These years of Eucharistic Revival offer us the opportunity to reflect and stand in awe of the extraordinary gift of the Eucharist. For a few weeks I would like to trace the origins of Eucharistic Adoration.
But first we need to remember that the Eucharist was given to us as food. Over the centuries adoration flowed from that.
Jesus gave us himself as the living bread come down from heaven to nourish us. The Eucharist is first and foremost food. “My flesh is food indeed. My blood is drink indeed.” (See Jn 6: 63-68) “Take and eat: This is my body. Take and drink: This is the chalice of my blood” (See Mt 26:26-28; Mk 14:22-24; Lc 22:19; 1 Cor10:16). The Eucharist is food for the journey. (See Jn 6:51)
The eucharist is primarily food. It was initially taken directly from the Mass to those who could not attend: prisoners and the sick. It was not initially reserved in a tabernacle. Remember, for example, the story (maybe more a legend) of St. Tarcisius who protected the Eucharist with his life as he brought it to prisoners.
Eucharistic adoration is always the fruit of the Sacrifice Mass, the sacrum convivium, the sacred banquet in which Christ is received as food in remembrance of his passion and resurrection. No Mass, no Eucharist, no Communion, no subsequent adoration.
To be continued…
Saint James Catholic Church 