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Non-Catholics may not understand the meaning of Eucharist. As for my personal experience, I strongly believe that every time I receive the communion, I actually do receive the Body and Blood of Christ. I don’t want to go all theological here but simply to share my love for the Eucharist.

I will never forget the day I received my First Communion. My white dress was custom made for me and the leftover lace meant for the dress was made into my veil. I was the only one with my own veil since the other girls were wearing veils provided by the church. It was the first mass, sadly said the first mass I was fully concentrate in participating. As a child I usually busy daydreaming during mass, not entirely understood the meaning of the mass.

Fast forward into present time, my love for the Eucharist deepen. Thank the Good Lord for that. I actually do feel empty or lack of something if I go on another day without receiving Him in Body and Blood. Of course, a spiritual communion is another option. Yet, the walk to the altar in the few seconds before I open up my palms in front of the communion ministers is meaningful to me. Imagine having your boyfriend or girlfriend open up his/her arms in front of you, waiting for your embrace. The heart-pumping moments lead to the embrace is somehow gratifying. And when you finally hug and hold your loved one tight, that is the closest feeling I have to describe my feeling when I was in communion with our Lord Jesus Christ.

My parish English choir introduced to the congregation a contemporary communion song which was a rare thing for them to do that. I absolutely love the music and lyric, highly suggest that you go and listen to this song if you haven’t. Here is the link to the song on Youtube.

Words and Music by Keith and Kristyn Getty & Stuart Townend

The lyric goes like this:

Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away, 
Slain for us – and we remember 
The promise made that all who come in faith 
Find forgiveness at the cross. 
So we share in this bread of life, 
And we drink of His sacrifice 
As a sign of our bonds of peace 
Around the table of the King. 

The body of our Saviour Jesus Christ, 
Torn for you – eat and remember 
The wounds that heal, the death that brings us life 
Paid the price to make us one. 
So we share in this bread of life, 
And we drink of His sacrifice 
As a sign of our bonds of love 
Around the table of the King. 

The blood that cleanses every stain of sin, 
Shed for you – drink and remember 
He drained death’s cup that all may enter in 
To receive the life of God. 
So we share in this bread of life, 
And we drink of His sacrifice 
As a sign of our bonds of grace 
Around the table of the King. 

And so with thankfulness and faith we rise 
To respond, – and to remember 
Our call to follow in the steps of Christ 
As His body here on earth. 
As we share in His suffering 
We proclaim Christ will come again!
And we’ll join in the feast of heaven 
Around the table of the King 
Words and Music by Keith and Kristyn Getty & Stuart Townend 

Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away, 
Slain for us – and we remember 
The promise made that all who come in faith 
Find forgiveness at the cross. 
So we share in this bread of life, 
And we drink of His sacrifice 
As a sign of our bonds of peace 
Around the table of the King. 

The body of our Saviour Jesus Christ, 
Torn for you – eat and remember 
The wounds that heal, the death that brings us life 
Paid the price to make us one. 
So we share in this bread of life, 
And we drink of His sacrifice 
As a sign of our bonds of love 
Around the table of the King. 

The blood that cleanses every stain of sin, 
Shed for you – drink and remember 
He drained death’s cup that all may enter in 
To receive the life of God. 
So we share in this bread of life, 
And we drink of His sacrifice 
As a sign of our bonds of grace 
Around the table of the King. 

And so with thankfulness and faith we rise 
To respond, – and to remember 
Our call to follow in the steps of Christ 
As His body here on earth. 
As we share in His suffering 
We proclaim Christ will come again!
And we’ll join in the feast of heaven 
Around the table of the King 

To my surprise, one of my favourite saints, St. Gemma Galgani described almost the same feeling I have of receiving His body and blood in her prayer,

“Do grant, oh my God, that when my lips approach Yours to kiss You, I may taste the gall that was given to You; when my shoulders lean against Yours, make me feel Your scourging; when my flesh is united with Yours, in the Holy Eucharist, make me feel Your passion; when my head comes near Yours, make me feel Your thorns; when my heart is close to Yours, make me feel Your spear.”

Basically, to receive His body and blood in the Holy Eucharist is like a physical embrace with Our Lord Jesus Christ. If you really love someone, don’t you want to hug him/her everyday?

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“Dear Lord Jesus Christ, help us to have the urge to receive Your body and blood daily. That no matter what happen in our lives, may we always draw near to You in the Holy Eucharist. May through this communion, we will be more like You. Amen.”