National Eucharistic Congress: Unpacking the Graces

Wednesday night was night one of the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.  50,000 Catholics were gathered together in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.  A brief video was played, ending with the words, “And He is Here.”  And in that moment Jesus in the Eucharist was processed in from the corner of the stadium by Bishop Cozzens.  50,000 Catholics got on their knees to honor and adore Jesus.  During this time of prayer, there were periods of silence where a stadium full of people was completely quiet and focused on Jesus.  There were other periods of music that helped to draw us deeper into the experience.  We were led in a deep and beautiful prayer by Bishop Cozzens.  At the end of benediction, 50,000 Catholics joined together in singing “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.”  As we sang, I was struck by the beauty of thousands of people worshiping and praising God in this way and I thought, wow, there is a stadium full of people doing what we were made to do.  It was one of the most beautiful and amazing experiences I have ever had.

This first night at the opening session was just the beginning of an amazing, powerful, and moving week.  To gather thousands of Catholics together to focus on Jesus’ real presence in the eucharist was unlike anything I have ever been a part of.  We know that the eucharist is the source and summit of our faith, but so often our Church doesn’t live like it.  This much-needed revival brought together members of the Body of Christ in a way that hasn’t been seen in years.  And I think it will bear great fruit in our churches and in our country that will change people.
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Jesus set hearts on fire in a real way this past week.  The week was filled with tears, laughter, great joy, and so much more throughout the week.  Because Jesus was there and we were there for Jesus.  And when hearts are open and willing to receive His love, we are changed a little more each time.

At the closing mass on Sunday, as the orchestra was about to start the song for communion, the first lyrics came up on the screen, “Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All” and tears filled my eyes.  This song was like a prayer being answered not just for myself, but I’m sure for thousands of others.  The refrain of the song says, “Oh, make us love thee more and more.”  And that’s what Jesus did this week.  We have come to love Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament more than the week before.

There is so much to unpack from the past week and these words don’t even begin to cover it.  There will be a lot more to process and reflect on for a long, long time to come and there will be many more posts.  But my prayer  is that all of us who had the blessing of attending the National Eucharistic Congress will go out into the world with hearts that have been changed and set more on fire and share the power and beauty of Jesus, truly present in the eucharist.