Do This in Memory of Me: Be My Cathedral

By: Laura Catherine Worhacz

Dearest Eucharistic Family, When we think of the many cathedrals that are part of the Catholic Church, numerous that are so magnificent in structure, they fascinate us. After some recent time in New York City, my prayer walks would take me past so many churches, some seem to fall from the heavens; breathtaking upon entering they capture us by the visual. The many Catholic Cathedrals of the world represent Jesus Christ. They raise our hearts and minds to Christ; they humble our souls and bring our thoughts to the Kingdom of Heaven. Hearts are changed simply standing in a Basilica, in a Cathedral set apart for God. Christ’s presence among us in these beautiful holy sites take us to a new place in our souls.   

The Dedication of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran commemorates the “mother church” and cathedral of our Pope, the center. The place where the Eucharist is confected where we can receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord and Savior. The purpose of our Eucharistic lives is to become who we receive, Jesus Christ. The Incarnation of God’s love transforms us to be in imitation of Jesus Christ. This is the greatest gift this side of the heavens, to become Christ-like; to be His cathedral.   

I returned home a few days ago after staying in a New York City Hospital with my husband for 85 days. There were so many blessings during a sudden trauma of sickness that fell upon my husband. Every doctor and nurse will forever be in my heart. The providence of God is found in every encounter of our lives, souls meet in the personhood of our humanity.   

Every person we meet and share our lives with adorns our personal cathedrals with blessings of grace.   

“In your prayers, aspire to nourish yourself upon God rather than to purify yourself, or humble yourself. In order to do this, nourish your soul with the truth personified in God’s divine goodness towards you, with his tenderness, his personal love. This is the secret of true prayer; to discover God’s actions and plans in his love for us!  

Then the soul is astonished, relieved and cries out, “How good you are, oh my God! What can I do for you? What could please you?” That is the flame which rises from the hearth. But to attain such a living prayer, we must strive very hard to forget ourselves, to avoid seeking ourselves in any way in prayer.  

We must especially simplify the work of our mind by a simple and calm view of God’s truths. The secret of this simple view is to see things at first glance, under the aspect of God’s goodness for us, the reason for this grace, what it cost our Lord, its actuality and permanence for us.” (Saint Peter Julian Eymard/Life and Letters, Volume 6, page 79)  

Our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, the first to nourish herself upon God in humble submission to His will. Mary was the first to love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to become a Cathedral for Our Father. Our Mother derived her seat in the royal court, living in the joy of the presence of God. Mary teaches us to sit in the royal court of God’s love and abiding presence. Our Mother straightens the house and leads us into holiness.  

The word cathedral comes from a Latin word meaning “seat.”  (Catholic dictionary)   

The word basilica is derived from a Greek term meaning “royal court”—from which the king exercised his reign. (Catholic dictionary)  

The many doctors, nurses, and medical staff that I met in the hospital were welcomed into my cathedral. They found a place in my heart and were embraced with the entourage of souls we carry in us by the reception of the Eucharist. My prayer as we come close to the end of the Liturgical year is to adorn my cathedral, look for repairs, and make sure there are seats enough to place all those whom we meet on them so they may be carried in God’s merciful love in the depths of our hearts and souls.

“...work out your salvation with fear and trembling”. (1 Philippians 2:12-18)

 "The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!" (Psalm 46:5)

Laura Catherine Worhacz

Laura Catherine Worhacz is a Lay Associate of the Blessed Sacrament and author of Consecration to Jesus Through Our Lady of The Blessed Sacrament. She is also the director of Mothers of The Blessed Sacrament. She lives in Trinity, FL, with her husband and their two daughters.