The Grace of Holy Communion

by Fr. John Granato  |  03/16/2025  |  Words from Fr. John

My Dear Friends,

Since I have been preparing for my talks on the 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory, I came across a talk by Terence Cardinal Cooke, Archbishop of New York. It is a beautiful talk he gave at a conference.

“The spiritual energy, the grace that comes with each reception of Holy Communion, we absorb only in proportion to our dispositions at the time we receive … A hunger and thirst for union with our Divine Lord will result in a good preparation and thanksgiving. Sometimes we start our preparation for Holy Communion for no very great longing for union with our Lord, but our preparation results in an increased desire for him … From experience we learn that little or no desire for Holy Communion will result in no preparation or only a minimum of preparation. In return, we should not be surprised to receive from the Blessed Sacrament only a minimum of divine grace.

In this matter, as in all other matters, God has given us free will. He will not force us to prepare to receive him. He will not force us to thank him for his unspeakable gift after we have received. Even God’s grace does not take away our free will, nor does it perform miracles. The grace of God operates when, and only when, we cooperate with it … Let us beg God the grace to hunger and thirst for Holy Communion. Through Mary’s intercession, let us ask for spiritual help to make better preparations and thanksgivings. On our part, let us determine to cooperate with the operations of grace constantly taking place in our soul.”

Preparation for the reception of Holy Communion is vastly important. He is our Lord, calling to us by name, desiring to embrace us in his love and to come into our very body and soul to be in communion with, in union with the Most Holy Trinity.

We are not mere spectators at Mass; we are not to be entertained; we are not consumers of an object. We are called to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; a participation not only externally but also internally. Pope Benedict XVI reminded us that full and active participation does not mean that we have to be doing things at Mass but that we engage our minds and souls and hearts with the actions of the priest and to be open to the words and gestures of the sacred texts so that we can actively cooperate with our Lord and be filled with his all-consuming love in the Blessed Sacrament.

God bless.