Guidelines for the Eucharistic Formation of the Young

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J.

Our closing reflections in this conference concentrate on how we — parents and teachers, priests and religious — are to become apostles of the Eucharist in our day.

What is an apostle of the Eucharist? An apostle of the Eucharist is one who has certain Eucharistic qualities, eight to be exact:

An apostle of the Eucharist is one who is personally
very devoted to the Holy Eucharist
- As Real Presence
- As the Sacrifice of the Mass and
- As Holy Communion.
An apostle of the Eucharist is one who realizes
that there is no solution to the problems of the world or the problems of the
Church, except through the Holy Eucharist.
An apostle of the Eucharist is one who does everything
in his power, by word and example, to promote a deeper faith in the Eucharist
as Presence-Sacrament, as Sacrifice-Sacrament, and as Communion-Sacrament. All
these are seen as the main sources of divine grace for the whole human race.
An apostle of the Eucharist prays for a deeper
understanding of the Blessed Sacrament, by himself and by others — especially
by bishops and priests.
An apostle of the Eucharist lives a life of reparation
for those who neglect the Holy Eucharist or desert the Holy Eucharist or distort
and desecrate the Holy Eucharist.
An apostle of the Eucharist is zealous to convert
or reconvert people to a life of grace and the fullness of the Christian faith,
which believes that Jesus Christ is, now present on earth, offering Himself
in the Mass by giving us the graces He won for us on Calvary, and giving Himself
to us, coming bodily into our body, His soul into our soul, as the pledge of
eternal destiny.
An apostle of the Eucharist is a martyr for the
Eucharist. No matter what price has to be paid an apostle of the Eucharist is
ready to pay it as a witness to his faith that Jesus Christ is living in our
midst today.
An apostle of the Eucharist simply expects the
Eucharistic Christ to work whatever miracles need to be performed in our day,
especially:
- Miracles of courage in conquering the
  demon of human respect by confessing Jesus Christ twenty-four hours a day.
- Miracles of conversion in changing
  sinners, even today’s murderers in high places, to humble followers of Christ.

But an apostle of the Eucharist has no illusions. There will be opposition. “Have confidence,” Jesus tells us. “I have overcome the world.”

Prayer

“Lord Jesus, in the Holy Eucharist, we believe You are with us in the Blessed Sacrament. We believe You are inviting us to become apostles of the Eucharist through the young people You place into our lives.

“You told us, ‘Allow the little children to come unto me, and do not prevent them from doing so.’ In saying this, You were telling us to nourish the Eucharistic faith of the young. It is by believing in You that they come to You. It is by growing in their understanding of this faith that they will grow in their love for You.

“Here on earth, they cannot see You with their bodily eyes. But they see You with the eyes of their soul — provided we nurture their faith by our own deep belief in You our Eucharistic Lord and nourish their hearts by our own selfless affection for You our Eucharistic Love. Amen.”

Marian Catechist Newsletter
Vol. 2-#3, July 1998, pp. 1-2