I joyously encourage everyone in our diocese to register and participate in our first Diocesan Eucharistic Congress, which will be at St. John the Baptist Parish in Waunakee, beginning on Friday night, Sept. 29, and ending on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 1.
“Congress” may seem an odd word for such a gathering, but there have been many international and national Eucharistic Congresses throughout the Church, down through the years.
These events are sacred opportunities to grow deeper in our understanding, belief, and devotion to the Lord in the Eucharist.
Our congress will feature Mass every day, Adoration throughout the weekend, dynamic speakers who will be reflecting on the meaning and mystery of the Eucharist, breakout sessions on different spiritual topics, and opportunities for prayer, Confession, and spiritual counseling.
I pray the Holy Spirit will pour forth a fullness of fire and grace to illuminate our hearts and minds, as we seek to go ever deeper into the Sacred Heart of the Lord Jesus, the fullness of the Eucharist as our participation in the Paschal Mystery, and the abiding Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
The Eucharist and the truth
I was struck by a comment that a new convert to the Catholic faith made to me after the Neophyte Mass this spring.
When he was learning about the Catholic belief in the Eucharist, which he found absolutely extraordinary, he wondered if the doctrine of the Real Presence could actually be true because he looked at Catholics around him at Mass and many did not seem to be especially amazed, reverent, or joyful at their celebration and reception of the Eucharist.
I have reflected on that comment often since, for it has led me to ponder how we do participate at Mass and receive our Lord. In light of that thought, here are some questions you may find helpful, as you prepare for the Eucharistic Congress and for Mass each Sunday.
Ready for the Lord?
Life is extraordinarily busy, but can we take a little time before Sunday Mass to go over the Scripture Readings of the day, and ponder what gift of prayer, work, sacrifice, and blessing we will bring to the altar this Sunday as our offering to God?
If we were going to a job interview, attending a wedding, or meeting the pope, we would dress our best.
When we go to Mass, we are meeting the King of Heaven. One way to show respect and reverence to the Lord is proper attire.
A wonderful childhood memory is my five brothers and I taking baths on Saturday nights, polishing our shoes and leaving them to dry on the basement steps, and getting dressed up for Mass in the morning, complete with clip-on ties!
Do I sing and verbally make the responses at Mass? When I look out at the congregation on Sunday morning, I see many people not singing, not making the responses, not even saying the words of the “Our Father” or the Nicene Creed.
We may feel that our singing is not the best, or that it does not matter if I pray the words of the Mass out loud, but the responses of the assembly at Mass are important and an integral part of the celebration.
Praying out loud can increase our faith and be a witness to others.
Am I praying the Mass internally all the way through it? Distractions are plentiful and our minds and attention easily wander, especially if we have little ones, but do I do my best to attend to what is happening at the Eucharist, what is being said, the profound meaning behind the words and the gestures? Would I be able to remember what the readings and homily were about when I am walking out the door of church?
How do I receive Holy Communion? Many people would say that receiving our Lord in the posture of kneeling and on the tongue helps them both revere the Eucharistic Mystery better and manifests the extraordinary gift that we are receiving.
That is certainly true, but whether we kneel or stand, receive on the tongue or in the hand, are we doing so reverently and mindfully, fully aware that the Lord is entering into our very being through the wonder of the Eucharist?
When we return to the pew, do we spend those precious minutes in intense personal prayer with the Lord, thanking Him for the gift of this Holy Communion, speaking to Him of our love and devotion, quietly communing with Him in the awesome wonder of this moment?
All of these actions are simple and easily done. How we prepare, pray, stay attentive, position our bodies and hearts, and focus at Mass is essential to prevent the most important activity of the week from simply becoming a routine to get through and get out.
How can you and I be more spiritually prepared, prayerfully attuned, and outwardly reverent in a natural and joyful way at Mass, so that if someone were to observe us, they would affirm that we truly and fully believe in the glorious wonder of the Eucharist?
The Lord has given us the most wonderful gift possible: The full offering of Himself!
We stand ready to receive Him with wonder, praise, joy, and thanksgiving.