MARY, OUR MOTHER

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #286

And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying: "This is a desert place, and the hour is now passed: send away the multitudes, that going into the towns, they may buy themselves victuals." But Jesus said to them, "They have no need to go: give you them to eat." They answered him: "We have not here, but five loaves, and two fishes." Who said to them: "Bring them hither to me." And when he had commanded the multitude to sit down upon the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up what remained, twelve full baskets of fragments. (Matt. 14:15-20)

THE OBJECT OF THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES: Besides the common object of all our Lord's miracles, viz. the increase of men's faith in Him, this miracle had one special object, viz. to foreshadow, and to prepare men's hearts for the marvelous Food which He gives us in the most holy Sacrament of the altar--the gift which He promised on the following day. Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist feeds the souls of the faithful with the most precious bread from heaven, multiplying His own Body, and distributing It by the hands of His priests. And with this heavenly Food all are satisfied, for it appeases our spiritual hunger by uniting us to our Lord Jesus, the author of all grace.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)