“The more lively the Eucharistic faith of the People of God, the deeper is its sharing in ecclesial life in steadfast commitment to the mission entrusted by Christ to his disciples,” said Pope Benedict XVI in his post-synodal apostolic exhortation Sacramentum Cartitatis.
A Eucharistic revival is needed, being asked for, and is happening. The intended goal is to revive the Church by strengthening and awakening a living relationship with the person of Jesus Christ present in the Most Holy Eucharist.
It is in the Eucharist that we encounter the love of Jesus Christ who gave his life for our sins on the Cross and feeds us with his own body and blood so that we may become that which we receive.
The world is revivified by its creator when His creatures individually encounter His living and abiding love in the Eucharist.
This growing love of the Lord in the hearts of each believer makes for a richer life of the Church enflamed to bring this love to those that are in most need of it.
It is a small flame that sets the whole world on fire with the life-changing love of Jesus Christ.
Two-year effort
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has begun a two-year Eucharistic revival effort which will culminate with a National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis on July 17-24, 2024.
The USCCB is asking dioceses and parishes to participate in this revival leading up to the congress.
This will be the first national Eucharistic Congress in almost 50 years, with an estimated 100,000 people expected to attend.
Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston, Minn., has been asked to lead the Eucharistic revival. He hopes that by an encounter with the love of Jesus Christ people are healed, converted, formed, unified, and then sent out on mission.
You can find more information about the National Eucharistic Revival, watch a video of Bishop Cozzens, and sign up for the regular e-newsletter from the Eucharistic Revival at www.eucharisticrevival.org
Aspect of Go Make Disciples
The revival of Eucharistic faith is a key aspect of the diocesan initiative Go Make Disciples that began almost two years ago.
Consider the four holy habits: Reclaiming Sunday as the Lord’s Day; committing to 15 minutes of prayer each day; monthly Confession; and embracing some form of mortification, or self-denial, and penance on Fridays.
Participating in Sunday Mass — from the Latin missa meaning sent — strengthens the faithful through sacred scripture and the Eucharist to be sent into the world.
Prayer, especially in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, is the way to obtain and deepen a living, loving relationship with the Lord.
Receiving God’s loving mercy and absolution of sin in the Sacrament of Confession heals and allows one to more worthily receive the Eucharist in a state of grace.
Acts of penance and mortification on Fridays convert us to Jesus Christ and away from our own desires.
Parishes throughout the year of 2022 through the fall of 2023 and beyond will be encouraged to give the faithful the opportunity to be renewed in Eucharistic faith in preparation for our own Diocesan Eucharistic Congress from September 29 to October 1, 2023, at St. John the Baptist Parish in Waunakee.
The Diocese of Madison will offer more information, resources, and opportunities to aid individuals, groups, and parishes in the coming months.