The Fruits of the Eucharist

Fruits of the Eucharist


On the feast of St. Scholastica, February 10, the Church prays in the Mass:

“God of mercy, we rejoice that on this feast of St. Scholastica you give us the bread of heaven. May it bring us pardon for our sins, health of body, your grace in this life and glory in heaven….”

If you want to know what the Church believes, listen to its prayers. This axiom is stated in the Latin as “Lex orandi, lex credenda.” It translates as the rule of prayer is the rule of faith. From the above prayer, we see what the Church believes are the fruits of the Eucharist. They are:

• Pardon of sins
• Health of body
• God’s favors
• Life eternal

Awesome! If this is true, why doesn’t everybody run to the Eucharist? In Isaiah 55: 1 – 3, God pleads with his people:

“All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, receive grain and eat;
Come, without paying and without cost,
drink wine and milk!
Why spend your money for what is not bread;
your wages for what fails to satisfy?
Heed me, and you shall eat well,
you shall delight in rich fare.
Come to me heedfully,
listen, that you may have life.
I will renew with you the everlasting covenant,
the benefits assured to David.”

Why would people hear such a call and not run to the feast? Mystery!