WHAT DOES "E-U-C-H-A-R-I-S-T"
STAND FOR?
by Fr. Jim Whalen
Trying to remember key concepts of
the Eucharist calls for the use of an acrostic for framework. This
memory aid can enable us to retain the primary facts and at the same
time keep the pertinent information at our finger tips.
“E”
in Eucharist stands for eternal life. Whoever eats of My flesh
and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the
last day (Jn 6:56). Jesus gives us everlasting life. Eternal life is
a desire in the heart of every person. Every time we eat the body
and drink of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is a pledge of
our future salvation of living forever and ever. Eternity is
infinite, time without end. St. Thomas states that God would not put
the desire for eternal life in our hearts if it were not going to be
fulfilled.
“U”
in Eucharist stands for union with Jesus Christ, Who is Life.
Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me and I in him
(Jn 6:54). Our union with Jesus is intensified in every reception of
Holy Eucharist by increasing sanctifying grace in us. Blessed Mother
Teresa of Calcutta explained that in Holy Communion, we touch Jesus.
St. Vincent de Paul stated we leave Jesus in prayer to find Jesus in
people.
“C”
in Eucharist stands for Christ Jesus, totally and truly
present. Many parishes have responded to Pope John Paul II’s call
for Perpetual Adoration, which brings about tremendous spiritual
healing and strength. Blessed are those who have not seen and have
believed (Jn 20:29). We, in our lives, accentuate the positive and
celebrate this great gift of Jesus’ real presence - the gift of real
life.
“H”
in Eucharist stands for healing. It is important to come to the
Eucharist open to healing of mind, body, soul, and life. The
Eucharist can help to nourish and sustain us. It is at Communion
when we are closest to Jesus, a time when we can ask for whatever we
need according to His will. He is present in the living consecrated
bread because He loves us now and wants to remain with us. This is
why He taught us in the Our Father, “Give us this day our daily
bread”.
“A” in Eucharist stands for abandonment. Do not let your hearts be
troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in Me (Jn 14:1).
Jesus abandons Himself, His life on the cross, and again in the
Sacred Host. This calls us to great respect for the Eucharist -
Jesus Christ, present in our midst, Emmanuel. St. Maximilian Kolbe
offered to take the place of a man who was condemned to die by
starvation. He abandoned himself to the Lord and gave us an example
of dedication and unselfish love for a neighbour, allowing him to
live.
“R”
in Eucharist stands for reconciliation. If you do not forgive
others, neither will your Father forgive you your transgressions (Mt
6:14). Pope John Paul II has said that the Holy Eucharist restores
life and leads to reconciliation, and that reconciliation leads to
the Eucharist. There is a healing power in the sacraments,
especially in the Eucharist that is real and available. Jesus heals
us in some way every time we come to Him in Holy Communion. Now is
the time to frequent the Sacrament of Confession and prepare for the
Bread of Life. We should strive to imitate Pope John Paul II, who
forgave the man who tried to kill him.
“I”
in Eucharist stands for intimacy. Remain in Me, as I remain in you (Jn
15:4). The Eucharistic presence of Christ begins at the moment of
the consecration and endures as long as the Eucharistic species
subsist (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1377). The most personal
relationship in our lives is that with Jesus Christ in the
Eucharist. Jesus waits for us to come and share with Him as a friend
- our best friend. We should approach Him with the heart of Mary,
who was closer to Jesus than anyone else, asking her to show us the
way to His sacred human heart. Pope John Paul II spends hours before
the Blessed Sacrament every day. He challenges us to visit
regularly. Jesus calls to us: “Will you not spend an hour with Me?”
Blessed Mother Teresa stated that the hours spent before the Blessed
Sacrament are some of the most important hours of our lives.
