At some point in their Christian journey, most Christians lament that they weren't alive when Jesus Christ walked the earth.
An experience I shared with more than a thousand youth and their priests and chaperones at Steubenville North's youth conference in Rochester, Minnesota a few weeks ago convinced me that He still walks among us.
On Saturday evening, everyone gathered in the convention center arena for praise and worship music, Eucharistic adoration, and Benediction. During adoration, Father Leo Patalinghug processed throughout the arena carrying the monstrance to every corner of the Rochester Civic Center. I've witnessed adoration like this several times over the years, but this experience significantly struck me for a couple of reasons.
More than usual, I saw those in the auditorium reaching for our Eucharistic Lord. As Father Leo brought Christ, with great effort, up and down the stairs of the upper balcony, it was common to see and hear participants who had been spiritually touched by their encounter with the Lord. Some started weeping, overcome with the Gift of Tears; others simply gazed as the spotlight reflected off the golden rays of the monstrance and penetrated through the Eucharist, piercing many with the blinding light and love of Christ.
There were others who lifted up their hands and reached out as if to touch Him. This moved me most of all, for it reminded me of the passages we encounter in Scripture.
Christ's presence in the Eucharist was central to my conversion from the Lutheran faith to Catholicism. Observing this very physical longing for the Lord, however, cemented in a very practical way that Christ truly is present; for, it is only Christ's presence that could motivate those gathered to reach out to Him and respond to Him in the way that so many did. It was a truly beautiful sight.
As Jesus made His way through the crowds, there were those who longed to touch Him and be touched by Him - the blind man, Bartimaeus; the woman with the hemorrhage who longed simply to touch His cloak. As the Lord approached me, He was just out of reach. One step closer and I would have reached out, like that woman, to touch the hem of Father Leo's garment.
The experience helped me to realize that we cannot contain Christ. He continues to walk among His people to meet them where they are, and His people continue to seek Him. They long for a glimpse, a touch, forgiveness, they long for His love.
Just as Bartimaeus longed to see the Lord, we too, long to see Him. Just like Zaccheus, we sometimes climb to great heights, or balconies, to catch a glimpse as He passes by. Just like the widow, we long to touch his cloak and be healed by Him.
And so He comes to us. He comes to us at each and every Mass. He comes to us in the people whom we encounter each day. He comes to us in the distressing disguise of the poor, the abandoned, the unborn and the aged, the immigrant, the hurting, the sick and the dying. He comes to us through Scripture. He comes to us in the person of our precious priests. He comes to us through daily prayer. He comes to us in the humble form of bread and wine. We take him into our very being. We consume Him, and He dwells within us. He renews us. He transforms our hearts of stone to living hearts like His.
While not prone to mystical experiences, at Sunday morning's celebration of the Eucharist, I experienced a distinct grace.
After I received the Eucharistic Lord in Communion, I returned to my place, where I knelt on the hard auditorium floor. As the host dissolved on my tongue, there was an indescribable sweetness unlike any I have ever associated with the Eucharist. It was not sugary. It was not honey. It was a singular, pleasant, lingering sweetness that filled me with great joy. I could not help but smile broadly and utter "Thank you. Thank you, Lord."
The only explanation that made any sense to me was the refrain from Benediction the night before - "Having within it all sweetness."
Guilty of having a sweet-tooth, I realized that any other kind of sweetness always leaves you longing for more. This sweetness, however, satisfied. It was as if Christ was saying, "I am the only sweetness you will ever need."
With all of the distractions and temptations and "sweets" the world throws at us, it's important for each of us to realize just how true that is. He is all we need.
Steubenville.org
As an aside, for those who have been to a Steubenville youth conference, and for those who have never been to one, or who long to attend one, I highly encourage you to visit the brand new website Franciscan University of Steubenville has unveiled. www.Stubenville.org features video and audio from speakers and musicians associated with the conferences.
"This is a way of using...technology to evangelize and continue to catechize young people," said John Beaulieu, director of the annual summer youth conferences. "Now...teens have a fresh new resource to strengthen their life of faith."
In addition, there's a free iPhone and iPod Touch app that works with the website to allow teens to connect with friends in prayer, to learn more about their faith, and to help build the Church locally and internationally. In the near future, Steubenville will also be releasing an app for Android-based smartphones.
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“At some point in their Christian journey, most Christians
lament that they weren’t alive when Jesus Christ walked the earth.”
Be glad, that you did not walk the earth in those times.
You would not have recognized him, you would have rejected
him, and would have participated in his crucifixion.
We were taught oh so long ago that in the the eyes of “GOD"it is always that time. Past, present ,future and when we pray such as the rosary we are in that time but in prayer. United to the church triumphant with the church suffering we the church militant are united in time and space.
Hey, great piece Tim, thanks so much. Nice to see the link from Spirit Daily…this should get you the many reads your prose deserves.
On a day when I look at this world and see so many people hurting and lost, I found this very moving - thank you so much. The world still hungers for Him.
Laurens - It seems that there are many who do not recognize Him, who reject Him, and who participate in His crucifixion every day. Every time I sin, I’m doing the same.
Jeff - Thanks for your kind words.
Lori - Yes, the world still longs for Him, whether it recognizes that fact or not. I’m glad the piece moved you.
The sweetness after receiving Communion is so wonderful. It moves thru the soul with an indescribable touch. It brings a moment of peace and causes thanksgiving just as Tim described. One just wants have that moment forever. Too bad it doesn’t last longer, but when it’s felt, it reminds one that the Eucharist and Christ had become one and He is within us. We shouldn’t base our faith on feelings, but this feeling upon receiving Communion reinforces the validity that He is truly present in the Bread and Wine. If only the love I feel from Him at that time might then come from me in such force for others later.
