On the kids-only edition of Catholic Answers Live, Fr. Hugh Barbour explains to a nine-year-old how we know that Jesus is in the Eucharist and why we don’t hear about Eucharistic miracles anymore.
Transcript:
Host: We’re going to go to Luke in Pensacola, Florida, age 9, listening on Ave Maria Radio. Luke, welcome to Catholic Answers Live.
Caller: How do we know that Jesus is present in the Eucharist, and why are there no more Eucharistic miracles anymore?
Fr. Hugh: Well, let’s see. How do we know he’s present in the Eucharist? Well, we know the same way that the Apostles knew at the first Eucharist in the upper room, because Jesus is there telling us “This is my body, and this is my blood.” That is, we believe because we believe in him. And Jesus is the one who validates our belief. It’s not magic, it’s not a trick, it’s not something which, you know, someone can show to us; it has to do with our trust in him. That is, we know him, and as you, Luke, know, you know that Jesus loves you with all his heart, and would have died for you even if you were the only person in the whole world. And so you believe in his promise to you about the Eucharist just because he’s Jesus, that’s all. He’s the savior and you trust in him and his words to you.
And then as far as miracles occurring, there are Eucharistic miracles occurring all the time. We live in a culture where the media…they cover what they want to cover. They cover all kinds of sick, freaky things. All you have to do–and I don’t recommend it to you–but I mean, if you look on the internet and you’re following the news, they cover all kinds of awful stuff. But the things that happen between the Lord and souls are not part of the news as the world presents it. So if you don’t have any news of miracles happening, it doesn’t mean that they’re not happening. They may well be happening, and even in your own life.
And Luke, since you love Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, you don’t have to worry about anything. You just stay close to him, and your life will move along just the way it’s supposed to do, miracles or no miracles.
Host: Luke, you’re nine years old, so you’ve made your First Communion, I’m sure?
Caller: Yes sir.
Host: Good good good. And so we want you to receive Our Lord daily, even if you can, in the Blessed Sacrament. All right, Luke?
Caller: Okay. Yes, sir.
Fr. Hugh: God bless you.
Host: All right, and by the way, you have a great and courageous and wise patron there.
Fr. Hugh: Yeah wonderful, St. Luke, what a great patron.
Caller: Thank you.
Host: All right, be good to your parents, Luke. Thank you for calling.