“S”
in Eucharist stands for sacrifice. Whoever loves their father or
mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves their son
or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and whoever does not
take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me (Mt
10:37-38). Archbishop Fulton Sheen stated that we should never let
our suffering go to waste. We should give it to the Lord so He can
take it to the Father and intercede for us, our families, our loved
ones, and our lives. We should join our lives, our sufferings, and
joys with the suffering of Jesus Christ, with the offering of the
bread and wine, which becomes the body and blood of Christ.
“T”
in Eucharist stands for transformation. It also stands for
thanksgiving. Like St. Paul, we are challenged to convert, to put
aside what is not of God. We should give God permission to change
what needs changing in our lives, and to imitate Mary and do only
the will of God. Have among yourselves the same attitude that is
also yours in Christ Jesus (Phil 2:5). Of the group of ten lepers
who were healed by Jesus only one returned to thank Him. Let us
thank Him daily for the Gift of Life by participating in Mass as
often as we can.+
This article is a synopsis of the contents of:
The Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, Fr. Paul DeGrandis,
S.S.J., pub. by Catholic Assoc. of Texas, 1998, pp.76.
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In many high schools, students assist with
opening announcements and prayers. We encourage you to say the
following prayer in your school.
PRAYER
FOR LIFE
May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be
adored and loved in the true Holy Eucharist at every Mass throughout
the world until the end of time.
May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored and loved in the true
Holy Eucharist in every tabernacle throughout the world until the
end of time.
May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored and loved in the true
Holy Eucharist by the heart of every Christian throughout the world
until the end of time.
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FOR
CLASS
DISCUSSION
Situation :
Canadian Parliament has introduced legislation to
change the definition of marriage.
For Class Discussion:
-
What is the new
definition that is being proposed?
-
How is the new
definition different than the existing definition?
-
What can you do to
encourage members of parliament to uphold the traditional
definition of marriage?
-
How can the Holy
Eucharist be a part of our decision-making in upholding the
Sanctity of Marriage?
|
THE
DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE
from The Definition of Marriage from the Oxford
Dictionary Online
Canadian Parliament is considering changing the
definition of marriage to include same-sex couples. Many
students do not understand why it matters.
Please click here for information by the bishops of Canada
on why it matters.
Please pray that Canadian Parliament will uphold the
traditional definition of marriage as a union between one
man and one woman.
“CLASS ACTION”
: Giant Postcard
1) Sign your name to a large sheet of paper (take a roll
of paper used to cover tables that your school may have
available).
2) Add your comments.
3) Send the paper to your Member of Parliament (postage is
free) and ask him/her to present your petition in
parliament.
Your Member of Parliament, House of Commons, Ottawa,
Ontario K1A 0H6
Please note: It is expected that legislation
regarding Marriage may take place in June, 2005. It is
possible that this will take place sooner.
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ABORTION KILLS THE CHRISTIAN
MORALITY WITHIN US
by Chloé
Ward, Age: 17
Priests for Life Canada Essay on Life Contest Second Prize Winner,
June 2004
Abortion is the murder of a silent, innocent, unborn
human being. It is an atrocious resolution to end a pregnanc. There
are numerous
dissenting viewpoints concerning the moral implications
of abortion. Christians generally possess a keen desire to follow
and apply the teachings of the Holy Bible, which includes the Ten
Commandments. Abortion violates the sixth commandment, which
prohibits murderous acts. In addition to this, the fetus acquires a
soul at the moment of conception, which justifies their human
entity. At this time, God also knows His lifelong plan for each
unique individual, which should not be interfered with. Finally,
every act performed by a Christian should be a loving and caring
step to becoming closer to God, as love is the ultimate key to the
world’s largest religion, Christianity. It is for all of these
humane reasons that abortion should most definitely be prohibited.
