Something I wrote awhile back to help others understand this:
When you receive Jesus in Holy Communion, it is just that – a receiving. As you receive, the priest or minister of the Holy Eucharist says “The Body of Christ” to which you reply “Amen,” meaning “It is so.” You are saying “Yes, I believe this to be the True Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.”
Sometimes it truly amazes me that Jesus would choose such a humble form in which to dwell. A small wafer or piece of bread. But then He also came quietly into this world, born in a stable in Bethlehem (which, incidentally means “house of bread” ) and lived a quiet life until His public ministry began around 30 years of age.
Because we believe this is Jesus, fully present in the Holy Eucharist, if there are any wafers or pieces of bread left after distributing Holy Communion, they are placed in the Tabernacle for safe keeping. Near the Tabernacle is an Eternal Flame – a candle that burns always to remind us that Jesus is present in the Tabernacle. This reserved sacrament is then available for people who are sick and unable to attend Mass to receive Jesus. It is also available for those who are near death and receive the last sacraments, including their last communion, called “viaticum” which literally means “food for the journey.”
Now because Jesus is truly present in the Tabernacles of every Catholic Church throughout the world, people come at all times of the day and night to pray before His Holy Presence. Many parishes have set times for Eucharistic Adoration, where the Host, Which is Jesus, is place in a Monstrance, or special holder where the Host is visible and is then placed on the altar for Adoration. There are many Catholic Churches that offer Perpetual Adoration, which means that Jesus is always present in a chapel in the Monstrance for people to pray to and adore Him around the clock.
Because of our great reverence for Jesus in this Sacrament, during Adoration time Jesus is never to be left alone. Someone is always present keeping Him company. This is also done to be sure people do not steal the Blessed Sacrament and defile Jesus or use the Sacred Host in satanic rituals.
Something that really got me thinking about Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, at a time when I wasn’t sure what I believed, was the fact that those involved in the occult only break into Catholic Churches for the Sacred Host in order to defile it. I remember hearing Kimberly Hahn, Scott’s wife, talking about this very thing on a radio program. She spoke of how, in the bible, the demons always recognized Jesus for who He truly is. So when those involved in the occult wish to defile Jesus, they don’t break into a Lutheran or Methodist or Non-Denominational church to steal their wafers or bread. They know that Jesus is truly present only in the Blessed Sacrament of the Holy Catholic Church.
Why? Because only the Catholic Church has apostolic succession – the unbroken chain of apostles, priests, and popes from the time of Peter. Only these men had the authority given them by Jesus to lay hands on one another to pass down the priesthood. Indeed, this was the only Christian Church for 1600 years! The teaching on Jesus present in the Eucharist has never changed, and never will, because He is Truth and Truth cannot change!
