Posted on 10/13/2017 10:52:21 AM PDT by NRx
I think that when we approach for Holy Communion is a thermometer of our faith. Once we said that the thermometer of our faith is prayer, and now I say that the thermometer is whether our heart leaps at the sight of Communion. Prayer is love for God, and Holy Communion is also love for the Lord, but it is also something much higher, incomparably higher; after all, through Holy Communion we receive divine power into ourselves.
They say, “May Holy Communion be to thee unto health!” Yes, of course—only we receive into ourselves not something magical, but the Lord Himself enters us. Our body becomes one with His Body, in our veins flows the Blood of Christ, our breath becomes His breath, and His breath becomes our breath. We become one with Him. The life of Christ becomes our life, and something absolutely astounding takes place.
In this minute we thirst for Communion of Christ, and this is the goal of Holy Liturgy. That is why it is served—so that we would partake. And those of us who do not partake, look at the communicants and rejoice over them and be zealous for them. And whoever does not experience zeal when others commune does not feel Holy Communion, he has no perception of Communion.
We need to be zealous for them in the good sense of the word, so that we would say, “Oh, I also want to labor ascetically and receive Communion! I also want to do what my spiritual father told me to do—to correct this inadequacy that prevents me from approaching Holy Communion, and then receive Communion the next time.” And if you see how others are communing but you remain indifferent, looking at your watch, saying, “What time is it? Oh, how long will this go on? When will it finally end?” it means that Holy Communion does not touch your soul...
(Read the rest at the linked source.)
Grant, O Lord, that what we have taken with our mouth, we may receive with a pure mind; and that from a temporal gift it may become for us an everlasting remedy.
May Thy Body, O Lord, which I have eaten and Thy Blood which I have drunk, cleave to my inmost parts, and grant that no stain of sin remain in me; whom these pure and holy Sacraments have refreshed. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen
whom these pure and holy Sacraments have refreshed
as
whom these pure and holy Mysteries have refreshed.
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