The Holy Eucharist is reserved in our churches in order to greatly enhance our adoration of Jesus and to increase our love for others. It is also reserved in the churches in order to be taken to the sick.

The Jewish Passover of the Old Covenant was a symbol of the Holy Eucharist of the New Covenant. Jesus surpassed and fulfilled the Jewish Passover meal when He instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper. The Jews, as the first People of God, ate manna in the desert; so the new People of God, Christians, eat the Eucharist. The Ark of the Covenant and the pillar of fire were signs of God’s special presence with His people during their long journey through the desert. Today, Jesus is present with us in the tabernacle to be our comfort in our journey through life; He is our Emmanuel (“God with us”).

Jesus keeps the promise He made before ascending into Heaven: “And lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Jesus is present at Mass in His words which are read to the people. He is present in the priest and in the people through whom He acts, when they re-enact what He did at the Last Supper. He is most present under the appearance of bread and wine which become His Body and Blood after the consecration in the Mass. The Church extends this Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist by reserving the consecrated species of bread.

Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament means that, at the end of Communion, the remaining consecrated Hosts are placed in the tabernacle where they are reverently preserved. Thus, the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist is always available, both as a continuing sign of Jesus’ Real Presence among His people and as spiritual food for the sick and dying.