United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

17 THE EUCHARIST:

SOURCE AND SUMMIT OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

THE HOLY EUCHARIST COMPLETES CHRISTIAN INITIATION —CCC, NOS. 1322-1419

AN APOSTLE OF THE EUCHARIST

In 1946, a bright young man named Carlos Manuel Rodriguez enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico. But despite excellent grades and his love of learning, he fell ill with ulcerated colitis, which prevented him from completing his second year. Nevertheless, he contin ued to study on his own. He read widely in science, philosophy, arts, and religion. He learned to play the organ for the sacred music that he was enthusiasti cally promoting. Born in 1918 to parents who valued education,

he showed signs of great intelligence early on. When a fire destroyed the family store and home, his family moved in with Carlos’ maternal grand parents. His grandmother, Alejandrina Esteras, imparted her devout faith in the Eucharist to Carlos. Under her influence, he began his devotion to the liturgy and decided to commit his life to Jesus Christ. Though he was unable to finish his university education, he expe rienced a call to do whatever he could to help the university students respond to God’s call to holiness through the liturgy. Carlos became an unofficial campus minister. He wanted to open up the riches of the Mass to them, to show them how to participate actively in the Eucharistic cele bration. He urged them to build their spirituality from the wealth of God’s grace given in the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist. Carlos obtained a job as an office worker at the University Agriculture Experiment station. He spent his salary to promote an appreciation of the