Why pray before a piece of bread trapped in a Monstrance?
For those who don’t know what a Monstrance is, it is a fixture (usually gold) that has a round glass center where the body of Christ is placed for prayer and worship. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life, he who eats of my body and drinks of my blood shall receive eternal life…” and he repeated himself three times to really drive this point home (see John chapter 6). He didn’t say this to tell a cute story that we should share bread with our buddies. The Body of Christ (also called the Eucharist) is central to our Christian faith. When the bread is consecrated (or blessed) we believe that it becomes the real presence of Jesus. While we can pray to God through Jesus anywhere, this special gift of spiritual food that we receive at the sacrifice of the mass is like having Jesus physically present to us. In this special presence of God on Earth, He deserves to be worshiped and exalted. Such reverence of the Living Presence builds upon the virtues of humility & obedience.
