Floating tabernacles
Did you know that the U.S. Department of Defense treats the Eucharist like a military secret? It’s true: if they cannot be secured by a priest-chaplain, consecrated hosts are kept with the sensitive materials in the ship or unit’s safe, along with things like battle plans and cryptographic codes. The safe is usually protected by armed sentries who, under many circumstances, can legally use deadly force to protect its valuable contents. That means when you see a Navy vessel with a Catholic chaplain, you’re watching a huge, floating tabernacle. St. John Chrysostom had a vision during Mass of angels standing guard over the Eucharist; I rather like the idea of an aircraft carrier protecting the Body and Blood of Christ.
The Defense Department doesn’t officially recognize the doctrine of transubstantiation, but it does respect the deepest beliefs of Catholic servicemen and makes proper accommodations. We should realize that collectively, we can have an effect on people even when they don’t share our beliefs. Surely when little pieces of (apparent) bread are treated with such reverence, it makes non-Catholics think about it for a moment.