I need to take a little break from parenting-related posts because I feel moved to write a few words about the recent Eucharistic Congress that our neighbours down south had last month. I have been watching some of the things that have come out of the event, but haven’t yet gotten through all of it (five days is a lot! Also, mom life, IYKYK).I am so grateful that these resources are available online, though. So far, I have particularly been touched by Jonathan Roumie’s character reading of John 6 and Fr Mike (God bless them both!). One thing Fr Mike said really hit me: the point of the Mass is not that Christ becomes present in the Eucharist. That’s great, but it only facilitates the point of the Mass, which is the re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross to the Father, to the benefit of God’s glory, at the elevation of the bread and wine, which are in substance the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Himself.
But overall, just wow. Wow, wow, wow. What an incredible movement. I was moved to tears watching and listening to some of the scenes. What powerful images of the Corpus Christi style procession! The tens of thousands of Catholics honouring and adoring our Lord in the Eucharist through public streets was a testament to their faith. I just thought, how easy it would be for someone who would attack God’s children to do so at such a large gathering of the faithful. And how many people went anyway, ready to become martyrs if the unthinkable should happen, putting their love of Jesus before the love of their own life. I would hope to be counted among such Christians!
The Eucharist is really special to me. It’s one of the biggest reasons, if not the biggest reason, why I stay Catholic. I loved adoration from the moment I discovered it, and always found it to be such a peaceful way to have a heart-to-heart with Jesus. I love receiving Him in the Eucharist, knowing that He desires to be so intimately close to me as to make a home within me. I sometimes feel bad knowing that He waits for me in the tabernacle, and I am too busy to spend time with Him – but I have sat outside a locked church, talking to our Lord because I knew he was inside, as He promised. “I am with you always,” He said, “to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20).
I read recently that there has been a resurgence of people being accepted into the Catholic Church in America, and I can’t help but wonder what effect this Eucharistic revival has impacted those numbers- this is, after all, the 10th annual Eucharistic congress. The outpouring of Love from the Eucharist has to flow into people’s hearts and then overflow into their lives, touching all the people around them, drawing them to Christ. How wonderful that the Lord continues to meet us here and today, and work in our hearts to draw people to Himself.
As I struggle with questions of how to bring life to the Church locally, maybe I should take a leaf from their book. Jesus did say, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6), and “I am the bread of life… unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (Jn 6:35, 53). And, after all, the Eucharist is the source and summit of our Faith. For now, I think I’ll have to wait, and listen to the Spirit, and maybe spend some more time in Eucharistic adoration…
Tell me about your own experience with the Eucharist; what you love about it, if you struggle with it (I know I did for one or two years!), anything at all! If you attended the Eucharistic Congress, I would be beyond happy to hear your thoughts! Which speakers really moved you, and what was it about what they said? What was your biggest takeaway from the conference? Did you have a particularly moving moment while spending time with our Lord? Let’s fill the comments with our love for Jesus!
Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!
Mom Things Through Christ 