Coram Christo is a Latin phrase meaning "in the presence of Christ" [or "before Christ"].  Currently, most of the juniors here at Brute are doing what is called Coram Christo conferences.  Basically, you meet with the formation staff and talk with them about, you know, how your formation is going.  You are supposed to write yourself some notes on places where you are struggling, places where you are growing, and where you want to be when you graduate from Brute, so that you can talk about it.  (this isn't as scary as it sounds). 

Anyway, I was meditating on the phrase Coram Christo at Adoration tonight and it really struck me how important these two words need to be to us.

Coram Christo could be interpreted in the sense that after this life you will be judged.  When you or I die, our lives, and everything we did (or didn't do), will be placed before God and He will judge us.  We will have to give an account of what we did with the life God has given us, and if we didn't do anything for Him, if we just buried our talents in the ground, we are not going to get a good judgement - if you know what I mean.  On the other hand, if we sincerely tried to know, love, and serve God, guess what, He will reward us.  "Well done, good and faithful servant.  You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.  Enter into the joy of your master." (Matthew 25:21)

I have always liked the dude kneeling at the bottom of the rock...

And that leads me to the other way of interpreting "Coram Christo".  As Christians we are called to become Christ to those around us.  Priests obviously have this call greater than anyone else because they are acting in Persona Christi [in the person of Christ], but everybody, in a certain sense, is called to the love, sacrifice, prayer, etc. that Christ showed us during His life on earth.  Now, what is the quickest and easiest way to learn to become like Christ?  Spend time with Him.  Spend time in the presence of Christ.  Ask Him to fill you with His love - He met plenty of people that weren't all that lovable (The Pharisees plot to kill Him - Matthew 26:3).  Ask Him to give you the grace to resign yourself to the sacrifices in your life - he had to accept them too (Let this cup pass, but thy will be done - Matthew 26:39).  Ask Him to teach you how to pray - He was distracted too (the crowds follow Him around the lake when He's trying to get some peace and quiet - Matthew 14:13-14). 

So often we forget Jesus' admonition to "ask me anything in my name, I will do it."  (John 14:14)  Jesus wants us - begs us - to ask of Him the grace to become more like Him.  He yearns to enter our souls and dwell in us.  Jesus "humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:8)  God loves us so much, but He will never take away our freedom.  He wants to live in us and have us live in Him, but He can only beg, not force, us to love Him.  Read this slowly: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish by have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him." - (John 3:16-17)  God begs us to just ask Him for this grace.  He is waiting with an ocean of grace to give us.  He is waiting for us to open ourselves just the tiniest amount, to remove just the smallest bit of our attraction to sin and pleasure, so that He can fill our souls with Himselves.  Ask Him to do this.  Trust Him.  "And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you" - (Luke 11: 9)

Jesus instituted the Eucharist so that we can receive Him and become like Him.  "Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.  For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him." - (John 6:54-56)  But what does Jesus say right before this?  "For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life". - (John 6:40)  Please don't think that I am saying that receiving the Eucharist is unnecessary; I'm just pointing out the importance of adoring the Blessed Sacrament too.

Folks, the Eucharist is beyond superlatives.  Jesus humbled Himself not only to becoming a man, not only to obeying Pontius Pilot, not only to dying for sins He didn't commit; Jesus humbled Himself to be contained in a piece of bread.  When a man, Jesus always had at least a little bit of control over the situation - He could cry as a baby, work as a man, decide whether or not to respond to Pilot's questions, say "Behold your mother" on the cross, etc.  But transforming a piece of bread into Himself must be the greatest act of humility ever.  In the Eucharist, Jesus has no power.  He can be left in the tabernacle, adored in the Monstrance, dropped on the floor, consumed by irreverent, sinful, people; He surrenders Himself totally to us!  Jesus giving Himself in the Eucharist is, in that sense, a greater gift than Him dying on the cross (obviously they are intrinsically connected - you can't have one without the other, but still). 

Folks, where do you truly get Coram Christo - before Christ? - In front of the Blessed Sacrament.  It's that simple...  Since Lent is all about becoming closer to God, may I recommend spending a bit more time praying in front of Our Lord, and a bit less time in front of the tv, or computer, or whatever.  I'll be working on this too...  (Maybe ask Jesus for the grace to do this; it can't hurt.)

If you're wondering, I looked up those Bible verses on my kindle; I don't have the New Testament memorized... 

Adoration last night at Brute