When my oldest daughter, now twenty-two, received her First Holy Communion, our pastor shared with the First Communicants that when a priest presides at Mass for the Missionaries of Charity, he finds a sign in their sacristy that reads: “Priest of God, celebrate this Mass as if it is your first Mass, your last Mass, your only Mass.”
The sign is there to remind him of the significance of the Mass and that he should celebrate it with great reverence and devotion.
Our pastor encouraged the First Communicants to approach their First Holy Communion with this same reverence and devotion. And not only their First Communion, but their second, third, and one hundredth Holy Communion too.
Yes, every time we receive Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist, we need to do so as if it is our first Communion, our last Communion, our only Communion.
Distraction Leads to Irreverence
But so often, we can find ourselves simply going through the motions. Going to Mass and receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ can become routine. Perhaps we are easily distracted by our kids' movements in the pew, maybe the music disrupts our ability to pray, or it might just be that a heavy heart causes us to focus on our worries rather than our worship.
Whatever the case may be, there may be times when we distractedly receive Holy Communion without thinking about what we are doing. And before we know it, we are on our way home without recognizing the miracle that just took place.
At times like this, we need encouragement to renew our own devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. What could help us contemplate more deeply the gift that Jesus gave to us? What could renew our desire to receive Jesus in the Eucharist as if it is our first Communion, our last Communion, our only Communion?
Rediscover the Gift of the Eucharist
Gift, the new Blessed Conversations study from Blessed Is She, invites us to rediscover the treasure that God gives us in Holy Communion.
It begins by reminding us that the Word existed before time began. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . All things came into being through Him” (John 1:1-3). Then, in the fullness of time, the Word, the Son, stepped into our world not as a distant God, but as Jesus Christ, our Savior, Who knows our every need. “And the Word became flesh and lived among us” (John 1:14).
After Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection, God’s divine plan continued when He sent His Holy Spirit to remain with us forever. In addition, Jesus chose to give us an extraordinary gift in the Holy Eucharist in which He becomes truly present to us at every Mass . . . so much so that He invites us to receive Him fully in the appearance of bread and wine which have become His Body and Blood.
Jesus Meets Us in Our Needs
Why does God do all of this for us? Why does He choose to come to us in such an intimate way?
Because the Lord knows us. He knows our weakness and our hunger, our loneliness and confusion, our brokenness and longing. And He meets us in each of our needs by coming to us not just once in the Incarnation but again and again in every Mass. In the Eucharist, He offers Himself not as a distant symbol, but as the living, present Lord Who desires to dwell in our bodies and hearts and make us new.
Gift: Not Just a Study but an Encounter
Gift walks us verse by verse through the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John. As we explore our needs and how Jesus meets them, Gift invites us to ponder how Jesus also desires to transform us, making us new creations.
Yes, this journey through John 6 is more than a study. It is an invitation to truly encounter the Lord, in a personal and intimate way, so that our lives are changed forever . . . and for the better.
Each of the twelve chapters includes
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Testimony // Real stories of women who have met Jesus in their need are paired with journal prompts for personal prayer and reflection, possibly in Eucharistic Adoration.
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Teaching // Scripture-based reflections draw us deeper into God’s Word and Jesus’ Eucharistic Presence. This section includes a passage from John 6 for lectio divina and prompts for personal reflection or discussion.
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Tradition // Eucharistic prayers or hymns from our Catholic Faith invite us to ponder the mystery of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
Renew Your Devotion to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist
Wherever you are in your faith journey—whether this is the first time you are considering the reality of Jesus in the Eucharist or the thousandth time—Gift invites you to renew your devotion to Him. So that every time we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, we can do so as if it is our first Communion, our last Communion, our only Communion.
THE GREATEST GIFT
In this study on the Eucharist, we explore the truth that Jesus is the answer to your every need.
Join us as we explore John chapter 6 to learn how the reality of the Holy Eucharist applies to our lives.
Discover what a gift He is.
Sarah Damm is the blog manager and a writer for Blessed Is She. She also is a frequent contributor to other faith-based platforms. Residing in Minnesota with her husband and six children, Sarah was a stay-at-home mom for 21 years, until she returned to the workforce in 2023. Sarah enjoys attending her kids' volleyball, football, basketball, or baseball games (depending on the season). She loves her faith, coffee, walks with her husband, and good books. Read Sarah's posts here. You can find out more about her here.
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