This post is the fourth from 'Meditation on the Passion' compiled by Rev Reginald Walsh O.P. and published by Burns, Oates, and Washbourne Ltd. in 1922.
These articles form the basis of Retreat notes originally intended for use in Convents, and later published for more general use within the wider Church..
This particular post is quite long, but I have resisted the temptation to be selective on the grounds that this may detract from the spirituality inherent in the original article. It does demand a few minutes of the reader's time, but it offers spiritual blessings which we all need in this difficult and un-Christian world.
'The Last Supper' by Dieric Bouts
I
THE INSTITUTION OF THE BLESSED EUCHARIST
(Mark xiv. Matt.xxvi. Luke xxii)
1st Prelude: History. --- After our Lord had washed the feet of His Apostles, He proceeded to institute the Holy Eucharist. This is the centre and soul of all that takes place at the Last Supper, and the fulfilment of the great promise made by Jesus about a year before in the Synagogue of Capharnaum; it is a mystery of the highest importance and widest range for the whole Church and Christian religion. “ And whilst they were at supper Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke, and gave to His disciples, and said,: 'Take ye, and eat: this is My Body.' And taking the chalice He gave thanks; and gave to them, saying: 'Drink ye all of this. For this is My Blood of the New Testament, which shall be said for many unto remission of sins. And I say to you: I will not drink from henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I shall drink it with you in the Kingdom of My Father.' (Matt. Xxvi. 26-29).
2nd Prelude: Composition of Place. --- The Supper-room, where I shall be present and observe all that is said and done. Note the silence, awe, reverence, the rapt attention with which every eye follows the Master. Oh, let us give heed now, and watch with our eyes, and with our ears listen; for the time that the Blessed Angels have been spending in expecting ecstasy is past --- the moment chosen by the Eternal Father has arrived: and Jesus, holding the bread in His Sacred Hands, is about to pronounce that word --- more wonderful than the word which created all things in the beginning ---- “This is My Body.”
3rd Prelude: Ask what I want. --- To see, and know, and realise the love of Jesus in giving Himself to me in the Holy Eucharist. Ah, dear Lord, give me that intimate knowledge which will fill my heart with a strong, enthusiastic overmastering, personal love of Thee. Draw me closer and closer to Thee, dear Jesus; this is my whole desire, that my heart may be united to Thee.
Points: 1. What our Lord does in the Institution of the Holy Eucharist.
II. The Institution of the Blessed Eucharist.
III. How the Apostles received the Holy Eucharist.
I
WHAT OUR LORD DOES IN THE INSTITUTION OF THE
BLESSED EUCHARIST
St Paul tells us with pointed emphasis that it was on the very night in which He was betrayed that our Lord instituted the Mystery of Mysteries, the Sacrament of His love. It was worthy of His love and Divine generosity to choose the occasion when He was to be outraged, insulted, betrayed, and scourged, and crucified, to invent this wondrous Sacrament of Love. To forgive is always generous, but what shall we say of the generosity of One who not only forgives the most horrible insults and cruelty, but chooses the very day on which He is to suffer them for giving to His enemies a gift compared to which all other gifts are small and insignificant --- a gift, too, which is none other than Himself.
By instituting the Holy Eucharist Jesus does three very important things:-
I. He founds quite a new form of His existence and Personal Presence in this world. This new existence of His has four qualities:
(a) It is a real, true, and essential presence of Jesus, although He is invisible, concealed under the appearances of bread and wine. This follows from the simple words by which it is instituted; from its object, as our Lord decrees, in accordance with His wisdom, power, and love, to make His last will and to leave us a memorial of Himself; and from the teaching and belief of the Church in all ages.
(b) This presence of Jesus is most marvellous as regards His Body as well as the continuance of the outward appearances; indeed, it is entirely produced and maintained by a miracle.
(c) Jesus' Presence is continual, never-ending, and multiplied a countless number of times, so that He is now in all parts of the world, which He has promised never to forsake.
(d) The Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist is most efficacious, because it elevates the Church and makes her the true Bride and mystical Body of Christ, and comforts her in the exile of this life.
2. Jesus institutes in the Holy Eucharist the Sacrifice of the New Testament. Christ has instituted the Holy Eucharist by a sacrifice, or make a sacrifice by instituting it, and has ordained that this sacrifice should be continued throughout all ages. The very words He used denote a sacrifice, and not merely a sacrament.
