MOSAIC Spring 2017 | Page 12

“ If we think we can grow in Christ apart from the Holy Eucharist , we ignore the means he has chosen to unite with us during our earthly pilgrimage .”
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Reception of the Holy Eucharist
The Second Vatican Council teaches that the Eucharistic sacrifice is “ the source and summit of the entire Christian life ” ( LG , no . 11 ). To grow in Christ , we must be Eucharistic .
Some groups claim that the Christian life can be pursued apart from the help of the Sacraments . The Council of Trent , however , anathematized those who maintained “ that the Sacraments of the New Law are not necessary for salvation , but that they are superfluous ” ( Denz . -H , 1604 ). Sadly , in the sixteenth century , many Christian communities broke from apostolic succession and deprived their followers of the great gift of Christ ’ s Body and Blood in the most Holy Eucharist .
Jesus teaches that “ unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood , you do not have life within you ” ( Jn 6:53 ). We cannot truly grow in Christ if we do not partake of his Body and Blood in the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist . Spiritual experiences are important , but the most intimate union we can have with Christ in this life is the worthy reception of his Body , Blood , soul , and divinity in Holy Communion .
If we think we can grow in Christ apart from the Holy Eucharist , we ignore the means he has chosen to unite with us during our earthly pilgrimage .
Feeding Upon Sacred Scripture
St . Jerome teaches that “ ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ ” ( CCC , no . 133 ). If we wish to grow in Christ , we must receive nourishment from the books of Sacred Scripture . The Second Vatican Council teaches : For in the sacred books , the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them ; and the force and power in the word of God is so great that it stands as the support and energy of the Church , the strength of faith for her sons , the food of the soul , the pure and everlasting source of spiritual life . Consequently these words are perfectly applicable to Sacred Scripture : “ For the word of God is living and active ” ( Heb . 4:12 ) and “ it has power to build you up and give you your heritage among all those who are sanctified ” ( Acts 20:32 ; see 1 Thess . 2:13 ). ( Dei Verbum , no . 21 )
The monastic tradition of the Church has given us the great practice of lectio divina , which refers to the prayerful reading of Scriptures as God ’ s Word . Although the Word of God is proclaimed in the scriptural readings at Mass , growing in Christ should also include the devout reading of the Bible , especially the Gospels .
We feed on Christ ’ s Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist , but we should also draw nourishment from God ’ s Word found in Sacred Scripture .
Growing in Faith , Hope , and Charity
St . Paul points us to faith , hope , and charity as “ the more excellent way ” of the Christian life ( 1 Cor 12:31 ). Whatever gifts we might receive from the Holy Spirit are without benefit if they are not animated by love or charity .
On this St . Paul is quite clear : “ If I speak in human and angelic tongues , but do not have love , I am a resounding gong or a clashing symbol . And if I have the gift of prophecy , and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge ; if I have faith so as to move mountains , but do not have love , I am nothing ” ( 1 Cor 13:1 – 2 ). Charity can be defined as “ the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake , and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God ” ( CCC , no . 1822 ).
Growing in the theological virtues — faith , hope , and charity — is a lifelong task . This growth cannot be done on our own . We must rely on the grace of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit . We must cling to Christ because he is the vine and we are the branches and without him we can do nothing ( Jn 15:1-5 ).
10 Sacred Heart Major Seminary | Mosaic | Spring 2017