Do you cry receiving the Holy Eucharist?

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JMJ

People, when they cry or experience the gift of tears*,* are they having a "religious experience”. Why doesn’t the Holy Eucharist have the same effect on everyone? We all receive the same Body and Blood of Christ. I’m moved every time I attend Mass but I know others are not. Is it because some people are more “holy”, or “closer to God?”

What is the answer? What can a person do so that the experience of receiving the Body and Blood of Christ can be a more profound experience? I would like for my teenage son to experience the same effect his mother and I experience while at Mass. Does praying and reading the Bible help? Or is it something that has to start deep inside the individual? Maybe it’s just a teenage thing.

Yours in Christ,
 
Yes, I cry on occasion, most often when I’ve spent an hour in adoration before Mass.
 
Jimmy B:
JMJ

People, when they cry or experience the gift of tears*,* are they having a "religious experience”. Why doesn’t the Holy Eucharist have the same effect on everyone? We all receive the same Body and Blood of Christ. I’m moved every time I attend Mass but I know others are not. Is it because some people are more “holy”, or “closer to God?”

What is the answer? What can a person do so that the experience of receiving the Body and Blood of Christ can be a more profound experience? I would like for my teenage son to experience the same effect his mother and I experience while at Mass. Does praying and reading the Bible help? Or is it something that has to start deep inside the individual? Maybe it’s just a teenage thing.
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The answer is a mystery, because it is like all things - God touches us most when He knows we need it. There have been times in my life that I’ve had wonderfully emotional experiences with the Eucharist, in fact, the only time I’ve cried in years was after daily Mass a few months ago, when I went to be alone with the Tabernacle. But I think that’s because God knows that I don’t need that rush of emotion; that I’ll continue doing what I do without it.

But, regardless, there’s nothing that one can do to gain such an experience. It’s God. He reveals Himself or hides Himself as He sees fit, and it has nothing to do with what we do, or how holy we are.
 
No, I don’t cry when receiving; however in the span of time between my conversion of heart and officially becoming Catholic (11 months), I used to cry every time because I couldn’t.
 
As a deacon, there are times when I lift up the chalice during the Great Amen that I am moved to tears. Who am I to be holding the the chalice filled with the blood of Christ. It is a very moving and humbling experience. And it gets more intense when I receive the body of Christ. We are so blessed as Catholics to have the gift of Christ’s body at every mass. It is truly a blessing and nothing else can ever compare to it except meeting Jesus face to face when we leave this world. Peace and Love to all
Deacon Juan Carattini
 
I will cry when my daughter does for the first time on Saturday!
 
Definitely.

I usually cry before receving the Eucharist though…during the Consecration.

It is just so overwhelming to meditate on the priest’s words & to think of the sacrifice. Beautiful!!!:crying:
 
Yes, I have many times. I never know when it will happen, but when it does I am thankful. The gift of tears is most precious.
 
I first recieved the “gift of tears” when I was somewhat seperated from the Church. I had my own type of rebellion in which I was really searching for God, didn’t understand where to find him but coudn’t leave the Church. (Somehow Jesus kept his merciful hand on me in spite of my sinfulness).

When I did attend Mass, throughout I would be crying…and of course this terrified me as I hated being emotional in public. Once I attended with a couple of friends and it helped that they were concerned, but not overly shocked.

I continually recieved Jesus when I should not have, and constantly, I would be crying. I understand now that the Lord was calling me to come back, and boy, am I aware that I should not have been recieving him.

Anyway, now that I am back to the Church, I rarely cry, but there are times when the tears come upon me so suddenly. I also have learned to relish these moments although I still feel somewhat embarassed.

The last time I was struck very strongly was when I a daily mass ever and I sat in the front row. (I had initially thought I saw a friend there–I was wrong, it wasn’t her). Rather than moving, I remained, and during the consecration, I “saw” Jesus…I don’t know how to explain this. I knew I was not going to communion because it had been 2 yeras or so since my last confession. So I remained in my pew, crying and trying desperately to hide my tears. I knew that I was being called to Confession. I didn’t get the courage to go that night (although I should have as the priest that night is now my SD and he is very holy and would have helped me a LOT). I went the next morning and the following evening I recieved Jesus for the first time in YEARS in a state of grace.

