Spiritual Corner - Jesus is Really Present in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist

Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper. Regarding the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the Catholic Catechism states : “Our Savior on the night of His betrayal, at the Last Supper, instituted the thanksgiving sacrament of His body and blood (Mass) so as to allow the sacrifice on the cross perpetually remain throughout the ages.” This is to say that Jesus truly and personally present in the Holy Eucharist to accompany us, which means Mass is really the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and Christ’s suffering on Mount Calvary.

Jesus did personally say at the Last Supper : “This is my body which will be sacrificed for you, this is my blood which shall be shed for many.” We know that the words of God are effective. It says in the book of Isaiah : The word of God which go forth from His mouth shall not return to Him void, but it shall do whatever He pleases, and shall prosper in the things which He sent it. In the Genesis, God said: Let there be light, and there was light. God said: There should be living things on earth, and creatures were made. Then who is Jesus? Jesus is the Second divine Person of God. The Creed says: He is God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.

Thus, the word of Jesus cannot return to Him void. So we see in the Gospel, when Jesus rebuked the wind and the stormy sea, saying: Peace, be still, and the wind ceased and there was great calm. Jesus told the blind to open his eyes, then he could see. Jesus told the daughter of Jairus to arise, she immediately arose. Jesus told Lazarus to come forth, Lazarus came forth and lived again. Similarly, Jesus said at the Last Supper: This is my body, this is my blood, then the
bread and the wine truy became Jesus’ body and blood. Thus, from the era of the disciples to present day, every mass celebrated by the bishops and priests is for the same remembrance, and every mass is the same suffering Jesus experienced on Mount Calvary. The bread and wine we receive are actually Jesus’ body and blood.

Pope Pius XII said: The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist has the same effect as Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary. The late Pope St. John Paul II also said: He, in his whole lifetime, had never missed an ordinary daily mass due to personal fault. St. Fr. Pio of Pietrelcina once said: Should we know how God regards Jesus’ sacrifice, we would attend mass even at the risk of losing our lives. How great is the grace of each mass? One mass can save all the souls in purgatory, only if we open up our hearts. Putting together all the prayers we say in our lifetime is no match for the credit of one mass, and this is mass.

Thus, brothers and sisters in Christ, let us take mass seriously, let us form into the habit of attending Sunday mass, all the better, the habit of attending daily mass, for Jesus is really present in every mass, and He loves us with His life.

Yours,
Deacon John Wang