Seminarian profile: Cooper Thompson

Seminarian Cooper Thompson

Seminary, Class: Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary in Indianapolis, Sophomore

Home Parish: St. Philip Parish, Posey County

Birthday: March 13

The Eucharist is undoubtedly the most beautiful and valuable gift that Christ has given His church. After all, what would the Mass be without the Eucharist, except a glorified bible study or a mere Sunday get-together?

God loves us so dearly that He wants us to know He is still with us. And what better or more fitting way to achieve this than a direct demonstration of the passion everyday at Mass? "For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord, until He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26). The entire Mass is a re-presentation of the passion of our Christ in which not only do we metaphorically witness God’s love played out, but we can also directly and actually experience it if we have opened our hearts.

Some of the clearest moments in my faith journey were either from communion or in front of a tabernacle. When it felt like the world had me beat, there, the Lord was to reassure me that His hand had never left my shoulder. Whenever I felt that I was “so good,” there, too, was the Lord to teach me how utterly little I have to boast of, despite whatever leaps and bounds I thought I had made in my faith.

For me, the Eucharist is the surest sign of God’s love, which is also his direct and total presence.