Eucharistic Presence and the Road to Emmaus

For Christmas, among other things, I received "A Eucharistic Vision and the Spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi" by Br. Mark of Whitstable, a Capuchin friar. It is a very interesting book.

I am now reflecting on the appearance of the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus, (Luke 24:13-35) and its implications for the early Church. The importance of this encounter between Christ and the apostles is recognized in the Catechism of the Catholic Church where it states "The Breaking of Bread, because Jesus used this rite, part of a Jewish meal, when as master of the table he blessed and distributed the bread, above all at the Last Supper. It is by this action that his disciples will recognized him after his Resurrection...." (1329). Here as a footnote the Catechism references Luke 24:13-35.

The Eucharist is very important to Francis. He writes about it in Admonition 1, the first paragraph of his First Letter to the Faithful, his Testament, and several other places. Over the next few weeks, I am looking forward to exploring the Eucharistic vision of St. Francis more deeply.