Father’s Notes: June 29, 2025

In my column for this weekend, I would like to speak about the connection between the Holy Spirit and the Eucharist. Why? Because as creatures of sense, we tend to forget Jesus’ promise of being with us always. In His Goodness, God gives us a real and tangible encounter with Him at every Mass, specifically in the Eucharist. But did you know that the Holy Spirit has a special part in making this happen?

There is a part of the Mass called the epiclesis. This occurs when the priest (depending on the Eucharistic prayer he uses that day) will pray certain words that petition the Holy Spirit to transform bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus. Here is an example: “Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall” Sound familiar? It should, because this is when the bells are rung the first time! They bring attention to the fact that the Holy Spirit who renews all things, helps to make these earthly elements of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus.

You might be thinking, isn’t the Eucharist about Jesus? Why is the Holy Spirit involved? While each member of the Trinity remains their own unique person, they work together in all things, even in transforming the bread and wine into the Eucharist. The Holy Spirit has a special task in renewing and recreating, hence why He is called upon during the Epiclesis.

I encourage you the next time you are at Mass and hear the bells ring during the epiclesis, ask the Holy Spirit to come upon you and increase your belief that this Eucharist is the Lord Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you live out this communion with all you encounter in the week ahead.

May we grow in appreciation of this gift of the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit’s place within the Mass!