Fruits of the Same Spirit: Eucharist, Holy Orders and the Christian

“As in the Mass it is [the Holy Spirit] who works the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, so in the Sacrament of Orders it is [the Holy Spirit] who works the consecration of bishop or priest” (John Paul II, Gift and Mystery, p. 53).

As my ordination approached, I found myself deeply reflecting on these profound words of St. Pope John Paul II. His 1998 letter to priests, particularly emphasizing the role of the Holy Spirit, remains one of the most impactful and my personal favorite among all his letters. John Paul spoke with remarkable clarity and depth about the Holy Spirit’s role in the Church and, more specifically, in the life of a priest.

The weight of the responsibility associated with being a priest was daunting for me as a seminarian. A priest is called to be a representation of Christ to the people, in sacramental moments, pastoral settings and in our day-to-day life.

The words of the Pope provided solace as they drew me back to my faith. While my belief in the true presence ran deep, my own shortcomings made it challenging to believe that Jesus could shape my heart and mind to resemble his. John Paul II helped me realize that if Jesus could transform simple bread and wine into himself, he could do the same with me.

It is still consoling to recall this truth as I extend my hands and call down the Holy Spirit at each Mass.

Priests have a privileged relationship with the Eucharist; both the Sacrament of Orders and the Eucharist were instituted by Christ at the Last Supper. Both sacraments are born of our Lord’s desire to remain always with his people.

During the Mass, we have the privilege to stand at the head of the congregation and utter the words of consecration. Outside the Mass, we are tasked with a great responsibility from our Ordination – to conform our lives to the same Christ we make present in the Eucharist.

Both tasks, consecrating the Eucharist and conforming our lives to Christ, are impossible to do on our own. We need the help of the Holy Spirit.

“The Eucharist and Orders are fruits of the same Spirit,” says John Paul II. In a certain sense, each Christian is also a fruit of that same Spirit. Since Confirmation, the Holy Spirit has been at work in each of us to mold us into a likeness of Christ.

Through the gifts of the Spirit, our hearts and minds can increasingly resemble Jesus’ own. Our thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and actions can mirror his. The one we worship at every Mass and every time we come to adoration – Jesus Christ – is the one the Holy Spirit is shaping our hearts and minds to become.

We speak about the Eucharist as the source and summit of our faith. We also speak of the Christian life as a pilgrimage. As a hiker I like these analogies.

Our goal, the summit of the Christian life, is to become like Christ. The way is difficult, it’s a hard summit to reach, but we have the Holy Spirit who guides us and shapes us with each step so we all might one day reach the full stature of Christ (Eph 4:13) and be united with Him forever.

Father Michael Tabernero serves as director of Catholic Identity in St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Edison.