HAVE YOU EVER WANTED to be a saint? What holds you back? Is it the thought “Who me? If you really knew me, you’d know there’s no chance of me being a saint” or “I don’t even have the desire todo great penances and sacrifices, let alone the ability” or maybe “I don’t have the courage to give my life for my faith, and I don’t understand how the millions of Christians being persecuted and martyred in Africa, Asia and the Middle East can.”
Saints come in all ages and nationalities. Some died violent deaths, others peacefully in their beds. Some were married, others single and still others were priests or religious. Some showed signs of holiness from childhood, others later in life. During this time of the Eucharistic Revival, we will consider a few who had a special love for Jesus, present in the Holy Eucharist. Our call to holiness begins at Baptism, so youth is no obstacle to sanctity, nor is old age, even though some might think so. St. Pius X promoted the reception of Holy Communion as the “shortest and safest way to get to heaven” while St. John Paul II consistently reminded us that the Eucharist is the “source and summit” of our lives. Will you allow Jesus in the Eucharist to be your shortcut to Heaven? Tarcisius was a 12-year-old acolyte living during a time of violent persecution of Christians. In 258 AD he was carrying Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament, to imprisoned Christians who were facing execution for their faith. On his way to the jail, he was attacked by a group of pagan boys who suspected him of being a Christian. Though they beat him severely, he did not let go of the hosts, dying to protect Jesus. St. Tarcisius is a Patron Saint of First Communicants and Altar Servers, and his feast day is Aug.15.
At age 9, Imelda Lambertini went to live with the Dominican Sisters. She greatly desired to receive Jesus in Holy Communion, but the customary age at that time (1333) was 12. No matter how much she begged for permission she was refused, until after Mass one day when she was 11, a host was seen suspended in the air above her head, at which point she was allowed to receive Communion. The love and joy which filled her was more than her heart could contain, and she died, loving Jesus to the end. Blessed Imelda, whose feast day is May 12, is also a Patron Saint of First Communicants.
Joseph Melchior Sarto, born in 1835, served as Pope from 1903 until his death in 1914. All of us are beneficiaries of his great love for Jesus in the Eucharist, for he lowered the age of First Holy Communion from 12 to 7. Known as the “Pope of the Eucharist,” the feast day of Saint Pius X is Aug. 21.
Mother Teresa (1910 – 1997), recognizing Jesus in the poor, wanted to provide for their spiritual needs as well as physical. She understood the importance of meeting Jesus in the Eucharist and said: “When you look at the crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then; when you look at the Sacred Host, you understand how much Jesus loves you now.” The feast day of St. Teresa of Calcutta is Sept. 5.
Carlo Acutis, (1991 – 2006) an Italian teenager, documented all known Eucharistic miracles and created a website containing information on each miracle. Blessed Carlos Acutis’ feast day is Oct. 12 and possibly he will be canonized during the 2025 Jubilee Year.
FOR YOUR FAMILY:
■ Receive Jesus in Holy Communion on weekdays as well as Sunday.
■ Visit Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament.
■ Attend Exposition or Holy Hour.
■ Make Acts of Spiritual Communion. (Sample prayers available online)