Jesus will never abandon us and desires to remain with us until the end of time!
The greatest treasure of the Catholic Church is the Eucharist — Jesus Christ Himself, truly present under the appearances of bread and wine. The Eucharist is not merely a symbol or reminder of Christ’s love. It is Christ.
As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist ‘the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained’” (CCC 1374).
This mystery lies at the very heart of Catholic faith and at the center of our life as Franciscan Brothers devoted to the Holy Eucharist.
When the priest pronounces the words of consecration at Mass, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. The Eucharistic presence begins at that moment and continues as long as the appearances of bread and wine remain.
The Catechism explains, “The Eucharistic presence of Christ begins at the moment of the consecration and endures as long as the Eucharistic species subsist” (CCC 1377).
This truth has profound consequences for how we receive Holy Communion and how we conduct ourselves after receiving so great a gift.
After receiving Holy Communion, Christ’s Real Presence remains within us as long as the Eucharistic species remain — generally understood to be about fifteen minutes. This is not mystical speculation but simple biology. The sacramental presence endures until the species of bread are digested.
For this reason, many saints strongly recommend spending at least fifteen minutes in thanksgiving after receiving Holy Communion.
These moments are uniquely intimate. You are not merely praying near Christ. You are praying with Christ dwelling sacramentally within you.
Thanksgiving after Communion strengthens faith, deepens charity, and anchors the soul more firmly in Christ.
A famous story from the life of Saint Philip Neri illustrates the importance of reverence after Communion.
One day, while celebrating Mass, St. Philip observed a man receive Holy Communion and then immediately leave the church. The man appeared unaware of the sacred Presence he carried within him.
To teach him a lesson, St. Philip sent two altar boys with lighted candles to follow the man through the streets of Rome.
When the man noticed the boys trailing him and returned in confusion, St. Philip explained, “We have to pay proper respect to Our Lord, Whom you are carrying away with you. Since you neglect to adore Him, I sent two acolytes to take your place.”
The man was deeply moved and resolved to be more attentive to the Lord’s Presence.
The story is simple and even humorous, yet the lesson is profound. Our Lord does not become less present simply because the Mass has ended. His Presence within us invites recollection, gratitude, and love.
In our fast-paced world, it is easy to leave Mass quickly or to rush back into conversations and distractions. Yet the moments after Communion are not ordinary time. They are sacred time.
Christ is sacramentally present within your soul in a way that will not remain indefinitely. These minutes are a privileged opportunity for personal conversation with Jesus, thanksgiving for graces received, offering petitions, renewing one’s vocation, and resting silently in His Presence.
Saints throughout the centuries have emphasized this time as one of the most fruitful moments in the spiritual life.
The Church’s practice of Eucharistic Adoration flows from this same truth. If Christ remains truly present in the consecrated Host after Mass, then He remains present in the tabernacle.
When we kneel before the Blessed Sacrament, we are not engaging in symbolic devotion. We are adoring Christ Himself — Emmanuel, God with us.
For this reason, Eucharistic Adoration has always been at the heart of Catholic spirituality and at the center of our formation as Franciscan Brothers.
Silence before the Blessed Sacrament forms the soul in humility, teaches the heart to listen, and draws us into deeper communion with Our Lord.
If you cannot remain long after Mass, resolve at least to kneel in silence for a few minutes, pray an act of thanksgiving, or speak to Jesus heart-to-heart.
Even brief reverence changes the soul.
The essential point is simple: remember Who you have received. Christ’s Eucharistic Presence within you is a gift beyond measure. To pause in thanksgiving is not an obligation imposed from outside but a response of love arising from within.
And if one day you forget, do not be surprised — at least in spirit — if Saint Philip Neri sends a pair of altar servers to remind you that you are carrying the King of Kings within your soul.
