His presence lives among us daily in the Eucharist

By Charla Spalluto Misse, NOLACatholicParenting

You may know this story as it occurred in Baltimore when Pope St. John Paul II visited in October 1995. I was surprised to learn of it 20 years later.

Because I was so touched by it and have often recalled it, I was compelled to share it, wondering who might have heard it before. It is included in “100 Eucharistic Miracles,” book by Vincentian Father Anthony Netikat, a former priest at St. Joseph Church on Tulane Avenue, and has the imprimatur of the Ethiopian Catholic Church, Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte.

On Pope John Paul’s last day in Baltimore, his schedule was packed tight with a Mass at Camden Yards, a downtown parade, visits to the Basilica of the Assumption and to a local soup kitchen run by Catholic Charities, a prayer service at the Cathedral of Mary, Our Queen, and finally, a short stop at St. Mary’s Seminary.  

Because the day’s events were so numerous, St. John Paul II was only scheduled to greet the seminarians as they stood outside St. Mary’s. Upon arriving at the seminary, however, he made his way into the building and desired to first visit the Blessed Sacrament.

Because security personnel had not planned for this, when they learned of the pope’s intentions, they quickly took action ahead of the pope, sweeping the building and giving special attention to the chapel where he would be praying. 

Highly trained dogs which detect living people under the rubble of collapsed buildings were used for the purpose of detecting any potentially dangerous and unauthorized persons in hiding. 

These dogs quickly made rounds through the halls, offices and classrooms, up and down the aisles of the chapel, and then, finally, to the side chapel where the Blessed Sacrament was secured.  

Upon reaching the tabernacle, the dogs refused to leave, whining, pointing and fixed to a spot, signaling to their handlers that, indeed, a living person was present within the tabernacle. They would only leave when commanded by their handlers.

As Catholics, we know that the living person in the tabernacle was Jesus Christ.  

Each time I consider this when I encounter the Eucharist, I am newly awed by the fact that Jesus Christ, who suffered such pain and death for us, is truly present and alive before me, quietly waiting. 

While we know this is true, it is easy, in the bustle of life, to forget the magnitude of this reality. 

I am deeply grateful to have reminders like this so that I never miss an opportunity to recognize him.  

Charla Spalluto Misse, a native of New Orleans, graduated as valedictorian from Immaculata High School, earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and an M.B.A. from The College of William & Mary. She has worked in high-level advisory positions throughout her career and is now a financial advisor where she enjoys using her analytical and planning strengths to develop specialized solutions for her clients. She supports various charitable organizations, sits on the board as officer for the LPO Volunteers and is a Boy Scouts of America Den Leader. She feels blessed to be near her family and enjoys the natural beauty and cultural richness of her hometown. She cherishes  opportunities to make a positive difference in people’s lives.

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