The Stations of the Eucharist
ISBN 9781635826357
eISBN 9781635826395
ASIN B0H42LBMBF
This volume came highly recommended from Matthew Kelly, I have yet to read anything he has recommended that has not been great, and this one keeps that streak alive. I also have a deep devotion to the Stations of the Cross, in fact I have read, prayed through and reviewed over 60 Way of The Cross books and booklets. In fact I was excited about this volume from the first time I saw the cover, without even knowing anything about it.
The description of this volume states:
“You have a place in the greatest love story of all time. Are you ready to discover it?
You were made for communion.
You were made for love.
You were made for more.
In The Stations of the Eucharist, Fr. Jonathan Meyer leads you on a transformative journey through fourteen stations from Scripture that unveil the beauty, power, and intimacy of the Eucharist. From Genesis to Revelation, you will discover a God who has been patiently and passionately revealing His heart to humanity—and to you.
Inspired by the timeless practice of Stations of the Cross, this revolutionary new devotion will bring the Scriptures to life, immerse you in the story of salvation history, and invite you to consider the sacrifice of Jesus Christ like never before. It will open your eyes to amazing spiritual insights. It will also reshape the way you see your entire life.
Through these pages, you will begin to understand:
How deeply personal and purposeful God's plan has always been
Why most people miss the truth about the Mass . . . and how it changes everything
How Scripture, history, and your own story are woven together
What it means to live every day aware that you are loved beyond measure
For more than two decades, Fr. Jonathan Meyer has preached, taught, and traveled tirelessly to help people rediscover the beauty and reality of the Eucharist. As a priest, pastor, and national Eucharistic preacher, he has witnessed firsthand how a deeper understanding of the Blessed Sacrament transforms hearts. In a time when so many are confused about what the Eucharist truly is, this new devotion arrives at the perfect moment—an invitation for the Church to awaken again to the power, intimacy, and life-changing reality of Jesus present among us.
As you journey through these Stations, something wonderful will happen. You will come to know the vastness of God's love for you. You will feel that love deep in your bones. You will become convinced that God is still writing the greatest love story of all time—and you are part of it.”
The chapters in this volume are:
Introduction: Something People Miss
The First Station: The Sacrifice of Abel
The Second Station: The Offering of Melchizedek
The Third Station: The Sacrifice of Abraham
The Fourth Station: The Jewish Passover
The Fifth Station: The Manna from Heaven
The Sixth Station: The Ark of the Covenant
The Seventh Station: Bethlehem: House of Bread
The Eighth Station: John the Baptist Points to the Lamb of God
The Ninth Station: The Wedding Feast at Cana
The Tenth Station: The Multiplication of the Loaves
The Eleventh Station: The Bread of Life Discourse
The Twelfth Station: The Last Supper
The Thirteenth Station: The Road to Emmaus
The Fourteenth Station: The Wedding Feast of the Lamb
Conclusion: The Greatest Love Story of All Time
One Final Invitation
Sources
Each station contains the following sections:
A Scripture passage that grounds each station (please don’t skip this part; this journey needs to be rooted in God’s word to be effective).
A reflection on the significance of the station.
A short lesson to summarize the main takeaway.
A virtue that flows from the station to facilitate your spiritual growth.
An action step you are invited to apply to your life—if you feel called by the Holy Spirit.
A prayer that asks God to help us appreciate and live out the mystery of the Eucharist.
I highlighted a fair bit while reading this book the first time, some of those highlights are:
““The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white Host.”—Archbishop Fulton Sheen”
“I’ve spoken to thousands of people across the country as a national Eucharistic preacher, and here are the top reasons people say they go to Mass: for community and fraternity; to hear the Word of God proclaimed; to hear a (hopefully good) homily or sermon; to listen to (hopefully good) music; and those who are really pious say they go to receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.”
“The Mass is the re-presentation of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the Cross on Calvary. That’s what the Mass is, and out of this reality everything else flows.”
“Mass. The Mass is the re-presentation of Calvary. Nearly all Catholics miss this truth. The shocking statistic that sparked the United States bishops to call for a three-year Eucharistic Revival was that a Pew Research Study revealed that 70 percent of American Catholics don’t believe in the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. But it’s been my observation that, most likely, 90 percent of Catholics don’t know that the Mass is the re-presentation of Calvary.”
“One traditional name for the liturgy we rarely use is The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Perhaps we should bring it back into style so we no longer gloss over the truth. The Mass is the eternal sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, for your sins and mine. It is the sacrifice that saves the whole world. That’s what the Mass is. It’s time to open our eyes to this extraordinary reality.”
“But that’s not all. You are invited to unite yourself to Jesus’ sacrifice: your hopes and dreams, your prayers, your sufferings, your gratitude, your entire heart.”