Ensoulment is a sacred passage to becoming fully
human which occurs at the very moment of conception. Even before
birth, God already knows each human and has a special, unexplainable
relationship with him or her. Life has already begun at conception,
for the fertilized cell, or zygote contains the entire necessary DNA
to transform into an independent, conscious human being, able to
survive on earth. In addition to this, He has a diverse plan for
each of us, which He has already shaped specifically for each of our
lifestyles, to ensure that our purposes may be obtained and that
each and every human being will be able to reunite with God at the
end of our earthly paths. Anyone taking away the life of another
human is committing a grievous act of disobedience against God, by
trying to put himself or herself on a high and unattainable level
with Him. This attitude of superiority is unrealistic for any human
being, for God is the only entity who is truly justified in taking
away the most precious gift of all, life. He is the only being with
the right to judge who should live and who should die, as supported
in the Bible, “… because He Himself gives all [people] life and
breath and everything else” (Acts 17:25, NIV). Furthermore, there is
the natural law, which Catholics claim that the natural consequence
of the woman becoming pregnant is to give birth to a child. Due to
the fact that the lifelong journey to an eternity with God begins at
conception, the act of terminating this through abortion is unjust.
Along with taking for granted God’s gift of the
human soul and life, having an abortion also alienates oneself from
God. As an active Christian, it is crucial to develop an intimate,
sacred, and respectful relationship with Him. One method of
attempting to achieve this relationship is to follow the Ten
Commandments always. When a Christian disobeys one of these ten
simple rules, they are deliberately alienating themselves from the
nurturing relief experienced through His unconditional love.
However, they are not only alienating themselves from God but also
from themselves. It has been proven by psychologists that women who
had had abortions, often suffer from psychological damage and even
Post Abortion Syndrome in some cases, as they are generally engaging
themselves in something which they feel is morally wrong. The
purpose of the Ten Commandments is to present concrete guidelines
for achieving eternal happiness when strictly followed. This is why
when one of the commandments is broken, such as the sixth, “You
shall not murder”, one’s relationship with God is seriously
alienated.
Finally, abortion is an inhumane and a deliberate
unloving act. Love is not just a feeling, but it is a practical
attitude to reach out and help others. This is the absolute most
important issue of Christianity. To love someone else is the same as
to love God in His eyes. Killing an innocent and helpless baby is
one of the most cruel and unloving acts. When an unbelievably
unchristian act such as abortion occurs, the person’s path leading
to their state of happiness and peace, or the “Kingdom of God”, is
greatly impeded. The way to reach the ultimate state of happiness,
love, and freedom within is to cut out all the selfishness,
arrogance, and fear in your life and to turn to our loving Father.
Even if abortion is legal, there should be absolutely no one who
resorts to it because every human being has the capacity to love
unconditionally his or her own creation of a child.
Pro-life should be a type of attitude portrayed by
every human being. A child, even if it is unborn, is an incredibly
special gift. It is life
given by God and it should be cherished, not destroyed in utter
cruelty. Everyone is created uniquely with a soul and deserves the
chance to be loved by a family from the day of conception. In
addition to this, they are entitled to the right to travel the
journey of life to the eternal Kingdom of God, along with the rest
of humanity. People who are even considering abortion should be
informed and they should carefully reflect on the betrayal it
involves which will alienate them from God and themselves, the
emotional damage they will suffer, and the unrealistic power which
they can only attempt to gain but never actually achieve, by taking
away the right to live from someone else. The right to take an
innocent life is only truly given to God Himself, as He is the
ultimate Creator. Abortion is an inhumane crime, which must be
stopped immediately, as it always ends an innocent life. +
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NOT BUSY THIS
COMING SUMMER?
-
Call your local
community pro-life group and volunteer your time.
-
Fast one day a week in
honour of an unborn child.
-
Attend Mass as often as
possible through the week.
-
Pray the Rosary daily
for pro-life intentions (contact Priests for Life Canada
for a free prayer booklet on praying the Rosary, or join
the International Perpetual Rosary for Life at
www.webhart.net/vandee/rosary.htm).
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THE EUCHARIST:
EMPOWERING FAMILY LIFE
by Fr. Jim Whalen
The Holy
Eucharist is the source of all vocations in the Church for Christian
witness, and for Evangelization. The smallest unit in the Church and
society is the Sanctuary of family life: the Domestic Church. The
Eucharist sends families on a mission, to proclaim both in word and
deed, to share their faith.
