Belief In The True Presence

 I Believe - What About You?

Today begins the three year National Eucharistic Revival sponsored by the American Catholic bishops to awaken Catholics to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.  Details of activities planned for the next three years beyond the inaugural march planned this afternoon from the Cathedral of St Andrews are still being formulated, and will be rolled out as the activity corresponds with the focus of the Revival.  We do know the first year (today until Jun 11, 2023) is focused on Diocesan activity.  The second year (June 11, 2023 until July 17, 2024) will focus on Parish activities of the Eucharistic Revival. Then there will be a National Eucharistic Congress from July 17 to July 24, 2024 in Indianapolis.  The Congress will be followed by a year of Mission activity (July 17, 2024 to Pentecost 2025).  This Mission activity is intimately bound up with the belief of Jesus’ True Presence in the Eucharist.  

A recent Pew Research Center study found that most observant Catholics - those who go to Mass one time or more per week, only 63% believe Jesus Christ is truly present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity under the appearance of bread and wine.  That means 37% of those we see at Mass every week believe that the Bread and Wine are only symbols.  That is a catastrophe.  

If you are one to the 37% let me ask you “What if you’re wrong?”  63% of us you see at Mass every week think you are.  There will come a time when you will to have to explain your position to the One who made you.  Think about that!  The Eucharistic Revival beginning today is designed to help you.  You don’t have to jump in with both feet - you have three years, so you can begin slowly.

The Church teaches one of the best ways to grow in intimacy with the Lord Jesus on this side of heaven is through the Eucharist.  In addition to the Mass and Communion we also have Eucharistic Adoration.  All you have to do is show up … just go and give God the opportunity to change your heart.  You don’t have to go with an agenda … go and sit quietly in His presence and He will do the work.  I promise you that when you leave the Adoration Chapel you will feel a change in attitude - be it ever so slight.  Repetition increases intimacy.

Christ’s Presence In The Eucharist

Saint Pope John II in his encyclical letter, Ecclesia de Eucharist, draws our attention to the fact that, “in the Eucharist we have Jesus, we have his redemptive sacrifice, we have his resurrection, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit, we have adoration, obedience and love of the Father.”  All of this Jesus gives us if we only meet him in the Adoration Chapel, and sit quietly in his Presence surrendering to his action within our heart and soul. 

A Fruitful Presence

 A Fruitful Presence

Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist is there as an invitation to a sharing of lives.  We can spend each and every day in the company of someone, living every moment of our lives together, and yet never really grow any closer to each other.  Growing in closeness demands real openness to the other person’s presence, allowing that person ever deeper into our life.  The Lord’s presence in the Eucharist calls for such a response on our part, welcoming him and accepting him with an open heart and living faith so that his presence can be truly fruitful in us.

Accept God’s invitation to grow closer by spending an hour a week in the Chapel with him.