My Little Eucharistic Miracle

Louisa Ikena prayerfully shares an extraordinary happening that has strengthened her faith.

When is the last time I witnessed a miracle? I am defining “miracle” here in the sense of an extraordinary outpouring of God’s love and grace. On the one hand, miracles happen every day. And yet an extraordinary outpouring, by definition, is anything but commonplace. I pray that I never lose a sense of wonder and awe at God’s majesty, sovereignty, and perfect timing. 

I want to describe here a miracle which I have dubbed “my little Eucharistic miracle.” It is, indeed, little in the grand scheme of things. Yet I call it a miracle nonetheless. No one is levitating, the Consecrated Host is not bleeding, yet my faith is strengthened. Specifically, my relationship with Our Lord is strengthened by these happenings that, I believe, can only be orchestrated by God. 

My little Eucharistic miracle

The story of this miracle begins several years ago when I asked Our Lord for a sign. I was going through a rough patch, and my faith was ebbing a bit on its journey of ebbs and flows. I prayed to Our Lord this informal prayer: “God, I know I should not ask for a sign. I know I need to have faith. ‘Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!' (Mark 9:13). But I am asking for a sign. I believe You are Truly Present in the Eucharist. What I want to know is: are You coming to me eagerly or reluctantly? I am almost afraid to ask, but that’s what my heart wants to know.” 

I prayed that prayer without having a clue how God would answer it, but I did not have to wait long. Within that week, on that Saturday, at the weekly Vigil Mass, the Lord gave me a sign that I now call my little Eucharistic miracle. I knew with all my being that Our Lord is coming to me eagerly, not reluctantly. God answered my prayer. 

The vast majority of the time when I receive Our Lord in Holy Communion, the Consecrated Host is shaped in a circle. The large Eucharistic Host is usually broken into other shapes by the priest. The unleavened Bread is taken, blessed, broken, and given to each of us as the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus. I was taught that I must allow myself to be taken by God, blessed by God, broken by God, and given by God to the world around me that is my mission territory.

Those specific pieces of the large Consecrated Eucharistic Host are rare to find in the distribution of Holy Communion. There are many, many more circular Consecrated Eucharistic Hosts. The answer to my original prayer for a sign came that Mass in the form of an unusually-shaped Consecrated Host. It was a miracle to me to receive a non-circular form of Jesus in the Eucharist. In that unusual happening, I received a clear message that Jesus comes to me eagerly, not reluctantly. My heart was filled with joy and thanksgiving. 

A prayer after receiving Communion

I began that day to pray my own special prayer after Communion. It feels very personal and vulnerable to share it here in this article. The truth is I wrote this article 10 months ago, and I am just now getting a prayerful “green light” to publish it. I believe Jesus wants me to share. My personal prayer to Jesus, when I have just received Him is:

Lord, thank You for allowing me to receive You. You are extraordinary in every form.

I choose to pray that prayer every time I receive Our Lord in the Eucharist. The prayer applies to the reception of Communion in any shape. When I receive Our Lord in a non-circular shape, I call it my little Eucharistic miracle. It has been a consolation to me at just the right moments, including this week’s green light to share now. God gives me exactly what I need, exactly when I need it.

Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to receive You. You are, indeed, extraordinary in every form. 

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Copyright 2024 Louisa Ann Irene Ikena
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