Every other week I get the opportunity to accompany Patricia Bannon as she distributes communion in a hospital in Madrid. The whole process is very simple but impacting especially in light of the Jubilee Year of Mercy that we are beginning. Here are some things that stand out to me:
Lesson 1: Faith transforms us
Each time I have gone it has been to the geriatrics unit. We enter the room, greet them, ask if they are ready to receive Jesus and then begin our communion service. Most of the people are quite sick and there is an evident desire in them to be close to Our Lord, their faith is tangible. This impresses me because generally, people who are sick, uncomfortable or in pain are kinda grumpy and closed off or just miserable. I know I can be like that. It’s very normal, very human- we don’t like pain and we aren’t meant to like it. But when these patients realize that they are about to receive the Eucharist their faces light up, there is a relief that comes over them, they smile and seem to regain some of their vigor. They are docile and receptive. They know that with Jesus their suffering isn’t being wasted. For example, one man we visited was gently crying due to the pain he was in but became so courageous after being reminded that he can unite his pain with the Cross for the conversion of his son.
During the rite Patricia always keeps her eyes down but the people look at her with a gaze of enrapture, (some don’t even blink their eyes) and it’s obvious that they are not looking at her but at Who has come to console them. When she pulls the pix out of her pocket their eyes maintain that look as their gaze shifts to the Eucharist. It is beautiful and humbling to witness. Thinking of the wisdom of St Therese; Jesus hasn’t come to sit in the hospital chapel but to dwell in their hearts.
Lesson 2: Intercession is real and incredibly important!
My role is to accompany and intercede. Praying the Confiteor at least six times in one afternoon facing only two other people tends to reinforce how connected we are as a mystical body. “I confess to you my brothers and sisters that I have greatly sinned…and therefore I ask you to intercede for me before the Lord our God.” We acknowledge that our sins have affected each other and ask for forgiveness and prayers, but with the knowledge that our mutual work toward holiness impacts each other as well. We can help each other or hurt each other. Think about it at your next Mass. And even though it doesn’t “feel” like it, my prayers for people- our prayers for people really do have an impact whether we see it or not.
Lesson 3: Jesus is so incredibly humble….
More impacting than witnessing their desire is to see the deep humility of Our Lord as He is received by people who can barely manage to chew. Sometimes there are moments that are not too pretty- they often need the help of a drink of clean water to consume the host. To me, it drives home His deep desire for union with us despite our capacities or incapacities; in fact it is because of them that He desires us more.
Distributing communion to the sick is a real moment of extending the Kingdom through this spiritual and corporal work of mercy, making me think of these words of Pope Francis from his letter about the Jubilee Year indulgences: “Additionally, I am thinking of those for whom, for various reasons, it will be impossible to enter the Holy Door, particularly the sick and people who are elderly and alone, often confined to the home. For them it will be of great help to live their sickness and suffering as an experience of closeness to the Lord who in the mystery of his Passion, death and Resurrection indicates the royal road which gives meaning to pain and loneliness. Living with faith and joyful hope this moment of trial, receiving communion or attending Holy Mass and community prayer, even through the various means of communication, will be for them the means of obtaining the Jubilee Indulgence.” I hope we all discover a way to concretely extend His mercy during this year, especially in the places where its least expected.