“What happens when you separate body and blood? Death. In this separation, Jesus’ death becomes present to us. Then, as the Church chants, “Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,” the priest breaks the Host and places a portion into the chalice. This is called the Commingling. Jesus’ Body and Blood are reunited. Resurrection becomes present. It’s mind-blowing once you learn to see it.”
“This is why the Mass is sacrifice, presence, and communion. These realities do not contradict each other—they complete each other.”
“Over the years, as my faith matured and I was blessed to go on pilgrimages, I became fascinated by the diversity of how the Stations were portrayed—through statues, mosaics, icons, live dramas, and even performances by students. The Stations are biblical, artistic, poetic, and physical—you stand, you gesture, you sing—and they immerse you fully into Jesus’ Passion.”
“When I became a priest, I frequently went on retreat at the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama. It is one of my favorite places to pray! There, the sisters had created twelve Stations of the Eucharist—simple outdoor meditations inviting people to reflect on Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Their devotion and creativity inspired me. Then, as the National Eucharistic Revival began, I felt a calling to adapt and expand on their work.”
“The intention of this larger book is to provide thorough context and in-depth reflection on each of the fourteen Stations of the Eucharist. It aims to reveal just a fraction of the incredible mystery of the Eucharist throughout Scripture and the majesty of God’s providential plan. You can read it all in one sitting or take it one paragraph at a time. Be creative and open to the Spirit as you read through it.”
“My recommendation is to read one station per day for fourteen days. Take time for reflection and prayer and give each station the space it deserves to shape your understanding and devotion. By moving deliberately through the Stations, you will begin to notice patterns, themes, and connections with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass—and your daily life—that you might otherwise miss.”
“This book is meant to help you celebrate and participate in the Mass in a transformative way. It invites you to enter into Jesus’ sacrifice, to unite your own life and struggles with His, and to experience the resurrection that His sacrifice makes possible. My prayer is that as you walk through the fourteen Stations, you will be awestruck by God’s love, embrace the reality of His presence, and experience the joy of living fully in His grace.”
“Was it because your mother was actually wrong your whole childhood and God actually doesn’t want us to eat vegetables? No. It was because Abel’s sacrifice of the lamb was a prefigurement of the only sacrifice God will accept for the salvation of mankind, and that is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.”
“This is where the Eucharist finds some of its deepest roots. The first acceptable human offering was a lamb; the last and perfect offering is the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Abel’s lamb points forward to the ultimate sacrifice: Jesus who laid down His life for us.”
“The beauty of Abel’s sacrifice is in its purity and intention. It is not merely about what is offered but how it is offered. He offers his very best Lamb. He is sincere. He holds nothing back from God. What about you and me? Are we offering out of obligation, or are we offering from a heart surrendered to God?”
“What will I offer today? Will I offer my life, my heart, my very being, to the Lamb of God who gives Himself for me?”
“When the priest says, “Pray brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours . . .” be ready with what you are offering!”
“Scripture tells us he has no ancestry, no beginning, no end. He is a priest who offers not animals, but a sacrifice of bread and wine. And he bears a royal title: King of Peace.”
“And that is the point. Melchizedek is the Old Testament’s first glimpse of a new priesthood, one not rooted in heredity, but rooted in God’s eternal plan.”
“And that is why the New Testament insists that Jesus is “a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 7: 17). Jesus doesn’t inherit priesthood; He embodies it. He inaugurates a new order—a priesthood not of genealogy, but of divine calling, holiness, and sacrifice.”
“So let this station reframe your approach to Mass and to life. Ask yourself: How often do I merely spectate at Mass? How is Jesus inviting me to be a more active participant in the Eucharistic sacrifice by offering my prayers, sacrifices, petitions, and offerings?”
“We deserve to die for our sins, but Jesus goes in our place. He is our replacement sacrifice. This truth should overwhelm us with gratitude. And just like Abraham, we should begin looking deeply within to try to find a worthy sacrifice to give to God in thanksgiving for sparing us.”
“Make a list of things you are grateful for today. Be specific. Don’t just write: I am thankful for my family. Write: I am thankful for my sister who calls me every day, for my husband who cares for me in my illness, for my grandchild who makes me homemade cards. A gratitude journal can change your life.”
“Just as the Passover meal was a life-saving ritual for the Jews, the Eucharist is a life-saving ritual for us. God gave specific direction about how the Passover meal was to be prepared and eaten. Jesus intentionally chooses the time of the Passover celebration to institute the new Pasch, the new Paschal meal, the sacrificial banquet of the Holy Eucharist.”