I cried in gratitude and I still get teary thinking of the experience and the personal welcome I felt.

I know that our faith is not about feelings, but Jesus sure knows what to give us and when and how to make us feel loved when we really it.

There I go again, being long winded. Sorry, everyone. I’m working on that vice. :o
 
Jimmy B:
Is it because some people are more “holy”, or “closer to God?”

What is the answer? What can a person do so that the experience of receiving the Body and Blood of Christ can be a more profound experience? I would like for my teenage son to experience the same effect his mother and I experience while at Mass. Does praying and reading the Bible help? Or is it something that has to start deep inside the individual? Maybe it’s just a teenage thing.

Yours in Christ,
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I sometimes weep myself, but I really hate to see this as some kind of litmus test for holiness. I am not particularly holy, in fact not holy at all. What I am is someone who lives with my emotions very close to the surface and therefore if I am moved by something – the Consecration, receiving the Eucharist, hearing a particular piece of music or a voice singing some amazing note. These are all things that can make me weep and it does make me feel closer to God when it happens, but then, Hallmark commercials make me cry to and that kinda leaves me a bit chagrined. Everyone experiences things differently and I don’t think one way is better than another. I wouldn’t assume that someone isn’t having a profound experience on the inside just because there are no tears visible on the outside.
 
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jennstall:
I I wouldn’t assume that someone isn’t having a profound experience on the inside just because there are no tears visible on the outside.
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Neither would I. Not at all. I didn’t initiate this thread, but my impression is that the question did not mean to assert such. My experience is that the reception of the Eucharist is always profound due to the reality of what it is that we are receiving and why. I don’t have to have tears or feel any particular way, but I do sometimes. I don’t equate these experiences with personal holiness. Who am I that I should?
 
I did last week…but I cry alot :crying: If I see any beautiful sight, or hear a beautiful
song or whatever, here comes the tears. Movies… heck, I seek out the tear jerkers.
 
I think this is gonna be “trouble” for me - I am a crier. I’ve been crying, just reading this thread.

I cried when the Priest gave me a blessing. I cry when I think about what I will have to confess in my first confession.

I cry in the middle of the daily Rosary. Always in the sorrowful mysteries and always in the Rosary for Divine Mercy. Often in the silence after the Rosary.

I love the story about Padre Pio’s response about tears. When I read that, I thought to myself, “Well, it looks like you finally found something that you can offer up to God in abundance!”

Heaven only knows how receiving the Eucharist is going to affect me, but if I can tear up at merely entering a church, I have the feeling that I’m going to need a lot of Kleenex.

God bless!
Elizabeth
 
I sometimes shed tears. Not most of the time but just some of the time. Can’t figure out what is different about those times compares to the otther times when I don’t shed a tear.
 
This thread is so much like the weeping/prayer thread I thought it needed to be rejuvenated. The gift of tears is also covered there.

In response to someone’s mention of gift of laughter, I recall the kids talking about that on their return from a Steubenville retreat on the Eucharist. Some of them got ‘holy giggles’ during adoration. Some experienced weeping.
 
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PJR:
This thread is so much like the weeping/prayer thread I thought it needed to be rejuvenated. The gift of tears is also covered there.

In response to someone’s mention of gift of laughter, I recall the kids talking about that on their return from a Steubenville retreat on the Eucharist. Some of them got ‘holy giggles’ during adoration. Some experienced weeping.
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Tears and laughter are release gifts. We become so full of human emotion during prayer, and even more so after receiving Holy Communion, we need the release. Once we have released the human emotion, we can usually be more open to the gifts of the Spirit, and allowing Him to work through us.

Some can be open without the release of tears or laughter–there is no set rule, or even a pattern I have seen.

Have you ever noticed the difference in sttitude after Holy Communion, or sometimes even prayer? I know many times sorrow, or even anger seem to disappear after Holy Communion—I may have been angry or upset coming into Church, but I am smiling and at peace as I am leaving.
 
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