Take and Eat, all of you
by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
"Truly I say to you, unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." (Jn. 6:53) Our Lord invites us to receive Him in the sacrament of the Eucharist. We have this opportunity at every Catholic Mass, but we must be prepared to receive Him. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience, "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the Body and Blood of our Lord." (1 Cor. 11:27-28)
We are not prepared to receive the Eucharist, if we are in a state of mortal sin. Mortal sin is a deliberate action, so if we are honest with ourselves, we know when we are in an unworthy state. It usually suffices to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation within a reasonable time before or after receiving the Eucharist, but the Church strongly encourages to receive absolution of mortal sins prior to receiving the Body and Blood of Our Lord.
Jesus Christ is sacramentally present under each of the species. One does not have to receive from the cup, and in fact, the cup isn't offered at all Masses, but receiving under both species, is considered a more complete act of receiving the Eucharist. Also, the size of the Body (species of bread) in not important. Sick people in hospitals often cannot receive the entire host, and so the Lord is just as much present in a tiny sliver of a consecrated host, as in the whole consecrated host. That should also be kept in mind when the Body/Blood of Christ are accidentally dropped. The priest and deacon, or an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist must be certain every last smidge of the Sacred Species is retrieved.
Receiving Jesus frequently leads a person to greater charity and love. Also we tend to be more careful not to succumb to serious sin when we receive Him more frequently, so this is an action that brings much Grace and strengthens us along the way. The Eucharist commits us to the poor. As St. John Chrysostom wrote, "You have tasted the Blood of the Lord, yet you do not recognize your brother,...You dishonor this table when you do not judge worthy of sharing your food someone judged worthy to take part in this meal...God freed you from all your sins and invited you here, but you have not become more merciful." See CCC† 1397.
Receiving the Blessed Sacrament with your Franciscan brothers and sisters is an act that promotes unity, particularly in a fraternity or fraternal setting, as it is among all people. We are to bring the good News of Jesus Christ to our neighbors and, indeed, to all around us, even strangers, and this can only be strengthened through frequent reception of Jesus in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. It makes us whole. It brings Peace and Joy in carrying out God's wishes. It makes us more dedicated sons and daughters of St. Francis of Assisi.
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
1-10-2011 rev. 7-5-2026