The Principal Catholic Practices - Chapter 5 - Eucharist

Chapter 5 - Invited by the King

The Banquet. Private Audience

I. The Banquet

The foregoing chapter will have established the fact that the Holy Eucharist is, without a doubt, the greatest blessing the world enjoys. And as was stated before, it is preeminently destined to be a food.

Men and women gather at banquets to be entertained and to parade their fineries. Only those with means can attend the banquets of the world. And their purpose is not so much the nourishing of the body as the launching of some pet scheme before the assembled guests, or the celebration of some event. But the Holy Eucharist is a banquet to which we are invited by the King. We are to partake of this food solely to nourish the soul and become more intimately united with the King Himself. Well might this food be called the "Bread of Angels." It is more than that. It is the food that makes us like unto God. How gracious is the King who invites us! Not merely once in a great while may we come to the feast, but every day, and that upon His express wish and desire.

However, we must be properly garbed for the Banquet. It is not sufficient that the clothing of the body be properly arranged and as clean as circumstances will allow; but the soul must wear the garment which the poorest of us can afford, the magnificent vesture of Sanctifying Grace.

With regard to the preparation of the body, it is asked of us to refrain from eating and drinking from midnight before the day of receiving holy communion. It would naturally be expected that we appear at the Banquet suitably clothed. Not that the poor are barred - by no means. But even the poor may be clean and tidy. Yes, even though we are in rags and covered with dirt, Our Saviour does not refuse to come to us as food for our souls. Indeed, I feel safe to say that the King would much rather enter the heart of the leper or the tramp than be compelled to take up His dwelling in those creatures of His who defile the temple of God by their immodest apparel. Can those girls and women be possessed of faith who approach the Holy Table insufficiently and immodestly clothed? Can they be welcome guests of the King who by their criminal exposure of their bodies entice the lustful looks of others and thus occasion sin? A hundred, yes a thousand times better that they would come in ragged and soiled clothing than that they appear in a garb that tends to frustrate the very purpose of holy communion, the sanctification of the soul. There is no excuse for the wickedness. It will not suffice to say: "We must follow the styles, and that is what the styles call for." They must not; and as Catholic girls and women they should not follow a style that has been designed by the tools of the archenemy of society.

The proper preparation for the reception of this great sacrament further demands that the soul be clothed with grace. Hence the necessity of going to confession before holy communion if we should be in the state of mortal sin. After confession we should strive to keep our hearts unstained and even free from venial sin. However, venial sins that may have been committed should not restrain us from frequently approaching the Banquet Table.

It is understood that we prepare ourselves further by prayer, by acts of faith, hope, love, and desire. It must also be taken for granted that we approach this great sacrament with sincere reverence and devotion.

Sometimes we fail to experience the joy and happiness which rightfully should be ours after receiving holy communion. This may be due to a temporal indisposition of the body. But is it not possible that we do not receive the Blessed Sacrament with sufficient faith and desire? We may not be able to experience the great longing of a Saint Philip Neri or a Saint Gertrude for the Holy Eucharist; but we can, at least, be rewarded with singular peace and happiness if we devoutly prepare for holy communion.

But even though the effects of our spiritual nourishment are not immediately apparent, God is working unmistakably in our souls. Have you not been amazed at the marvelous bravery and incredible courage of the little boys and maidens of early Christian times who fearlessly faced the torments that they were subjected to? What was it that gave them such superhuman courage? It was the Bread of Angels that had nourished their souls.

And, in a world full of vice and immorality, what is the secret reason that so many men and women inhabiting the monasteries and convents are able to preserve their hearts in virginal purity? It is undoubtedly the Food that daily nourishes their souls, that strengthens their wills, weakens their evil inclinations and envelops their souls in such protecting grace that the powers of hell are helpless in their endeavor to smirch them.

Those of us who are careless about going to holy communion, who decline the insistent invitation of the King, do we realize that God has given us the best and the greatest gift in offering Himself in the Holy Eucharist? Do we understand and appreciate that here is a means that absolutely insures our eternal happiness? How, then, can we be cold and indifferent?

