The statue of the Divino Niño in Hanceville, Alabama.
Jesus is waiting for you, at every Mass. He wants you here. He’s opening His Heart. He’s saying, “I thirst for you.” Pope Francis talks about the “merciful gaze” of Jesus. He knows you, and sees you.
By Fr. Andy Davy, MIC
I remember the moment like it was yesterday: my first Mass as a Catholic priest, when I would consecrate the bread and wine into the Holy Eucharist — the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It was 15 years ago, on Pentecost Sunday, May 31, 2009, in my home parish, St. John Neumann in Gaithersburg, Maryland (coincidentally the home parish of our newest Marian priest, Fr. Stephen Castellano, MIC). I was ordained to the priesthood the day before by Bishop Martin Holley. Now it was time to celebrate Mass by myself.
The church was packed. But at the consecration, I was surrounded by a hush, like the quiet sweetness of a steady wind.
I remember the power of the words I spoke, slowly. It was all suddenly made real. Of course, I was already a believer, thanks in large part to my parish, one of the first in the Archdiocese of Washington, DC, to establish perpetual Eucharistic Adoration.
Holding our Lord
But now it was strikingly different. I felt the reality, looking in awe like a child at the Host that has become the Body and Blood of our Lord. I could see through the outward appearance of bread and wine that I was holding the Lord in my hands.
It brought me back to my pre-ordination retreat at Mother Angelica’s shrine in Hanceville, Alabama, and the story of how she was inspired to build her monastery by the statue (above) of the Divino Niño — the Divine Child — in Colombia. The Infant Jesus is holding out His Sacred Heart, and there’s a cavity in His chest where His Heart should be. I felt the Lord very deeply touching my heart, as if to say, “This is a picture of what your priesthood is called to be.”
And so at the consecration I am holding the Heart of God. I’m called to place my heart here with His Heart, and give His Heart to the people.
In a word, wow. Yes, it was very emotional. And I can honestly say that, every day since for 15 years, whenever I celebrate Mass, the same feeling of awe and reverence and humility overcomes me. It has never, and will never, grow old. How could it possibly?
Eucharistic Revival
That is why it pains me, and my brother priests, to hear about the lack of reverence for the Eucharist, and the lack of understanding about the Real Presence. A feeling of sadness comes over me. If people only knew Who they were missing!
It has been a blessing for me to be part of the National Eucharistic Revival under way throughout the United States. This could not happen at a more pivotal time in our history!
The Eucharist is the “source and summit” of our Catholic faith. It’s the very heart, a place of encounter where Jesus is waiting for us, over and over again. It’s reassuring to see people discovering that more and more, eager to deepen their relationship with Him.
As one of 50 “official” Eucharistic preachers, I talk about how we need to see through the eyes of children, who see the wonder and marvel in things that the rest of the adult world takes for granted, or finds boring. It’s about helping people re-discover Jesus. He’s right here. He comes in a quiet whisper that has its own thunder beneath it.
Jesus is waiting
Jesus is waiting for you, at every Mass. He wants you here. He’s opening His Heart. He’s saying, “I thirst for you.” Pope Francis talks about the “merciful gaze” of Jesus. He knows you, and sees you.
From the Cross, Jesus is looking at me with love and He’s saying, in a sense, “Yes, you have crucified Me by your sins. But I’ve come to make all things new.” And so it’s like the Child saying again, “Here’s My Heart. Will you take it?”
If you haven’t picked up the habit yet, please try Eucharistic Adoration. Adoration is the place where Jesus trains us how to see like a child. But beware: from a modern standpoint, Adoration is the most boring, pointless thing ever. You’re just sitting there! Our minds are wired to scream against silence.
The feeling is normal. Just take a few moments to turn back the years, put away the phone, clear your mind. Wade through that noisy storm, to experience something far deeper on the other side. God is present before you in the Eucharist. He is listening. Talk to Him.
If you can’t make it to an Adoration chapel, just go to any Catholic church. Jesus is right there, in the tabernacle, waiting for you.
Readers of a certain age will recall that when¬ever you walked or drove by a Catholic church, you blessed yourself, and men tipped their hats. Why? Out of respect for Jesus, waiting inside.
He died for us
One of my favorite novels is Les Miserables by Victor Hugo — pretty good musical and movie, too. My favorite scene (and a favorite of Fr. Mike Schmitz) is very Eucharistic, when Jean Valjean rescues Marius. He’s willing to go the extra mile, dragging him to safety through the muck of the sewers of Paris. He could have simply left him and swam to safety himself. But no.
And the Passion is like that. At any moment, Jesus could have said, “I’m outta here.” But no. He loved us to the end. He emptied Himself all the way to the bottom to drag us out of sin. He sacrificed Himself so we can be free.
That’s the reality of the Eucharist. It’s the mystery of the Cross at every Mass, and Jesus is present. Behold the Lamb of God! He’s reaching down, pulling us out of the muck and mire of our sins so that we can be saved.
In our noisy existence, there’s still this quiet, gentle whisper. It’s Jesus, saying, “Look here, because that’s where your heart is going to finally rest. It won’t rest anywhere else.”
Homework
Truly, the National Eucharistic Revival could not happen at a more crucial time. Please tune in and take part! Visit EucharisticRevival.org for details.
I’ll be joining a group of Marian priests, brothers, and seminarians at the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana, July 17-21, and and be sure and stop by the Marian Press booth (#108) in the Expo Hall We hope to see you there! Please pray for its success, and a renewal of Eucharistic love in our country.
In the meantime, here’s some homework. Try Adoration. Maybe come to church early and sit quietly before the tabernacle before Sunday Mass begins. Try to attend daily Mass.
Talk to your kids about the Eucharist. A family conversation is excellent preparation for Sunday Mass, and I guarantee there will be plenty of interesting questions!
Father Andy Davy, MIC, is the director of postulants for the Marian Fathers, based at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy.
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