Holy Communion

Not many people know that I was one of the music directors at my home parish in Colombia. One of the liturgical songs that I liked (I still like) to sing says, El amor se hizo pan y vino y su emblema es una cruz. Hubo un hombre hace mucho tiempo, la gente lo llamó Jesús (Love became bread and wine, and its emblem is a cross. There was a man long ago; people called him Jesus). This song reminds us how wonderful Jesus’ love is that He wanted to be with us in a piece of bread and wine. Jesus is with us. There is not any question about the real presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

This past Sunday, the Roman Catholic Church celebrated the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, in other words, the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. We really believe that Jesus is present in the Eucharist. When a deacon, priest, bishop, the Pope, or one of the extraordinary ministers of the Holy Communion (EMHC) says to us, The Body of Christ, believe that this is the Body of Christ. Jesus is not only in the Communion; Jesus is the Communion. Therefore, we should always show respect to the Eucharist having our bodies clean and our souls as well. If our hands are not clean, please wash your hands. Do not eat any- thing before the Mass (at least an hour before to receive the Holy Communion [Eucharistic fasting]), and of course, if our soul is not well prepared to receive the Eucharistic Jesus, let us go to receive God’s mercy in the wonderful sacrament of the Reconciliation.

Let us remember how we should receive the communion: “Those who receive Communion may receive either in the hand or on the tongue, and the decision should be that of the individual receiving, not of the person distributing Communion. If Communion is received in the hand, the hands should first of all be clean. If one is right-handed the left hand should rest upon the right. The host will then be laid in the palm of the left hand and then taken by the right hand to the mouth. If one is left-handed this is reversed. It is not appropriate to reach out with the fingers and take the host from the person distributing” (The Reception of Holy Communion at Mass).

Once again, we, Catholics, believe that the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus is in the Holy Communion. If you receive the Holy Communion in your hand, please do not walk with the Holy Communion around the Church. Just consume (eat) the Holy Communion. Go to your pew, and kneel (if you cannot, be seated), and pray saying, to the Lord, “thank you” and how much you love Him. You can also join the cantor or choir in the communion song.

Jesus is the Eucharist, which is “the source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324). The Eucharist is the most precious treasure that Our Lord Jesus gave us.

Remember, The parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build!

God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!

Fr. Jorge Ramirez.