2022/05/02

37. The Formation of the Holy Spirit

The formation of the Holy Spirit takes place in the space brought about by the Holy Spirit, as described in the Acts of the Apostles when it says: "And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were" (Acts 2:2). The "house in which they were" signifies the house of God where the Mass is celebrated regularly. The Eucharist is always present in its centre, preserving the spacetime of the Mass. When the congregation, who receive the Holy Eucharist during the Mass, enters this spacetime, the memory of having eaten the Holy Eucharist placed in their realm of unconsciousness is synchronised with the present spacetime, resulting in their being enable to receive the formation of the Holy Spirit easier. The faithful themselves will sit eye to eye with the Eucharist, even if they are unaware. Jesus, the only teacher in the world (cf. Matthew 23:8-10), respecting the dignity of people created in the image of God, encourages us by saying, "No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher" (Luke 6:40). Jesus wished Christians to grow to the point of taking on a role worthy of their name. That role Jesus entrusted to Christians to continue his work after he had accomplished all his vindication is to receive the Eucharist. Therefore, the Magisterium must see to it that those who receive the Eucharist during Mass become aware of this role. First, the congregation who receives the Eucharist should be asked in front of the Holy Eucharist to declare who it is and express their willingness to take the Eucharist voluntarily. They state clearly who the Eucharist is, in response to the priest who lifts the Eucharist saying, "Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb" (cf. this blog № 32), using Peter's confession of faith which Jesus said be "blessed." Then, the congregation must be guided to take the Eucharist firmly, holding out their hands before the priest, and eat it spontaneously with their own hands. Through this process, the receiving congregation will become able to proclaim aloud that the Eucharist is the Christ, the Son of God, and hear the voice, see the Eucharist with their eyes, touch it with their hands, smell it and taste it. They can receive the Eucharist with all of their senses. In this way, they vividly overwrite in their memory that they have fulfilled their experience of union with God. If they concentrate on the Eucharist, they will be able to experience God who is with people and memorise what they experienced, like Joseph, who for the first time picked up God who became a man in the Bethlehem stable, and like the women who held the feet of the risen Jesus, also like Thomas to whom Jesus said, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side" (John 20:27). Those who distribute the Eucharist must trust these statements and preserve the moment the congregation touches and looks closely at the Eucharist and eats it. That is for cherishing the risen Jesus' command, "Touch me and see," in his words: "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have" (Luke 24:39).

Maria K. M.