A young Wife, who had been taking Instructions for a Year, told the
Writer she could Believe everything in the Faith, except the Eucharist.
Upon inquiring-about her Husband, it was learned that he was in the
Pacific, on Military Duty. In answer to further questions, she admitted
that she Corresponded-with him every Two (2) Days, and that she had his
Photograph before her, in the House.
We argued there was nothing Wanting-for Perfect Happiness. What more
could she Want, than the Constant-Memory of him, through the Photograph
and a Written-communication, in which Heart poured-out-to Heart. But,
she Protested that she could never be Truly Happy, except-through Union
(1)-with her Husband.
But, it was retorted, if Human Love craves Oneness (1), shall not Divine
Love? If Husband and Wife seek-to-be One (1) in the Flesh, shall not
the Christian and Christ crave-for that Oneness (1) with One-another?
The Memory of the Christ Who lived Twenty (20) Centuries ago, the
recalling-of His Mercy and Miracles through Memory, the
correspondence-with Him by-reading the Scriptures -- all these are
Satisfying, but they do not Satisfy Love. There must-be, on the Level-of
Grace, something Unitive (1) with Divine Love. Every Heart seeks a
Happiness outside it, and since Perfect Love is God, then the Heart-of
Man and the Heart-of Christ must, in some-way, Fuse (1). In Human
Friendship, the other-Person is Loved as another-Self, or the other-Half
of One's Soul. Divine Friendship must have its 'Mutual-Indwelling': "He
who dwells-in Love, dwells-in God, and God in him" (1John 4:17). This
Aspiration-of the Soul for its Ecstasy is fulfilled-in the Sacrament of
the Eucharist.
These are the Sacraments
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