He says: “This is My Body which is given for you. My Blood which shall be shed for you.” (Luke xxii. 19-20). To shed blood for the remission of sins is, in other words, to sacrifice.
The Holy Mass is precisely the sacrifice of the Last Supper --- a sacrifice of the greatest efficacy and of infinite value. And this on account of the High Priest who is Christ Himself; on account of the sacrificial gift which is again Christ, under the appearances of bread and wine; and on account of its effects on the whole Church --- militant, suffering, glorious or triumphant.
3. Jesus appoints and defines the essence of the Sacrament --- its effects--- commands us to receive it --- and ordains the Catholic Priesthood.
The essence of this Sacrament --- the Body and Blood of Christ under the appearances of bread and wine. Its effects --- the most intimate union with Christ under the form of food.
The Eucharist is the Sacrament of Life --- it preserves and increases the life of sanctifying grace, and marvellously develops it, especially through the actual graces it bestows for the extirpation of sinful concupiscence, and the increase of love, joy, zeal, and courage.
Jesus commands us to receive this Sacrament: “Take ye and eat ..drink ye all of this.” (Matt.xxvi., Mark xiv.) The Eucharist is the greatest and most glorious Sacrament, the end, crown, perfection, and seal of all Sacraments, by virtue of what it contains --- CHRIST HIMSELF --- and of its glorious effects.
Lastly, --- Jesus founds with the Institution of the Holy Eucharist, the Catholic Priesthood, which is to perpetuate this Sacrament and Sacrifice, It is certain that in the words, “Do this for commemoration of Me,” He made the Apostles priests of the New Covenant. All the power of the priesthood has its source in the Eucharist --- its power over the true Body of Christ --- its power over the Mystical Body of Christ --- the faithful. The priesthood derives its influence and honour among the Catholic people, and also its purity, holiness, strength and invincible might from this most holy Sacrament --- from which indeed, all graces come.
In this Sacrament of the Altar our Lord has poured out on us all the riches of His love. St Thomas had good reason to call this Sacrament the Sacrament of Love, and a pledge of the most wonderful love which God could bestow upon man. St Bernard calls it “Love of loves.”
Colloquy. --- Ah, God of Infinite Goodness, enlighten me and make me comprehend the excess of goodness which induced Thee to become my food. Dear Lord Jesus, Thou hast given Thyself wholly to me, it is just I should give myself all to Thee. Yes, dear Lord, I do give myself to Thee entirely and for ever. Come, Lord Jesus, come, take entire possession of me
II
THE INSTITUTION OF THE MOST BLESSED EUCHARIST
The moment for giving the gift has come. Our Lord's love can wait no longer. He must come nearer and nearer to those friends of His; they must feel within them the throb of His Sacred Heart, His Blood must flow in their veins, His strength support them when the hour of temptation comes. When death is about to interpose an insurmountable barrier between those whom the bonds of friendship had long united, their love seems to acquire additional vehemence, and they eagerly avail of the last opportunity left them to testify its ardour and solidity.
The mortal life of Jesus had been but one uninterrupted manifestation of charity towards men, but not satisfied with this, not content with shedding the last drop of His Blood for our salvation, He determined when the last hour of His mortal life had come, and the hour of His return to the Father had arrived, to leave us yet another and a stronger pledge of His devoted Love. A stronger pledge! --- and could there be a more substantial proof of love than the sacrifice of life? Ah! What is impossible to man is not impossible to the love of God.
Awe-struck at the unparalleled humility of their Divine Master, the Apostles awaited in deep silence the development of some new and yet more wondrous mystery; they read in the impressive majesty of the Saviour's countenance, a revelation of something greater, grander, and holier than had been disclosed to them yet.
Jesus took bread into His holy and venerable hands, and, with His eyes lifted up to Heaven, returning thanks to God, His Father, He blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to His Disciples, saying: “Take ye, and eat: this is My Body, which shall be delivered for you; this do for the commemoration of Me.”
And taking the chalice, giving thanks, He gave it to them. And they drank of it. And He said to them: “This is my Blood of the New Testament, which shall be shed for you,”
See and contemplate our Jesus, full of love for His own even to the last. See Him as He takes the bread into His sacred and venerable hands, and lifting up His eyes to His Heavenly Father, becomes transfigured, His countenance shining like the sun, and His Heart on fire with love for us; He blesses the bread and transubstantiates it into His own most Blessed Body, leaving it to His Church in memory of His charity towards men. Taking the chalice, He did in like manner. Oh, the charity, power, and wisdom of our Lord. He gives us Himself, He could do no more. He gives Himself under the form of bread and wine, that He may be our food, and that we may be intimately united and one with Him, He changing us into Himself, not we changing Him into ourselves.