“The Passover was their food for the journey. And in the same way, the Eucharist is your food for your journey of life. It’s the food that sustains you, nourishes you, comforts you, and helps you thrive. You may have heard of the word viaticum. This is the Latin word used for someone’s last reception of Holy Communion. It means “provisions for the journey.””
“This story of manna touches my heart deeply because it echoes a gift we have today—daily Mass. When Jesus taught us to pray this line of the Our Father, “Give us this day our daily bread,” He meant something deeper than we typically think. The phrase “daily bread” isn’t just about ordinary food. In the original language, it means “supersubstantial bread,” a direct reference to the Eucharist, the true bread from heaven.”
“How often did the Israelites eat manna? Daily. How often does Jesus come to us in the Eucharist? Daily. Even on Good Friday, when Mass is not celebrated, we make Holy Communion available. The Fifth Station reminds us of this daily gift—the opportunity to partake in daily Mass.”
“What about those who can’t attend daily Mass? We were reminded during the COVID-19 pandemic that spiritual communion is real and powerful. Mass streamed online, prayers on Catholic radio, a daily spiritual communion prayer—these are ways to stay united to the Church’s daily offering even when physically absent. Even if you can’t attend, you can still unite your prayers, your silence, your meditations to the Mass being offered around the world.”
“For Catholics, this truth is more amazingly real than ever. Jesus is present in the Eucharist—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity—in every tabernacle of every Catholic church in the world. The Church has always recognized the tabernacle as the fulfillment of the Ark of the Covenant.”
“We are not called merely to believe in God’s presence but to answer it with our own. This is crucial during Mass, but also in the quiet, solitary hours of Adoration. There, we can “waste time” with Jesus. There is something incredibly powerful about sitting silently in the glow of the One who sees us, loves us, and delights in our presence even more than we delight in His.”
“This is why the early Church Fathers called Christmas the “Eucharistic Feast.” This is why we can boldly say: Every Mass is a little Christmas. And it is why the hymn of the Christmas angels, the Gloria, is sung at every Sunday Mass, Feast, and Solemnity.”
“We live in an age that mirrors this dynamic. Information floods our lives. Insights, facts, and commentary swirl endlessly. But wisdom—lived truth—is scarce. The Magi remind us that faith is not a matter of knowing everything. It is a matter of responding to what we do know. God delights in hearts that act.”
“God’s providence is amazingly precise, weaving every detail of history toward our salvation—Bethlehem, the manger, the shepherds, and the Magi all reveal His plan to save us through the Eucharist. We are called to respond to God’s providence with trust, surrender, and joy as we come to the Eucharistic feast to be transformed.”
“Spiritual Awareness: The virtue of spiritual awareness is marked by a sensitivity to the presence and movements of God. Our spiritual senses have been dulled and drowned out by the chaos of our lives. A regular routine of prayer, reading Scripture, going to Adoration, and time for silence are all critical to developing your spiritual awareness. Practicing spiritual awareness helps to awaken and sharpen our spiritual senses so we can recognize God in every moment.”
“Here at the Ninth Station, we discover another powerful truth about Mary: As the Mother of God, she is another avenue through which Jesus works His miracles. She is someone who cares about our needs, notices our problems, and advocates for us to God Himself. It was Mary who noticed the lack of wine and prompted Jesus’ miracle. Mary has a unique relationship with Jesus—she is closer to Him than anyone else. You can always go to her with anything you need, and she will bring it to her Son. It’s always good to have our Mother advocating for you.”
“So, the next time you attend Mass, bring your life to Jesus and place it on the altar with the paten and chalice, unite it to the bread and wine. Invite Mary to pray for you and with you. Offer your ordinary struggles and watch how Jesus can transform them into the wine of new hope, joy, and abundant life. Because Jesus does miracles—and He can work one in you.”
“So let’s pray. Let’s pray for the grace to have our minds transformed, our lives transformed, by the power and the glory of the Mass. And let us pray that the graces and power of the Mass will prepare us to celebrate with joy the moment when we are united with Jesus forever at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.”
“The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white Host. May our eyes be opened to see it. May our hearts be ready to believe it.””
I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. Each station is about three pages of text. At a couple of points in the volume it mentions a companion volume, The Stations of the Eucharist Prayers and Reflections, but is not available digitally or through mainline booksellers at this point. I hope that will change as with my dual form of dyslexia I greatly prefer eBooks so I can change the font and colour of the font and page to make reading easier.
This was an amazing volume to work through. I was really blessed. The author recommends doing a Station a day; I already plan on rereading this book using that method. This is one of those books that every Catholic would benefit from reading and as such I can easily recommend it.
Pick this volume up, you will be challenged, encouraged, and inspired. A great read for any Catholic!
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!
Books by Fr. Jonathan Meyer:
The Stations of the Eucharist Prayers and Reflections
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