The Source and Summit of Our Faith
The Most Holy Eucharist is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord. On the night before we was betrayed, at the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and wine and said: “This is my Body. This is my Blood.” We believe this happens at every single celebration of the Mass.
Elsewhere Christ spoke very clearly, in the face of great resistance and skepticism: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” (John 6:53) As Catholics, we take Jesus at his word, and thus take this teaching absolutely seriously.
Receiving Jesus “Worthily”
Each time we approach the altar to receive Holy Communion, it is an intimate encounter with our Blessed Lord. Jesus eagerly desires to be close to each one of us. This is why He was sent in the first place: to be with us — Immanuel! — To restore sinners to a relationship of love with God. Consequently, we want to make sure those who receive the Blessed Sacrament are as prepared as possible to receive the Sacrament “worthily.”
It is true that in one sense, nobody is ever truly “worthy” to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, as if we could ever earn that privilege. We admit this at every Mass: “Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof” — and yet we also want to recognize the importance of being properly “disposed” to receive the graces of Holy Communion. Saint Paul warns that “whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 11:27) Therefore, if we are conscious of serious sin in our life (or major impediments to the life of grace) we ought to repent and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before presenting ourselves to receive Communion.
First Holy Communion Preparation for Children
Parents interested in their children (7 years of age) receiving their First Holy Communion should contact Marisol Ibañez Vaughn for more information: religiouseducation1@holyspiritcatholic.net
Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament
Because Jesus makes Himself really, truly, substantially present in the Most Holy Eucharist, we humbly bow down in adoration before the Real Presence of Our Lord when we “expose” the Blessed Sacrament in the “monstrance.”
At Holy Spirit, we have many opportunities to worship the Blessed Sacrament. Check our liturgy schedule for the most up to date times.