Eucharist and The Bridegroom

In the wedding vows, the groom says to his bride, “I take you to be my wife. I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.” In essence, the groom offers his life to his bride. In a particular way, the vow intends to include faithfulness in the use of his body as a gift to his bride. The condition of sickness, poverty, or difficulties do not give permission to ignore the vows. It is a perpetual vow for the rest of their natural lives.

Our Lord, Jesus Christ, also commits to us, as His bride. He is aware that some days loving us is easy; other days it is not. Yet, the Bridegroom will never diminish His love and honor of us. His faithfulness is total and with His whole heart, mind, Body, and soul. Christ is now eternal, so this vow stretches even beyond this life, into eternity. Christ gives His life to us.

While the groom of the wedding ceremony places the ring on his bride’s finger, he says, “Take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” It is an outward sign of an invisible reality of the commitment of love. In other words, it is a sacramental. The symbolism of the ring tells others that the bride or bridegroom is committed. It is also a self-reminder to live in this new reality of relationship.

When Catholics receive Holy Communion, we are united physically and spiritual with the divine Bridegroom. He gives us His life and a commitment of love and honor. God is ever-faithful to a new and everlasting covenant. Every time we celebrate the Holy Mass, we are reminded of this beautiful relationship and vow we have made to God, and God has made with us. We are called to be faithful, holy, and loving all the days of our lives.

In one of the Eucharistic Miracles, a consecrated host appeared as flesh, even many centuries later. Of course, usually, Jesus prefers to present Himself as food so as to draw us close, not repel us away. However, these miracles remind us of the typically invisible Truth behind the Sacrament. This particular Eucharistic Miracle, which has never decomposed, was analyzed by medical experts and found to be the flesh of a human heart. If we view this as a communication from our Lord, Jesus, He gives us His tender heart. The Divine Bridegroom literally lays down His life into our hands in the Holy Eucharist. Extending the meaning of this miracle to all of the Eucharist received at the celebration of each Mass, we recognize the great mystery of God’s love for His people.

Despite our failings, we receive an unconquerable, unique, personal, and communal outward sign of God’s eternal love. The only proper response is to vow our life-long, total, faithful love to the Author of Love, as a bride follows the bridegroom in repeating the vows during a wedding celebration.

Father Michael Stalla, Spiritual Director – Hope’s Garden/Men of Hope – Copyright, 2025