The
Eucharist has the greatest power possible to move the family to love
and serve the Lord, to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to all
encountered. This means service to the poor; respect and defence of
human life at all stages; promotion of human rights; and the
building of a civilization of love, justice, and peace.
Pope John
Paul II explains that, “The Eucharist is the very source of
Christian marriage. The Eucharistic Sacrifice, in fact, represents
Christ’s covenant of love with the Church, sealed with His blood on
the Cross. In this sacrifice of the New and Eternal Covenant,
Christian spouses encounter the source from which their own marriage
covenant flows, is interiorly structured, and continuously renewed”
(Familiaris Consortio, #57)1. The Eucharist must be recognized by
Catholic families as a source of charity and the basis of the
communion and mission of family life.
When family
members are prepared to participate in Mass and receive Jesus in
Communion, they are being formed into holy temples - sanctuaries of
God. The Christian family is healed in terms of wounded
relationships and emotions, be they spiritual, moral, or
psychological. The Eucharist as a sacrament of love fosters
forgiveness and reconciliation. The Eucharist as a Sacrament of
Presence will encourage families to reach out to others and to share
this Jesus whom they have received. This can take place in various
Catholic action movements or organizations. Family commitment to
life is a necessary consequence of our union with our Eucharistic
Lord. The Eucharist teaches us to be sensitive to all human
suffering whether it is that of an unborn child, a handicapped
person, or the chronically ill. It encourages families to seek ways
to deal with injustices and redress them. At times, it means working
in communion with and imitating the saints. It means showing in our
lives, by personal example, the truths we profess and the priorities
and principles we adhere to. It means being engaged in a more
extensive apostolate as part of the whole Church. “Anyone who does
the will of the Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and
mother” (Mt 12:50). It is from the Eucharist that families receive
the power and strength to actively live the daily challenge, the
daily sacrifice to follow Christ, realizing their role as
consecrated members belonging to the family of God - the Church.
The
Eucharist forms families and models them after the Holy Family,
equipped to offer the whole of family life as a spiritual gift to
God, as an evangelizing family. Pope Paul VI expresses this clearly:
“…. the family, like the Church, ought to be a place where the
Gospel is transmitted and from which the Gospel radiates. In a
family which is conscious of this mission, all the members
evangelize and are evangelized. The parents not only communicate the
Gospel to their children, but from their children they can
themselves receive the same Gospel as deeply lived by them. And such
a family becomes the evangelizer of many other families, and of the
neighbourhood of which it forms part” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, #71)2.
Any
evangelizing activity of a family should begin within family life.
Nothing should replace or come in the way of the parents as the
primary and most important transmitters of the faith to their
children. Neither the school nor the Church, neither the media nor
peer groups, should usurp this special role of the parents. They
should be at best a support for the parents’ rights and authentic
family life structure. Pope John Paul II explains: “…. in places
where anti-religious legislation endeavors even to prevent education
in the faith, and in places where widespread unbelief or invasive
secularism makes real religious growth practically impossible, “the
church of the home” remains the one place where children and young
people can receive an authentic catechesis” (Catechesi Tradendae,
#68)3.
Young
people, on their part, should seek to edify their parents by
striving to live their faith fully, centering their family life
around the Eucharist; by respecting and honouring their parents; by
prompt obedience; by a life of service to God, their family, their
neighbours, and their Church; by special attention to the poor, the
unborn, the handicapped, the elderly, and the sick. Through
Christian witness of a strong family life that is nourished and
empowered by “daily bread” - the Eucharist, other families that have
lapsed in their faith may be convinced that they too can grow in the
practice of their faith and family life, centered on devotion to the
Real Presence of Christ. +
1.
See the document Evangelii Nuntiandi online
2.
See the document Familiaris Consortio online
3.
See the document Catechesi Tradendae online
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IN YOUR
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Box 43
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