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The Fruits of
Holy Communion
says St. Peter Julian Eymard, it is difficult to keep giving place to angels, who draw near and assist
in a state of graceso experience proves (Holy us (The Blessed Eucharist, p. 121).
God the Father summarizes these effects in
Communion, p. 92).
private revelation to St. Catherine of Sienna:
When the appearance of bread has been
Holy Communion provides a remedy
consumed, I leave behind the imprint of my grace
against the infectious spread of sin
[My] sons wisdom remains there, enlightening
Venial sin weakens our love of God. In addition, actual the minds eye. [It] is left strong, sharing in my
graces needed to avoid future sins are diminished. This leads strength and power which makes her strong and
to more frequent and graver sins. Unchecked, this cycle powerful against her selfish sensitivity, against the
inevitably leads to mortal sin. Holy Communion replenishes devil and the world (Dialogue #112).
the grace lost through sin, thus it preserves us from future
mortal sins (Catechism #1395). To better understand this Holy Communion removes the effects of sin
effect, a proper understanding of fallen
With each sin we incur a
human nature is necessary.
debt
of punishment and lose
Original sin has wounded
More Fruitful Holy
grace. Theologian Fr. Hardon
human nature with a four-fold
Communions through
assures us: Part of the
Sacramental Confession
effect: a difficulty in discerning
infallible teaching of the
what reality is; a malicious
Each
sacramental
confession
confers
Catholic Church is that Holy
will; weakness in overcoming
sanctifying grace increasing our love
Communion removes both
difficulties; and intemperance.
of God. This disposes the soul to
debt of punishment and
Consequently, we have a natural
receive
more
graces
from
Holy
restores grace. But watch it!
tendency to be proud, lustful,
Communion in three ways. First, with
Depending on the frequency
prone to envy and anger, greedy,
each influx of grace we receive a
of receiving and the fervor of
lazy and gluttonous. The graces
greater capacity for more grace much
reception.
received in Holy Communion
as transferring water from a pint jar to
The Catechism states, The
help form the moral and
a quart jar yields a greater capacity
Eucharist
strengthens our
intellectual virtues which
for more water. Secondly, the grace
charity, which tends to be
enlighten the mind and
received is measured by the love and
weakened in daily life; and
strengthen the will to combat
desire we have for Holy Communion.
this living charity wipes away
these evil inclinations. According
God the Father confirms that each of
venial sins (#1394). The
to Fr. Hardon, The verdict
you receives it [grace from Communion]
increase of charity has a twoof human history is certain.
in proportion to the love and burning
desire you bring to it. (Dialogue #110)
fold effect on our actions.
Either a person receives Holy
Finally,
confession
decreases
our
First, as stated above, it
Communion frequently and
inclination to sin and venial
increases our desire to
regularly or human nature is no
sinshinder the efficacy of this
practice virtue. These
match for the passions that plague
sacrament.
virtuous actions are a source
every human being. Fr. Michael
(The
Blessed
Eucharist
p.
85)
of satisfaction for sin.
Muller, C.S.S.R. concurs, Ask
Secondly, the merit of each
any Christian who has once lived in
action is in proportion to the
sin and afterwards truly amended, from
what moment he began to get the better of his passions, and intensity of our love of God. That is why Jesus
he will answer, from the moment he began to frequent the said, Her many sins are forgiven her for she
loved much (Jn. 7:47).
sacraments (The Blessed Eucharist, p. 120).