Father Leo! :)
I cry at Mass. Jesus healed me once and I can feel His presence with me again.
A few years ago my mother was in the nursing home they were doing things to her that had me VERY upset. On Sunday morning at Mass my mind was turning around and around. I did not even know I was at Mass. All at once I realized it was Communion time. All I could do was tell Jesus over and over that for all the good this Mass did for me I might as well have stayed home. When I received Jesus it was awesome. It was like you said, not sugar, not honey but a sweetness I had never tasted before. I can never thank Him enough. It was like he was telling me “It’s ok. I understand ” I knew then things with my Mother would get better, and they did. Thank you Jesus. I will never forget the taste of His sweetness. What an awesome gift.
Great article Tim. With so much chaos going on in our world nowadays, this article serves like spiritual healing. Jesus Christ is the answer to all of our problems, especially in the Eucharist and after taking Holy Communioun. Receiving Our Lord in mass is such a special experience in part because of the intense encounter with Jesus Christ. Thanks for the article and God bless!
I too have been blessed to receive a special grace like you describe while receiving the Blessed Sacrament. While waiting for two years for my husband to receive his annulment so that our marriage could be convalidated after my return to the Catholic Church in 2006, I experienced such a longing to receive Christ in Holy Communion that I thought I would not be able to contain it. On the day I was able to receive in 2008 I was overcome with desire and a sense of my deep, deep unworthiness and the marvelousness of His Grace when He deigned to come inside my being. As I knelt in thanksgiving I could not hide the wracking, if soft, sobs that shook my whole body coming with the knowledge of His Presence inside me. He is truly walking among us still.Thanks be to God.
Tim, My daughter had such an amazing experiance at Steubenville in Massachusetts one year. As you said, when the priest walked in the dark tent holding the monstrance high, it was as if Jesus was there in all His glory. The reaction of the teens was unreal. No one could deny His presence. When my middle son became of age to go I was so desperate to make him want to go I offered him $ 100.00. He went and had an amazing feeling as well when Jesus walked amoung the crowd. It is something everyone should see. Talk about the power of God ! By the way…he never asked for the money :)
Nancy
I can’t say enough good things about the Stuebenville Youth Conferences. I attended one about 14 years ago… the Saturday night Benediction changed my life and started me down my path of conversion. I prayed for the first time that night as I encountered the Living God. I wept, told God I wanted to follow Him and then made a beautiful Confession. I went home as a changed young woman thirsting for God. I started to attend daily mass, pray, and participate in parish’s youth group.
I later attended the University and now I’m a wife/mother. I highly encourage any parents of teenagers to send their kids to a Stuebenville Youth Conference- they hold them all over the country during the summers. I look forward to bringing my own children one day and pray they will have the same beautiful memories and experiences that I did.
Beautiful article, Tim. Thank you for sharing.
I can narrate two incidents of miraculous healing. ONe lady had easophgeal atresia and was scheduled to have surgery. She was attending a retreat and received Holy communion even it was not possible to swallow her saliva!She was assisting in serving the food to all the attendees, but was urged to have some food. She tried and was able to swallow the food with no problem. She called to doctor and cancelled the surgery. Then my own experience . I was vomiting continously one time and then it became just acid!. My throat burned so badly that one time i vomited blood and malena followed.I just could not swallow my saliva. I went for mass feeling dizzy and next day was my flight to overseas. During the mass i thought that if Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist , then He will heal my throat. After receiving Communion . I had no pain and ate normal food during my flight. Thank You Jesus , praise You Jesus
Receiving Jesus in Holy Communion:
It has happened to me about 4 times in the last year or so….and that is after receiving Jesus I start having a tingling on my tongue and within a a very short time I sart feeling a heart beat right on the tip of my tongue.
I would like to know if any of you has ever experience this. I’ve never told anyone, until now.
Tim, thank you for this article, and Thank God for you. I believe that it may be a miracle that I read it, for I have been asking God for the grace of focus during Mass. My mind wanders terribly. Reading your article has brought home to me how much I desire to know, love and serve God in my life. I can’t wait to go to Mass on Sunday and see if my focus improves and my experience of the Eucharist is enhanced.
P.S. I am starting my Master’s degree in Theology course this fall through Franciscan University of Steubenville. I think it’s going to be a great experience for me.
I was so inspired by your article, having had the same experience that opened my eyes and heart to His presence in the Holy Eucharist (That Great humble truth), that I arranged this poem from the very words of your article. If I may….
the Eucharistic Lord in Communion
And so He comes to us.
He comes to us at each and every Mass.
He comes to us in the people
whom we encounter each day.
He comes to us
in the distressing disguise of the poor,
the abandoned,
the unborn and the aged,
the immigrant,
the hurting,
the sick,
and the dying.
He comes to us through Scripture.
He comes to us in the person of our precious priests.
He comes to us through daily prayer.
He comes to us in the humble form of bread and wine.
We take Him
into our very being.
We consume Him,
and He dwells within us.
He renews us.
He transforms our hearts of stone
to living hearts
like His.
After I received
the Eucharistic Lord in Communion,
I returned to my place
I experienced a distinct grace.
There was
an indescribable sweetness.
It was not sugary.
It was not honey.
It was a singular,
pleasant,
lingering sweetness,
that filled me with great joy.
I could not help but smile broadly
and utter “Thank you. Thank you, Lord.”
from Benediction the night before -
“Having within it all sweetness.”
I realized that
any other kind of sweetness
always leaves you
longing for more.
This sweetness, however,
satisfied.
as if Christ was saying,
“I am the only sweetness you will ever need.”
With all of the distractions and temptations
and “sweets” the world throws at us,
it’s important for each of us to realize…
He is all we need.
The Franciscan University of Steubenville is a great place for Catholics to meet other Catholics who take their faith seriously.
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