Every time we consume the Eucharist, it's like a Christmas tree with bottomless gifts. As we unwrap and discover each grace, there are always more waiting. No matter our past, our generous Lord has an eternity of surprises. In his book, 7 secrets of the Eucharist, Vinny Flynn provides details. The purpose of this post is to encapsulate his message. While there are not enough words to articulate the Holy Eucharist, this book will open the eyes of our soul.
1. Jesus comes to us with His heavenly entourage
- Christ is never alone when He is present in the Eucharist. He is in heaven without leaving heaven. This is the principle of concomitance. If all of heaven is present within Him, then we too, receive Mother Mary and all the choirs of angels and saints. This includes our miscarried babies, deceased children, spouses, siblings, grandparents or anyone else we know that lives in heaven. We see them with the eyes of our heart in Holy Communion. Perhaps this is what Jesus says with, “The kingdom of heaven is within you” (Luke 17:21).
- “It was beyond them that all the joy of heaven had entered one small, exiled heart, and that it was too weak to bear it without tears. As if the absence of my mother could make me unhappy on the day of the first Communion! As all of heaven entered my soul when I received Jesus, my mother came to me as well.” ~ St Therese of Lisieux
- “Jesus… You come to me in Holy Communion. You who together with the Father and the Holy Spirit have deigned to dwell in the little heaven of my heart.” --St Faustina (486)
- “Once after Holy Communion, I heard these words: 'You are Our dwelling place.' At that moment, I felt in my soul the presence of the Holy Trinity.” -Jesus to St. Faustina (451)
- “Would it not have been enough to create us after Your own image and likeness, making us reborn through grace by the blood of Your Son? Was it still necessary that You should give even the Holy Trinity as food for our souls?” — St Catherine of Siena
2, Jesus' heart tissue & white blood cells are ALIVE in the Holy Eucharist
- “Under the consecrated species of bread and wine, Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real and substantial manner” (CCC 1415).
- “Oh, how painful it is to me that souls so seldom unite themselves to me in Holy Communion. I wait for souls, and they are indifferent toward me. I love them tenderly and sincerely and they distrust me. I want to lavish my graces on them, and they do not want to accept them. They treat me as a dead object, whereas my heart is full of love and mercy,” Jesus to St. Faustina (1447)
- If we accept Jesus with an awareness that He is fully alive, we become fully alive. St Paul writes, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me,” Galatians 2:20.
3. There is only one Holy Mass
- “Oh, what awesome mysteries take place during Holy Mass! One day we will know what God is doing for us in each Holy Mass and what sort of gift He is preparing in it for us. Only His divine love could permit that such a gift be provided for us.” -St. Faustina (914)
- In reality, there is one eternal liturgy of the Eucharist taking place in heaven at all times. Christ invites us to enter beyond the veil so He can lift us out of time. He wants us to share in the Eternal Now, which is the very sanctuary of heaven. He leads us as the Great High Priest, as He offers His sacrifice to the Father. Mother Mary, all the saints and angels sing His praises in endless adoration. When we engage, the Holy Mass is heaven on earth.
4. The Holy Eucharist is a series of infinite miracles
- “What miracles! Who would ever have imagined such! If the angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason--Holy Communion.” ~ St Maximilian Kolbe
- “At the words of consecration, there occurs a course of resplendent miracles, each more marvelous than a world created out of nothing. “~ Fr. Frederick Faber
- "The Eucharist is the source and summit of life. The other sacraments… are bound with the Holy Eucharist oriented toward it. For in the Blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church” ~ CCC 1324
- “It is only in eternity that we shall know the great mystery effected in us by Holy Communion” -St Faustina (841)
5. It is so much more than receiving
- “The Eucharist involves more than just receiving, it also involves satisfying the hunger of Christ. He says, 'Come to me.' He is hungry for souls. No where does the Gospel say, 'Go away,' but always 'come to me.” ~ St Mother Teresa of Calcutta
- Christ is calling us to more than just receiving communion but to enter into communion and unite ourselves to Him. (CCC 1331, 1329)
- “Throw melted wax into melted wax, and the one interpenetrates the other perfectly. In the same way, when the Body and Blood of Christ are received, the union is such that Christ is in the recipient and the recipient is in Christ” ~ St Cyril of Jerusalem
- “The most solemn moment of my life is when I receive Holy Communion” ~ St. Faustina (1804)
- “I would not give up this hour of Thanksgiving even for one hour of Paradise” ~ St Louis de Montfort
- “When Holy Mass was over, I remained with Jesus in thanksgiving. Oh, how sweet was the colloquy with paradise that morning! It was such that, although I want to tell you all about it, I cannot… The heart of Jesus and my own — allow me to use the expression — were fused. No longer were two hearts beating but only one. My own heart had disappeared, as a drop of water is lost in the ocean. Jesus was its paradise, its King. My joy was so intense and deep that I could bear it no more and tears of happiness poured down my cheeks” ~ St Padre Pio
6. Every reception is different
- My spiritual disposition before, during and after receiving the sacrament will determine whether the sacrament will produce good fruit in me (in varying degrees), have no effect at all or result in my condemnation (cf. 1 Cor 11:27-29).
