Marital Union and the Eucharist - the Mysterious Connection!
The connection between the one-flesh union of man and woman in the covenant of marriage and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist is profound and mysterious. One is a sign of the other, a sacramental revelation of human love ascending to divine love—an eros that is transfigured into agape. Drawing from the Theology of the Body, the Song of Songs, St. John of the Cross, and sacramental theology, let us explore this divine mystery. Advance Preparations In both marriage and the Eucharist, preparation is essential. The bride’s advance preparations symbolize the soul’s readiness to encounter God. Prayer becomes the bride’s ascent to meet the divine Bridegroom, and confession cleanses the heart, making it worthy to receive the Eucharist. Just as a bride undergoes a ritual bath before entering the bridal chamber, so too the use of holy water signifies spiritual cleansing and renewal. The Bridal Chamber The preparation of the altar mirrors the preparations for the marital union. The altar clot...