, word, and deed? Do we seek peace as we strive for truth and justice? Jesus wants to use us as his instruments by which He blesses the entire world with His love, compassion, peace and justice. Do we cooperate willingly and lovingly?
Let us always come to Mass prepared and ready to receive the greatest gift we can be given, the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. By approaching the altar in good conscience, proper reverence, dress, and respect we can be confident that we will be one of the chosen who enjoys the fullness of God’s kingdom now and forever.