The Nexus Between Priesthood And The Eucharist

St. John Chrysostom explains the frightening dignity of a priestly calling, in which a mere man ministers to our eucharistic Lord.  

Reflect: Matthew 26:17-75, Mark 14:12-72, Luke 22:7-65, John 13:1-18:27 

The priestly office is truly carried on earth, though it ranks among heavenly ordinances. And very naturally so, for neither man, nor angel, nor archangel, nor any other created power, but the Paraclete himself instituted this vocation, and persuaded men—still abiding in the flesh—to represent the ministry of angels. Therefore, the consecrated priest should be as pure as if he were standing in the heavens themselves in the midst of the angelic powers.  

Fearful, indeed, and of most terrible importance, were the things which were used before the dispensation of grace, as the bells, the pomegranates, the stones on the breastplate and on the ephod, the girdle, the miter, the long robe, the plate of gold, the Holy of Holies, the deep silence within. But if anyone should examine the things that belong to the dispensation of grace, he will find that, small as they are, they are still fearful and full of awe. And what was spoken concerning the Law is true in this case also, that what has been made glorious has no glory in this respect by reason of the glory which surpasses it.  

For when you see the Lord sacrificed, and laid upon the altar, and the priest standing and praying over the victim, and all the worshippers empurpled with that precious blood, can you think that you are still among men, and standing upon the earth? Are you not, on the contrary, straightaway transported to heaven, and casting out every carnal thought from the soul, do you not with disembodied spirit and pure reason contemplate the things which are of heaven? Oh! What a marvel! What love of God to man! He who sits on high with the Father is at that hour held in the hands of all, and gives himself to those who are willing to embrace and grasp him. And this all do through the eyes of faith! Do these things seem to you fit to be despised, or something even possible to rise up against?  

For if anyone will consider how great a thing it is for one, being a man, and made with flesh and blood, to be enabled to draw near to that blessed and pure nature, he will then clearly see what great honor the grace is that the Spirit has gifted to priests—since by their agency these rites are celebrated, as well as other rites nowise inferior to these, both in respect of our dignity and our salvation. For they who inhabit the earth and make their abode there are entrusted with the administration of things that are in heaven, and have received an authority that God has not given to angels or archangels.
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Remember: The Eucharist is God himself; so the priest who ministers to it has a very exalted calling, which should inspire him to corresponding holiness.  

Pray: Jesus our Savior, draw us closer to your sacred banquet, which you entrusted to your Church for our salvation. 

Station Churches 

Many Catholics today spend Holy Thursday evening visiting churches around their diocese in what’s often called the “Seven Church Walk.” After Holy Thursday Mass, the tabernacle is emptied, and the Eucharist is placed in a special altar of repose located somewhere off to the side in the church. Pilgrims will walk (or drive) to such altars, keeping watch with Jesus in imitation of the Gospel scene in the Garden of Gethsemane.  

The custom of walking to churches goes back to the ancient times and has long been associated with the Lenten season. By the fourth century, pilgrims in Rome would daily walk to a given church for special prayers and liturgies. Processions to this church would be rather elaborate, with hymns and prayers—and the pope himself would lead the march! These devotional walks were not limited to Rome. There’s evidence of processions and pilgrimages to churches throughout the Christian world, from Jerusalem to Rome to Constantinople. Such prayerful visits satisfy a deep Christian impulse, evident from the time of the Fathers.