The world is in a sad state of confusion. Indeed, the time seems drawing near when the words of Our Saviour will be verified that even the just will be misled. Satan seems to have taken inventory of all his resources, and is even now launching a bold campaign of soul-destruction that threatens to spread ruin far and near. For Spiritism, the devil's own religion, has taken firm root in many countries, and even intelligent men and women are throwing incense on the altars of this mysterious cult. We may be sure that the evil one has not yet exhausted his resources.

Therefore now more than ever Catholics must turn to the great source of true knowledge and the fountain of strength, the Holy Eucharist. Pope Pius X, considered by many a saint, had wonderful foresight - or was it the guidance of the Holy Ghost - when he promulgated the exhortation to frequent and even daily communion. No enemy and no fiend of hell can thwart the plans of God; but they can do much to destroy human souls. God gives us the remedy, the spiritual nourishment. If we refuse to accept it, if we decline the invitation, the guilt is ours entirely.

II. The Private Audience

Some years ago the writer had the great happiness of being admitted to an audience with the saintly Pope Pius X. I had made a long journey at great expense in order to experience that thrill of joy that passes over one when the Father of Christendom reaches forth his hand and grasps your own. The audience was limited to a short period of time, during which none of those admitted ventured to breathe a word. Instead we knelt down before the august pontiff and bowed our heads to receive his blessing. The Holy Father spoke to us kindly and blessed our parents and relatives. We had attended his Mass and had received holy communion from his hands. Also we had the rare privilege of breakfasting at the Vatican. Altogether it was a day that will never be forgotten, a day of happiness and joy.

But One greater than the Pope is willing, nay, anxious, to grant every human being audience; not only once in a lifetime, but any one of us may have a private audience at any time we wish. It is our high privilege of visiting Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Indeed, if He would manifest Himself in all His glory, not one of us would venture to approach the sanctuary. And even if, by any means, we could be induced to draw near, speech would fail us, fear and trembling would overmaster us. The thought of the least of our sins would plunge us into abject misery. But how wonderfully the King has provided against these contingencies! Under the humble species of bread He hides His majesty in order that we might come with confidence and lay our wants before Him.

Therefore on our way to work, or whenever passing a Catholic church let us enter, if only for a moment, yes, if only to genuflect before the tabernacle. The King will recognize the thoughtfulness of His subject and will reward it. You say that you have no time. Perhaps the nature of your errand precludes the opportunity of tarrying long; but surely a moment is yours. Do you know that if we really want to do anything we find time?

Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist has been called the "Prisoner of Love." What? The King a prisoner! Indeed He is; but His imprisonment is of His own choice. It is love for us that keeps Him in the tabernacle.

We will never understand the love of God for us. Perhaps if we could detach ourselves from the material things that hold our interest and claim our time, if we could but lift our vision above and beyond this life, we could estimate, in some manner, the wonderful love of God.

But even in the midst of a sinful and material world we could see that love if we tried. The surest means of attaining a loftier and nobler vision is to betake ourselves frequently to the hallowed vicinity of the tabernacle. There the angels of God waft the sweet fragrance of sanctity about the Lord's little prison. And from it the all-consuming fire of love bursts forth. We cannot but be purified by this fire. And going forth from the King's throne-room we know that we have been sanctified; we feel secure on our way; for it is as though the angels from the vicinity of the tabernacle were accompanying us.

The great need of our times is not more knowledge and erudition, but greater intimacy with the King whose subjects we are. The sweet union with our God in holy communion can be approached in sublimity only by the high privilege of visiting Him and personally conversing with Him.

- from The Principal Catholic Practices: A Popular Explanation of the Sacraments and Catholic Devotions by Father George Thomas Schmidt, 1920

Click on below links for previous chapters

Chapter 1 - The first and most necessary Sacrament

Chapter 2 - Confirmation

Chapter 3 - Confession

Chapter 4 - Attending Mass