Teresa of Avila on Thanksgiving After Communion
Thanksgiving after receiving Jesus
The Eucharist is Jesus. That means there is enough grace in each Eucharist we receive to make us a saint. Then why aren’t we saints. Because the Fruit of the Sacraments, in other words, the effect Jesus has upon us after receiving Him, also depends on disposition of the one who receives them, it depends upon the openness of our soul. We only receive as much grace as we were open or disposed to receive.
One thing that helps us to be disposed to receive the grace of Jesus in the Eucharist Thanksgiving after receiving Jesus
Teresa of Avila: Be with Him willingly; don't lose so good an occasion for conversing with Him as is the hour after having received Communion. (Reflect that this is a most advantageous hour for the soul, during which Jesus is very pleased if you keep Him company. Take great care…not to lose it.)…This, then, is a good time for our Master to teach us, and for us to listen to Him, kiss His feet because He wanted to teach us, and beg Him not to leave.
But after having received the Lord, since you have the Person (of Jesus) Himself present, strive to close the eyes of the body and open those of the soul and look into your own heart. For I tell you, and tell you again, and would like to tell you many times that you should acquire the habit of doing this every time you receive Communion and strive to have such a conscience that you will be allowed to enjoy this blessing frequently. Though He comes disguised, (under the appearance of bread) the disguise does not prevent Him from being recognized in many ways, in conformity with the desire we have to see Him. And you can desire to see Him so much that He will reveal Himself to you entirely.
Jesus is physically with us after communion
Jesus is physically with us after communion for 15 to 30 minutes, until the host is entirely dissolved. If Jesus were to manifest Himself physically to you and say “I will be with you for 15 minutes and you can say or do anything with me you like” what would you do? First, we would give Him our undivided attention for this whole time. Speak simply and honestly as one friend to another, heart to heart. We would also listen to see if He has anything to say to us. Maybe He does, but we are so distracted with looking at the other people going to communion, or singing or thinking about what we are doing next that we pay no attention to Jesus and don’t hear what He has to say.
Rest with Him
Then after we have talked with Jesus from the Heart; and listened to Him; we would just remain silently with Him, resting in His presence. Think of those moments when it has been cold, very cold for much of the winter, and you get one of those moments when the sun is out, and it is very bright and there is absolutely no wind and you can feel the heat of the sun and you just stand there and drink it in. This is what we should do after we receive communion. Go back to the pew, kneel or sit down, then use the power of the imagination God gave you and think of the Son, S-O-N in you bursting with light, energy, heat, grace radiating out through the entirety of your soul and body. Imagine the grace washing over you. And just rest in this for 10-15 minutes.
Encounter of Love
The time with Jesus after Communion is an encounter of love: its not what I do but what He wants to do in us. Don’t focus on yourself, what you are saying, doing, thinking. Think instead of Jesus. Think of the Gospel of the Mass, maybe re-read it. Go to Jesus in that scene, that event, and talk with him, or just watch Him, gaze at Him, just be with him.
Awareness of His Presence
While the physical presence of Jesus only remains within us for 15 to 30 minutes – His spiritual presence endures. Cultivate an awareness of His presence all day.
St. Faustina writes: 318 I often feel God’s presence after Holy Communion in a special and tangible way. I know God is in my heart. And the fact that I feel Him in my heart does not interfere with my duties. Even when I am dealing with very important matters which require attention, I do not lose the presence of God in my soul, and I am closely united with Him. With Him I go to work, with Him I go for recreation, with Him I suffer, with Him I rejoice; I live in Him and He in me. I am never alone, because He is my constant companion. He is present to me at every moment. Our intimacy is very close, through a union of blood and of life.