Eucharistic Reflection - Father Donald H Calloway, MIC Is Spot On!

"What would it be like to see your favorite Saint praying before the Blessed Sacrament. It would probably move you to tears. A saint’s devotion, reverence and silence before the Real Presence would leave no doubt in your mind that Jesus is truly present in the holy Eucharist. Shouldn't this be the case with all Catholics? Shouldn't this be the case with all clergy? What about you? Are you reverent in church? Are you quiet in church? Would someone who saw you praying before the Blessed Sacrament be inspired by your example of Eucharistic piety?

If you are doing these things, praise God! Many are not observing these things in church. Too many people arrive late for Holy Mass and leave immediately after Holy Communion so as to get out of the parking lot before everybody else. Before holy Mass in many parishes people are conversing in and over the pews, the choir is rehearsing and those involved in various functions at Mass are running around doing last minute tasks. Some of these things are unavoidable, of course, but it does not seem that silence before and after Mass is rare these days. With so much noise, are people truly able to prepare their hearts for the celebration of holy Mass? Are they able to give thanks and pray in silence after Mass? In many parishes, people would find a peaceful and quiet preparation and Thanksgiving very hard to do.

Sometimes the priest himself is busy as a beaver before Holy Mass, offering very little witness to recollection and prayer. Priests don't need to be stoic in a corner praying, of course, but your average person in the parish rarely sees their priest at prayer before, after or outside of Holy Mass. When is the last time you saw your priest on his knees before a Tabernacle praying? Have you ever seen him pray before or after Holy Mass? Most people have never seen this from their priests. What would happen if people came to church and saw their pastor kneeling before the Tabernacle in prayer preparing for Holy Mass? Silence. That is what would happen. That silence would change everything. People coming inside would stop talking and imitate the priest, their father, kneeling down to pray and recollect themselves in preparation for Holy Mass Do not all children imitate their parents?

What about after Mass? What would happen if instead of going outside the church to shake hands with everyone and wish them a great day, the priest returned to the sanctuary knelt down, and prayed in Thanksgiving for the Eucharist? He doesn't have to make a grand display about it, but his actions would undoubtedly spark a Eucharistic revival in that parish. No useless committee work needed. No strategic planning required. No funds spent."

(From 30 Day Eucharistic Revival - a Retreat with Saint Peter Julian Eymard by Father Donald H Calloway, MIC. Use with permission)