Our Holy Privilege

Most Catholics today have heard about the Shroud of Turin and are somewhat acquainted with its long and controversial history. The Shroud of Turin is a brown linen cloth about fourteen feet long and three-and-a-half feet wide that bears the imprint of a human body. For centuries many Christians have believed the image on the shroud is that of Jesus and have venerated it as the fine linen in which the body of Christ was wrapped for burial. It is an amazing relic that has baffled scientists for centuries. In fact, scientists today are still at a loss to explain how the image was produced.

Every public display of the Shroud of Turin generates great excitement, as well as a constant stream of pilgrims. Travel agencies charter additional planes and buses, and book every available hotel bed in the city in order to respond to the demand. When the Shroud was put on pubic display for six weeks in 1978, 3.5 million people traveled to Turin for a glimpse of this venerable relic. In 1998, the Shroud of Turin was once again put on public display for six weeks, and almost 2.5 million people (including Pope John Paul II) made a point to see it. In fact, you might even know someone who traveled halfway around the world to venerate this relic of our Savior; perhaps you even experienced a holy envy and wished you could have gone too.

If so, you must never lose sight of the fact that, however poor and insignificant your parish church might seem, you will find something even greater there - the living person of Jesus Christ, willing not merely to be adored as God but also to enter into the most intimate communion with you. His body is far more sacred than the shroud that enswathed it. “Is not the body more important than clothes?” Jesus asked his followers (Mt 6:25, NIV). Have you been indifferent to Jesus’ living presence in the tabernacle in your local parish church? Likewise, if you have a holy envy of the apostles who were present at the first Mass, the Last Supper, remember that you too can touch Jesus anytime by receiving him in Holy Communion. If you have a holy envy of the shepherds who came to the crib at Bethlehem and who probably took turns hugging the Divine Infant in their arms, remember that you too can embrace Jesus in Holy Communion.

You may wish, at times, that you could have experienced the wondering adoration of the Magi when they visited the child Jesus: You too may have that same experience when you adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Perhaps you have even pondered upon how Mary felt as she bore Jesus in her womb: You too can experience that same privilege when you have Jesus living within you after Communion. All these privileges are, in some way, yours when you receive the same Jesus, not just within your arms but within your body in Holy Communion.

Remember, though, you can enhance this privilege in two ways. First of all, enjoy this privilege often. Secondly, enjoy this privilege to the fullest, with the greatest fervor. Theologians have two terms that help us understand this. The first, ex opera operato, describes how we receive grace by virtue of the act itself. Each time we receive Jesus worthily in Holy Communion, we receive grace just by doing so, regardless of how we might be feeling or how strong our faith may be at the time. For this reason, we should enjoy the privilege of receiving Jesus in the Eucharist as often as possible. The other term, ex opera operantis, describes how we determine the amount of grace we receive by virtue of our disposition when we receive Jesus in Holy Communion. This refers to the quality of the devotion with which we receive him. The more devoutly we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, the more grace we receive.

Thus, two people can receive Communion at the same time, but it is theoretically possible for one to receive thousands of times more grace than the other by simply having a little more love for Jesus in the sacrament of love. We have a “fingertip control” over the amount of grace we receive in the sacrament. Every communicant free of serious sin will receive some grace; some will receive much more than others because of their fervor. Correspondingly, we also have a “fingertip control” over the amount of healing we receive. Everyone will receive a little healing in some way, but some will receive truly astonishing healings. The grace received, depending on one’s subjective disposition, is grace that flows ex opera operantis. The most significant “dispositions” are faith and love in the recipient – a “faith expressing itself through love” (Gal 5:6, NIV).

“Will there be any?” (Lk 18:8). The times will be so evil, “the love of most will grow cold (Mt 24:!3, NIV). We are living in those faithless, loveless times. Let us receive Jesus in the Eucharist frequently, and let us receive Jesus in the Eucharist devoutly. If we keep these two basic goals in mind, we will be maximally disposed for receiving God’s love, God’s grace, and God’s benefits in the awesome sacrament of the Eucharist. Viewed from our future position in heaven, we will recognize that “from the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another” (Jn 1:16, NIV).

This excerpt is from the book The Healing Power of the Eucharist, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Books, an imprint of St. Anthony Messenger Press. This and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.