Dear brothers and sisters,
This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ—Corpus Christi—a feast that invites us to rejoice in the extraordinary gift of the Eucharist. In the humble signs of bread and wine, we receive not merely a symbol, but Jesus Christ Himself—truly present in His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
This sacred reality, made present at every Mass through the mystery of transubstantiation, is at the very heart of our Catholic faith. When the priest pronounces the words of consecration, the bread and wine are changed into the real and living presence of our Lord. Each time we approach the Altar to receive Holy Communion, we encounter Christ personally—our Savior, our sustenance, our source of eternal life.
Sadly, a growing number of Catholics have lost sight of this mystery. Irreverence or indifference toward the Eucharist reflects a deeper erosion of faith. When we forget whom we are receiving, we risk treating the Sacred Host casually, even carelessly. The Eucharist demands not only belief, but a response—one of reverence, humility, and devotion.
This is especially important when receiving Holy Communion in the hand. The Church asks that we form a throne for our King: one hand placed flat over the other. Once the Sacred Host is given, step aside and consume the Lord immediately and reverently. Do not snatch Him, walk away without consuming Him, or—God forbid—put Him in your pocket. Such actions are serious abuses of the Sacrament and deeply distressing to all who witness them.
In this regard, I wish to thank our Eucharistic ministers and parish ushers for their quiet heroism. With patience and compassion, they often navigate difficult moments when someone approaches Communion unprepared or unaware of what they are doing. Some come forward wearing hats, dressed inappropriately, or without concern for basic hygiene. Others behave with shocking irreverence—grabbing the Host, turning away without consuming Him, or treating Him as something ordinary. In some cases, individuals have even tried to leave the church with the Eucharist still in their hands.
To our ministers and ushers: thank you for your vigilance and charity. Your service is indispensable to the dignity of our worship. I also ask all parishioners to assist in fostering a reverent environment. If you ever see someone walk away without consuming the Host, approach them gently and respectfully. Remind them that the Eucharist is not something we keep, but Someone we receive—immediately and with devotion.
Even the simplest acts speak volumes. Removing hats upon entering church is a small yet powerful gesture of reverence. Our external behavior reflects our inner disposition (lex orandi, lex credendi). So too does our preparation: remember the Eucharistic fast—abstaining from food and drink (including gum or soda) for one hour before Communion—as a sign of spiritual readiness.
Above all, we must be in a state of grace. If you are conscious of mortal sin, please go to confession before receiving Holy Communion. As St. Paul teaches, to receive unworthily is to bring judgment upon oneself (1 Cor 11:27–29). The Lord desires to nourish us, not to be received in vain.
As Pope Francis reminds us, “The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak” (Evangelii Gaudium, 47). We do not come to the Altar because we are holy, but because we need God’s mercy. Yet even this mercy requires that we come with open hearts, rightly disposed, and full of awe.
As we honor the mystery of the Eucharist this Corpus Christi, may we renew our love for the Lord truly present among us. Let our parish be known for the reverence we show at every Mass—at the Altar, in our hearts, and in the witness we give to one another.
With my prayers and blessings,
Msgr. Cuong M. Pham