Practical Prayer

"The Eucharist is 'the source and summit of the Christian life.' The other sacraments … ministries and works of the apostolate … are oriented toward it” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324). 
 
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When I was in college, I was struck by a story I heard from my professor about a Catholic author from Georgia. The author, Flannery O'Connor, was known for her powerful short stories, reflections on the human condition, and defense of Catholicism. The story my professor shared about her personal life has become famous over time.
 
When she was a young, up and coming writer, she was invited to a dinner party with some “New York Intellectuals.” Sadly, her hosts did not provide the most welcoming environment for her. In Ms. O’Connor’s own words, she explains, “having me there was like having a dog present who had been trained to say a few words, but overcome with inadequacy, had forgotten them." [1]

At one point, the dinner host turned the conversation to the Eucharist and made a comment in Ms. O’Connor’s direction. The host informed the group that she thought of the Eucharist as a mere “symbol.” To that, Ms. O’Connor gave a somewhat comical, yet shockingly profound response: “Well, if it’s a symbol, to hell with it.”
 
At first, it might sound like she wasn’t taking the question seriously. But upon further reflection, it shows the depth of her faith. The Church places the utmost importance on the Eucharist, because it’s the true presence of Jesus. So, without the Eucharist, what would be the point of “going to church” for Catholics? It’s not that going to church wouldn’t still have value, but rather, that it would change things drastically for Catholics because of what happens when we go to Mass.
 
I believe that Ms. O’Connor’s response emphasizes the central and undeniable importance of the Eucharist, as well as the impact it had on her life. When she was reflecting on that event at a later time, she wrote, “that was all the defense I was capable of, but I realize now that this is all I will ever be able to say about [the Eucharist] … that it is the true center of existence for me.”
 
O’Connor’s beautiful devotion to the Eucharist is a great inspiration, and it reminds us that the heart of being Catholic is sharing in Jesus’ life. Her example invites us to explore how we can approach the Eucharist with reverence and personal devotion, allowing it to become the center of our lives as well.
 
One of the simplest ways we can develop this special devotion is through prayer. When we go to Mass to receive the Eucharist, we can make our hopes, desires, and struggles known, offering them with Jesus’ sacrifice. By making these prayers quietly in our hearts throughout Mass, we develop a stronger personal connection to Jesus in the Eucharist.
 
It's “right and just” to pray this way because we are God’s children, and God is like a good parent who listens lovingly to the cries of his child. Indeed, he wants us to come to him just as we are, not as we think we “should” be. And while we might not get everything we pray for, or at least not right away, he never turns us away when we come to him for help. If we’re feeling great pain, shame, or anger about something, it can be easy to think God won’t accept us if we tell him what’s really going on. But through Jesus, we receive love, discover who we truly are in God’s image, and gain peace. In my experience, it often turns out that that’s what we needed the most all along – God’s fatherly love.
 
Whenever we pray to God this way, especially during Mass, we unite ourselves more closely to Jesus in the Eucharist. As Pope St. John Paul II encouraged, we are invited to “open wide the doors for Christ." [2] The more we open ourselves to him when we receive the Eucharist, the more we’re able to receive his kindness, grow in love, and become who we’re meant to be in God’s image. 
 
As we move through the Lenten season, may we follow Flannery O’Connor’s example in placing the Eucharist at the center of our lives and embracing the spirit of childlike prayer that St. Paul encourages:
 
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:15-16).

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Joe O'Sullivan is the Writer and Content Developer for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. He moved from Minnesota to South Louisiana in December 2023 to be closer to family. He attends St. Catherine’s Church in Metairie.