The Gift and Fruits of Holy Communion

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From our basic Catholic catechesis, we know in that Holy Communion we receive the body, blood, soul and divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ as the food and life of our souls. Believing this to be true is enough to motivate us to be reverenct before the Blessed Sacrament.

If we recognise Our Lord as our merciful redeemer, friend and brother, we will also show Him reverence out of sheer joyful love for the great privilege that He gives us in allowing us to draw so close to Him as He offers to us by giving Himself to us in this sacrament. There is nothing greater that God could give us.

The fruits of Holy Communion for our souls are many. If we are contrite, our venial sins are forgiven. If we are weak and suffering from humiliating temptations, Our Lord strengthens us in the spiritual battle. If we are suffering, He gives us His protection and consolation.

Receiving Holy Communion increases sanctifying grace in us, that sunshine of the soul by which we grow and flourish in the spiritual life. This is equivalent to a growth in love for God as a living friendship within our soul, the root of genuine holiness of spirit.

This great sacrament overflows beyond our personal lives to our families and especially to the Church. It is the sacrament of the unity of the Church, binding the parish, the diocese and the whole Catholic Church in a bond of unity in Jesus Christ our Eucharistic Lord. In turn, we are called to go out to the world to bring Our Lord to others.