A young man was attending Mass. When the time came for the consecration, he noticed that although the priest made the motions of raising the Host, the young man could see nothing in the priest’s fingers. Concerned, the young man tried to get closer to the altar, yet still he could not see the Host. At the next few Masses he attended, the same strange thing happened. No matter how near he got to the altar, the young man could never see the Host, not even during the consecration.

This unusual invisibility of the Host lasted not just for a few Masses, but for two whole years. At last, unable to bear the secret any longer and feeling that there must be a reason for it, the poor man sought out a sensible and logical priest and told him everything. While unburdening his soul, he confessed to the priest that he had a certain neighbor whom he hated, so much so that he refused to make amends with him.

Upon hearing this, the priest understood. He explained to the young man why the Host remained invisible to him at Mass. He was sinning against charity by refusing to forgive his neighbor. Charity is often described as "the Love of God." For this reason, the young man’s hatred was in direct denial of the love Jesus shows us by giving Himself to us at Mass. Our Lord wanted to show him how, even though physically present at Mass, he could not take part in the Sacrifice until he had forgiven his enemy.

After this advice, the young man repented. He pardoned his enemy, and promised to seek no further revenge. Making his peace with God in a good confession, he was once again able, like everyone else, to see the Sacred Host at Mass.