Eucharist: Communion with Jesus
Through the merciful nourishment of the Holy Eucharist Jesus destroys me completely … He does not change in me, but rather changes me into himself. (OOCC, X, pp. 460 - 461; STA, 505).
St. Vincent Pallotti considers the Holy Eucharist an intimate communion with Jesus. Since he is certain of this truth, he invites his followers to accept the challenge of journeying towards this closer union with Jesus, especially by the frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist. For him, the Holy Eucharist is the means through which Jesus continues his most holy life in the human person. Therefore, the more often a person receives the Eucharist, the more he opens the depth of his being for the actual living of Jesus. Jesus, by nourishing a person in the Eucharist, destroys everything in the person that is unholy and unworthy of him. The self of the individual is destroyed. Jesus, his infinite perfection and attitudes remain in the person. St. Vincent says that the transformation and communion that takes place through the Eucharist are unique. Speaking of it he says that Jesus does not change in the person, but rather Jesus changes the person into himself. As the result of this communion with Jesus in and through the Eucharist, the feelings, thoughts, sentiments and attitudes of Jesus take hold of the person, so much so that it is no more the person who acts, but rather Jesus acts in him. For St. Vincent, the constant communion with Jesus, the Eucharistic Lord, is the means through which he received all the energy to carry on his diverse activities.
Do I accept the Eucharist as a communion with Jesus? Do I believe that through the Holy Eucharist Jesus continues his life in me? Do I recognize the Eucharistic communion destroys in me all that is unworthy of Jesus? Do I allow Jesus to live and act in me through the frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist? Do I receive the energy to work tirelessly on a daily basis from my communion with the Eucharistic Lord?
Because there is One Bread, we, who are many, are one Body, for we all partake of the One Bread. (I Cor. 10:17)