Jesus Present in the Eucharist

In the 12th–13th centuries, a heretic challenged Saint Anthony of Padua, telling him that Jesus is not present in the Eucharist. The saint answered, “If you will not bend the knee before him, your donkey will do so, for it too is a creature of God.” A few days later, while the same heretic was mocking the saint, a priest happened to pass before them carrying the Blessed Sacrament. The man’s donkey bent its knee, despite its master’s desperate efforts to hold it back.

The crowd cried out that it was a miracle, while the master fled in shame. Several saints lived for a long time eating nothing but the Eucharist: among others, Nicholas of Flüe, Rose of Lima, Catherine of Siena, and Angela of Foligno.

Jesus in the Eucharist, a presence that heals

Saint Norbert (1080–1134) was celebrating a Mass on Easter Day. A blind woman, known throughout the town, was standing not far from the altar. When the saint had received Communion, she begged him to restore her sight. Moved with pity, the saint turned toward her and, with the mouth that had just received Communion, breathed upon the blind woman’s eyes, and she was completely healed. Another time, a young girl possessed by a demon was brought to Saint Norbert. For a whole day he tried the ordinary exorcisms without being able to deliver her. Then the next day, the saint read the Gospel over the woman’s head: but again it was without success. Yet immediately after the consecration of the Eucharist, as the saint held the holy Communion before the possessed woman, the demon cried out: “See how he holds his little God in his hands.” Then he added in a pitiful voice: “I am burning, I am burning, let me go, I want to come out.” And he abandoned his victim, leaving behind a very foul odor. The late priest Tardif, a Canadian, recounts: “A person was on crutches, barely able to walk, and was looking for Father Tardif so that he might pray for her healing. The catechist who received her informed her that Father Tardif was not there. The sick woman was greatly distressed, but the catechist said to her: ‘See, I have neither gold nor silver, but what I have, I give you. Come to the chapel, where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed. It is he who will heal you.’ The sick woman went there. After about fifteen minutes of silent prayer, the person walked out of the chapel, steady on her feet, walking entirely on her own.

The adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

The holy Curé of Ars said: “If we were told that at a certain hour a dead man was to be raised, we would run quickly to see this miracle. But the consecration — is it not a far greater miracle than raising a dead man? We are dying of thirst beside the water. That is why it is so useful, so beneficial for us to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament. It is an exposition that heals us, that enlightens us, that helps us. It is like being exposed to X-rays, or to the chemotherapy that heals cancer.

Father Daniel Ange recounts that a priest was having problems. He had not gone to confession for twelve years, and it had been eight years since he had last celebrated Mass. Even so, he attended a night of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Afterward, he wept and went to confession. He said: “I have adored all the idols of the day, and this night, Jesus found me again. He saved me.” He then celebrated the Mass he had not celebrated for eight years. He returned to the Church and never again left the priesthood. A young man was in great anguish; he was searching for his vocation and did not know what the Lord expected of him. He was seeking the will of God. And yet he had been praying for a long time, but without an answer. He went to Adoration, before the tabernacle, and there he realized what God expected of him: to become a priest. It came to him with great certainty. A religious sister said: “I knew what the Eucharist is. But it did not fill my life. During a retreat, during Mass, I went forward to receive Communion as usual. Only this time, in spite of myself, I knelt before the priest. I received Jesus and was filled with tears. I realized that Jesus is alive. That he is present in my heart. No doubt remained in me. I had great joy and great happiness. My life was no longer as before. And above all, a great desire to receive Communion and to adore the Blessed Sacrament never left me again.

I myself have discovered the beauty and the necessity of spending time before the Blessed Sacrament. For many years now, I have established in my life a weekly hour of adoration. Sometimes when I pass by a church, I know that Jesus is there. I speak with him a little, even if I cannot go into the church, or even when I am in a taxi. Twenty-two years ago, a girl came to see me. She had done very badly on an exam and thought she had failed. Still, there was a chance to make it up. I went to the church, I offered her to Jesus in the Eucharist, and I was sure of being heard. When the final results were announced, she had passed, and I knew that this too was thanks to Jesus. Many people, even the young — happily — have already understood the need to spend time, to adore and pray before the Blessed Sacrament, without being forced; they go of their own free will. A Christian life without Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a crippled life. Each of us must find time to pray regularly before the Blessed Sacrament. In the Word of God group, it is good to have a monthly Adoration, so that the members may learn and grow strong in this practice. Saint Faustina said: “I will spend all my free moments at the feet of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. I can do nothing without consulting him beforehand.” And Mother Teresa: “The time my sisters spend before the Blessed Sacrament enables them to work hours upon hours in the service of the poor.” In the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus is truly present, even if many are unaware of it and neglect it. He is risen; he is present in the Eucharist.

I followed the story of someone in South America who sold his house. To rebuild it, the new owner tore it down and dug, and there they found a great hidden treasure — a great deal of money. The man who had sold the house was full of regret: “If only I had known I had such a great treasure in my home.” The Blessed Sacrament is a great treasure. Let us adore it regularly.

Henri Bayemi