Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

Wherever you find a love for, and a devotion to, the Virgin Mother of God, invariably you will find a more fervent response to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. We could never speak in terms of eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God had it not been for Mary who channeled that human body and human soul to Him for us to eat and to drink. Some would say that Mary’s union with her Divine Son in Holy Communion from the hand of St. John the Apostle was more intimate, even closer, than when the Son of God was wrapped for nine months in her own immaculate flesh. The fully human consciousness of Jesus is present in the Risen Lord of the Holy Eucharist.

Mary is the Mediatrix of All Grace, especially the greatest grace and gift of them all: Her Divine Son in the Sacrament of His Love. She it was who stood so bravely beside Him at the foot of His Cross during his first Mass as He hung there dying, making available to us until the end of time His most Precious Body and Blood. A Father of the Church went so far as to say that Mary would have been willing to slay Her Divine Son with her own hands, if that were God’s will, just as Abraham was prepared to slay his son Isaac at the request of God. The only measure of Mary’s love is always to be without measure, just as with Jesus on the Cross and on the Altar.

Isn’t it true: we do well the things we prepare well for? When God the Father sent God the Son into this world, He was not too particular about His Son’s food or clothing or lodging; but He was most particular about the appointments of His mother. She had to be perfect; and she was in virtue of her Immaculate Conception. Mary can teach us too to ready the homes of our hearts for Jesus’ coming in Holy Communion. Listen to her! Imitate her readiness: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to Thy Word.” That was Mary’s “Fiat.” The priest echoes Mary’s “Fiat” over the bread and wine at Holy Mass: “This is My Body. This is My Blood.”

Mary’s shrines throughout the world are the refuge of sinners where countless numbers repent to be prepared for the Holy Eucharist, perhaps after many years of wandering about in the midst. No doubt it was Mary who dried the tears of St. Peter after he had denied Jesus three times so that he might return to the Altar. Mary is the Mother of the Good Shepherd who will still feed us with His Body and Blood, his Truth and His Love so that we will not faint on the way. Pray for us sinners, Mary, at the hour of our death, too, that we might receive Holy Viaticum, our food for our trip into Eternity.