Print Blog
Email a FriendOnce again Kate, you wrote an inspiring, heartfelt article about the beauty of our faith. Thanks for bringing me to tears this morning (in a good way).
Real Draw of Real Presence
Everything I Need is in the Eucharist
by Kate Wicker in Faith on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 6:00 AM
It’s a familiar story. Many of us know fallen away Catholics, who when at long last they come back to Christ, they fail to come all the way back to Catholicism.
It’s a bittersweet reunion with their faith, in my opinion. Catholicism, it seems, just doesn’t “do it” for them in the way that some of the evangelical Protestant churches do.
Unfortunately, I’ve heard and known of many fallen away Catholics share similar laments. “It’s too ritualistic,” they say about the rite of Mass. Or, “I’m just not inspired.”
Sometimes It’s Survival
I like to think my reasons for going to Mass are more laudable; yet, I, too, sometimes approach going to church with a “What can you do for me?” mentality.
Honestly, I’d like to be inspired, too. Who wouldn’t? But since becoming a mom of three kids four and under I’ve discovered that sometimes surviving Mass about all I can hope or even pray for.
Sometimes attending Mass with little ones underfoot is downright grueling as I endlessly bounce a hungry and tired baby in my arms and show my older daughters colorful pictures of pious saints donning halos, hoping their holiness will rub off on them.
Before my third was born, I remember one Sunday when I was really tempted to play hooky. My husband was working, and I doubted I had the energy to handle a teething baby and a cantankerous 3-year-old solo, but all those saints I tell my kids about must have found their way into my own subconscious because I couldn’t stop thinking of the early Christian martyrs who literally chose brutal deaths over missing Mass.
They’d rather die than be without the Eucharist.
So I went, but I admit I was hoping for a break.
It didn’t happen.
Why Am I Here?
During Mass I was faced with a drooly, crying baby and an equally distraught (minus the drool) 3-year-old. And a diaper blowout that was more nuclear than Kim Jong-il.
I finally threw up the white flag of surrender and retreated to the vestibule with throngs of other parents, trying to pay attention to what was going on in church over the loud and constant cacophony of whining, crying, coughing, giggling, gurgling, and babbling of children.
I was having a hard time focusing on anything beyond the insanity surrounding me and didn’t hear one single word of the Homily.
I started to really wonder why I was even there.
I got my answer.
When it came time for Holy Communion, the baby snuggled close. My preschooler, suddenly reticent, walked piously (maybe those saint books were rubbing off on her after all!) with her arms crossed in front of her chest in preparation for her blessing. I bowed before my Lord. The Eucharistic Minister blessed both of my unnaturally quiet and motionless children, looked to me and said, “This is the body of Christ.”
“Amen.” I believe.
Come for Jesus
I received the Eucharist and for a brief moment, I felt Him, and I knew why people would rather die than be denied of the gift of Mass. Jesus was there with me, pouring his love and graces down on me, nourishing my soul. This—the Eucharist, in a name, Jesus—was why I was at Mass.
My moment of serenity didn’t last long. The kids began fussing before the host even fully dissolved in my mouth. Nevertheless, that sense of peace, that sense of Christ’s real presence, which I’ve only experienced in the Eucharist or during Adoration, is the reason I keep coming back even when I don’t feel very inspired, even when my closeness to God is as fleeting as Hollywood romances, even when I doubt God’s love for me.
I’ve tried to explain to loved ones who have left the Church that this—the Eucharist—is why we go to Mass. Does it really matter that attending Mass with small children sometimes makes me feel anything but inspired? Does it matter how beautiful the music is, whether the church interior is adorned with exquisite artwork or colorful stained glass? Does it matter if the priest is a gifted homilist or a long-winded, rambler?
Not really. The Catholic Church doesn’t need flashing lights, amazing worship and praise music, or TV-worthy homilists. We already have everything we need in the Blessed Sacrament.
But those who aren’t familiar with the Real and True Presence often don’t get it. How could they? They don’t even know what they’re missing.
—Kate wicker is a wife and mother of three daughters who writes from her home in Georgia. Read her blog at KateWicker.com.
Comments
Page 1 of 1 pages
Posted by Christine Hebert on Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 3:45 PM (EDT):
This season of life passes all too quickly and our children gorw and change. We can only pray that our belief in the true presence or real presence will sustain them until they understand with their hearts that Christ is there. My youngest was a “demon child” during Mass…until the consecration. At that point he would suddenly settle down and be almost angelic for the remainder of Mass. Now at 9 he is an altar server. My 13 year old daughter was always behaved at Mass, but she did not understand that the Lord was present. Last November she attended a Eucharistic Youth Rally and came home changed. The Lord touched her heart with His presence in the Eucharist. Thank you for a beautiful post!
Posted by Deacon Tom on Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 3:52 PM (EDT):
WWMD? What would Mary do? She who was the ultimate example of working in unison with God’s plan for recreating the world—I believe she would be at the synagogue each and every Sabbath and for all other celebrations and liturgies. And as has been said in other places by many, sometimes it’s your gift to God… and sometimes it’s His gift to you. That’s what parenthood is: days which are gifts from God, and others which are your gift to God. Thank you for the beautiful words… and tender topic. Wish I was there to take the kids into my arms and give you five non-distracted moments. dt
My family of eight was received into the Church this year on Pentecost. I will tell you that the Eucharist is the main reason. I love all of it—-the beautiful traditions, devotions and history—-but John 6 was what got us started studying Catholicism and what got us there. I go to Mass as often as I can (with six kids 12 and under) because HE is there. It is not just His spiritual presence. I knew Him as a Protestant through the scriptures but now it is IN PERSON. It is amazing and it is true, I would die for it.
Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 5:41 PM (EDT):
Kristyn,
Welcome home to the Apostolic Faith!! Yours is a wonderful witness to the True Presence of Our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar! May your fervor & devotion to the Blessed Sacrament bring others to the same love of the Eucharist, truly the source & summit of our Catholic Faith!
Posted by Jenny P on Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 6:18 PM (EDT):
Oh, I feel just the same way. I drag my 1 & 2 yr old to daily Mass as often as I can get them out the door in time. While Christ makes Himself present to us in many ways, nothing FEELS as real as the Eucharist. To me, it’s like a big hug whereas my prayers feel like a phone call.
Posted by ViolinMama on Monday, Nov 9, 2009 11:07 AM (EDT):
I needed to read this….thanks Kate. And loved your comment Deacon Tom!!!!
Post a Comment
By submitting this form, you give Faith And Family Magazine permission to publish this comment. Comments will be published at our discretion, and may be edited for clarity and length. For best formatting, please limit your response to one paragraph and don't hit "enter" to force line breaks.
