The Church has ever extolled the Eucharist as that central Mystery of Faith whereby man is sanctified and redeemed. It is the Memorial of Christ’s Passion and the pledge of future glory; the Bread of Angels and the lifeblood of men; the living presence of God made man, who came to make man God.
Every age of the Church reveals its own emphasis and key insights into the Eucharist. The earliest documents of the Church express a clear understanding of the sacrificial dimensions of the Mass. The Medieval Period saw the rise of the philosophical doctrine of transubstantiation, public exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and the establishment of the Feast of Corpus Christi. Contemplating the union between God and man in Holy Communion, modern writers have focused more nearly on the relational dimensions of the Eucharist. Together, these historical accounts offer a rich theology of the Eucharist, grounded in Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and Magisterial Teaching.
As the Church begins the third millennium of Eucharistic faith, the voices of the past provide faithful witness to the truth of Christ’s Real Presence.
—Kenneth J. Howell and Joseph Crownwood
Mystery of the Altar: Daily Meditations on the Eucharist
Now’s the time to deepen your Eucharistic devotion. Make the decision this year to spend more time with the Blessed Sacrament and strengthen your love for Jesus in the Eucharist.
Here are three ways to easily jumpstart your journey.
1) Spend five minutes in meditation each day
Root each day in thanksgiving and adoration by reading a short reflection on the wonder of the Eucharist.
One great resource is Mystery of the Altar by Kenneth J. Howell and Joseph Crownwood, which includes daily meditations from the saints and other holy sources. Each reflection is short enough to read in less than five minutes. It’s also bound in imitation leather with gold-edged pages and a satin bookmark.
2) Make a weekly holy hour
There’s no better way to grow in love with someone than to spend time together—the same is true with our Lord. Commit to spending more time with the Blessed Sacrament each week. In addition to weekly (or daily) Mass, resolve to spend an hour in prayer in front of the Eucharist each week. If an hour seems out of reach, start with thirty or even fifteen minutes each week. Bring a Bible, a Rosary, or anything else to help root you in prayer.
3) Learn something new about the Mass
Deepen your appreciation for the Mass as God’s central plan for our salvation.
This Lent, do a deep dive into the Mass and the Eucharist with the video study Parousia: The Bible and the Mass. Join host Scott Hahn to uncover how and why all of God’s action, in creation and redemption, is ordered to the Mass.
Source: St. Paul Center
