I hate to have to break the Host during Communion. But every once in a while, I have to. After saying Mass in a low-security prison, one of the men couldn’t come so I got together with him later to pray and give him the Eucharist. I had just one Host with me. Another guy came in and asked if he could join. I said, “Sure, that’s fine,” and I thought I would just break the Host in two. Then another guy came and another. When it came time to give the first man Holy Communion, I went to break It, but there was a second Host! Then another Host! I was floored and told the men what had happened.
Another time, I traveled with some missionaries through rural areas of Mexico offering Mass. When it came time for Communion, I was distributing the Precious Blood from the chalice. There was a long line of people and I saw that there wasn’t enough for everyone. This is the last one… Blood of Christ. The person received the rest. I looked down, no more left. But then I looked down again… there was more. For every person who came, there was enough.
On another trip, I set up the altar in a village church while the missionaries went door-to-door telling the villagers that Mass would be in an hour. But then, I realized we didn’t have any wine. Mass isn’t valid without wine. We were hours away from any store, so I told the missionaries to see if there was any wine in the village. There was none. I knelt down and prayed, “Lord, I can’t celebrate Mass here!” He said to me, “You saw Me multiply My Blood in the chalice and the Hosts when you ran out. Trust Me.” I set everything up for Mass and went through the motions of starting Mass. At the consecration, I elevated the Host. After that I said, “Now everyone, be prepared for a miracle.” I held up the chalice. And there was the Blood of Christ in the chalice.
I cried out in prayer afterwards, “Lord, why did You do these things for me? I’m not the holiest friar. Don’t You know who I am? Don’t You know what I’ve done?” He replied to me, “Oh, I know who you are and what you’ve done, but you represent Me.” Jesus gave me a deeper understanding of the priesthood. It’s not Fr. Stan Holland, it’s Jesus. It’s so humbling. I still don’t know how He did these things through me. I’m so grateful.
-Fr. Stan Holland, T.O.R.
Fr. Stan Holland, TOR is one of the Franciscan Friars, TOR and currently lives at the friary on campus at Franciscan University of Steubenville. In his prison ministry and missionary work, Fr. Stan has witnessed the power and miraculous nature of Jesus in the Eucharist.
Art: Last Supper by Ilya Repin, 1903, Public Domain
