"The Eucharist is everything to me"

I’ve been Catholic all my life, attended Catholic grade school, and was active in music ministry from the time I was a teen.  In college, I continued to be active in the local parish and also explored other faith communities with my friends.  I experienced the grace and blessings of God in many ways and yearned for a deepening of my relationship with Him. I was drawn to the religious life as a little girl, spending much time with the sisters at my grade school.  In college, I got to know the sisters at the Newman Center and learned more about religious life as well as the prayer life of the Church.  But there seemed to be another plan.

I met my future husband, fell in love, and we married.  During our marriage, we had a period of time when we attended another church in our community, — a Protestant denomination.  The community was wonderful, and the preaching was meaningful, but there was no Eucharist.  It was like a big gaping hole — a void — in worship there.  It was not long before we returned to our Catholic community and became active there once again.  The miraculous presence of Christ, body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist — knowing that He desires me as well — was a lesson learned and a gift never taken for granted again. 

I used to think that when I was in adoration, I needed something to do, to pray, to think about.  As time passed, I discovered another dimension to adoration.  God did not require anything of me, HE was there FOR ME!  All I needed to do was simply rest in God's presence, listen to what He has to say to me, but mostly bask in His Love.  I know I can simply “be” in His presence.  He knows me, my pain, my joy, my desires, and my love for Him.  Sometimes clear direction is given as I pray, and sometimes, I just experience God’s Love enveloping my entire being. 

I turn to Jesus not only in times of sorrow and joy but in the everyday moments of life as well.  His presence in the Eucharist feeds my soul with exactly what I need for that very day, that very moment.  As I strive for holiness, my heart yearns for Jesus in the Eucharist. When I am in the presence of Jesus in the monstrance, I think about how amazing it is to me that He gave us this most precious gift. The Eucharist is everything to me.