What happens when a child interrupts Mass asking for a “patatilla” while his mother is taking communion? Fray Alfonso Dávila shares with us a scene as everyday as it is profound, where childish innocence becomes an opportunity to speak of the greatest mystery of our faith: the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
A little potato in the communion row
A few days ago, while I was distributing communion at the seven o’clock mass in my parish -Santa Rita, in Madrid- something very curious happened. A mother came with her son by the hand and they both approached to receive communion.
As he gave communion to the mother, the child exclaimed insistently:
-But what is he giving you? What is that? Mom, I want a potato chip too!
I took advantage of that moment. I bent down to put myself at his level and showed him the ciborium. I said:
-Look, these are not potatoes. This is the body of Christ. It is God, who comes to this little piece of bread and ceases to be bread to become his body, because he loves us so much… because he loves you so much.
The boy looked at me with wide eyes and answered:
-Ah, well, I want to.
I replied:
-You can’t eat it yet because you’re too small. But when you’re bigger, I’m sure you will be able to. And you’ll see that it’s the best food in the world.
–Okay,”he said,and left.
When children teach adults
At the end of the mass, the mother approached her with sorrow.
-I’m sorry for the mess my son made. I’m so ashamed that he interrupted the communion line. But I couldn’t leave him alone on the bench.
I replied with a smile:
-You have done wonderfully. You have come with your son to communion, and your son has already learned that you don’t receive little potatoes there, but something much more important. Although he is still too young to understand it, this is how you start. I’m sure this moment will generate more questions… and more desire.
Corpus Christi is not processions, it is you.
On the day of Corpus Christi, we need to remember that this is not just about monstrances, incense and medieval processions. It is about carrying Christ through the streets. It is about carrying Christ through the streets knowing that the procession is you.he procession is you.
You bring Christ to the world. You must tell the world that you have fed on Him. Thank God that you can take communion, and if you have small children, take them with you. Let them see, let them ask, let them desire. Then they will know that one day they too will be able to receive the best food in the world.
Friar Alfonso Dávila
Madrid, 2025