My Grandest Catholic Mass Experience

There are instances when God presents himself in the most obvious of ways. However, despite it being obvious, I always find myself utterly surprised.

Today the alumni of my high school seminary had a homecoming. Sad to say, though, that our high school seminary is no longer existent - I mean, it still is but is no longer catering to high school students. Instead, it is now a fully functional college seminary.

A mass was celebrated, as it should be, especially that all of the alumni are ex-seminarians. Mass is part of our culture, a part of our DNA. The celebrant was one of the previous rectors of the seminary - who now is the Bishop of one of the biggest dioceses in the country.

The mass was nothing short of perfect. The songs, the singing, the homily, the resounding and vibrating basal voices. It was cathartic, I had goosebumps.

"If you have come to know Christ because of what we did, by God's grace, as your previous superiors, then we completed our mission." For sure, they did.

Every single alumnus present was very reverent during the mass, fully respecting the Eucharist.

It was masculinity personified with a touch of softness, fully knowing that during this mass we were all in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. We know full well that we were inside the chapel, the house of the Lord.

During the mass, there was no designated choir, we were the choir. We sang and gave it our all, we gave it our best. I had goosebumps as we sang the songs we used to sing when we were in high school.

Then a realization struck me - feelings such as this are very raw, can be so rough around the edges. Yes, despite its rawness, there is an inexplicable beauty to it.

The Holy Eucharist has the power to grant peace in our troubled hearts. It brings pure joy. And for some they might not be able to explain why peace is experienced in the presence of the Holy Eucharist. It is inexplicable but the reason is just very obvious to know.

Simply because in the Holy Eucharist is Jesus. It is Jesus Himself. It is God Himself. God came down from heaven and became man, and proclaimed about his kingdom. When His time came, He knew that there will be so much longing for God in men's hearts, and for sure, there really is. Jesus did not just want to leave us alone prior to His second coming.

So, what did He do? He instituted the Holy Eucharist. Jesus said during the last supper in the upper room: "Do this in memory of me." Some may think that this is just a symbolism and they may think of it that way - which may have been influenced by the enemy - but, they're just wrong about it. Because, truly, Jesus said when He lifted the bread "This is my body.", and the cup "This is my blood.". And again, He said "DO THIS".

This is why every time in mass during the consecration of the host and the chalice, I always know and feel that a miracle is taking place. The bread becomes Jesus' body and the wine becomes His blood. Isn't that wonderful? Jesus is once again with us, in the form of bread and wine, which, through the power of the Holy Spirit has become his Body and Blood.

I am always on fire about this, recognizing the holiness of the Holy Eucharist. Yes, despite knowing that I get to partake in His banquet, I still find myself very unkind and unloving towards my fellow men. I always tell the Lord with so much pain and frustration in my heart that it's very difficult to love His people.

I ask God for His forgiveness - for being unloving and unkind towards His people for even I, myself, is very unlovable. But, I also ask God to grant me the grace to see the goodness in each and every person so that in this way, it may just become a little easy for me to love my fellow men.