Do This in Memory of Me: Life in the Mystical Body of Christ

By: Laura Worhacz

Photo by Franck Denis

“Jesus in the Sacrament lives the same life of love which consumed Him in the days of His mortal life. Mary united with Jesus in prayer, adding thereto the exercise and the merit of the virtues that our Lord in His glorified state can no longer actually practice. Mary, moreover, renewed in the Eucharist all the mysteries of the Savior’s mortal life, perpetuating and renewing her gratitude with ever-increasing fervor.” Saint Peter Julian Eymard (Eymard Library, Volume 7, page 155)

Dearest Eucharistic Family,

We are living a pandemic outbreak of the COVID-19 virus; the death and suffering we are witnessing is beyond our understanding. Our sacramental lives are suspended, yet Jesus is not suspended. Our Baptism births us into the Mystical Body of Christ, and our existence is securely held within the Body of our LORD. The Body of Christ is nourished by the heart of Christ feeding His people. We do this by the Communion we receive, however, during this time, Jesus is feeding us by His beating heart. We are given life by this heart, and the Eucharistic fire of God’s love finds its way to live. In the depths of our souls, in the quiet of our interior, Our Father has created us in His love.

In the above excerpt we read Jesus lives in the Sacrament in the same love of His mortal life. Mary affixed her existence to this love through prayer.  Our Eucharistic lives renew the mysteries of Jesus’ life on earth. Our love for one another is not bound by the suspension of Mass; it is exemplified in a Communion of love that begins with our prayer, union with God like our Mother teaches us. This is reflected in the way we live our everyday lives. There is no suspension of love. Our Eucharistic nourishment at this time is found in what we give away to every person in our lives in the way of self-giving. The Mystical Body of Christ is alive and well in its members. Jesus’ beating heart feeds our life’s breath.

Take some time to sit in the silence; call upon the Holy Spirit to be with you. It is in this spirit of love that Jesus’ breath casts a fire on the earth -- the fire of love. Jesus went through the locked doors to give. His love is descended into the depths of our being. There are no evil forces that can stop the force of graces that are cast upon us by our Savior. As we continue to suffer as a Church within the Mystical Body of Christ, let us live in the joy and hope of our Eucharistic Lord. It is there the Kingdom of Heaven exists -- here and now, in our love, in the beating heart of JESUS CHRIST. 
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