Come Worthily: Preparing Our Hearts to Receive Jesus

+JMJ+ This past Sunday, Catholics celebrated the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. It is a special day on which the Church invites us to fix our eyes, minds, and hearts on the reality of the Eucharist: Jesus Christ (Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity) is truly present under the humble appearances of bread and wine.

The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith (CCC 1324). It is Christ Himself, our strength, our sustenance, and our Savior. Every time we receive Him in Holy Communion, we are united with His sacrifice on Calvary. It is a sacred and intimate encounter.

Because of this, we must take seriously the call to prepare our souls to receive Him.

This means being in a state of grace (free from mortal sin) when we approach the altar.

“Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.”

– 1 Corinthians 11:27

This is not meant to cause fear or shame. It is a call to love.

When we understand that the Eucharist is truly Jesus, how could we not want to offer Him the cleanest, most humble dwelling place within us?

None of us is ever fully worthy as we are all sinners, but we can at least be ready. We even have the means that Jesus gave to us: Confession. His mercy is never withheld from a repentant heart.

On a side note, yes, I fully understand the challenges and difficulties that come with the sacrament of Confession, especially for those who have been wounded by the Church. Returning can be a long, difficult journey.

As Catholics, we are encouraged to go to Confession regularly, not just once a year, but often. Especially before receiving Holy Communion, we should ask ourselves honestly: Is my soul ready to receive Jesus? If we’ve committed mortal sin, we must go to Confession first. To do otherwise is to risk sacrilege. If we commit the mortal sin of sacrilege, we risk missing out on the healing grace the Eucharist offers.

One simple but powerful way to prepare is to make a daily examination of conscience. Just a few quiet moments at the end of each day to reflect with the Lord: Where did I follow You today? Where did I fall short? Invite Him to shine His light gently into the corners of your heart. These daily “check-ins” with the Lord cultivate humility, gratitude, and spiritual awareness, and they help us recognize why we need to seek the Sacrament of Reconciliation often.

This awareness of the sacred is part of why the tragedy of priestly abuse cuts so deeply. A priest holds in his hands the very Body of Christ. How can anyone with that privilege treat Christ (and their brothers and sisters in Christ) so callously? The Eucharist is a gift that demands reverence. Abuse committed by those entrusted with this gift is a personal betrayal and also a profanation of the holy.

“I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

– John 6:48–51

Let us never take this gift for granted.

Let us teach our children and remind our own hearts to approach Holy Communion with reverence, love, and faith. Let us go often to Confession, examine our consciences daily, and pray for the grace to recognize what a treasure we have in the Eucharist.

On the beautiful feast of Corpus Christi and every day of our lives, may we renew our love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and resolve to meet Him well-prepared and with humble, joyful hearts.