"If you could see what Jesus does when He comes to you, you would die instantly of joy." – Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
Among the many mysteries of the Christian faith, none is more profound, more humbling, or more extraordinary than the Holy Eucharist. In this divine sacrament, Jesus does not merely draw near—He gives Himself completely.
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, a man deeply in love with the Eucharist, once spoke of the unfathomable joy that would overwhelm any soul if it could truly perceive what happens when Jesus enters the heart in Holy Communion. "You would die instantly of joy," he said—because what we receive is not a symbol, not an idea, but the living Christ Himself.
We are all unworthy of this gift. None of us, by our own merits, can claim the right to receive God. And yet, He comes. Again and again, He comes. Not out of obligation, but out of an overwhelming, divine love. A love that delights in His creatures. A love that is, as Saint Pio puts it, "mad." Mad enough to die on a Cross. Mad enough to remain with us, body, blood, soul, and divinity, under the humble appearances of bread and wine.
Receiving the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest encounter we can experience in this life. No earthly joy, no human intimacy can compare. And those who receive it day after day, with open hearts and reverent souls, begin to see more clearly the infinite tenderness that God offers through the Eucharist.
If our eyes could perceive even a glimpse of this reality—this sublime presence—our hearts would be overwhelmed with joy. We would fall to our knees in awe, in tears, in worship.
Is there anything comparable?
Despite our unworthiness, Christ prostrated Himself on the Cross, pouring out every drop of His love, so that we might know Him, love Him, and receive Him. To receive Him worthily is not an easy task; it requires humility, repentance, and a heart willing to be transformed. But even in our weakness, He comes.
Because Christ's joy is not in being served, but in giving. His happiness lies in finding a heart that is open—and filling it with eternal life.
In the Eucharist, He gives us not just a part of Himself, but all of Himself. And in doing so, He invites us to do the same.
