S stands for Serve. Every Holy Thursday Church presents us with Gospel of Jesus washing feet of his disciples at first Eucharist and telling them that He was giving them an "example", a model to follow. It is easy to forget how important service is to following Christ until Church reminds us.

A stands for Adore, if we forget about who Jesus is, God and all that we owe God we are apt to approach Him in a way that doesn’t fully acknowledge all important acts we are partaking.

C stands for Confess, and I use it in both of its meanings to confess our belief in God and to confess our sins. They both our related and when we really know who God is then we come to know who we are and how we fall short of living and trusting in His love for us.

R stands for Respond and it seems to go without saying that if we want to get most out of Mass we need to respond—yet it is amazing how difficult this can be for all of us at times because we often have to sing songs we don't particularly care for or stand or kneel longer than we feel like. Responding for many is greatest sacrifice asked for and often reminds me of way people responded to Jesus with a list of excuses rather than a "leaving everything to follow Him" response.

I stands for Incline your ear, to make a strong effort to listen to what God might be saying to you at Mass.

F stands for Fast, making sure that we come to Eucharist with a hunger to truly enjoy what Lord is giving us.

I stands for Invite; to consciously as Lord to "stay with us", to invoke prayer of early Church at Eucharist Maranatha meaning "Come Lord."

C stands for Commune; to truly give ourselves to Christ and to accept new life in Him when we receive His Body and Blood.

E stands for Evangelize; to share what we have been given realizing that very life of our family, friends and those God places in our path depend on hearing about Him.

Q: As always with your writing Michael, I found this book to be a wonderful combination of insightful philosophy and readable, workable advice. A particular favorite of mine in this book are your “Lessons Learned from a Three Year Old” comments in each chapter, which provide simple, real life instruction. How did your relationship with your son Joseph impact on writing of this book and your experience of Eucharist?

A: Joseph was two when I was preparing a lengthy talk on Eucharist for an event in St. Louis a few years ago. He kept coming to see what I was doing and at time I was having difficulty coming up with a way to illustrate idea of "giving thanks always"—something that appears in "Adore" chapter of How to Get Most Out of Eucharist. I was sending him away with a gentle reprimand and in response he said, "Thank you" something he did at that age (I think he though it meant "okay"). I realized that God had just sent me my illustration.

Over course of next two years (Joseph is about to turn four in April) Joseph continued to put what I propose in book to its toughest test and yet confirmed that what I was putting forth was indeed practical. I am reminded of one time when Joseph was clamoring for attention to have help with his runny nose and as I fished out a handkerchief and bent down to wipe his nose I heard priest proclaim from Gospel "whatever you did for least of my brethren you did for me." I realized that Joseph and all of his young peers out there have a lot to teach us about keeping Christ in Eucharist!

Two side notes to this question: first four people to write me with feedback on book after reading it, all of them women (my wife, a nun and two young mothers) all shared that they read Joseph parts first, secondly while I was answering this question Joseph made an appearance to tell me that I really should pick up my books which are all over floor near my desk.

Q: For those of us looking to truly embrace this “Year of Eucharist” what are some of most important steps we can take during remainder of year?

A: The most important element is to understand it all in terms of Jesus. Adore Jesus in Blessed Sacrament, take Gospels with you to learn again who He is and that He founded a Church with Peter as its head and that he left us Eucharist as a gift. Read Holy Father's beautiful writing on Eucharist, rediscover "awe" we should have or as my friend Father Stan Fortuna likes to paraphrase Holy Father "be amazed" at both mystery of Eucharist and its power to transform us more perfectly into communion with Jesus.

Q: Your book includes a helpful appendix for those attending Mass but unable to receive Holy Communion. Can they, too, get more out of Eucharist? How should Catholics with family or friends in this situation minister to their loved ones?

A: I believe that Eucharist is Jesus and that when we are at Mass we encounter Jesus, so even those who cannot receive Him in Holy Communion can still encounter him if they open themselves up to His grace. Helping our family or friends in those situations to see this (and of course our young children who can't receive yet) opens door to them getting more out of Eucharist.

God placed several people in my life while I was writing book that called my attention to fact that there are those who attend Mass frequently but can't receive or think they can't (and I address this latter group by telling them to seek out a priest and make sure that it is case rather than relying on advice of some well meaning Catholic relative who might not know but might think that they do). I have known people who have attended Mass with a Catholic spouse for their entire lives and have found ways to participate with our receiving communion—one such person recently commented to me that she had read book and really like it, she didn't say but I'm guessing she liked that I had addressed her situation in book.

