From The Blessed Eucharist, Our Greatest Treasure, by Fr. Michael Muller, C.S.S.R.
… a great many Christians pay little or no reverence to Jesus Chris, when humbly concealed in the Sacrament of His love.
In what does her conduct differ from that of many people in our day? Do we not see men who hardly bow their head, much less bend the knee when passing before that Most August Sacrament?
But if they only reflected on what their faith teaches, viz: that under that little host Jesus Christ conceals His heavenly splendor and glory, how different would be their deportment! How different their thoughts and feelings! Would you know how they would act if their faith was real and lively? Go to the palace of a king. Mark the silent expectation in that splendid apartment! What mean those movements so circumspect? That tread so noiseless? That voice so subdued? Ah! ‘Tis the Royal Antechamber! There, a loud word is an impertinence; there, unbecoming attire is a crime. But hark! Even that stealthy conversation is hushed; every eye is turned to one point, each one assumes the most respectful attitude, the curtain is drawn, and the obsequious courtiers stand in the presence of their King. What an unpardonable breach of decorum would it not be for any one, to remain sitting at a moment like this! Yes, to talk, to laugh, or to remain with head covered!
Now, if such honor is paid to earthly princes, what reverence is not then due to Him Who is “King of kings and Lord of lords?” St. John Chrysostom is indignant with us for even making the comparison, and it is with reason. For what is an emperor when compared to the King of Heaven and earth? He is less than the blade of grass when compared to the whole universe.
Who could believe that Jesus Christ is present in this Sacrament, and fail in reverence towards it? What reverence did not the Jews pay to the ark of the Covenant! No one dared to approach it; yet fifty thousand persons who, through curiosity, ventured to gaze thereat, were instantly struck dead, as a punishment for their rash act! Yet, what did the ark contain? Only the ten commandments of God. But in the Holy Eucharist, faith tells us that God Himself is present, He Who made all things out of nothing, and could destroy them in a moment. He Who, at the last day, will come on the clouds of heaven to judge the living and the dead. Only let Catholics believe this with a lively faith, and our churches will be filled with worshippers, whose deportment will correspond to their belief. The modest attire, the guarded eye, the bended knee, the meekly folded hands, will bespeak the conviction of their hearts. Only let Catholics have a lively faith in this mystery, and Jesus Christ will seldom be left alone. At all hours, His children will come to present themselves before Him, as subjects before their prince, as slaves before their master, as sick men before their physician, as children before their father, in a word, as friends before their beloved friend.
St. Basil and St. John Chrysostom testify to having seen at the time of Mass, or when the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, many hosts of Angels in human form, clothed with white garments and standing round the altar as soldiers stand before their king. But what was their attitude and deportment? Their heads were bowed, their faces covered, their hands crossed, and the whole body so profoundly inclined as to express the deepest sense of their own unworthiness to appear before the Divine Majesty. O would we but think of this! The Angels, those pure spirits, shrink before the Infinite Holiness of God, and we allow vain, worldly and even sinful thoughts to insinuate themselves into our minds in His Presence! The Angels tremble before His Greatness, and we fear not to talk and laugh in His Presence! The Angels, those princes of heaven, are all humility and modesty, and we, the dust of the earth and miserable sinners, all impertinence and pride! The Angels veil their faces before His splendor, and we do not even so much as cast down our eyes, but rudely stare and gaze around! The Angels bow down to the earth, and we will not bend our knee! The Angels, full of awe, fold their hands upon their breasts, and we allow ourselves every freedom of attitude and movement!! O what a subject of confusion! What humiliating reflections! What an impressive lesson!
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