- “A person receives the effect of this sacrament according to his condition. In a false person, the sacrament does not produce any effect” ~ St Thomas Aquinas
- “The more resemblance there is between the person who goes to Communion and Jesus, so much the better will the fruits of Holy Communion be.” ~ St Anthony Mary Claret
7. There are no limits to how many times we may receive
- “The manner of receiving this sacrament is twofold, spiritual and sacramental” ~ St Thomas Aquinas
- Since the graces of the Eucharist are received in proportion to our spiritual condition, our desire to be united with God does not limit God’s graces to sacramental Communion alone.
- Spiritual Communion is when we invite God to do what He wants to do: to come into our hearts with all of heaven and lift us beyond the veil into the eternity of His love.
- True spiritual communion is always an anticipation and extension of sacramental Communion.
- “A spiritual communion acts on the soul as blowing does on a cinder – covered fire which was about to go out. Whenever you feel your love of God growing cold, quickly make a spiritual communion.” ~ St John Vianney
- “If you practice the holy exercise of spiritual Communion several times each day, within a month you will see your heart completely changed” ~ St Leonard of Port Maurice
- “In this golden chalice I put your sacramental communions. In this silver chalice I put your spiritual communions. Both chalices are quite pleasing to me” ~ Jesus to St. Catherine of Siena
- “Jesus, when you come to me in Holy Communion, You who together with the Father and the Holy Spirit have deigned to dwell in the little heaven of my heart, I try to keep you company throughout the day. I do not leave you alone for even a moment.” ~ St. Faustina (486)
- “I have come to know that Holy Communion remains in me until the next Holy Communion. A vivid and clearly felt presence of God continues in my soul… My heart is a living tabernacle in which the living Host is reserved. I have never sought God in some far-off place, but within myself. It is in the depths of my own being that I commune with my God,” ~ St Faustina (1302
- “In the course of the day… call on Jesus, even in the midst of occupations… He will come and will remain always united with your soul by means of His grace and holy love. Fly with your spirit before the tabernacle, when you cannot stand before it bodily. There, pour out the ardent longings of your soul and embrace the Beloved of souls, even more than if you had been permitted to receive Him sacramentally.” ~ St Padre Pio
- “Oh Jesus, concealed in the Host, my sweet Master and faithful Friend, how happy my soul is to have such a Friend who always keeps me company… How happy I am to be a dwelling place for you, O Lord! My heart is a temple in which you dwell continually.” ~ St Faustina (877, 1392)
Spiritual Communion Prayers
- “My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.” ~ St Alphonsus Liguori
- “O Jesus I turn toward the holy tabernacle where You live hidden for love of me. I love you, O my God. I cannot receive you in Holy Communion. Come nevertheless and visit me with Your grace. Come spiritually into my heart. Purify it. Sanctify it. Render it like unto Your own. Amen.” ~ Tradition Prayer Approved by Sacred Congregation of Indulgences
Bask in the love of Jesus through Adoration
- Nothing equals the value of time with Jesus, simply being present to Him who is wholly present to us.
- “The worship of the Eucharist outside of the Mass is of inestimable value.” ~ Pope St John Paul II
- “I spend every free moment at the feet of the hidden God. He is my Master; I ask Him about everything, I speak to Him about everything. Here I obtain strength and light; here I learn everything, here I am given light on how to act toward my neighbor… I have enclosed myself in the tabernacle together with Jesus.” ~ St Faustina (704)
For more, read Vinny's edifying book. Your eternal soul will thank you.
Jesus, we trust in You!
Sources:
7 Secrets of the Eucharist by Vinny Flynn – Prodigal Catholic
Catechism of the Catholic Church | USCCB
Diary of St Maria Faustina Kowalska | Archangel Michael
Seven Secrets of the Eucharist by Vinny Flynn | Catholicity.com
