Catechism Corner | Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament

"If we wish to discover in all its richness the profound relationship between the Church and the Eucharist, we cannot neglect Mary, Mother and model of the Church…Mary can guide us toward this most holy sacrament because she herself has a profound relationship with it." (Saint John Paul II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia)

At the center of our Catholic Faith is the belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Unfortunately, we often lose sight of or don't appreciate the profound blessing that we have been granted. If we desire to become better Catholics and improve our relationship with the Lord, we must deepen our love for the Eucharist. How can we do so? One of the best ways is to turn to the Mother of Jesus, Mary. By getting to know her and studying her life, we can grow closer to Our Lord who is fully present in the Eucharist. In his encyclical, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Saint John Paul II devotes an entire chapter to Mary, "Woman of the Eucharist". Let's examine some of his thoughts on how Our Lady can help us better understand the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Mary and Eucharist

Sometimes referred to as Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Mary can take us by the hand and lead us to a closer relationship with the Eucharistic Christ. While observing that "at first glance", the Gospel is silent on the subject of Mary and the Eucharist, the late Holy Father makes an interesting observation. We know that Mary was present with the apostles who prayed "with one accord" (Acts 1:14) for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it follows that Mary was most certainly present at the Eucharistic celebrations of the early Christians who were devoted to "the breaking of bread" (Acts 2:42). Blessed John Paul II then points to Mary's interior disposition and observes that Mary is a "woman of the Eucharist" in her whole life.

A Mystery of Faith

The Eucharist is certainly a mystery of faith and cannot be grasped by our limited human understanding. Accepting Jesus' command to "Do this in memory of me", requires us to deny our senses and humbly submit to His instruction. What better advice can we be given than the words of Mary at the wedding feast of Cana when she stated, "Do whatever He tells you" (John 2:5)? Just as He changed water into wine, He can turn ordinary bread and wine into His Body and Blood. By listening to Mary's advice, we can accept (without fully understanding) the miracle that occurs on the altar and embrace Our Lord's words, "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life" (John 6:54).

The Fiat and the Amen

By offering her womb for the Incarnation of God's Word, Mary lived her Eucharistic faith even before the institution of the Eucharist. At the Annunciation, when Mary conceived the Son of God, she foreshadowed what happens to us when we receive Holy Communion. As a result, according to Saint John Paul II, "there is a profound analogy between the Fiat which Mary said in reply to the angel, and the Amen which every believer says when receiving the Body of the Lord". Although we sometimes forget the significance of our response to the words "The Body of Christ", by replying "Amen" we are expressing our belief that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. Mary's belief in the mystery of the Annunciation ("Blessed is she who believed") anticipates the Church's belief in the Eucharist.

There is no better person to help us increase our appreciation for the Eucharist than the Mother of Our Lord. She knows Him better than any other human. Ask her to help you believe the "unbelievable"!

"Mary is present, with the Church and as the Mother of the Church, at each of our celebrations of the Eucharist. If the Church and the Eucharist are inseparably united, the same ought to be said of Mary and the Eucharist." (Saint Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia)

Fr. Antonius David Tristianto, O.Carm.