Body+Blood+Soul+Divinity

A National Eucharistic Congress Experience

“The Eucharist is God’s response to the deepest hunger of the human heart, the hunger for authentic life, for in the Eucharist Christ himself is truly in our midst, to nourish, console and sustain us on our journey.” – Pope Francis

Fifty-thousand people kneel on a stadium floor, music floats over the crowd, a melody of the Latin Tantum Ergo (Therefore So Great). The masses sing and pray, hands lifted to God. Jesus enters the stadium. The lights dim, a vast arena in darkness, only Jesus in the monstrance is illuminated. All is quiet except for the joyful noise of the song, translated here: “Types and shadows have their ending, for the New Rite is here; Faith, our outward sense befriending, makes the inward vision clear.” The 10th National Eucharistic Congress has been a long time coming.

The Congress was a massive heart-rending moment, at times overwhelming with the sheer amount of people, but an ultimately achingly beautiful time of worship, connectedness and a sliver of the glorious elation that heaven holds for those who know the Prince of Peace.

Remembering the beginning

Every Holy Thursday Mass one of the Last Supper scripture discourses are read about how the Eucharist was first instituted. A new covenant, testament and solemn oath is proclaimed. At the end of the Mass, churchgoers reverently follow the monstrance in silence around the church. Though I struggled to understand how the Eucharist could truly be Jesus’ flesh and blood, my heart was always moved on Holy Thursday. I felt the beautiful peace that unfolds by being in the company of our Divine Counselor, while the mystery of it baffled me.

At the Congress, theologians and Catholic apologists like Joe Heschmeyer and Father Mike Schmitz explained the many Old and New Testament parallels and foretelling of the Eucharistic Feast on earth. One of the most significant cases for the Holy Eucharist comes from the Gospel of John 6:51-56, when Jesus says:

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?”

(Jesus answered,) “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”

At this point in Jesus’ ministry, he preached and converted thousands of hearts; was proclaimed the Lamb of God; healed vast crowds; and, yet, after hearing the proclamation above, John writes in 6:60, “Then many of his disciples who were listening said, ‘This saying is hard; who can accept it?’” Jesus doubled down on his teaching of the Eucharist which caused some of the disciples to leave. 

Expounding

The Supper of the Lamb by Scott Hahn and Emily Stimpson Chapman, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper by Brant Pitre, and This is My Body by Bishop Robert Barron are just a few books that, together or on their own, offer a complete and comprehensive explanation on two thousand years’ worth of history and theology, the Catholic Church’s teaching on the Eucharist. 

 The Congress displayed Servant of God Carlo Acutis’ research on the 150 Church validated miracles; showing the Host and Chalice has at times turned into flesh and blood seen by the human eye. Many of the miracles were healings of the faithful sick who had a strong devotion to the Holy Eucharist. 

A Love Story

“The Eucharist is a foretaste of the full taste that will come in heaven. But it is a foretaste that will sustain you.” – Sr. Josephine Garrett

So what is the difference between Jesus’ everyday presence in the world and His real presence? Patrick Madrid, NEC Speaker, says the difference is like talking to someone over the phone versus talking with them in person. They can both be good experiences but there are times one wants to be in their actual presence. 

It is not just being in Jesus presence that is so special. Once we eat the Eucharist, our bodies metabolize the flesh and blood. Jesus truly becomes part of us. We become his hands and feet in the world. At the end of Mass the priest relays a going forth message. They are sending us to be Christ in the world after taking in the only nourishment that truly sustains us.

St. Teresa of Calcutta modeled the mission of the Eucharist by attending daily Mass and spending time in adoration. She charged all of the Missionaries of Charity in her care to do the same. She once explained, “Unless we believe and see Jesus in the appearance of bread on the altar, we will not be able to see him in the distressing disguise of the poor.”

To be Revived

“You have lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first.” – Revelation 2:4-5

The road back to love and revival starts with repentance. Harden not your hearts but surrender to God and the good plans God has for you. Fr. Mike Schmitz’s NEC message was one of sobering reality. Sin separates us from God. Going along with the Holy Spirit/Fire theme of the NEC, Fr. Mike asked the audience if they lost the fire of their first love, what are the fire extinguishers in their lives? How can they get back to their first love?

Gloria Purvis, NEC speaker, gently chided Congress attendees saying the Catholic Church needs to act as one body. Atonement can be made for all sins, even sins that we did not personally take part in. After all, Jesus died for everyone’s sin though He committed none Himself.

The body of Jesus is called to be revived. To reconcile with ourselves and others. To work together not fight against each other. And to love and serve one another. Only then can we truly be Christ to others. 

Walk with One

“We are entering into a new era of Eucharistic Mission…And why? So that we can more freely participate with Jesus in pouring ourselves out in self-sacrificial love.” – Sr. Alicia Torres

During the next year of the Eucharistic Revival, Bishop Cozzens is, “[Inviting] every person to walk with one person who is away from the faith or not of the faith and help them to take one step back to the Church.”

Why walk with one? If you have hope, a hope you have not had before or one you have lost. Why not share that with others who may be hopeless? The invitation to walk with one or become a Eucharistic Missionary is so that all people may become fully alive and revel in the amazing, beautiful, uplifting love that the Eucharistic Jesus has for them. That people may no longer live in fear, doubt or despair but in joy and hope that never ends. 

Monsignor James Shea shared that, “We will either feed on God or on something else. And whatever that something else is, it will always leave us hungry. Rush out into a starving world and tell everybody we meet, ‘Starving people, listen! We found where the food is!’”

A New Beginning

“Realize that as you gaze on Jesus in that moment, He is also gazing on you. He is giving Himself to you in love, just as you are seeking to give yourself to Him. Brothers and sisters, this is the “Eucharistic moment” that animates our daily Eucharistic mission!” – Sr. Alicia Torres

On Sunday, July 21st, the tenth National Eucharistic Congress was at an end. The speakers reminded the attendees throughout the morning that while the Congress was ending, the real work was just beginning. 

I left the Congress feeling exhausted, but in a beautiful way, at times hope-filled. And, yet, with Jesus to nourish me through every Eucharist, I will be sustained. And you can be too.

“May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen.” – The Divine Praises