Bending low in adoration, the Apostles received their Lord, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. As simply as Simeon took the Infant God from His Mother's arms, do they take Him from Himself. They hear His word and believe. They receive Him and adore. O prodigy!
At the moment the words, “This is My Body,; this is My Blood,” were pronounced, the substance of bread and wine were changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ Himself --- Jesus Christ, the Joy of Angels, the terror of devils, the Redeemer of men ---”Jesus Christ, the Judge of the living and the dead” --- “Jesus Christ, in whose name every knee should bow, of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.” (Phil. ii.10). And Jesus our loving God and Saviour, gives Himself in the Sacrament of love at the very time when man's ingratitude was plotting how to invent the utmost efforts of its malice against Him. Oh, the infinite goodness, liberality, meekness and love of our dear Lord!
And Judas, as he bent his knee and received the Living Bread and the Consecrated Chalice, did he think of another feast to which one came not having on the wedding garment? Did he think of the weeping and gnashing of teeth reserved for those who receive unworthily? Another chance thrown away, and with his heart more hardened still, he leaves the supper-room and goes out into the exterior darkness. O loving, outraged Heart of Jesus, defend me against myself --- never let me be unfaithful to Thee. May my life henceforth be one of loyal, loving devotion to Thee ---” “Amorem tui solum”.
In the Holy Eucharist Jesus gives the most precious gift which even His omnipotence and liberality can bestow --- His Sacred Heart --- the very source and centre of love. In exchange for so invaluable a gift, Jesus asks our whole heart, that He may unite us to Himself --- that He may heal and purify us; that He may enlighten us with His truth, and inflame us with His love. Shall I not give Him my heart without delay and without reserve? Love is self-sacrifice, and the Eucharist is a sacrifice, a constant and never-ending sacrifice. It is the Sacrament of love --- the supreme act of Jesus' love. Love is the communication of oneself; and our Lord could not give more than He gives us in the Eucharist, nor could He do it in a more gracious and loving way. How completely our Jesus lays aside all His glory here, and how lowly and familiar He makes Himself! We cannot imagine our Lord instituting this great mystery of love otherwise than with the most intense love --- the very words with which He began His Last Supper, “With desire I have desired to eat this Pasch with you”, point to this.
Our Lord instituted the Eucharist with great joy, on account of the glorious results that were to proceed from it. It is itself a great and glorious world of grace and holiness. Jesus saw all the Masses, all the Communions, all the altars that would make His thrones; all the moments that He would pass in this world; all those who would approach to the Holy Eucharist. He saw all the streams of grace, sanctification, comfort, and zeal that they would draw from this source; all the honour and glory that God would derive from its nature and use. What a grand and wonderful institution--- an act of infinite love! How can we ever make reserves with so good and loving a Master! The Eucharist is a continuation of the Incarnation. In it Jesus communicates Himself to every human heart, and becomes in very truth the vine that bears God's plants, sending the sap of His Divine life into all their branches and shoots, and causing them to blossom and bear the fruits of eternal life.
Is not the Blessed Sacrament the magnet and force by which our Lord draws all souls --- particularly Religious --- to Himself? Jesus saw all this, and His Sacred, loving, human Heart rejoiced unspeakably over it. But if it was with great love and joy Jesus instituted the most Blessed Eucharist, it was also with feelings of pain and sorrow, for our dear Lord saw this Eucharistic life surrounded and clouded by dark and terrible shadows of ingratitude, unbelief, and outrage. The precursor of those who would make Him this unworthy return --- a living example of this unbelief, callousness, and ingratitude --- was sitting by His side in the person of Judas. In him our Lord saw the terrible future of His Eucharistic existence. It was a bitter chalice in return for the chalice of sweetness and salvation that He was offering to those human hearts He so loved and longed to benefit. Surely His Heart must have shuddered at it. But these tempestuous waves of sorrow did not terrify Him; His love unhesitatingly pursued its way to our heart.
