Read Time: 3 to 4 minutes

TL;DR: Treat the Eucharist with reverence and others with love. Avoid judgement, educate, and foster renewal.

Protecting the Sacred: A Journey Without Judgement

It’s easy to fall into judgment when observing others during Mass, especially when it comes to how they receive the Eucharist. But as we watch, our hearts should be filled with love for our Lord’s presence rather than judgment for others. We don’t know the state of another person’s heart or their understanding of the Eucharist, and it’s not our place to assume. Instead, our focus should be on ensuring that the Eucharist is treated with care and reverence.

The Heartbreaking Story of Neglect

Consider this real-life story: A priest was once approached by a distraught parishioner—a mother who rushed into his office with tears streaming down her face. She carried a box she had found in her son’s closet. When the priest opened it, he discovered it was filled with consecrated hosts.

The mother was horrified. She knew that the Eucharist is Jesus, and she couldn’t fathom how this had happened under her roof without her knowledge. Naturally, questions arose: How could her son have taken the hosts home? Was no one paying attention? Could this have been prevented?

Blame could be placed in many directions—on the mother for not noticing, on the father or siblings if they were present, on parishioners who might have seen and said nothing, on ushers for not catching it, or even on the priest or bishop for allowing communion in the hand. Some might suggest that returning to altar rails or receiving only on the tongue would prevent such occurrences. Others might advocate for improved catechesis about the sanctity of the Eucharist.

While these questions and solutions are valid to consider, focusing solely on blame is not the answer.

Renewal Starts With Us

Placing blame can often be a way to avoid personal responsibility. It’s easy to point fingers at others or at systems. But as laypeople, we are called to take an active role in renewing our parish communities—and that renewal starts with our own hearts.

Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31). This commandment reminds us that judgment has no place in a heart filled with love. When we allow judgment to take root, we rob ourselves of the opportunity to be charitable toward others. Love and judgment cannot coexist in the same heart; one will always push out the other.

Instead of judging others for how they receive the Eucharist or what they may or may not understand about its sanctity, we should focus on fostering a community of love and education. If we see someone mishandling the Eucharist, our response should be one of gentle correction and concern—not condemnation.

Likewise, we should strive to educate ourselves and others about why the Eucharist is holy and how we can honor it with reverence.

Practical Steps for Renewal

How can we approach this renewal in a way that builds up our communities rather than tearing them down with blame or judgment? Here are some practical steps:

1. Examine Your Own Heart

Ask yourself: Do I truly love the Lord more than I fear or judge others? Am I approaching the Eucharist with reverence and humility? Begin by renewing your own relationship with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

2. Foster Education

Encourage your parish to offer more catechesis about the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This could include workshops, sermons, or small group discussions.

3. Be Watchful Without Judging

When observing others during Mass, do so with a loving heart. If you notice someone mishandling the Eucharist, address it charitably if appropriate—but avoid jumping to conclusions about their intentions.

4. Advocate for Reverence

Suggest ways your parish can enhance reverence for the Eucharist, such as reintroducing patens during Communion or offering guidance on receiving properly.

5. Pray for Renewal

Love First

Let us remember that our primary call is to love—both God and our neighbors. When our hearts are filled with love for Jesus in the Eucharist, there is no room for judgment toward others. Instead, we are moved to act charitably and reverently in all that we do.

Renewing our communities will not happen overnight, nor will it come solely from changes at the top. It begins with each of us—the laypeople—approaching both the Eucharist and each other with hearts full of love and respect.

Let us commit to this renewal together, not through judgment or blame but through love and action rooted in Christ.