LEtter from the Pastor
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July 20, 2024After almost three years of planning and scores of local Eucharistic conferences, holy hours, processions and other related events, the U.S. Catholic bishops' plan to revitalize the church in the United States reached its climactic point last week in Indianapolis’ Eucharistic Congress. It was the culminating moment in our Church’s three-year revival to inspire people to deepen their faith in the Eucharist. The Congress comes after years of falling Mass attendance and polls showing declining faith among American Catholics in the Real Presence of our Lord in the sacrament.
A Eucharistic Congress(=coming together) is a gathering of laity, priests, deacons and bishops to bear witness to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament; it can be held on a national or an international level.It was a five-day (July 17-21) congress with Masses, liturgies, Eucharistic adoration, confession, and sessions aimed at fostering a deeper spiritual renewal in the Eucharist. This was the first National Eucharistic Congress held in our country since 1941 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
In 2022, the U.S. bishops launched the multi-year National Eucharistic Revival in response to concerns about the weakening belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist among American Catholics. The goal of the revival has been to “renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.”
The event was the climax of four Eucharistic pilgrimages that came from the four corners of the United States over the past two months, carrying the Blessed Sacrament along the way. More than 100,000 people participated, originating in California, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Texas, and traveling a combined total of 6,500 miles.
A recent survey shows that among those Catholics who “seldom” attend Mass, only 51% expressed belief in the Real Presence. By contrast, 81% of Catholics who attend weekly and 92% who attend more than weekly said they believe. Even among Catholics who only attend a few times a year, nearly two-thirds said they believe in the Real Presence.
Even if 100% of Catholics attended Mass and believed in the Real Presence, a National Eucharistic Congress would always have been necessary. We, as a Church, need to worship God in the Blessed Sacrament more often. We need to give our Lord more and more thanksgiving for this inestimable gift. Our Lord wants to be with us, to walk with us and share His life with us. How good is God for giving us His Son even to this day.
The following prayer should be prayed after receiving Holy Communion; we all should memorize it.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.Body of Christ, save me.Blood of Christ, inebriate me.Water from the side of Christ, wash me.Passion of Christ, strengthen me.O good Jesus, hear me.Within Thy Wounds hide me.Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.From the malignant enemy, defend me.In the hour of my death, call me,And bid me to come to Thee.That with Thy saints, I may praise Thee.Forever and ever.Amen.