The Power of His Presence

By Sean Castillo

My name is Sean Castillo. I am currently a freshman seminarian at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.  My faith growing up was largely just the faith of my parents.  I was Catholic, went to Mass as regularly as possible, prayed before meals, etc., but I didn’t have a desire, a hunger for Jesus, and I wasn’t very interested in making my faith my own.

All that changed with a profound encounter with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist my freshman year of high school during the annual fall retreat that St. Max organizes for high school youth.

At Exposition, as soon as I saw the monstrance, tears began welling up. Once I knelt down, I broke. I began crying, just this waterfall of tears cascading down my face.

The reason why I couldn’t stop crying was because as soon as I walked into that room and saw Jesus, I was overwhelmed by His Presence. There's no other way to accurately describe it. I was completely overwhelmed by the Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

That was the encounter that changed everything. From that point on, I not only believed but knew that Jesus was really, truly present in the Eucharist.

I have had other intense experiences in the Presence elf the Blessed Sacrament, but there is one more I would like to share.  

This happened at CYSC a few summers ago.  CYSC stands for Catholic Youth Summer Camp and it is a 6-day/5-night retreat that marries Catholicism with high adventure activities. You’re put into a small group of upwards of 10 people and that’s your crew for the rest of the week. If any of you reading this have children in junior high or high school, or know someone who does, I highly encourage you to check out CYSC and send them there.

It’s an amazing experience.  We had Exposition almost every day.  During Exposition on Wednesday of that week, I heard Christ speak to me. What I mean is, I could actually hear a separate voice in my mind, very close to the interior voice that I hear when I’m thinking about things or talking to myself, but this voice was subtly and profoundly different. This voice was gentler, yet more confident; softer, yet clearer than anything else.  I was compelled to write every word He said, and I’d like to share it with you.

You have been resurrected. Live it out.

Protect your brothers.

You will be pierced in some way like Me. Embrace it.  

Learn to love your brothers so you can love everyone.

You will face persecution of a different kind when you return home. People may not abuse you physically, but you will be mocked, jeered at, and attacked with words. People will try to invade and destroy your heart and your mind and your soul’s eyes. Stand firm. Forget Me not, and I will remember you always in Heaven. You will offer yourself up to Me, and I will bless you. You have been called to love. I have called you to love. But, as you know, love requires, demands sacrifice. Be not afraid. As I provided the ram to Abraham, so will I provide for you. Keep Me close, for the way of the world is wicked, and I am not glorified. It is up to you to change that. All of you. In your words and in your deeds, others will come to know Me. Trust in Me. Through this, and prayer and devotion, fasting too, will I redeem the world. Because I refuse to do it without your help, the help of My children and My friends. Now go and live. Live for Me.

It is not for you to understand My mysteries, My son, but to believe them.

You will lay before Me one day, and I will help you look back on this, and you will smile at the journey, the adventure that I took you on. We will be together. Remain faithful, remain in Me, and we will be together. I want you in Heaven, where you become scarless, woundless, perfect, and pure. Thank you for your willingness to accept Me.

These are My Words, Words of Life. Hear Me and share.

I will continue to give you more. I will make you a saint if you follow Me. You on earth live My life now. It is your turn to participate in My mission of love and service and sacrifice. I will grant you strength. I will grant you rest. I will grant you everything you need when you are ready. I will make you ready. I will fill you with fire and power in My Name. Keep yourselves open for when I call you. If you love Me, you will live. If you serve me, you will live. If you listen to me, you will live. I, Who am Life, will provide for those who love Me, for thou who loves Me.

I share all of this not to put the spotlight on myself, but to demonstrate the Power that exists within Christ Jesus in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Jesus is here. The God of the Universe, the King of Heaven and Earth is right here! He resides in the beautiful tabernacle, waiting for us to draw near to Him, to love Him, to let Him love us. It doesn’t matter if He grants you incredible experiences or not. Simply being in His Presence is enough. He has the power to radically change you if you let Him. 

I hope you all come to love the Eucharist more than I do.