First Eucharist
1928. Saturday morning in May. Eight o’clock Mass at St. Paul’s. Sun streaming in through the stained glass windows. I kneel at the beautiful altar railing and receive my Lord and my God for the first time.
Euphoria. Touch of ecstasy. I rise to join my classmates at the rear of the great Church. I cling to the north side of the center aisle hearing the all powerful voice of Sister Pascal telling me “Don’t let your teeth touch the host. Don’t let your teeth touch the host…”
I kneel with my classmates, suffused with joy. I commune with the Lord for the very first time in this intimate manner. I look up at the magnificent altar and with the keen vision of a seven year old I see some strange lettering around the dome, “Tu es vas electionis, sancte Paule apostole.” I don’t know what that means. Must be important. Otherwise it wouldn’t be there. I must ask some one……. I feel inner warmth. I feel loved. I feel secure. I feel touched by God.
90 years later. The joy remains. I found out what the words mean. They deeply affected my life.
So! Does the Eucharist matter?