Q: Michael Dubruiel, thank you for another wonderful resource in How to Get Most Out of Eucharist. Are there any closing thoughts you would like to share?

A: Thank you for taking an interest in this book, I hope this book will help all of those faithful Catholics and not so faithful ones to a renewed experience of Jesus Christ at every Mass.

For more information on How to Get Most Out of Eucharist visit http://www.catholicmom.catholiccompany.com/product_detail.cfm?ID=6348

Lisa M. Hendey is a mother of two sons, webmaster of numerous web sites, including http://www.catholicmom.com and http://www.christiancoloring.com, and an avid reader of Catholic literature. Visit her at http://www.lisahendey.com for more information.

Still, Eli did give Hannah a special key, that day, and a blessing; "Go in peace, and may God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."

Philippians 4:6-7 says; "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

The next thing Hannah did was she laid down.

Hannah had to make a sacrificial prayer ... "An Isaac Prayer".

All God was requiring of Hannah' was a surrendering up of her will. He'd been planning on blessing her all along. But Hannah had to first come to point, in her walk with Lord, where she was willing to give up child of her dreams, her Isaac; what she wanted most in life, before she even held him in her arms. Our God is not a cruel Father to watch Hannah suffer like she did. But, our Father is a jealous God and He must come first in lives of His children. (Exodus 34:14)

Hannah was forced to give up her "precious Isaac." (The name "Isaac" in Hebrew means "laughter.") Hannah sacrificed her dream, that which brought joy to her heart. She gave up her will and found peace, that day, at Shiloh. She found rest for her weary soul. Sometimes, we're forced to do same thing Hannah did, because we grasp hold of things too tightly and won't let go of them.

God has to be first in our lives and He will, sometimes, with hold blessings from us until we're ready to give Him first priority in our lives. Hannah and Abraham had something in common. They both had to sacrifice a dream; their heart's desire. Hannah had to sacrifice hers before she received it. Abraham had to sacrifice his after he already had it. (Genesis 22:1-19)

Hannah submitted, surrendered, and sacrificed her heart's desire; her most cherished dream. She vowed it would be God's will, and no other.

The next thing Hannah did was, she got up,and went on her way. She started walking. She trusted God; had faith in believing.

Hannah did same thing that Abraham did. He hoped against hope. Romans 4:18 says, "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became ..."

Hoping gave birth to believing, believing to knowing. Hannah's circumstances were still same, nothing had changed, except for Hannah. She was still barren in her womb, but no longer in her heart. For, now, she was filled with hope for future. She still had no child. But, inward changes had been made. Ointment had been applied to Hannah's wounded spirit at Shiloh, that day, when she offered it up to Lord as a sacrifice. New hope had been birthed within her.

Hannah stood up! She was able to stand on her own. Sometimes, people are so broken and wounded that they need others to help them to their feet. Remember Peter, in Acts 3:1-11, when he healed crippled beggar. Verse 7 says, after he took "... him by right hand, he helped him up, and instantly man's feet and ankles became strong."

And in Acts 9:36-41, in healing of Tabitha, Dorcas, verse 41, says he; "... took her by hand and helped her to her feet ..." Maybe she wasn't strong enough to get up on her own. Hannah got up and went on her way!

Hannah left Shiloh, that day, with a new spirit. I imagine Peninnah's ridiculing never bothered her again. Yes, Hannah had been broken, but she was soon to be blessed... "... Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and LORD remembered her. So in course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked LORD for him." 1:19-20

Hannah received her blessing from Lord. "I prayed for this child, and LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to LORD ..." 1:27-28.

God gave Hannah three times as much as she'd given him, which proves that you cannot out give God. "And LORD was gracious to Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters." 2:21

"Lord, make me like bread ... Blessed by you, broken by you, given to others."

© 2005 by Dot McGinnis

http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeavenlyInspirations-originalwritings/

This writing may be used in its entirety, with or without poem, with credits in tact, for non-profit ministering purposes.

My Dear Sweet Blessed Savior,

We have so much to learn from your precious daughter Hannah. She stood broken and bruised before you, and she offered up to you her most cherished dream as a sacrifice. Lord, may I always be able to rise again whenever I feel broken, bruised, and bleeding like Hannah. And, may I never let others steal my joy from me as Hannah first let Peninnah steal hers. I know, Father, that I always say Jesus is my Lord and my King. Never let those be simply words that I utter. Always, Father, help me to place You first upon throne of my heart, above all others. Help me to walk away, like Hannah did, that day, no longer downcast, but renewed in spirit, at peace, at rest with joy and hope she found, that day, at Shiloh; anticipating what is yet to come.