How can I get more out of the sacrament of the Eucharist?

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Online_Knight

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Maybe some of you can give me some advice or tips on materials to read.

I am a cradle Catholic. Like many, I went to church on Sunday with my family and received several of the sacraments before I learned the gravity of them. When I got into my mid-twenties, my faith grew tremendously. I now try to serve God in everything I do daily. I have recently been praying to “get more” out of the sacrament of the Eucharist. I tend to get distracted during our masses and know that receiving Jesus isn’t nearly as big of deal to me as it should be… At least that is how I feel. Yesterday, there was a picture in our diocesan newspaper that showed a bride on her wedding day either immediately after receiving the Eucharist or immediately before. Even with all of the distractions that come with one’s wedding day, she looked very focused, at peace, and exuded a beauty due to the sacrament. It inspired me.

Your thoughts and tips are much appreciated!
 
I strongly recommend “On Being Catholic” and (especially) “If your mind wanders at Mass”, both by Thomas Howard. Great ways to focus the mind at Mass.
 
Another great recommendation is written by Dr.Scott Hahn,

getfed.com/product_detail.cfm?ID=714&AID=164&new=yes

It’s entitled The Lamb’s Supper, Mass as heaven on earth.
You will have a whole new perspective of this amazing gift from God to us. It is written by a man who is a convert to our faith.

You can probably even get it from the library if you try.

😉
 
A few suggestions:
  • Prepare. Begin your preparation for Holy Communion at least the night before. Make many “spiritual communions” each day — that is, tell Jesus you long to receive Him, that you can’t wait to receive Him. And mean it! The more you desire Him, long for Him, the more you will “get” from the Sacrament. Your reception of Holy Communion should be the high point of your day.
  • Receive Communion as often as you can — daily, if possible.
  • Bring Mary into the picture. She was the first one to receive Jesus into her body (at the Annunciation), and she did it perfectly, because she loved Him perfectly. When you receive Jesus in Communion, He is just as really present in you as He was in Mary’s body. Ask Mary to help you receive Him well as she did. Just before Mass (or just before receiving Communion), ask Mary to loan you her immaculate heart that you might receive Jesus with love like hers.
  • Spend time in thanksgiving after you receive Jesus. Don’t rush out of church with everyone else. Jesus is substantially present in your body for approximately fifteen minutes after Communion. You can’t get any closer than that! Spend that time in intimate prayer. Everything else can wait.
  • Spend time in Eucharistic Adoration outside Mass during the week. The way you develop relationships with people is to spend time with them. The same goes for developing an intimate relationship with Jesus.
  • Don’t worry too much about feelings. It is possible to love Jesus perfectly without feeling anything.
 
I can only imagine having this problem. I’ve been attending mass every Sunday (and some weekdays) since Easter after having been away from the Church for many years. I have not taken communion once as I am in the process of having my marriage convalidated. I can quite honestly tell you that this is the hardest thing i’ve ever done…to desperately want to partake of the Eucharist but not to be able to. So in short, if you want the Sacrament to mean more to you, try abstaining for a few weeks.
 
I think that you are looking at this the wrong way. Eucharist is a meal for the soul. It is not like an ordinary meal that can be enhanced by the addition of herbs and spices. It is the nutritional content of the meal that counts in the final analysis. What are you looking for as the nutritional value of Eucharist? It will certainly not be found in the immediate emotional response while in church. It will be in the changing attitudes and responses in the living out of daily life.
I have always prayed the “prayer after communion” that I found in my St. Joseph Missal when I was school boy over 50 years ago. There are also two prayers after the Agnus Dei in the old Latin Mass that were said by the priest. Pray those as well. This should help place you in a spiritual position to receive the maximum benefit from the sacrament.

Matthew
 
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