The Eucharist is Jesus. Not a symbol or reminder of Him, but actually Him.

Yes! This sounds wild and it is!

No, we will never really get it. No one ever has, not even the greatest Saints.

Yes, we need Jesus in the Eucharist. We cannot receive the same physically intimate union with Jesus in any other way.

Yes, you are loved so fantastically and wildly by God that He first became man so you could know Him, then became a sacrifice so you could be saved, then became bread so you could be close to Him.

By choosing to be present in this way, Jesus exposes Himself to the possibility of profound sacrilege or abuse—and oh how this choice reveals His love: He wants union with us so much that He is willing to be vulnerable. 

Because it is Christ Himself, the Eucharist is precious and worthy of our highest adoration. If we find ourselves struggling with complacency about the Eucharist, practicing gestures of reverence can help us reorient to this unfathomable treasure. 

Here are some ideas: 

1. Dress for Mass as you would for a special occasion (of course, never stay away from Mass because of how you’re dressed). 

2. Fast (water and medicine only) for one hour or longer before receiving the Eucharist. Allow the physical sensation of hunger to remind you of your soul’s hunger and need for Jesus.

3. Whenever you pass a tabernacle (inside a building, driving by a Catholic church, or otherwise), pray briefly: Jesus, I love You and adore You in the Eucharist. 

4. Stop in the adoration chapel for mini visits if you can’t commit to a regular holy hour. Take your kids. Take your friends. Add a two-minute visit to your errands run. Don't not go just because you can't go for a long time.

5. Use www.masstimes.org to find Mass wherever and whenever you are (vacation, abroad, etc).

6. Go to Confession before receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, especially if you have made a grave mistake. Repairing things with God before communion is a beautiful way to show Him reverence. You’re not alone. Many, many saints have struggled in grave ways. God never gets tired of forgiving us. Healing us especially of mortal sin is God’s great delight. (You can use www.masstimes.org to find Confession, too.)

7. Read about Eucharistic miracles (and make Bl Carlo Acutis so happy).

8. Learn about some of the incredible Eucharistic practices of our Faith.

9. Join the National Eucharistic Revival happening now across the United States. The revival movement offers a host (!) of resources, activities, gatherings, prayer events, and even a transcontinental Eucharistic procession.

Some books to help increase our reverence and love for Jesus in the Eucharist:

• God Is Near Us: The Eucharist, the Heart of Life (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger): Benedict XVI's writing is a feast of beauty and clarity.

• Receiving Jesus: My Guide to the Mass (Colin and me): We wrote this book for children, but sometimes there is a profound power in returning to the simple truth.

• Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper (Brant Pitre, Scott Hahn): Add incredible depth to your gratitude for the Eucharist with this exploration of its connection to the Passover.

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