July 31, 2024

By Father William Muench
NCC columnist

Recently, my attention was on the Tenth National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. The congress was the opportunity for all of us, Catholics, to reaffirm our belief and our love for the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. The Blessed Eucharist is the heart and center of our faith as Catholics. Each time we participate in the Holy Mass, our faith is renewed and strengthened as Catholics.

You and I believe in the real presence of our Lord Jesus in the Blessed Eucharist. This is so important for us as Catholics. We believe that Jesus is truly present body and blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist. This Eucharistic Congress is a celebration of our faith in the Eucharist, and we believe that the Lord Jesus is truly present in all of our Catholic Churches through the consecrated Blessed Eucharist reserved in the tabernacles.

The representative of Pope Francis to our Eucharistic Congress was Cardinal Luis Tagle. I found the time to listen to his wonderful homily at the closing Mass of the congress through YouTube. I am familiar with Cardinal Tagle; many of his talks are also on YouTube. I find him to be a very powerful preacher.

In this homily at the congress, he begins by describing the Blessed Eucharist as a magnificent gift from God – a gift to us all. Jesus came to our world to live with us, to die for us, to rise from the dead. This was God’s gift to us all. Jesus continues to be present among us for all time through the Holy Eucharist. This is God’s gift to us all. Each time we, Catholics, gather to participate at the celebration of Mass, we celebrate the Lord’s presence with us – again, God’s gift for us.

Cardinal Tagle then challenged us all to become missionaries by taking God’s love to our world as we are now empowered by this Blessed Sacrament. May our faith and way of life lead others to God’s love. May we lead others by our kindness and our concern touch others. Cardinal Tagle told us that Pope Francis’ message to the Church of the United States is to be renewed through our conversion to the Holy Eucharist. We are a transformed people and always prepared to live as disciples of the Lord.

The message of the Eucharistic Congress is a challenge that all of us go into our world – bringing God’s love and peace – having been made disciples of the Lord through the Holy Eucharist. The Lord is present with us and walks with us in all that we do. We will know what to say, what to do. This closeness of the Eucharistic Lord gives us a new spirit, a more powerful faith. Each Mass ends with the challenge – “Go. Do something. Make the world a better place.”

As a priest and a pastor, I have learned the importance of the Holy Mass in the life of a Catholic parish. Each time you and I celebrate Mass with the people of our parish, we are changed. After each Mass, we all, priest and people, go out as new and different people. Yes, every time we participate in a Mass, you must be new and transformed. You have spent time with the Lord. You have received the Blessed Eucharist in Holy Communion. You are well prepared to live better. You are prepared to transform your world. Jesus is with you in a unique and wonderful way. Each parish will be more alive. Let us thank God for the gift of the Blessed Eucharist.