Shall I not offer to that adorable Heart the only return it desires or values --- the unreserved love of my own heart --- a generous, sincere, fervent, faithful love, a love as worthy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as I can make it? O Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist , I adore Thee: reign over me, possess me, dwell with me always, encompass me, I want to be ruled by Thee, O my dear Jesus, to obey Thy injunctions with prompt docility, to conform my will to Thy will, and follow Thy inspirations with punctual fidelity. O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in Thy love for me: “Take O Lord, take and receive my entire liberty! Give me Thy love ---'Amorem tui solum' --- Rabboni, Jesus, Thou alone art my Master.”
III
HOW THE APOSTLES RECEIVED THE HOLY EUCHARIST
The Apostles made their First Communion (1) with the most child-like, simple faith. The Holy Eucharist is above all things a mystery of faith. Probably our Lord gave a full instruction, explaining everything, telling the Apostles that He was now about to put into actual execution what He had promised sometime previously in the synagogue at Capharnaum. And they receive our Lord's words with the same child-like faith now as they had done then, because He, their dear Master, Teacher, and God, speaks to them: “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we have believed and have known that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God.” (John vi. 69-70)
2. The Apostles received the Body of our Lord with great purity of heart. Our Lord Himself affirmed this, saying that they were all pure except Judas, and only needed to be cleansed from slight stains. This cleansing was accomplished by means of the washing of their feet, in consequence of the heart-felt acts of humility and love that our Lord's example evoked in them.
3. They received the Holy Communion with a great desire to participate in the marvellous treasures and graces that our Lord had promised them. How the hearts of Peter and John must have burned at the reception of the wondrous food.
Lastly, the Apostles receiving the Body of our Lord with heartfelt gratitude and ardent love. Love is the best thanksgiving and the most beautiful effect of Holy Communion. And they remained faithful to His love, in the main, even in the most terrible hours of His Passion, which were just coming upon them. Such was the celebration of the first Holy Communion and the first Mass. What great things our Lord does in this one mystery! Without the Eucharist, we should have suddenly lost our Lord from this earth nineteen centuries ago. What could earth offer us without the Blessed Sacrament? Our souls would pine away and die in spite of all abundance of temporal things. For everything we find on earth is perishable except this Bread of Life.
And what a happiness, what an honour it is, for so many thousands of men, that they can now participate in the true and glorious priesthood of Christ! The institution of the Holy Eucharist was indeed the dawn of a new life and happiness for Heaven and earth. How shall we ever be able to thank our Lord enough for it? This most holy of all the Sacraments ought in very truth to be the centre and magnet of our thoughts and hearts, indeed of our whole lives.
“ O precious, magnificent, saving banquet, replete with every delight! By it sins are cleansed away, virtues increased, the mind is enriched with the abundance of all graces.” (St. Antoninus).
A spiritual and interior person finds in the partaking of the Body of Christ Jesus twelve excellent fruits: fortitude to forsake easily earthly and perishable things; progress in things relating to salvation and perfection; elevation of the soul above whatever is outside of God; strength to practise good; enlightenment of the understanding more perfectly to know God and all things which are seen in the mirror of eternity; fervour of love for God; fulfilment of those things which beget happiness; a treasure of wealth; a constant cheerfulness of spirit; a certain secure firmness; perfect peace; union of the soul with God (Tauler).
Colloquy. --- Enliven and increase my faith, most loving Jesus, increase it unceasingly; strengthen my hope and confidence, Enkindle and inflame my love. O Jesus, the life and delight of my soul! How unutterable is the love wherewith Thou didst love me! Who am I, and who art Thou, that Thou dealest with so great love and mercy towards me? O love incomprehensible! O most sweet Jesus, how shall I live if I live not for Thee? O Lord, the principle, the support, the end of my life! Grant, I beseech Thee, dear Jesus, that I may live for Thee alone --- “Amorem tui solum” --- that I may live from this day, henceforth, united to Thee, that I may live through Thee and for Thee, to the glory and joy of Thy Sacred Heart.
Assist me, most kind Lord, that I may prove my love for Thee indeed, and may ever derive from Holy Communion abundant fruit of sanctification. This is my whole desire, that my heart may be united to Thee. O that with Thy Presence Thou wouldst set me all on fire, burn and transform me into Thyself, that I may be made one spirit with Thee by the grace of internal union and by the melting of ardent love.
(Ack.'Meditation on the Passion', compiled by Rev Reginald Walsh O.P. --- published by Burns, Oates, and Washbourne, London, in 1922)
