We teach as much by our actions as by our words

BY ARCHBISHOP CHARLES CHAPUT

It is a blessing to witness the participation of the laity in the sacramental life of the Church. The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy from the Second Vatican Council calls the laity to a "full, conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations" (Sacrosanctum Concilium 14).

One way this is demonstrated is through extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist. When ordinary ministers of the Eucharist, priests and deacons, are not available for this ministry, others are commissioned to assist them in a privileged way of serving Christ's people.

To become a Eucharistic minister, one must receive a mandate by the bishop. This creates an awareness of the seriousness of this ministry and requires a period of preparation. It is not something one takes up casually.

I recently addressed Eucharistic ministers and others on the topic of "Eucharistic Courtesy" at the Fall Liturgy Conference. The issues we addressed affect all the faithful -- all of us have the obligation to embody in our attitudes and in our presence a lively awareness of the real presence of the Lord in the Eucharist.

For example, genuflecting towards the tabernacle when you enter and leave the church is not only a sign of reverence to the Lord, but a way of teaching ourselves and others of our faith in the Lord's real presence in the Eucharist.

Eucharistic ministers must dress in a way that shows reverence for the Blessed Sacrament. They model for us the importance, not only of modesty, but of the appropriate attire when we gather for our Eucharistic celebration.

The faithful should refer to the Body and Blood of Christ precisely as that -- not as bread and wine. In the Eucharistic celebration, the bread is fully transformed into Christ's Body and the wine to His Blood. It is the faith of the Church that the Lord is truly present in the Eucharist in this way.

Eucharist ministers must show reverence and respect in purifying the vessels after Mass, because they have held the Body and Blood of the Lord.

Upon entering and exiting church, we should be aware of the Lord's presence in the tabernacle. It is important to know that the Lord is not offended by our friendliness to one another, but we should not disrupt the prayers of those preparing for Mass or those remaining afterwards to give thanks. We should have respect for one another.

Our faith in the Eucharist should be promoted not only by formal teaching, but by our presence with one another in the celebration of the Mass. We teach as much by our actions as by our words, perhaps even more.