The Renewal of our Eucharistic Faith

 The Good: This past month, more than 50,000 American Catholics gathered in Indianapolis for the first national Eucharistic Congress since the 1940’s.  50,000 of our Catholic brothers and sisters traveled to Indiana to worship Jesus truly present in the Eucharist and to celebrate that the Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Catholic Faith”.  Jesus gave us the Eucharist because He desires that we become more and more “one body in Christ,” a people united across the world and across time because of our faith in Him and in His Church.  Holy Communion in the Catholic Church is a very big deal!  The “Real Presence” of Christ in the Eucharist is a fundamental point of Faith, without which one is not a Catholic.

 The Bad: Sadly, last week Christians across the world (not just Catholic Christians) were angered by the kitsch tableau in the opening ceremony of the Olympics that appeared to parody Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" painting.   The deeply offensive portrayal of the Last Supper by drag performers drew criticism from Christians worldwide and by many of our U.S. bishops.  It was especially offensive here in the U.S. coming immediately after our Eucharistic Congress, which boosted the faith of so many Catholics in the power of the Holy Mass and the Real Presence in the Eucharist.   Bp. Robert Barron said rightly that it was demonically orchestrated. 

 The Response: Jesus gave us Himself in the Holy Eucharist so that we would become like Him.  Jesus always prayed for and forgave his enemies, even as they were nailing him to a cross.  The great miracle of Christianity is how God brings good from evil, again and again, if we are willing to do our part.  I do not know any of the people who acted so disrespectfully of Christianity, but I do forgive them, and I am praying for them.  

 This coming Wednesday, at 5:00 p.m. (before the 6:00 p.m. Wednesday night Mass), I will lead a Eucharistic Holy Hour in the Church with Adoration and Benediction.  I would like to invite you to join me in praying for the evangelization and conversion of all God’s children in the world.  Let’s offer ourselves to God to bring good from bad, and to renew our own Faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.  

 In imitation of our Master, we pray “Father forgive them.   They know not what they do.”

 Fr. Brett Brannen